What website builders actually cost per month
A straight price comparison of the major website builders, with the entry tier, the top tier, and the difference between annual and monthly billing made explicit.
Quick answer
Entry paid tiers for the major website builders in 2026 run from about $4 to $29 a month on annual billing: Hostinger from $3.99, GoDaddy $9.99, Webflow $14, Squarespace $16, Wix $17, Adviita $18, and Shopify $29. Monthly billing costs meaningfully more — Wix is $24 rather than $17, Squarespace $25 rather than $16. Wix, GoDaddy and Adviita have free tiers. Prices verified 2026-07-26.
Website builder pricing, 2026 (USD, annual billing)
| Builder | Free tier | Entry paid | Top tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adviita | Yes | $18/mo | $18/mo | Free tier is a complete live site; paid adds a custom domain. |
| Hostinger | No | from $3.99/mo | varies | Cheapest entry point; hosting-led rather than builder-led. |
| GoDaddy | Yes | $9.99/mo | $20.99/mo | Basic / Premium / Commerce. Lowest rates tied to annual billing. |
| Webflow | No | $14/mo | $29/mo+ | Site plans from $14; ecommerce from $29. Steep learning curve. |
| Squarespace | No | $16/mo ($25/mo monthly) | $99/mo | Basic $16 / Core $23 / Plus $39 / Advanced $99 annual. |
| Wix | Yes | $17/mo ($24/mo monthly) | $159/mo | Light $17 / Core $29 / Business $39 / Elite $159 annual. |
| Shopify | No | $29/mo | $299/mo | Starter tier $5/mo is link-in-bio selling, not a full store. |
Step-by-step
- 1
Compare annual prices, then check the monthly figure
Almost every builder advertises the annual-billing rate. Wix's $17 Light plan is $24 if you pay monthly; Squarespace's $16 Basic is $25. That's a 40–55% premium for the flexibility to leave. If you're testing an idea, pay monthly and accept the premium. If you're committed, annual is genuinely cheaper.
- 2
Work out which tier you actually need
Entry tiers usually cover a custom domain, no builder branding, and basic analytics — which is the whole requirement for most service businesses. Payments, bookings and ecommerce push you a tier up: Wix Core at $29, Squarespace Core at $23. Don't buy the ecommerce tier for a business that takes deposits by bank transfer.
- 3
Add the domain to every number
A custom domain is $12–$20 a year on top, unless the plan bundles the first year — Squarespace's annual plans include a free domain for year one, then charge for it. It's a small number but it's the one people forget when comparing two plans that look identical.
- 4
Check what happens at renewal
Introductory rates are common, particularly on hosting-led products. The advertised $3.99 is frequently a first-term price that rises substantially on renewal. Before committing to a long term, find the renewal rate — it's the number you'll be paying for most of the relationship.
- 5
Price the whole picture, not the subscription
Your real annual cost is the plan plus the domain plus any paid apps or transaction fees. A $16 plan with three $8 apps is a $40 plan. Ecommerce builders also take transaction fees on top unless you use their own payments product — worth checking before the comparison feels settled.
Tips & best practices
- ▸Annual billing saves roughly 25–35% across most builders; monthly buys you the option to leave.
- ▸Free tiers are genuinely usable for testing — the trade is builder branding on your link.
- ▸Introductory pricing on hosting-led products can double at renewal; find that number first.
- ▸Transaction fees on ecommerce plans can exceed the subscription itself at volume.
Common questions
How much does a website builder cost per month?
+−
Entry paid tiers run from about $4 to $29 a month on annual billing in 2026 — Hostinger from $3.99, GoDaddy $9.99, Webflow $14, Squarespace $16, Wix $17, Adviita $18, Shopify $29. Monthly billing costs 40–55% more on several of them.
Which website builder is cheapest?
+−
Hostinger has the lowest advertised entry price at around $3.99 a month, though it's hosting-led rather than a pure builder and introductory rates typically rise at renewal. Among free tiers, Wix, GoDaddy and Adviita all let you publish a live site at no cost with their branding on the link.
Is annual or monthly billing better?
+−
Annual is cheaper by roughly 25–35% on most builders. Monthly costs more but lets you leave without a sunk cost — worth paying while you're still testing whether the site earns its place. Switch to annual once you're sure.
What's the real cost of a website builder?
+−
The subscription plus a domain at $12–$20 a year, plus any paid apps and, on ecommerce plans, transaction fees. A plan that looks like $16 a month often lands nearer $30 once those are counted. Compare total annual cost rather than headline monthly price.
Do website builders have hidden fees?
+−
Not hidden exactly, but easy to miss: renewal rates above the introductory price, domains billed separately after year one, paid apps for features you assumed were included, and transaction fees on ecommerce tiers. Check all four before committing to an annual term.