By PLYXIO Team · Updated October 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: WordPress website cost in 2026 ranges from under $1,000 if you build it yourself, to roughly $3,000 to $10,000 with a freelancer, to $10,000 to $50,000 or more with an agency, according to published pricing guides. On top of that, yearly running costs run from about $300 for a basic site to $10,000 or more with hosting and support.
WordPress itself is free. What you pay for is design, development, hosting, plugins and ongoing care. Selling online? See the separate WooCommerce website cost guide.
In this article
Table of Contents
WordPress website cost at a glance
| Route | Typical build cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | Under $1,000 | Simple sites and testing an idea |
| Freelancer | About $3,000 to $10,000 | Small business and brochure sites |
| Agency | About $10,000 to $50,000+ | Custom design, integrations, growth goals |
These are market ranges from published guides. Your own quote depends on scope, so treat them as a planning tool.
Yearly costs after launch
A site is not a one time purchase. Plan for a domain at roughly $10 to $15 a year, hosting from about $100 to $500 or more depending on traffic, and premium theme or plugin renewals if you use them.
Professional maintenance and security support is often quoted at about $50 to $300 or more per month. Backups and monitoring are included in many hosting plans, or added separately.
What pushes the price up
Five things move a WordPress quote the most: custom design instead of a template, the number of pages and templates, custom features or integrations, content and copywriting, and SEO and speed work. A site built with search and performance in mind from day one costs less than fixing it later. Our WordPress website design team builds this in from the start.
How to keep the cost sensible
Start with the pages that make money: home, services, a strong contact or quote page and proof. Add extras once you see real traffic and leads. Ask for a fixed scope in writing, know exactly what support is included after launch, and make sure you own your domain, hosting and files.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic WordPress website cost?
A basic DIY WordPress site can cost under $1,000. A professionally built small business site from a freelancer is commonly quoted around $3,000 to $10,000.
Is WordPress really free?
The WordPress software is free, but you pay for hosting, a domain, themes, plugins, design, development and maintenance.
How much does WordPress cost per year to run?
Published guides put yearly costs from about $300 for a basic site to $10,000 or more when you include hosting and professional support.
Why do agencies cost more than freelancers?
Agencies provide a team covering design, development, SEO and support, plus a project process and continuity, which raises the price.
What is the cheapest way to build a WordPress site?
Building it yourself with a quality theme is cheapest in cash, but it costs time and can create speed, security and SEO problems if done without experience.
Get a clear WordPress quote from PLYXIO
Every PLYXIO project is quoted individually, because no two sites need the same thing. Tell us what you need and we will send a clear scope and price.
Sources
WordPress Website Cost in 2026: Pricing Guide, GetDevDone
About the author: PLYXIO is a digital agency building websites, WooCommerce stores, mobile apps, AI software and growth marketing systems for ambitious businesses. Learn more about PLYXIO.