How Much Does A Website Cost In 2021 Less Than You Might Think
In one sense, asking how much does a website cost? is a little like asking how much does a house cost?
That is, the answer depends a lot on the person whos asking it and their needs and preferences. What location? How many bedrooms? What style? You get it
However, because of how much simpler it is to create a website in 2021 vs the past, you might be surprised by how affordable creating a website can beif youre willing to get your hands a little dirty!
In this post, well start by answering how much does a website cost? for a DIY approach, which is an approach thats accessible even if youre not a techie.
Then, well discuss what you can expect to pay if you want to hire someone to build your website, with some real survey data from people who build websites for a living.
Lets dig into the question of how much does a website cost
Wixs Business And Ecommerce Plans In Detail
But of course, if youre looking to start an online store, need more video storage or fancy using one of Wixs business apps , you should consider one of the Business or eCommerce premium plans:
| Business Basic |
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| Check out plan |
Please note that the yearly, 2-year and 3-year plans will be charged at once. So youll be paying the full term upfront in one payment.
Sidenote: All the Wix Business and eCommerce plans include the possibility to use your own domain name, SSL encryption and are 100% ad-free. For annual and bi-annual Wix deals, youll get a free domain name for the first year.
How To Find Out If Your Domain Has Value For Free
If you still think your domain might be worth something, its time to find out. There are many domain name appraisal services online, and most of them do not cost anything to use. Its important to remember that the values these services place on domains are educated guesses, so try and get a few different opinions.
The first one you can try is from GoDaddy.
Simply enter in your domain and press the VALUE button. Youll receive a valuation straight away, backed up by reasons for its valuation.
If you like what you see, you can list your domain name on GoDaddys native domain auction service.
Another one to try is Free Valuator. This works similarly to GoDaddy, plus they will introduce you to a professional domain name value assessor if you are looking to sell your domain name.
Finally, you can try Estibot, which uses mathematical models to calculate the value of a domain name. However, there is a limit for daily free searches per IP address.
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Website Theme/design Free To $60+
Lets go back to the examples before. How much do you think these two websites paid for just their designs:
Exhibit a:Exhibit b:
How does that happen? Well, one big benefit of using a content management system like WordPress is that you can change your websites design using pre-built themes, rather than needing to design your site from scratch.
Youll install a theme with a few clicks. Then, youll be able to customize that theme to meet your needs using a beginner-friendly interface.
All the website software options WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, etc. offer both free and premium themes.
So if youre on a budget, its totally safe and fine to choose a free option. For example, the first site above is using the free Zelle Lite theme, and the second site is using the free Hestia Lite theme.
If you find a premium theme that you love, heres what you can expect to pay:
- WordPress $59 is the average price of a WordPress theme, though it varies per theme.
- Squarespace and Wix usually $100+
Additionally, WordPress page builder plugins like Elementor can help you further enhance your design using drag-and-drop visual editing for free.
What Is Domain Valuation
Domain valuation is the term given to the process of determining a specific URLs value. Its similar to the process of determining a home or companys value, but its not nearly as intensive. The overall value of a specific domain can vary greatly with some domains achieving a seven-figure valuation. Needless to say, the domain name market can be quite lucrative.
As you begin to learn about domain valuation, its important to understand how domains work. Domain names, also sometimes called URLs, are the exact numbers/letters that are typed into an internet browser address bar . Domain names are made up of top-level domains and second-level domains:
- Top-level domains refer to the domain name extension, or the last few letters that come after the . in the domain name .
- Second-level domains refer to the letters/numbers that precede the domain name extension.
In the web address howtostartanllc.com, .com is the top-level domain and howtostartanllc is the second-level domain.
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Wixs Website Plans In Detail
| Feature |
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| Visit Wix.com for a free trial account |
* The Connect Domain plan is not available in the US anymore and probably will also disappear for the rest of the world soon.
Please note that the yearly, 2-year and 3-year plans will be charged at once. So youll be paying the full term upfront in one payment.
What Costs Are Involved Using A Website Builder
Professional Help: $0
You wont need to pay for any professional designers to help out with your site, as builders are easy to use and quick to get the hang of. You pay for a subscription, either monthly or annually, and this is the main cost youll need to budget for.
Domain Name: $12 per year
A lot of website builders include a free custom domain in their plans this usually gives you a free domain of your choice for your first year, after which youll need to pay. Domains vary in price, but average around $12 per year for a common one such as .com.
Apps: $3 $60 per month
If you want to add apps to your site, then theres often a mix of free and paid ones to choose from. Paid apps arent usually expensive, ranging from $3 to $60 per month you get to pick which apps to install and which plan you want, so youre in total control of this cost.
Themes, Hosting, or Security: $0
You dont need to pay for themes, hosting, or security for your website these costs are all included in your website builder subscription.
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Find Out What Potential Buyers Are Willing To Pay:
Going straight to potential buyers is one of the best ways to find out more about how much you could get for selling your domain. After all, asking potential buyers will help you avoid mistakes made by research tools and help you determine if your domain is actually relevant. Bear in mind that even if your domain name ticks all the boxes when it comes to the right characteristics, if it Is not in demand or relevant to anybodys website, it may not be worth a lot. On the other hand, your domain name might end up being much more appealing to potential buyers than you initially thought. You could also try putting your domain name up for sale with a reserve price, which gives you the chance to find out what buyers are willing to pay without the risk of making a loss.
Why $10000 For A Domain Name Is Still Cheap
Domain names are now an integral part of any business. Whether the use is primarily for email, a company website, or part of a marketing campaign anyone starting a business must secure a domain name.
The difference between a domain name and other marketing expenses however is you are acquiring a presence which help future customers define you, not leasing one.
Owning a premium domain has become expensive with the average price of a domain name hovering around anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000 however how expensive is this?
If one were to compare the price of almost anything compared to its original cost could we not classify everything as expensive. A $3 bottled water costs how much to produce? Or a $300 pair of designer sunglasses which probably cost less than a mocha to manufacture?
Somebody has your name and they are squatting on it?
Unless you have a trademark on the domain or someone is intentionally capitalizing on monetizing a typo of your trademark no one really is a squatter in the domain name industry. Whats even more interesting is for those people who complain that somebody has their name, but lack a trademark or other legal form of similar use, is almost the equivalent to saying that your grandmother owns my dream home except now they are inferring that your grandmother is this evil natured women and not a smart investor. Real estate ownership is acceptable by public opinion and so should be domain name investing.
How much is a domain name worth?
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Which Option Is Best For Me
For most people, buying a new domain is going to be the preferred route to take. Youll not only get the best deal, but the registration and purchase process will be the simplest.
In time, as your experience and online assets grow it might make sense to negotiate for a domain or purchase an expired domain.
But, when youre just starting out make it easy on yourself and find a solid new domain.
HostGators domain registration is easy, the prices are fair, and you can take care of your domain management and renewals in the same place you manage your web hosting services and website updates.
Domain registration doesnt have to be expensive or difficult. Simply use our domain search tool to find the domain you want, and it can be yours within minutes. Still looking for a hosting provider to help you build your online presence? HostGator is a leading hosting provider that offers a number of different hosting packages so you can build your perfect website.
Buying A New Domain Name
For most people, they go with the option of purchasing a new domain name. Its the quickest and cheapest option, and with a little creativity, you can find a solid domain.
First, youll need to choose a domain registrar. For the sake of example, lets say youre going to register your domain with HostGator.
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How To Instantly Check The Website Value
When you think of earning from placing ads on your site, you obviously want to know what its actually worth.You can set a price which is below your sites actual price, and lose money.Or, you can set the price that is simply inadequate for your sites parameters,and advertisers will decline your offer in favour of others, with a more realistic price range.
No wonder that every website owner always asks the question: How much is my website worth?. With this in mind,weve designed a tool that can estimate the true value and help you set the price range that will satisfy you and the advertisers.
Website value calculator by MageNet does just this, and even more.This free calculator helps website owners earn from ads placement on MageNet by assessing their website valuation.Everyone can check the website value within the space of a few minutes.
The Truth About Automated Website Valuations
Numerous sites provide automated website valuations. In addition to missing the human element that lends credibility to professional website valuations, most automated tools neglect critical data including financials, traffic, etc. in their valuations. The bottom line is that these sites are terribly flawed and inaccurate. To highlight this point, consider the chart below which compares four automated website valuations produced by popular automated valuation provider SitePrice.org, with the actual Flippa sales price below.
SitePrice.org valuations proved very innacurate, with each accounting for just 4% 7% of the actual selling price.
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You Want To Use It As An Investment
Buying domain names for investment purposes was more common in the early days of the internet, when there were more .coms with popular keywords still available to claim. Now that most are taken, its hard to find domains at a good price that make a solid investment. Nonetheless, if you think you have the skill spot a domain name likely to go up in value, you can buy it now in the hopes of selling it later.
Ask The Right Questions
We already know the first question: How much does a website cost? But there are other questions you need to ask to work out the answer, and keep sight of the bigger picture.
1. What Is My Realistic Budget?
Your budget doesnt have to hold you back, but it does affect your building options. If youre on a tight budget, for example, you probably wont be able to afford a professional web designer meaning youll be better off choosing WordPress or a website builder, rather than risking a sketchy hire job.
Remember that there are two main costs you need to budget for:
- The upfront cost of the websites design and setup
- The ongoing costs of maintaining your website
Well get into more specific numbers below, but as a general rule, website builders have the lowest upfront costs, while WordPress usually requires a larger upfront sum to get started. Hiring a website designer remains the most expensive option, but you wont pay any ongoing fees unless you arrange an ongoing contract with your web designer.
Setting a firm budget before starting is essential for success. It means you wont overpay for things you dont need, and it will also help your project stay on-track.
Theres nothing worse than giving yourself or a web designer a budget, then realizing you got your calculations wrong and need to cut the budget in half once the project is underway. Chances are, this will result in a website youre not 100% happy with!
2. How Do I Want to Manage My Website?
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How Much Is A Domain Worth
While domains have characteristics that can make them more or less valuable, there is no easy way to estimate the value of a domain name. There are tools that claim they can, however its best to take the valuations they provide with a pinch of salt.
For example Godaddys domain appraisal tool tells us that free.co.uk is worth approximately $15,000, however it sold in March this year for $205,000 which is an incredible discrepancy.
Domains are only worth what someone else is willing to pay, and for everyone this is a different amount. The best way to understand how much a domain could be worth is to take a look at prices that similar domains have sold for. However, this can be tricky in itself because its a relatively opaque market, most domain sales dont get reported or disclosed.
If youd like to get a UK domain valued, its best to ask someone in the know. Acorndomains.co.uk is a domainer forum full of helpful members with years of experience, and they have a domain appraisal section however, even seasoned domain experts can have conflicting views on valuations.