Started as a simple blogging tool, WordPress has evolved into a site-building platform and a comprehensive Content Management System (CMS). Powering over 42% of all websites, the platform lets you build any type of site, from a small blog to a robust online store.

Many people might be wondering how much it costs to build a WordPress site. Although the WordPress core software is technically free, some external costs will occur.

Calculating the cost of a WordPress website will help you determine your budget and optimize marketing efforts. With this in mind, we’ll go over everything that goes into WordPress pricing, such as web hosting, including WordPress optimized plans, themes, and other extensions.

We’ll start by studying the different pricing models of the two WordPress platforms, WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

Nowadays, WordPress is represented by two different platforms. The key difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com is the hosting provider.

The former is a self-hosted platform, meaning users must host their websites using hosting provider services. In contrast, WordPress.com is hosted by Automattic.

With this in mind, the pricing for both platforms varies – first, let’s go through WordPress.com pricing.

Although you can set up a free WordPress site with WordPress.com, you must subscribe to the premium plans to run a website for commercial purposes. The pricing for these plans ranges between $4-$45/month.

Each premium plan includes a free domain name for a year and unlimited email support. Moreover, the Premium, Business, and eCommerce plans also come with Google Analytics integration, premium themes, and live chat support.

While WordPress.com supports multiple monetization methods, they come with several downsides. For example, users can only run ads by joining their advertising program, WordAds, in return for shared ad revenue.

Other methods like affiliate links, memberships, and donations are also regulated by WordPress.com. In other words, WordPress users don’t have complete control over their monetization options.

If you want unlimited monetization options, more freedom, and control over your site, it’s best to build a WordPress website with WordPress.org.

You will need to download the core software and calculate expenses for external resources. These include everything from a domain name and a web hosting plan to premium WordPress plugins and themes.

WordPress Pricing Breakdown

Before we get into the details, here is a quick summary of the estimated costs of building a WordPress website.

WordPress Hosting	$1.99-$17.99/month
Domain Name	$0.99-$20/year
SSL Certificates	$7.27-$984.49/year
Premium Themes	$2-$200/license
Premium Plugins	$5-$1000/one-time and ongoing fees
TOTAL	$17.25-$185/month

Remember that a website’s cost will depend on its size and functionality. Running simple WordPress websites like blogs or business websites will cost less than robust WordPress sites, such as online stores or streaming sites.

What Do You Need for a WordPress Website: The Main Expenses

Now that you have a rough idea of the WordPress pricing, let’s review the main expenses and details based on the website type.

Domain Name – Starting From $0.99/year

To build a website with WordPress.org, you will need a custom domain. This domain name will act as your website’s address – for example, my-wordpress-site.com. Choose a domain name representing your business so users can remember it easier.

A domain name’s cost depends on its TLDs (Top-Level Domains). The most common ones, also known as generic top-level domains (gTLD), include .com, .net, and .org domain name extension. The price for these gTLDs ranges from $0.99 for cheap domain names to $14.99/year.

Aside from these three most-used gTLDs, other generic extensions like .live, .tech, .online, and .xyz cost less. Although they might not be as popular, these TLDs can make your domain more unique and specific, making them a viable alternative.

Another popular type of top-level domain is country-code top-level domains (ccTLD). These extensions are assigned for specific countries worldwide, such as .us TLD for the United States, .in for India, and .se domain for Sweden. Many businesses and brands use these TLDs to provide localized content and boost visibility.

Depending on the domain registrars, the prices of country-code domain names range between $5.50-$23.99/year. Use a domain name search tool to compare the prices and see if your desired domain name is available. If it is taken, the domain checker will display alternatives.

Among the TLDs, the .com extension is the most expensive yet most recommended option. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Credibility – many big brands use .com as their domain name extensions. Getting one for your WordPress website can help boost your credibility and build trust with your customers.
• SEO ranking – Google and other search engines favor .com websites due to their credibility and authority. This is because search engines are more likely to display search results from general TLDs rather than country code domains.
• Popularity – since most websites use the .com extension, people usually type a website address with this domain. Choosing a .com domain will make it easier for your customers to recognize and remember your brand.

After you buy a domain from a registrar, the company will help register it on your behalf. To ensure a legitimate transaction, choose a domain registrar accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Once you have it registered, you need to renew the domain name annually to maintain your ownership. If you fail to do so before the expiration date, every service attached to your domain name will cease functioning.

Registration fees for each domain name also depend on the domain registrars. The prices range between $12.99-$28.00/year, depending on how long you register the domain for.

Remember that registering your domain means allowing your personal information to be publicly available on the WHOIS database. Hence, you might also want to purchase domain privacy protection. The cost for domain protection can vary, but Hostinger offers it for free.

Web Hosting – From ₹69/Month

Building a site with a professional website builder usually comes in a bundle with hosting and domain name. Conversely, to create a self-hosted WordPress, you need to spend money on a web hosting plan to keep the site up and running.

Web hosting and domain names work hand-in-hand in building a fully functional WordPress website.

While a domain name serves the website’s address, web hosting services provide the server space and resources needed. Whenever visitors access your domain name, your hosting provider will fetch its content and display it to them.

The cost of a web hosting plan differs based on its type. Here are several hosting types you can opt for:

• WordPress hosting – designed for WordPress websites. This option often includes 1-click installation, automated software updates, and a dedicated team of WordPress experts. A managed WordPress hosting plan costs ₹69–₹699/month.
• Shared hosting – ranging between ₹69–₹269/month, a shared web hosting plan is a viable option for small businesses and personal websites. Due to the shared server and resources, users pay less than for other hosting plans.
• VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting – splits one physical server into multiple virtual servers, with each partition isolated from the other. Due to its private environment, VPS hosting works great for medium-to-high traffic WordPress websites. VPS web hosting plans range from ₹249 to ₹5999/month.
• Cloud server hosting – uses a cluster of multiple servers to balance site load and minimize downtime, making it an excellent option for a large eCommerce site. If a server goes down, another will kick in to keep your WordPress site running. Cloud hosting plans range between ₹699–₹5099/month.

To summarize, web hosting costs ₹69–₹5999/month, depending on the type and the hosting provider. Note that the starting monthly prices for each web hosting account differ from their renewal costs.

For instance, Hostinger’s Business WordPress Hosting plan starts at ₹269/month. Depending on the length of your subscription period, the renewal cost varies between $11.99-$16.99/month.

Thus, if you choose the 48-month plan, the monthly subscription cost will be $6.99/month for the whole four years. Once the period is over, the monthly cost of this business plan will increase to $11.99/month.

With Hostinger, every Business or Shared hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate worth $11.95 and a website domain free of charge (worth $8.99).

If you want to reduce your WordPress cost even more, here are a few factors to consider:

• Know the hosting type you need. Take your time to choose the right web hosting plan for your WordPress site, identify your site’s needs – doing so will help ensure you get what you pay for. Determine which web server you prefer, what web applications you want to use, and whether you need a managed hosting environment.
• Determine your budget. Opt for a shared hosting plan if you don’t expect a lot of traffic. If your budget is more flexible, hosting your website with a VPS plan will allow your site to grow. Meanwhile, consider choosing WordPress hosting plans if you want a dedicated WordPress environment and resources.
• Compare several hosting providers. Doing a little research before choosing a WordPress hosting provider can go a long way. This is because each web host usually specializes in a specific type of hosting. Test their claims and read customer reviews before finalizing your order to ensure the best option.

Website Maintenance and Security – $5–$1,500/month

Website maintenance is vital to ensure optimized performance and availability. Regular WordPress site maintenance can boost its search engine rankings, drive returning traffic, and generate conversions.

The cost of your WordPress site maintenance depends on several factors, from hosting types and domain names to website software and applications. The size of your WordPress website also holds an essential part in determining the total cost of maintenance.

For example, a small professional website, like John Green’s portfolio, will most likely spend less money than a giant online store, like Amazon or Etsy.

To help you estimate, we have prepared a table of average monthly maintenance costs based on different types of WordPress sites.

Type of WordPress website	Average monthly cost
Personal website	$5-$30/month
Professional blogging site	$20-$100/month
Large business website	$35-$300/month
Small-to-medium sized eCommerce	$150-$1,500/month
Enterprise-level online store	Up to $1,500/month

Aside from the website size, maintenance costs will depend on the approach or services you use. For example, if you hire a web developer to create a custom site, the expected WordPress cost might skyrocket to $15,000 to $25,000.

Some maintenance costs are essential, while others are considered additional. For example, expenses for email services, digital marketing, and web designer assistance are important but not always necessary.

Meanwhile, essential maintenance costs include everything from Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to security. Use the software and tools below to help secure your WordPress site and boost your search engine ranking.

SSL certificates

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a data transfer protocol that encrypts data sent between the servers and clients. The benefits of an SSL certificate include encryption, privacy, and data protection. All websites that store sensitive user information, such as credit card details, should have an SSL certificate.

When an SSL certificate is installed on your WordPress website, HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) will appear at the beginning of your site’s address along with a padlock symbol that signifies the website’s security.

Most web hosting providers usually include a free SSL certificate with hosting plans. However, you can also use another type of SSL certificate for better security.

The price of SSL certificates varies based on their types and validation levels. With this in mind, research before purchasing one for your WordPress site.

For personal or blogging websites, using Domain Validated (DV) SSL, like Let’s Encrypt or Comodo PositiveSSL, should be enough to protect your site’s privacy. You can simply prove your domain ownership to obtain this certificate.

On the other hand, small businesses or eCommerce sites that handle online transactions should use a Wildcard SSL certificate to secure multiple domains and subdomains. The price of this type of SSL starts at $50/year.

Security plugins

WordPress plugins are software that either adds new features or extends the functionality of existing WordPress features. Although the core WordPress software already has security measures, having extra layers will benefit your website in the long run.

There are three types of WordPress plugins:

• Free plugins – usually developed as a promotion to the paid version, have no upfront or add-on costs.
• Freemium plugins – users can use the basic features but have to pay for more functionality.
• Premium plugins – come with a price but provide extensive features, customer support, and regular updates.

Generally, the prices of freemium and premium plugins range between $5-$1,000. They are also priced differently, from one-time fees to annual subscriptions.

With up to 58,000 plugins in the WordPress plugin directory, there are many high-quality plugins to maintain your website security and improve performance. However, the overwhelming number also makes it challenging to find the right one for your WordPress website.

Here are some of the best WordPress plugins to install:

• Sucuri Security – offering both free and premium versions, Sucuri is an all-in-one security solution. Its free version includes an auditing function that shows how well the plugin is performing. Starting at $6.99/month, the premium version has extra features, such as web application firewall and malware scanning for both front- and back-end.
• Jetpack – combines security, performance, and marketing tools into one, eliminating the need for other plugins. Its premium versions start from $99/year. They come with spam protection, unlimited backup storage, and 1-click restores.
• Defender – supports two-factor authentication, IP blacklisting, and core file scanning. While the free plan can get the job done, the paid plan will provide you with extensive reports about your site. For only $5/month, you will also get 10 GB of remote storage.
• Yoast SEO – one of the leading WordPress SEO plugins that helps optimize content by changing and analyzing its focus keyword, keyword density, and meta description. For $89/year, you can access more advanced tools, such as internal linking suggestions and content insights.
• Mailchimp for WordPress – provides the tools needed to boost your marketing campaigns. The free version is well-integrated with various free plugins, like Contact Form 7. The premium plan starts at $59/year and comes with a WordPress form builder and a comprehensive analytics report.

Once you have a solid foundation of web security, you won’t have to spend too much time installing and setting up security plugins.

Here at Hostinger, we provide the necessary security measures for a protected website. This includes a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for all hosting plans.

Trusted WordPress themes

WordPress has a wide array of themes available for all users. There are heaps of free templates along with an abundance of paid themes ranging between $2-$200 per license.

Once you have installed WordPress, you can find a free WordPress theme through your admin dashboard. Simply head over Appearance -> Themes -> Add New Theme.

You can browse free themes in specific categories, such as the latest uploaded or the most popular. Additionally, you can filter them by subject, features, or layouts.

For example, if you want to look for WordPress blog themes, check the Blog box and hit Apply Filter.

Note that free themes aren’t necessarily poor quality – each has been created by a credible WordPress developer and reviewed by the theme review team.

Although free WordPress themes are excellent for beginners, they often don’t come with the features necessary to develop a robust WordPress website. In such cases, installing a premium theme is the best solution.

If you’re not sure whether to opt for a premium theme, consider the following benefits:

• Advanced functionality – premium themes come with various customization options and website builder functionality. For example, the Flatsome theme has a page builder that makes designing easy. Additionally, the built-in eCommerce features make it unnecessary to install extra plugins.
• A dedicated support team – with multiple support channels, you can simply send an email or call whenever you need assistance with setting up the theme, fixing issues, or reporting bugs. Instead of browsing through community forums, you will receive exclusive support from the developer.
• Regular updates and fixes – just like any other software, a WordPress theme needs to be updated regularly for better security. Moreover, developers of premium themes have commercial motivations to keep them updated. Hence, most paid themes are always compatible with the most recent version of WordPress.
• Optimized SEO – due to its flexibility and mobile-friendliness, a premium theme has become one of the best WordPress SEO tips to implement. This is because Google and other search engines favor responsive websites on their SERPs.

If you want to buy a premium theme, platforms like Theme Forest, Themeisle, and Elegant Themes have plenty of choices to pick from.

WordPress Costs for a Blog – From $7.99/month

Last year, there were approximately 31.7 million bloggers in the US alone, and the number is steadily growing. This is because starting a blog is one of the most popular and straightforward solutions to build an online presence.

If you want to create a blog and turn your hobby into an additional source of income, there are some essential features to invest in. We will go over the essential expenses you’ll need to anticipate.

Keep in mind that the cost of building a blog and running it might differ depending on the approach you take. The following estimation will focus solely on the initial cost.

Domain name	$0.99/year Assuming you choose the most affordable domain.
Hosting	$1.39/month If you’re just starting, Hostinger’s single shared hosting plan can be a viable option.
SSL certificate	$7.49/year Add an extra layer of security.
Plugins	Defender: $5/month, Yoast SEO: $89/year Security and search engine optimization plugins are essential. In this estimation, you’ve installed a premium plugin of each type.
Themes	$13/license We picked the cheapest premium blog theme for example.

The estimated cost of running a WordPress blog starts at around $220 for the first month with $7.99 for the following months.

Note that the total cost will depend on your decisions. You can minimize the price by installing free plugins and themes. Conversely, the cost will increase if you add more paid plugins or choose another premium theme.

WordPress Costs for an eCommerce Website – From $11.59/month

WordPress doesn’t come with built-in eCommerce functionality like the dedicated eCommerce platforms on the market. However, there is a free WordPress plugin that will add eCommerce functionality to your WordPress website.

You can simply head to the plugin directory and install WooCommerce from your admin dashboard. The plugin is equipped with basic store functionality, including seamless integrations with various payment gateways.

Estimating the cost of an eCommerce website is a crucial step when starting an eCommerce business. Doing so will help you anticipate how much you’ll need to spend.

To help you calculate your budget, we will show you how much it costs to build a barebones eCommerce website.

Domain name	$8.99/year Assuming you choose the .com domain to boost credibility.
Hosting	$11.59/month Hostinger’s WordPress Pro plan offers excellent scalability for growing small to medium-sized businesses.
SSL certificate	$69.78/year Use a Wildcard SSL certificate to protect privacy and transactions made in your online store.
Plugins	Free WooCommerce provides all-in-one solutions to build a functional online store – the software is free to download.
Themes	$34/license The most affordable premium theme from the best WordPress eCommerce themes list.

The estimated cost of a WordPress eCommerce website is around $125 for the first month and $11.59 for the next months. Although, your monthly hosting expenses may be reduced if you are not going to have a lot of products or traffic at the beginning. In this case, you can start from Woo Starter plan, which costs only $3.99/month.

However, the cost will vary significantly depending on the tools and functionalities your business needs. It is advisable to start with the basic infrastructure before adding more advanced eCommerce plugins.

WordPress Costs for a Small Business Website – From $5.99/month

Having a professional website is paramount to success. With more than 80% of purchases starting with online research, it can help you establish credibility and reach a wider audience.

A business website also serves as the foundation of your business’ digital marketing efforts. When maintained properly, it can expose you to more opportunities and help stand out from the competition.

We’ll calculate the cost of starting a small business website for an online presence.

Domain name	$8.99/year Use the .com to establish domain authority more easily.
Hosting	$5.99/month Business WordPress plan from Hostinger is optimized for small business websites.
SSL certificate	Free The hosting plan comes with unlimited SSL that should be enough to protect your site’s privacy.
Plugins	$59/year The price of a premium Mailchimp plan – this plugin will help maximize your email marketing efforts.
Themes	$16/license The most affordable theme in the fastest WordPress themes list.

You can anticipate spending around $90 for the first month. Meanwhile, the recurring monthly payments will amount to $5.99/month.

The estimated cost above only covers the basic infrastructure of a business site. If you have a bigger budget, consider adding more features or plugins. For example, use WPForms to collect email addresses and optimize your marketing strategy.

WordPress Costs for a Custom Website – From $3,500

A custom-built website is uniquely generated from scratch to suit your needs. Building one will give you complete control over website elements, from the design to functionality. It’ll allow you to fulfil the demands of your business and provide the features your customers need.

Due to its high flexibility, starting a custom website will require advanced technical knowledge. If you don’t have it, it’s best to hire a web designer or WordPress developer. However, this is usually expensive.

Domain name	$8.99/year A .com domain for optimized visibility on the SERPs.
Hosting	$8.95/month Hostinger’s VPS hosting plan is an excellent solution to develop custom websites.
SSL certificate	Free Hostinger offers free SSL certificate with all of their plans
Custom plugins	Start at $2,000/one-time fee A custom-made plugin tailored to provide specific functionality on your website.
Custom themes	Start at $1,500/one-time fee Specifically tailored to serve specific purposes of your website.

The initial cost of building a custom WordPress website amounts to $3,500. As for the recurring expenses, they will depend on your agreement with the web developer. For example, you might need to add around $500-$1,000 to pay for monthly maintenance.

If you have a tight budget, you can always hire aspiring freelance developers from platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. Their services start at $20/hour, but you can always negotiate. Additionally, remember to read through testimonials before choosing a developer to work with.

Conclusion

All in all, various factors influence the cost of your WordPress site – from its size and functionality to the maintenance strategy and marketing approach. Hence, you might find yourself spending a different amount than these estimations.

For instance, starting a blog can be as low as $7.99/month. On the other hand, a custom-built website with many pages may cost $3,500.

To wrap up, here is a list of a WordPress website’s needs, along with how much they cost:

• Domain name. Generally, this will cost around $0.99-$20/year.
• Web hosting. This is a fundamental component of website building. A hosting plan ranges from ₹69 to hundreds of dollars/month.
• WordPress theme. Select a ready-to-use free theme from the WordPress directory or buy a premium theme for anything between $2-$200/license.
• WordPress plugins. Some website extensions are free to download, while others cost $5-$500/license. Remember to research the pricing models – whether you’ll need to pay in advance or periodically.
• Developer fees. If you’re planning to hire a freelancer or a full-time developer, it may cost you $20-$75/hour.

When building a website, it’s highly recommended to start small and use as many free components as possible. Once you have growing traffic and an audience, you can consider adding premium features and templates to your site.

Now that you have an idea of the price ranges for your WordPress site, we wish you good luck with creating it. Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below in case you have any comments or questions.

WordPress Pricing FAQ

To understand WordPress pricing better, here are some frequently asked questions.