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Website Cost Calculator
Tick what your business needs and compare what a website really costs in 2026 — across AI builders, hosted builders, freelancers, and agencies. Honest numbers, including the ones that surprise people.
How big a site?
What do you need?
Your estimate, all four routes
| Route | Year one | Ongoing /mo | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI builder (DIY)CheapestDescribe your business, site is generated — Adviita, Durable | $231 | $19 | 15–30 minutes |
| Hosted builder (DIY)Templates and drag-and-drop — Wix, Squarespace | $215 – $415 | $16 – $40 | 10–30 hours |
| Freelance designerCustom design built for you, one-off fee | $815 – $2,015 | $15 – $50 | 2–6 weeks |
| AgencyFull brand + site project with a team | $3,000 – $10,000 | $100 – $500 | 6–12 weeks |
See the cheapest route for yourself — describe your business and get a complete website free, in 60 seconds. Upgrade only if you want the custom domain.
Try it free →Want your industry's exact numbers?
We publish detailed cost breakdowns per business type — including the hidden costs and the save-money tactics specific to each trade.
Common questions
How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
Between $0 and $1,200 in year one for most small service businesses. An AI builder's free plan costs nothing; a custom domain and paid plan runs about $220/year; a hosted builder $200–$500/year; a freelance designer $800–$3,000 one-off; an agency $3,000–$10,000+. The biggest cost drivers are online booking, e-commerce, and photography — not the site itself.
Are these estimates accurate for my industry?
They're calibrated for small service businesses — salons, trades, coaches, clinics, studios. We publish detailed per-industry breakdowns too: see our cost guides for salons, restaurants, plumbers, celebrants, tattoo studios, and 20+ other business types.
What do people forget to budget for?
Domain renewal ($12–20/year), business email ($6–12/month), photography (often the single largest line item), and — on WordPress or agency builds — ongoing maintenance. Free platforms with builder branding cost nothing but look less professional; factor the upgrade in when comparing.
What's the cheapest way to get a professional website?
An AI website builder's free plan: describe your business, get a complete professional site generated and published at no cost. Upgrade to roughly $18/month only when you want a custom domain and no builder branding. Total year-one cost: $0–$235 including the domain.
Or skip the budgeting entirely.
The cheapest row in that table is real: describe your business and Adviita generates a complete professional website free, in 60 seconds. Pay only if you want a custom domain.
Build my website free →