How much does a website cost in 2024, especially a small business website? GoodFirms Web Development Costs Survey 2024 has gathered all the latest website development costs for you. Our research team carefully cherry-picked over 100 top web development companies to catalog the latest cost data to offer estimated rates and timelines for web development in 2024.
So, yes, we have figured out everything for you; no matter what your goals are for 2024, whether you intend to set up a simple personal page or a robust web application, this detailed guide has attempted to answer all your website development costs queries and that too for websites of all sizes and shapes.
Key takeaway: Website development costs in 2024 vary widely, ranging from $1,000 to $50,000+, depending on your specific requirements.
Without further ado, let's start with the other key findings of our survey:
Website Development Costs - Key Findings
Business Website: The average cost of setting up a business website is between $1000 to $50,000 and requires 2 to 12 weeks of development time.
Small business website: Within the $1,000 to $7,000 price range, you can set up a small business website in 1 to 12 weeks. (When compared to our previous survey, Website Design Stats and Trends for Small Businesses, website development charges have increased slightly)
MVP site: A product MVP site shall cost between $5,000 and $35,000+ and requires 3-12 weeks of development.
Personal Website: Keep it under $500 for a basic site or splurge over $3,000 for a custom masterpiece that requires 1-4 weeks of development.
Ecommerce website: Launch your online store within the $5,000 - $50,000+ price range (4-16 weeks of development time).
Web Application: Simple to mid-range web applications cost between $10,000 to $1,00,000 and 16-30 weeks of development time.
Web Portal Development: Web Portals would cost $10,000 - $60,000 (8-30 weeks of development, depending on the complexity).
SaaS Website: Basic SaaS websites start at $15,000 - $60,000 (12 to 48 weeks of development).
Hourly and Fixed Pricing Models are the most preferred pricing models.
How Much Does a Website Cost in 2024: 8 Data-driven Insights for Different Website Types
| Website Types | Cost Estimates | Development Time |
| Business Website | $1000 to $50,000 | 2 to 12 weeks |
| Small business website | $1,000 to $7,000 | 1 to 12 weeks |
| MVP site | $5,000 to $35,000+ | 3-12 weeks |
| Personal Website | Under $500 to $3,000+ | 1-4 weeks |
| Ecommerce website | $5,000 - $50,000+ | 4-16 weeks |
| Web Application | $10,000 to $1,00,000 | 16-30 weeks |
| Web Portal Development | $10,000 - $60,000 | 8-30 weeks |
| SaaS Websites | $15,000 - $60,000 | 12 to 48 weeks |
Factors Driving Website Development Costs
Several factors drive the cost of website development, from the website's size to leveraging complex ecommerce functionalities, premium CMS solutions, hiring experienced web developers from expensive locations, copywriting, and ongoing website redesign and maintenance. In short, website development cost is more like a marathon than a sprint.
Large-scale Websites: Basic websites with fewer pages and features require less development effort and cost than large-scale websites that require complex functionalities and cloud integration.
Tailor-made Designs: Ditching free website builders and templates for tailor-made designs propels the cost of website development in a major way.
Real Cost Monsters: Advanced integrations and custom API development, according to Marshal Davis, President of Ascendly Marketing are some of the most complex features that require specialized skills, thus driving up web development charges.
Integrating third-party services like CRM systems, payment gateways, or social media platforms requires a deep understanding of the external systems and the website's architecture. Custom API development, necessary for unique functionalities or to ensure seamless integration of disparate systems, demands high expertise and time investment.
- Marshal Davis, Ascendly Marketing
Boosting website interactivity with extensive features such as 3D animations and WebGL and integrating PWA and shop functionality, noted Martin Holoubek, founder and CEO of PIXIT, can send the website creation charges soaring. This Austria-based company specializes in digital brand building and interactive web design.
Don't underestimate the content cost. Chris Brown of Totalsurf reminds us that even if you're writing the content yourself, your time is still a cost to you. Your time is valuable, and good content takes time. So think twice before going DIY unless you're a wordsmith and have enough time to spare.
“Content creation is something that, in our experience, has never been correctly appreciated, and people are shocked at how long it takes them to create it. If you’re using an external copywriter (highly recommended as they will nail it for you!), that will increase your cost, but at the benefit of taking the workload away from you, and the result will be far better and help convert potential customers.”
- Chris Brown, Totalsurf
Aside from fancy features like 3D animations and PWAs jacking up the web development cost, even the developer's location can play a role. Website Development costs are high in countries like the United States and Canada, mid-range in countries like Poland and Brazil, and low in countries like India and Pakistan.
Other Hidden Web Development Costs:
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Website maintenance: Factor in ongoing maintenance charges to keep your site running smoothly.
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Content Management Systems: Editing website content is a cinch with CMS. This means you must cough up some good money for a good CMS.
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SEO optimization: SEO optimization helps websites climb the search engine ladder, but you gotta pay the price for SEO marketers' expertise.
Bottomline: Web development cost is a moving target, influenced by many factors from features to location to content. Not surprisingly, businesses opt for hourly and fixed-price pricing models to ensure the cost remains within the earmarked budget.
How Much Does a Website Cost in 2024: Based on Website Types
How much a website costs depends on the website type and the project complexity. Here, we discuss the average cost of different website types: personal, small business, MVP, ecommerce, web application, web portal, and SaaS website.
What’s the Average Cost to Develop a Business Website?
GoodFirms' Website Development Cost survey of 100+ top web development companies reveals that the cost to make a website this year ranges from $1,000 to $50,000+. Here’s the lowdown of the cost based on the website's complexity.
- 50% of the web development companies charge between $1,000 to $15,000
- 31.8% of them in the $15,000 to $30,000 price range
- 18.2% in the $30,000 to $50,000 range.
| Website Size | Pages & Features | Cost Estimates |
|---|---|---|
| Simple business website | 5-10 pages, basic design, contact form, social media buttons, and lead capture forms | $1,000 - $15,000 |
| Mid-range business Website | 10-20 pages, CMS, blog, custom design, and basic ecommerce capabilities | $15,000-$30,000 |
| Complex business website | 20+ pages, advanced design, custom features, database integration, advanced e-commerce functionalities, payment gateways, security features, and more | $30,000 to $50,000 |
Generally, a simple business website comprising 5-10 pages, basic design, contact form, social media buttons, and lead capture forms can be developed in the $5,000 - $15,000 range. Such websites are ideal for startups and small businesses.
Mid-range business Website featuring 10-20 pages, CMS, blog, custom design, and basic ecommerce capabilities can be developed in the $15,000-$30,000 range. Suitable for growing businesses and medium-sized businesses.
A complex business website with 20+ pages, advanced design, custom features, database integration, advanced e-commerce functionalities, payment gateways, security features, and more can be built in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Such websites are apt for large businesses and enterprises with heavy online traffic.
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop a Business Website
Building a business website takes 2-12 weeks as per 88.3% of surveyed web development companies. Simple and medium-complexity websites can be developed in this range.
The remaining 11.7% of the companies take 12-24+ weeks. Complex websites can be developed in this timeframe.
What’s the Average Cost to Develop a Small Business Website?
A small business website development charges can vary widely. GoodFirms' Website Development Cost Survey 2024 reveals that small business websites will cost $1,000 to $15,000+
- 60% of the web development companies charge between $1000 to $7,000
- 36% of the surveyed companies charge between $7,000 to $15,000
| Website Size | Cost Estimates |
| Basic brochure site to a content-rich website small business site | $1,000 and $7,000 |
| Mid-range small business website | $7,000 to $15,000+ |
| Small business ecommerce website | $5,000 to $15,000+ |
The Sweet Spot: Most web development companies (60%) charge between $1,000 and $7,000, including developing a basic brochure site to a content-rich website.
However, 36% of the companies might zoom past that mark and land you in the $7,000 to $15,000+ bracket if your specifications scale up.
However, building an ecommerce store adds extra cost and complexity, says Chris Brown, SEO Specialist, Web Designer, Web Developer, and Google Ranking Expert at Totalsurf, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $15,000+.
Before you launch your ecommerce website, ask the following questions:
Will it handle your stock management, or do you need it integrated via an API into your stock management system? Can people track their shipping once they place an order, and if so, how does that tracking information get attached to the order? Any connection to an external system, such as your bank as your payment gateway so people can pay online, adds development time and complexity, especially in the testing stages to ensure the site works.
- Chris Brown, Totalsurf
A small business ecommerce website development costs $5,000 to $15,000+ as the website comprises several unique features.
David Gaglione, Founding Partner at PS212, a naming & branding marketing agency that involves itself in the website development efforts of clients, reminds us that even integrated branding could be an expensive affair for business. Imagine custom logos, brand messaging, and color palettes - all requiring expertise and extra cash.
Speed, performance, responsive design, multi-channel support, and integrated branding are some of the website features and functionalities that are most expensive to build. These elements take up a lot of time, effort, and resources and cannot be done overnight.
- David Gaglione, PS212
Cost Breakdown of a Small Business Website
| Factors | Cost Estimates |
| Design & Development | $1,000-$5,000 (This could be lower if using templates or higher for custom designs) |
| Domain name & Hosting | $10-$15 per month |
| SSL Certificate | $50-$100 (One-time purchase) |
| Content Writing (optional) | $50-$200 per page |
| E-commerce features (optional) | $1,000-$5,000 (For online ordering) |
Small business website development costs purely depend on your product offerings. Do thorough research and compare quotes from multiple companies before you take the plunge.
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop a Small Business Website
Building a small business website generally takes 1-12 weeks, as per 97.6% of surveyed web development companies. Brochure-style sites, content-rich websites, and even e-commerce websites can be developed within this timeframe.
That said, if you plan to add some complex ecommerce integrations such as advanced order management systems, enterprise resource planning, AI-powered customization and recommendation, blockchain-based payment systems, and so on, then development time can dramatically increase and potentially take months and even longer.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing an MVP Site?
- 31% of web development companies price simple MVP (product) site development costs between $5,000 to $10,000.
- 42.9% (28.6% + 14.3%) of the companies charge between $20,000 to $35,000+.
| MVP Website Size | Cost Estimates |
| Simple MVP site with one or two core features | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Multi-feature MVP sites with broader functionalities | $20,000 - $35,000+ |
A simple MVP site with one or two core features typically costs $5,000 to $10,000 to develop, while multi-feature MVP sites with broader functionalities can range from $20,000 - $35,000+.
Given that a multi-feature MVP site could put a hole in your pockets, start with a single-feature MVP site first before you go ahead with a full-fledged multi-feature site. This lets you gauge market interest and iterate based on actual data, helping you save costs significantly.
Cost Breakdown of a Product MVP Website
| Factors | Cost Estimates |
| Design & Development | $500-$10,000 |
| Domain name | $10-$15 per year |
| Web hosting | $5-$20 per month |
| SSL certificate | $50-$100 per year |
| Content | $50-$200 per page |
| Marketing | $500-$5,000 |
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop an MVP Site?
Most surveyed companies (93%) revealed they could set up an MVP site speedily in 3-12 weeks. From simple landing pages to single-feature and even multi-feature MVPs can be developed in this time frame.
For a multiple-feature MVP site, it would go beyond four weeks due to their increased complexity.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing a Personal Website?
A personal website is a powerful, personally galvanizing tool that could aid you in revving up the engine of your lackluster career, whether you are a copywriter, entrepreneur, expert, or thought leader.
GoodFirms Website Development Cost Survey 2024 found that a personal website can be built by paying as little as $500 or as much as $3000+, depending on the number of pages you need and the project complexity.
19.5% of the companies charge less than $500 for developing a personal website. The core features of a personal website, including an “About Me” page, contact information, portfolio, and blog, can be covered under this price range.
Generally, a simple personal website can be built for under $500, provided you keep a tight check on your requirements; an uptick in the cost can be expected as demand for complex features and functionalities increases.
| Personal Website Size | Features | Cost Estimates |
| Simple personal website | "About Me” page, contact information, portfolio, and blog | less than $500 |
| Portfolio-style or multi-page websites | CV integration, Social Proof from clients or peers, Blog Categories, Search bar, Newsletter Signup | $500 and $ 1,500 |
| Professional websites paired with premium features | Responsive design, high-quality images and videos, SEO optimization, and multilingual support | $1,500-3,000+ |
The running cost of portfolio-style or multi-page websites is between $500 and $ 1,500. Such websites cover additional features such as CV integration, Social Proof from clients or peers, Blog Categories, Search bar, Newsletter Signup, etc.
Professional websites paired with premium features cost between $1,500-3,000+. Premium features include design elements such as responsive design, high-quality images and videos, SEO optimization, and multilingual support. Sites with complex features such as user login integrations, among other bells and whistles, could push the price over $3,000.
Cost Breakdown of a Personal Website:
Domain name: $10-15 per year
Web hosting: $5-50 per month
Optional Costs of Developing a Personal Website:
Website platform: Free (WordPress, Wix) to $300 per month (Squarespace, Shopify)
Design & development: $500-5,000+
Content writing: $50-200 per page
Plugins & extensions: Free and paid options exist
SSL certificate: $50-100 per year
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop a Personal Website?
Launching a personal website can be quick and easy in 2024.
About 71% of the surveyed web development companies can help you set up a basic personal website with multiple pages, interactive elements, and basic ecommerce features within 1-4 weeks.
You can be online for a simple one-page portfolio or blog with basic features in under one week. Again, that’s the maximum timeline suggested by the companies because, considering the bare-bones feature requirement, basic blogs can be built within a day or two if no scope creep stops them in their tracks.
Complex websites that require heavy customization in the form of user logins, integration with third-party sources, and more are likely to take longer than four weeks.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing an E-commerce Website?
Building an E-commerce website in 2024 can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000+.
A basic to a growing e-commerce store could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. Within this cost bracket, you can have all the essentials, such as a product catalog, shopping cart, payment gateway integration, inventory management, social media integration, email integration, mobile responsive design, and basic blog functionality, among many other features. Basically, this is a good deal for startups and growing businesses.
Prepare to pay $15,000 or more if you want advanced functionalities such as user accounts, personalized recommendations, or integrations with specific software.
Mehul Rajput, CEO and Founder of a prominent web and mobile app development company, Mindinventory, has expertly identified all the ecommerce functionalities that may influence your ecommerce development budget.
| Ecommerce Website Size | Features | Cost Estimates |
| Growing store | $5,000-$15,000 | custom design, additional features, marketing |
| Enterprise store | $15,000+ | extensive customization, advanced features, dedicated hosting |
Advanced features like real-time collaboration, AI-driven personalization, AI-powered shopping assistance, and AR/VR integration may require more investment in time and cost, as implementing such may require the involvement of specialized experts.
Due to development and maintenance challenges, custom integrations with third-party APIs or complex databases often incur higher costs.
- Mehul Rajput, Mindinventory
Steve Pogson, Founder & Strategy Lead First Pier, informs us that the most expensive ecommerce features require substantial custom work so you need to factor that into your budget.
Unique product customization tools, advanced product filtering, and complex integrations with third-party systems are often time-consuming to develop and require specialized skills, which drives up the cost.
- Steve Pogson, First Pier
Magee Clegg, CEO and Founder of Cleartail Marketing, emphasized that adding custom animations or interactive elements demands a higher degree of developer expertise, potentially leading to an increase in the budget.
Cost Breakdown of an Ecommerce Website
Design & Development:
- Theme purchase: Pre-built themes ($50-$200) are cost-effective but have limited customization.
- Custom design: Hiring web development companies to develop customized designs offers better differentiation but costs more ($5,000-$50,000+).
Platform:
- Hosted platforms: Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, etc., offer many solutions with monthly subscriptions ($29-$300+), including hosting, security, basic features, and payment processing. However, customization options may be limited.
- Open-source platforms: WooCommerce, Magento, and more are free but need separate hosting, security, and plugin purchases. This demands technical expertise.
Features & Functionality:
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Essential features: Product pages, shopping cart, checkout, payment processing, and user accounts (usually, these features are part of platforms).
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Advanced features: wish lists, product recommendations, personalized offers, CRM integration, etc., add to the cost (can range from $50-$500 per feature).
Payment Processing:
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Transaction fees: Most platforms charge for every transaction (2-3% + $0.30) or offer their payment gateways with flat fees.
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Security: SSL certificate ($50-$100/year) ensures secure transactions.
Additional Costs:
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Domain name: $10-$15/year.
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Web hosting: $5-$250/month (depending on platform or chosen hosting plan).
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Content writing: $50-$200 per page for product descriptions and marketing materials.
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Marketing & Advertising: Variable costs depending on campaign strategies.
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop an E-commerce Website?
71.4% of the companies surveyed can build a basic to mid-range ecommerce website in 4-16 weeks.
High-end ecommerce sites take more time and effort so the timeline can stretch to several months.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing a Custom Web Application?
| Custom Web Application Types | Cost Estimates |
| Simple to mid-range web applications | $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Feature-rich, complex web apps | $25,000 - $50,000 |
| Highly-complex apps | $50,000 to $100,000 |
Businesses must budget $10,000 to $25,000 for simple to mid-range web applications.
The $25,000 - $50,000 price range can yield feature-rich, complex apps.
For highly-complex apps, prepare to pay $50,000 to $100,000.
15% of the developers command a rate of $1,00,000+, and not capping the requirements can escalate the costs even higher.
One trial and tested way to reduce the web app development cost is to launch an MVP (core version) model first for around $10,000 - $25,000 using developers in your price range. In the next step, gather user feedback and use it as a guide for iterations and further launches. Use pre-built components and open libraries to save development time and money.
Cost Breakdown of Custom Web Application
| Factors | Cost Estimates |
| Design & Prototyping | $1,000-$10,000+ depending on the complexity and level of detail |
| Development | $10,000-$100,000+ depending on the framework (open-source or customized) |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | 10-20% of development costs |
| Deployment & Hosting | Cost varies based on application needs and infrastructure choices |
| Maintenance & Support | 10-20% of annual development costs |
What’s the Average Time Needed to Develop a Custom Web Application?
Over half of the web development companies (53.7%) take 16-30 weeks (4 to 8 months) to develop simple to averagely complex apps like static landing pages or basic e-commerce sites.
Expect a year or more (52+ weeks) for intricate projects like AI-powered apps.
24.4% of the companies said that it could take almost a year, 30 to 52 weeks, to craft a custom web app of average complexity like social media platforms or content management systems. 7.3% expect the development process to carry on beyond a year for intricate projects like real-time, AI-powered apps that require high-end features and customization.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing a Web Portal?
Over half (52.4%) of web developers charge $30,000-$60,000 for a web portal. This covers basic content portals and internal communication platforms.
- 23.8% fall in the $10,000-$30,000 range, ideal for simple, entry-level portals.
- For medium to complex portals like e-commerce, enterprise, or data-driven platforms, be prepared to shell out $60,000 to $100,000.
- A select few, 14.3% of companies, command a premium of over $100,000 for highly customized, bespoke solutions.
| Web Portal Size | Cost Estimates |
| Simple, entry-level portals | $10,000-$30,000 |
| Complex portals (e-commerce, enterprise, or data-driven platforms) | $60,000 to $100,000 |
| Highly customized portals paired with bespoke solutions | Over $100,000 |
Mark a budget of around $60,000 for basic functionalities. Medium to high-end features can easily push your cost to $100,000+.
Cost Breakdown of Web Portal
| Factors | Cost Estimates |
| Design & Prototyping | $5,000-$20,000+ depending on the complexity and desired user experience |
| Development | $50,000-$250,000+ |
| CMS platform (optional) | Depends on the platform and the number of licenses needed |
| Integration with existing systems | $10,000-$50,000+ depending on complexity and number of systems involved |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | 10-20% of development costs |
| Hosting | Cost varies for shared hosting for smaller portals to dedicated servers and cloud infrastructure for larger, data-intensive applications |
| Maintenance & Support | 15-20% of annual development costs |
Cost Estimates of Different Web Portal Types:
| Web Portal Types | Cost Estimates |
| Internal employee portal with basic document management | $50,000-$75,000 |
| A public-facing educational portal with user profiles and forums | $75,000-$150,000 |
| Enterprise portal with complex data integration and analytics | $150,000-$500,000+ |
What’s the Average Time Required to Develop a Web Portal?
Most web development companies (64.3%) take 8-30 weeks to develop and deploy a web portal. For complex projects, however, a larger portion of companies (35.7%) need 30-52+ weeks for completion.
Simpler web portals such as content, Internal communication, E-commerce platforms, and other mid-range portals can be built and launched within 8-30 weeks.
Complex enterprise portals require longer development cycles, typically over a year.
What’s the Average Cost of Developing a SaaS Website?
Businesses must spend a minimum of $15,000+ to launch a SaaS website this year.
- 22% of web development companies can develop and deploy a SaaS website if you pay between $15,000 - $30,000.
- 19.5% of the companies are ready to launch it for a $30,000 - $60,000 price tag.
- 34.1% of the companies won’t do it for anything below $60,000 - $120,000 price range.
| SAAS Website Type | Cost Estimates |
| Basic to mid-range SaaS website ( single login, simple data management, etc) | $15,000 to $60,000 |
| Complex SaaS websites (multiple user roles, basic payment processing, scalability, high security, and AI-powered functionalities) | $60,000 and $1,20,000 |
To put the SaaS web development cost in perspective for you, in the $15,000 to $60,000 price range, you can build a basic to mid-range SaaS website with limited features such as a single login, simple data management, etc. The surveyed companies charge between $60,000 and $1,20,000 for building complex SaaS websites. This cost would cover features and functionalities such as multiple user roles, basic payment processing, scalability, high security, and AI-powered functionalities.
Cost Breakdown of a SaaS Website
| Factors | Cost Estimates |
| Design & Prototyping | $5,000-$20,000+ depending on the desired user experience and branding. |
| Development | $15,000-$120,000+ |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | 10-20% of development costs |
| Deployment & Hosting | Leverage shared hosting for basic platforms or cloud infrastructure for complex ones with high user volume |
| Payment Gateway Integration | Cost depends on the chosen gateway and transaction volume |
| Marketing & User Acquisition | $10,000-$50,000+, depending on your chosen strategies and target audience |
| Ongoing Maintenance & Support | 15-20% of annual development costs |
What’s the Average Time Needed to Develop a SaaS Website?
61% of the companies can help you set up a SaaS site within 12-48 weeks. All types of SaaS websites could be built in this time range, the only exception being AI-powered platforms with advanced analytics and personalized user experience.
39% of the respondents require 24-72 weeks to set up a SaaS website.
Mandatory Features
Mandatory features such as domain name, SSL certificates, web hosting, Web platforms, CMS, SEO, and Order Tracking functionalities add significantly to the web development cost. Here’s a lowdown on how web development companies charge for these mandatory features.
What’s the Average Cost of Getting a Domain Name?
Domain names will cost $10 - $60 annually, according to 70% of the companies. That’s practically a steal, given its importance.
A domain name gives you an online address and builds brand identity and credibility. It is an indispensable marketing tool, as domain names are woven into all marketing and advertising collateral, driving recognition and traffic in return.
Registering the domain name on your own without paying a web development company is easy if you are very sure of the technicalities involved; if not, taking the assistance of a web development company will take the hassle and heavy lifting out of the domain registration process. They will help you choose a customer-oriented, SEO-friendly domain name but also help you handle all the paperwork and technical aspects of the process as part of their web development package.
What’s the Average Cost of an SSL certificate?
46.2% of the respondents offer an SSL certificate for FREE with hosting services
- 20.5% of the companies provide it in the range of $10 to $70 per year
- 28.2% of the companies charge between $70 - $150 per year.
- 5.1% want the businesses to cough up over $150 per year.
A website powered with an SSL certificate prevents hackers from intercepting and stealing sensitive data. Not surprisingly, Google favors websites with SSL certificates.
Web development companies offer different SSL certificates as part of their package. For instance, there are Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV) certificates for different website types offering different security levels. The web development companies will help you identify the right certificate type corresponding to your business type and goals.
Cost comparison of different SSL certificates:
DV Certificates: Cheapest ($2-$10), ideal for low-traffic websites or blogs where basic security and trust will suffice.
OV Certificates: Expensive ($2- $100) compared to DV certificates, offering better trust and verification than DV. Ideal for sites such as ecommerce sites that handle sensitive data like credit card and login details.
EV Certificates: Most expensive ($100 upwards). It is the safest bet for financial institutions, healthcare providers, and websites requiring the highest trust and credibility.
Web development companies even partner with Certificate Authorities (CAs) like Comodo, DigiCert, and GoDaddy to make the process as seamless as possible for you.
What’s the Average Cost of Web hosting?
- $50 - $200 per year for VPS hosting (32% of the companies)
- $200 - $600 per year for Dedicated hosting (35% of the companies)
- Under $50 per year for shared hosting (23% of the surveyed companies)
- Over $600 annually for premium services (10% of the companies)
Web Hosting ensures your website is discoverable and accessible to potential customers online.
When you hire a web development company, they study your website traffic and budget and compare different hosting providers before recommending an optimal hosting plan. They’ll even evaluate hosting options such as Cloud Hosting, VPS, Shared, and Dedicated to ensure your hosting plan aligns with your technical needs.
If you do not have the faintest idea of which web hosting is right for your business, consider the website's traffic and budget. Here are a few popular hosting services that web development companies can offer:
Shared hosting: This is the cheapest option as you share your server with other websites so it might cost a few dollars monthly. It is best for small websites with low traffic and resource requirements.
VPS hosting: Cost is slightly higher ($10 - $50 per month) because though you share your Virtual Private Server with others, a good portion of the resources are reserved just for your website. The hosting is suitable for up-and-coming websites with mediocre traffic and resource needs.
Dedicated hosting: Renting a physical server for your exclusive use is the most expensive option as the cost might exceed $50 per month and may even touch hundreds of thousands of dollars for high-performance servers. Dedicated hosting is ideal for enterprise websites with complete control and reliable resources.
Consult a web development company to get a complete idea of the type of web hosting that would gel with your business.
What’s the Average Cost of Using a Web Platform (e.g., WordPress)?
- Assist in using open-source platforms for free (30% of web development companies)
- Pay between $100-$300 for using managed platform services (37.5% of the companies)
- $300 - $1,000 for advanced features and support (20% of the companies)
- Over $1,000 for enterprise solutions (12.5% of the companies)
What’s the Average Cost of Add-ons (Themes, Plugins)?
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- Offer basic themes and plugins in 0 to $50 price points (23.7% of the Web development companies)
- $50 - $100 for premium themes and plugins (34.2% of companies)
- $100 to $200 for custom or advanced features (23.7% companies)
- Over $200 (18.4% of the companies)
Unlike other websites, e-commerce sites require more complex themes and plugins in the form of payment gateways and product features, making them an expensive proposition for eCommerce owners. On the other hand, for bloggers, a good number of add-ons are available for free on Wordpress in the form of contact forms, SEO optimization, and social media integration. A few add-ons require monthly or annual subscriptions. A web development company will help you compare different alternatives and help you choose add-ons that align with your website requirements, which, in turn, would ensure you don’t bloat your website or cost by adding unnecessary features.
- Under $100 for basic solutions(15.4% of companies)
- $100 - $500 for enhanced features (11.5% of the participant companies)
- $500 to $1500 range for advanced systems (38.5% of the respondents)
- $1500+ for custom or enterprise solutions (26.9% of the surveyed companies)
There are four main payment gateway options: hosted payment gateways, API-hosted payment gateways, self-hosted payment gateways, and local bank integration gateways. Shopify and WordPress, two popular website builders, have built-in integration for Hosted gateways, making them a perfect fit for ecommerce stores and small businesses with low transaction volumes.
In contrast, API-hosted and self-hosted gateways perfectly align with sites with large transaction volumes that require customized checkout experiences. Local-bank integration gateways are ideal for websites focusing on specific regions or countries.
Hosted Payment Gateways is the cheapest of all the available payment integration solutions, and in fact, you can avail it for free when the transaction volume is preternaturally low.
Hiring a web development company is the best way to pinpoint the payment gateway that’s right for your business, as they’ll research and compare various alternatives based on your specific needs and budget. You can even directly contact the providers for quotes and particular features.
What’s the Average Cost of Implementing a CMS?
- Free CMS for open-source solutions ( 20% of companies)
- $200 - $1,000 for Managed CMS platforms (15% of companies)
- $1000 to $5000+ for custom CMS development & enterprise solutions (65% of companies)
CMS, or Content Management System, has made creating, editing, publishing, and organizing website content effortless, as you don’t have to code anymore. Three kinds of CMS are available today: Website Content Management Systems, Enterprise Content Management Systems, and Document Management Systems. Each of these CMS is different regarding scalability, budget, and requirements. Consulting a web development company will help you narrow down the CMS of your choice.
WordPress is a free CMS. Ghost and Joplin are the two other cheapest CMS solutions.
What’s the Average Cost of Implementing Order-Tracking Functionalities?
- Under $100 for basic order tracking solutions (17.5% of companies).
- $100 - $500 for enhanced order tracking features (10% of companies).
- $500 - $1,500 for advanced order tracking services ( 37.5% of companies).
- Over $1,500 for installing enterprise order tracking facilities (32.5% of companies).
Sites that sell physical products require order-tracking functionalities. Platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce have built-in order-tracking plugins. So, the plugin cost is covered under the platform fees. However, advanced order tracking with direct API integration and customized solutions with automated notifications could be a pricey affair. Hence, think twice before choosing customized order-tracking functionalities.
What’s the Average Cost of Implementing Basic Database Support?
- Under $100 monthly for basic cloud database services ( 17.5% of the companies).
- $100 - $500 per month for managed database services (25% of the companies)
- $500 -$1,500 per month for advanced database solutions (40% of the companies)
- Over $1,500 per month for enterprise solutions (10% of the companies
Database support systems are the building blocks of modern businesses. Analyzing stored data helps companies uncover insights about ongoing market trends, user behavior, and more. The information is leveraged by businesses to make informed decisions, optimize marketing campaigns, and personalize user experiences.
There are almost six database services: Cloud database services, managed Database Services, Advanced Database Solutions, Enterprise Database Solutions, Database as a Service, and Specialized Database Services.
A web development company helps you choose the right type of database service provider based on your specific needs, budget, and technical skills. They’ll consider factors such as the data type you need to store, the growth potential of your application, and the desired customization and performance level required before zeroing down the right database type for you.
What’s the Average Cost of Implementing Chatbots?
Surveyed companies offer basic bots for free as part of the web development package or might charge $100 max.
Customizable or enterprise-level bots fall in the range of $100-$1,500+.
Chatbots are becoming a crucial component of commercial businesses. It enhances customer experience via 24/7 customer support, personalized interaction, and multilingual support, not to mention proactive engagement with the audiences that fuel lead generation and sales. With AI advancements sweeping the tech landscape, AI-powered conversational bots are steadily becoming the order of the day.
If you are unsure whether you need an AI-powered conversational bot to run your business or a simple rule-based bot will work, check with a web development company to get a clearer picture. Based on your budget and business requirements, they’ll help you choose the best option.
What’s the Average Cost of SEO and Marketing?
As per the participant companies, the SEO and marketing cost could be under $300 per month if you look for minimum SEO intervention; however, it could go over $2,500 if your requirements don’t end.
Generally speaking, businesses spend 10-20% of their web development budget on SEO and marketing. But then, eventually, it comes down to your website size and complexity because a large and complex site requires more SEO and marketing work than a small business website.
What's the Overall Average Cost of Developing a DIY website
Again, we cannot give you a specific price range for a DIY web page development cost as it would be misleading. However, here’s a general estimate for three different DIY types.
$50 to $500 per year: That’s the lowest imaginable estimate for building a simple DIY website using website-building platforms such as Wix and Squarespace. Both these website builders offer free and paid plan options. However, the domain name and website hosting charges have not been factored in.
$1,000 to $5,000 per year: This is the mid-range bracket for building a DIY customized website such as an ecommerce store or a blog. And as you may require premium themes and plugins for customization, the cost would definitely go up. One better way to cut down costs is to opt for Wordpress Website Builder as it comes with more flexibility and customization; however, to use WordPress Website Builder, you will need a basic understanding of Wordpress development.
$5,000+ per year: If you look at highly advanced features and custom development for your DIY site, it could cost you $5,000+. One of the reasons for such a high cost for a DIY site is that you will have to hire a web developer or designer to build advanced features and functionalities. Plus, marketing and SEO expenses also need to be factored in.
Here's a rough cost breakdown of the DIY website:
Domain name: $10-$15 per year
Web hosting: $5-$50 per month
Website builder platform: $0-$50 per month (free plans and paid plans)
WordPress themes and plugins: $0-$200 (one-time purchase)
Custom development: $50-$200 per hour
SEO and marketing: $500-$5,000 per month
Bottomline: The cost of developing a DIY depends entirely on your needs and budget. If your budget is limited, use a free website builder platform to build a simple website. If you think budget won’t be a constraint, invest in a paid platform.
DIY is a good idea for a starter personal website. The prices I will mention are minimal (for example, the simplest, cheapest domain). Creating a DIY website typically costs between $100 to $500. This includes your domain name, which is about $10 to $30 a year, basic web hosting (around $40 to $100 yearly), and maybe a one-time cost for a premium theme (around $30 to $100). If you need extra features, some plugins might add to the cost. Website builders like Wix or Squarespace charge monthly, usually between $10 and $40. It's a good, budget-friendly option for personal sites, small businesses, or simple blogs. However, if you want more advanced stuff, the cost will go up very quickly.
- Oleg Sivograkov, QArea
Cost Of Website Maintenance in 2024: A Breakdown by Type
Launching your website is one thing; however, maintaining it will be an ongoing. Needless to say, the cost would differ with every website type, complexity, hosting platform, and update frequency.
Here's a guesstimate cost of website maintenance for different website types in 2024:
| Website Type | Annual Maintenance Costs | Typical Tasks |
| Personal Website | $50 - $250 |
Software updates, security scans, basic content edits, plugin updates |
| Small Business Website | $250 - $1,000 | Above tasks plus domain name renewal, backups, SEO optimization, minor design adjustments |
| E-commerce Website | $1,000 - $5,000+ | All of the above plus payment gateway maintenance, product catalog updates, security audits, and performance optimization |
| MVP | $500 - $2,000 | Software updates, bug fixes, performance monitoring, feature iteration based on user feedback |
| Web Portal | $1,000 - $10,000+ |
All of the above plus user management, data security, access control, integration maintenance |
| Custom Web Application | $2,000 - $20,000+ | All of the above plus custom feature updates, bug fixes, performance optimization, scalability management. |
| SaaS Website | $5,000 - $50,000+ |
All of the above plus server infrastructure maintenance, data security audits, scalability, performance optimization, user support. |
Additional Tips:
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A reliable hosting service provider will offer maintenance services as part of the hosting services.
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Take regular data backups to ensure quick data recovery in case of emergencies.
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Software and plugins should be updated continually for security reasons.
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Choose DIY maintenance if you have technical expertise.
By tracking down the factors that affect website maintenance costs and choosing the right strategies, you can ensure your website stays afloat and that it is within the budget.
Web Development Rates Per Hour - A Country-wise Rundown
Website construction cost varies depending on project specifics, the expertise of the website development agencies, and location. However, this country-wise rundown of costs should help you with initial budgeting.
High-cost countries
| United States | $80-$250 per hour |
| Canada | $70-$150 per hour |
| Australia | $70-$180 per hour |
| United Kingdom | $60-$120 per hour |
| Germany | $50-$100 per hour |
Mid-cost countries
| Poland | $30-$80 per hour |
| Brazil | $25-$60 per hour |
| Thailand | $20-$50 per hour |
| Argentina | $20-$45 per hour |
| Philippines | $15-$40 per hour |
Low-cost countries
| India | $10-$30 per hour |
| Pakistan | $8-$25 per hour |
| Ukraine | $15-$35 per hour |
| Indonesia | $10-$25 per hour |
| Bangladesh | $5-$15 per hour |
Website Development Costs in Pakistan:
General Cost Range in Pakistani Rupee (PKR):
- Basic Website (3-5 pages): PKR 30,000 - PKR 100,000 (approx. USD 170 - $570)
- Standard Website (5-10 pages): PKR 100,000 - PKR 200,000 (approx. USD 570 - $1,150)
- Custom Website (10+ pages): PKR 200,000+ (approx. USD $1,150+)
- E-commerce Website: PKR 300,000+ (approx. USD 1,700+) - Similar to other regions, e-commerce features significantly impact the cost.
Website Development Costs in India:
General Cost Range in Indian Rupee
- Website development costs in India vary with varying specifications.
- A basic website (5-10 pages) would cost between ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 1,00,000 ($600 – $1200)
- A small business website (10-20 pages): could range between ₹ 80,000 to ₹ 1,50,000 ($950 – $1800)
- Corporate Website (20-50 pages): INR 1,50,000 - INR 4,00,000 (approx. USD $1,800 - $4,800)
- Ecommerce platform costs between 50,000 to ₹ 4,00,000 ($1800 – $4800)
Website Development Costs in Ukraine:
- The cost of designing a website in Ukraine can start from $3,000 and can go up to $40,000 and over.
- A small business website (8-16 pages) can cost around $3,000 - $8,000,
- A corporate Website (25-75 pages) can be designed for $10,000 - $16,000
- An ecommerce website website $25,000 - $40,000+ (depending on the project complexity)
Website Development Costs in Indonesia:
- The cost Range is given in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
- An informational website (5-10 pages) can cost between IDR 5,000,000 - IDR 15,000,000 (approx. USD 350 - $1,050).
- For a small business website (10-20 pages), you will have to pay IDR 10,000,000 - IDR 25,000,000 (approx. USD 700 - $1,750)
- A Corporate Website (20-50 pages) can be designed for IDR 25,000,000 - IDR 50,000,000 (approx. USD 1,750 - $3,500).
- E-commerce Website: IDR 50,000,000+ (approx. USD 3,500+) - The cost can go up or down depending on complexity (payment gateways, inventory management, etc.)
Website Development Cost in Bangladesh:
General Cost Range in Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
- Basic Website (3-5 pages): BDT 15,000 - BDT 50,000 (approx. USD 180 - $600)
- Standard Website (5-10 pages): BDT 50,000 - BDT 1,00,000 (approx. USD 600 - $1,200)
- Business Website (10-20 pages, with CMS): BDT 1,00,000 - BDT 2,00,000 (approx. USD 1,200 - $2,400)
- E-commerce Website: BDT 2,00,000+ (approx. USD 2,400+) - Similar to other regions, e-commerce features directly impact the cost.
Again, these are rough estimates as development costs vary with varying project complexity and other factors.
Hiring web developers from low-cost destinations can help you save money. Still, you could face challenges in time-zone differences, resulting in communication and collaboration gaps. If you can plug this loophole, hiring web development companies from low-cost destinations is the ideal alternative.
What’s the Most Preferred Pricing Model Of Web Development Companies?
GoodFirms' "Web Development Cost Survey 2024" reveals the clear winners: Hourly and Fixed Pricing Models, chosen by a whopping 70% of web development companies!
Hourly Model: Control is Key
The hourly model is the safest bet for clients who wish complete control over the development workflow. You only pay for the hours spent, making it ideal for projects with an increased possibility of scope creep and are complex at the same time. .
Fixed Price: Predictability Matters
For clients who wish to have a clear roadmap in advance, the fixed price model is the saving grace. The web development company and the client agree on the cost upfront, giving you no budget surprises.
Retainer: Ongoing Support and Expertise
Though less popular, the retainer model is all about ongoing web maintenance. This model has been designed to keep long-term projects of clients in mind who require continuous maintenance and updates. However, it’s not as popular as the other two, with just 10% of the web development companies focussing on retainer and 20% on all three models.
So, which model best fits your bill? It should be based on your requirements. Period.
Understand Website Types and their Average Cost Before Embarking on Your Web Development Journey
Now that you have web development costs of different websites down pat, you know for now how much a website cost in 2004. Use this pricing guide as a guardrail while taking quotes from multiple web development companies. Nevertheless, remember that cost typically increases with complexity, be it a simple personal website or a full-fledged SaaS platform.
Also, remember that basic expenses like domain names and SSL certificates add to the cost, regardless of website type. To keep your costs under control, eat an elephant one bite at a time. Simply put, launch a simple website first and test it before you add extra custom API integrations or AI-driven personalization.
With AI on the rise, updates and redesigns will be the norm of the future, leading to ongoing development costs. Budget wisely and choose a web development partner who evolves with the times.
About the Survey
GoodFirms surveyed 100+ web development companies worldwide to determine the prevailing project costs and time frames. The survey took into account companies with varied experience levels. About 57.1% of the companies have 10+ years of experience, while 23.8% of the companies surveyed have 7-10 years, 16.7% have 4-6 years, and 2.4% have 1-3 years.
We'd like to thank our Research Partners for their valuable contributions to our survey.
