# How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

- Tool: Development Cost
- Last updated: November 2026

## TL;DR

Website development cost runs from $1,000 for a template site to $150,000 or more for a custom web app, with most small businesses spending $3,000 to $15,000 on a Webflow, WordPress, or Framer build. A custom web app with logins, a database, and a backend costs $18,000 to $60,000 and up. The real cost driver is whether you need custom code behind the pages or just the pages themselves.

## Website cost by type

Price depends almost entirely on whether a template or theme can do the job, or whether the site needs custom design, a CMS, or a backend with logins and a database. A business of Apps-style brochure site and a Next.js web app are priced on completely different scales, so treat them as separate budgets rather than one number.

| Tier | Examples | Cost | Timeline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIY template | Squarespace, Wix, or a Webflow template you customize yourself | $0-$1,000 (platform fees only) | A few days |
| Freelancer build | 5-15 page business site, landing page | $1,500-$8,000 | 3 days-3 weeks |
| Agency custom site | Custom-designed marketing site, Webflow CMS build, WordPress theme | $6,000-$60,000 | 1-10 weeks |
| Custom web app (MVP) | Logins, database, dashboard, booking or portal functionality | $18,000-$60,000 | 6-10 weeks |
| Larger web app / SaaS front end | Multi-role app, heavier integrations, headless CMS | $50,000-$150,000+ | 3-6 months |
| Enterprise web platform | Large content operations, multi-market sites, complex compliance | $100,000-$500,000+ | 6+ months |

## What each feature adds

| Feature | Cost range | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pages (1-75 / 75-150 / 150+) | $1,000-$3,000 / $3,000-$6,000 / $6,000-$10,000 | Scales with page count and templating complexity |
| Custom design (vs. template) | $2,000-$15,000 | Covers brand-matched layouts, not stock themes |
| Responsive/mobile polish | $3,000-$25,000 | Wider range for complex layouts with lots of custom interaction |
| CMS integration | $3,000-$25,000 | Webflow CMS, WordPress, or a headless CMS like Contentful |
| E-commerce | $5,000-$25,000 | Product catalog, cart, checkout; Stripe fees are separate |
| Database-backed features | $2,000-$25,000 | Logins, dashboards, bookings, anything beyond static pages |
| SEO setup | $2,000-$10,000 | Technical SEO, schema, on-page structure |
| Copywriting | $500-$3,000 total ($60-$300/page) | Often skipped and added later as a hidden cost |

## Cost by who builds it

| Option | Hourly rate | Total for a typical v1 | Trade-offs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIY builder (Squarespace/Wix) | N/A, flat subscription | $16-$50/mo, no build cost | You do the design and copy; fine for a simple brochure site |
| Freelance designer/developer | $30-$50/h design, $45-$120/h dev | $1,500-$15,000 | Cheapest custom option; you manage scope and QA yourself |
| Agency (template/no-code) | $115-$200+/h | $6,000-$35,000 | Design + build + QA in one package; Webflow or WordPress, no custom code |
| Agency (custom code, fixed-price) | Quoted as a fixed price, not hourly | $18,000-$60,000 | Needed once the site is really a web app; RapidDev's band sits here |

## Ongoing costs after launch

| Item | Cost | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Webflow hosting | $15/mo (Basic, billed yearly) or $25/mo (Premium with CMS, billed yearly) | No-code marketing sites |
| Framer hosting | $10-$30/mo | No-code marketing sites |
| WordPress hosting | $2-$26/mo intro pricing, renewing higher; $28+/mo for managed hosting | Plus plugin licenses |
| Custom Next.js app | Vercel Pro $20/mo per seat plus a database from $0-$25/mo | Custom web apps |
| Domain name | $10-$20/yr | Any site type |
| Ongoing maintenance | $50-$300+/mo for a marketing site; 15-25% of build cost per year for a web app | Updates, fixes, small content changes |

Marketing-site hosting is close to a rounding error, but a custom web app carries real ongoing cost: a database, a hosting platform, and a maintenance budget that most first-time buyers forget to plan for.

## Costs people forget

- Copywriting and photography, often $500-$5,000, quoted separately from the build
- Plugin and theme licenses on WordPress that renew every year
- Hosting renewal jumps, for example an introductory $1.99/mo plan renewing at $10.99/mo
- CMS item limits or bandwidth caps that force an upgrade to a higher Webflow or WordPress plan
- A second round of design revisions after stakeholders see the first draft live
- SEO and analytics setup that wasn't in the original scope
- Migrating content from an old site, which takes real hours even when the design is reused

## How to spend less without regretting it

- Start from a Webflow or Framer template and customize sections instead of designing from a blank canvas
- Build the custom-code part only where you actually need logins or a database; keep the rest of the site on a no-code platform
- Reuse an existing brand and design system instead of commissioning new design
- Write your own first-draft copy and pay a copywriter to edit, not originate
- Launch with the pages you need now and add the rest after launch, rather than paying for all 150 pages up front
- Get 2-3 quotes before committing. Marketing-site pricing varies 3-5x between freelancers and agencies for the same scope

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does it cost to build a website?

Most small businesses spend $3,000 to $15,000 on a custom-designed marketing site built on Webflow or WordPress. A do-it-yourself template costs under $1,000. A custom web app with logins and a database runs $18,000 to $60,000 and up, which is a different project than a marketing site.

### Why do quotes vary so much for the same website?

Agencies and freelancers price different things under the same word. A 'custom website' quote can mean a template with new colors, or a fully custom-designed site with a CMS and integrations. Get a written scope, not just a number, before comparing quotes.

### How long does it take to build a website?

A freelancer can turn around a simple business site in 3 days to 3 weeks. An agency custom build typically takes 1-10 weeks. A custom web app with a database and user accounts takes 6-10 weeks for a scoped v1, longer for anything bigger.

### Is Webflow or WordPress cheaper to build and run?

Build cost is similar for a comparable design. Webflow's own hosting is simpler and starts at $15/mo (Premium with CMS at $25/mo, billed yearly), while WordPress needs separate hosting ($2-$26/mo intro pricing, renewing higher) plus plugin licenses, which adds up over a few years.

### What's the difference between a website and a web app, cost-wise?

A website with static pages costs $1,000-$60,000 depending on design and CMS needs. A web app, meaning logins, a database, and logic behind the pages, starts around $18,000 and climbs past $150,000 for anything with multiple user roles or heavy integrations.

### Do I need a developer or can I use a website builder?

If the site is informational, with no logins or custom data, a builder like Webflow, Squarespace, or Framer is usually the right call and far cheaper. Bring in a developer once you need accounts, a database, payments beyond a simple product checkout, or custom interactions a template can't do.

### Does RapidDev build websites?

RapidDev's $13,000-$25,000 fixed-price band fits custom web apps and larger Webflow builds with CMS and integrations, not a simple brochure site. For a template-based marketing site, a Webflow agency or freelancer will get you there for far less.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/cost/website-development-cost
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