"How much does it cost to build a website?" The honest answer: it depends on the website. A simple blog costs very little, while a large online store needs a bigger budget. Let us break down every cost.
The parts of a website's cost
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Yes | Yearly; free for the first year with eligible Hostinger plans |
| Hosting | Yes | Depends on plan and term; lower monthly price on longer terms |
| SSL certificate | Yes | Free on Hostinger |
| WordPress | Yes (or a website builder) | Free |
| Theme | Yes | Start free; premium themes are optional |
| Plugins | Some | Mostly free; some premium options |
| Business email | Optional | Included or trial mailbox on many Hostinger plans |
| Developer / designer | Optional | Zero if you build it yourself |
Check exact prices on Hostinger's website; they change with sales and term length. Prices are shown before GST; a GST calculator gives you the final figure.
Budgets by website type
1. Personal blog or portfolio
Just hosting and a domain. A free theme and free plugins are enough. Cheapest option: Hostinger Premium.
2. Small business website
Hosting, a domain and a business email address, perhaps a premium theme. Hostinger Premium or Business.
3. Online store
Business hosting, WooCommerce, a payment gateway (gateways like Razorpay charge a fee per transaction) and a few premium plugins. Hostinger Business or Cloud.
5 ways to save money
- Buy through a referral link: 20% off eligible plans.
- Pick a 24- or 48-month term for a lower monthly price.
- Claim the free domain instead of buying one separately.
- Start with a free theme and upgrade only if you need to.
- Remove unnecessary add-ons at checkout.
One-time costs vs yearly costs
A common mistake is budgeting only for the first year. Split your budget into what you pay once and what repeats every year:
| Cost | One-time or recurring? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Recurring (yearly) | Free for year one on eligible Hostinger plans, then normal renewal |
| Hosting | Recurring (per term) | Renewal price is higher than the introductory price |
| Premium theme | One-time or yearly licence | Many charge yearly for updates and support |
| Premium plugins | Usually yearly licence | Add these up; they become the biggest hidden cost |
| Logo and design | One-time | Optional; a simple text logo works when you start |
| Developer work | One-time (plus maintenance) | Ask whether updates and fixes are included afterwards |
| Payment gateway | Per transaction | Only for online stores and paid bookings |
Hidden costs to watch out for
- Renewals. The hosting price on renewal is usually higher than the first term. Long terms delay this.
- Add-ons at checkout. Extra security, backups or email may be pre-selected. Remove what you do not need.
- GST. Prices are often shown before 18% GST, which is added at checkout.
- Plugin creep. Five premium plugins at a yearly licence each can cost more than your hosting.
- Paid stock photos. Free libraries cover most needs.
- Fixing a cheap build. A rushed or pirated theme can cost more to repair than doing it properly once.
DIY vs freelancer vs agency
| Do it yourself | Freelancer | Agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest: hosting and domain only | Medium | Highest |
| Time to launch | A day to a week | One to four weeks | Several weeks |
| Control | Full | High, if accounts are in your name | Depends on the contract |
| Best for | Blogs, portfolios, simple business sites | Business sites with custom design | Large stores and complex projects |
How to keep the yearly cost low
- Choose a 24- or 48-month hosting term to lock in the lower monthly price.
- Use free, well-maintained plugins and a lightweight free theme.
- Use the email included with your hosting plan instead of a separate paid service when you start.
- Compress images yourself instead of paying for an image optimisation plugin.
- Review your add-ons once a year and cancel what you no longer use.
Not sure which plan you need? The Plan Finder suggests one in three questions, and our shared vs cloud vs VPS guide explains when it is worth paying more.
Questions to ask before hiring someone
- Will the domain, hosting and WordPress admin be in my name? A WHOIS lookup shows who a domain is registered to.
- Is the theme licensed properly (not a pirated copy)?
- Who handles updates and backups after launch, and what does it cost?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- Will the site be mobile-friendly and fast? Ask for a PageSpeed result on a past project, or check one yourself with a performance health score.
- Will I get training to add pages and posts myself?
What to spend on first
If your budget is tight, spend in this order and add the rest later:
- Reliable hosting with SSL and backups. Everything else depends on it.
- Your domain. Claim the free one with an eligible plan.
- Good content and photos. Clear text and real photos of your products or work sell more than a fancy design.
- Business email. It builds trust with customers.
- Premium theme or plugins only when a free option clearly cannot do the job.
- Paid design or development once the business is earning from the website.
Following this order, most small businesses can launch a professional website for little more than the cost of hosting, and improve it as revenue grows.
Build it yourself or hire a developer?
If you can spare an hour or two, build it yourself. Our guide how to build a WordPress website on Hostinger walks you through every step. For custom features, a unique design or a large store, hiring a developer is a smart investment.
