How much does a website cost per month in the UK? Websites are essential for businesses to have success in 2023.

It’s actually quite hard now to find a business that doesn’t have a website or at least a FaceBook Page.

But all of these websites come at a cost, and some websites are better than others, but what makes them better and what are the cost differences?

In this blog, we discuss how much does a website cost per month in the UK? We will explore all of the factors to website pricing, and by the end you’ll know exactly what route or option to go for.

Importance Of Having A Website

It is impossible to exaggerate the value of having a website because it acts as your online identity and a doorway to your target market.

A website offers a centralised platform where you may present your goods, services, or personal brand to a worldwide audience every single day.

It serves as a digital shop, allowing potential clients or consumers to browse and discover more about what you have to offer whenever it’s convenient for them.

Lack of a website might make you seem out-of-date or less reliable in a world where people look to the internet for information and confirmation. A well made and informative website establishes your authority and subject-matter knowledge.

It enables you to communicate the distinctive personality of your business, publish endorsements or consumer reviews, and showcase your successes, ultimately fostering trust and confidence in your products.

A website is a tool that improves your internet visibility and opens doors to opportunities that might otherwise be unreachable, regardless of whether you’re a small business, a freelancer, or an artist.

What Are The Factors Influencing Website Cost?

Numerous elements are taken into consideration while estimating the price of a website and this is the biggest reason why people try to understand ow much does a website cost per month in the UK?

Each component, from the level of design intricacy to the necessary functionality, adds to the final cost.

You can more successfully plan and allocate funds for your website development project by being aware of these issues.

We will examine ten important elements that affect website expenses, giving you knowledge of the numerous elements that affect pricing in the digital sphere.

1. Website Type
2. Design Complexity
3. Customisation Requirements
4. Content Management System (CMS)
5. Responsive Design
6. E-commerce Functionality
7. Integrations and Plugins
8. Content Creation
9. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
10. Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Costs, And The Different Types Of Websites

Basic informational websites

A basic informational website is a style of website that prioritises informing visitors, and is the most common reason people research ow much does a website cost per month in the UK?

Its primary objective is to provide information about a business, organisation, person, product, service, or any other subject matter in a clear and helpful way.

The main page, about us, services or product listings, contact information, and potentially a blog or news section are all common components of these websites.

Future Fit Website Built By Kaizen Five

A basic informational website’s design typically aims to efficiently communicate the needed information to the visitors by being simple, approachable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Typically, the information is text-based with pertinent pictures or images added. Usually, the navigation is straightforward, making it easier for users to browse the various parts and obtain the data they need.

While a basic informational website may not have complex functionality or advanced features, it serves as an online presence and a means for individuals or businesses to establish credibility, provide key details about their offerings, and engage with potential customers or clients.

Purpose and features

• To provide essential information about a company, organisation, individual, product, or service
• To establish credibility and build trust with potential customers or clients
• To showcase key offerings, such as products or services
• To present contact information for inquiries or business interactions
• To highlight testimonials or success stories from satisfied customers
• To display business hours, location, and directions if applicable
• To offer a platform for sharing news, updates, or blog posts
• To provide links to social media profiles for further engagement

Estimated cost range

A basic informational website can cost anywhere from £4/pm for a very basic Wix-branded website up to £250-£500/pm when you go with a professional web design agency.

Here are some of the do-it-yourself options:

• Wix – £4/pm
• Square Space – £12 per month
• Yell Website Builder – Free Of Charge
• GoDaddy Website Builder – Start for free

These website options can cause a lot of issues and don’t always look the most professional. But if you’re a new business, and low on funds, then I’d personally suggest looking into square space.

If you have more technical expertise and want a challenge, then take a look at Web Flow.

E-commerce websites

An e-commerce website, is a particular kind of website created and specifically built for carrying out online business transactions.

Its main objective is to make online purchasing and selling of goods and services easier.

Grade A Technology Website Built By Kaizen Five – eCommerce Website

E-commerce websites give companies a digital platform to display their goods, and customers the convenience of browsing, choosing, and making purchases from the comfort of their homes.

Purpose and features

eCommerce websites feature a lot of the same features as a basic informational website but have a whole other system on top of them that allows for selling of products on a website.

Here’s some of the features an eCommerce website has, that a basic informational website doesn’t have:

• Facilitates online buying and selling of products or services
• Comprehensive product listings with descriptions, pricing, and availability
• Shopping cart functionality for customers to add and manage selected items
• Secure payment processing through payment gateways
• Order management system for tracking and processing orders
• User accounts for customers to create profiles and store preferences
• Inventory management to track product availability and stock levels
• Implementation of security measures to protect customer information
• Mobile-friendly design for optimal viewing on different devices
• Customer reviews and ratings for product feedback
• Marketing and promotional features to attract and retain customers.

Estimated cost range

The price range for an e-commerce website can vary depending on a number of variables, including the design’s complexity, needed functionality, customisation demands, and the development team’s level of experience.

Even though it can be difficult to estimate costs precisely without knowing the details of the project, the following is a rough cost range for an e-commerce website:

1. Basic E-commerce Website: £1,000 – £5,000
   • This range typically includes a template-based design, basic product listings, shopping cart functionality, secure payment integration, and essential features for a small-scale online store.
2. Mid-range E-commerce Website: £5,000 – £20,000
   • This scope includes more individualised designs, extra features including product search filters, user reviews, order administration, interaction with outside systems, responsive design, and medium-scale online store requirements.
3. High-end E-commerce Website: £20,000+
   • A few of the features in this category are highly bespoke designs, cutting-edge functionality, connection with intricate systems like ERPs or CRMs, sizable online shop requirements, enormous product catalogues, and individualised user experiences.

Take a look at some of the eCommerce websites we have built:

• Prestige Design & Workwear Case Study
• Personaility Case Study
• Grade A Technology Case Study
• Ryken Case Study

Custom web applications

Web-based software programmes that are specifically designed and created to satisfy the distinct demands and requirements of a particular business or organisation are referred to as custom web applications.

Macbook with code on the screen

Custom web apps are created from the ground up, as opposed to off-the-shelf software or pre-built solutions, to handle unique difficulties, automate procedures, and improve productivity in a way that is in line with the organization’s goals and workflows.

Purpose and features

• Tailored Functionality: Custom web apps are created to meet the criteria and goals of the business in a way that is tailored to their use. They can cover a wide range of tasks, including, among others, data management, workflow automation, customer relationship management, project management, and sophisticated calculations.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Custom web apps can be made to scale and handle future company needs as well as growth. They can be modified and expanded as the company grows, ensuring that the software continues to meet evolving needs.
• Integration Capabilities: In order to facilitate easy data exchange and synchronisation, custom web apps can link with pre-existing systems and databases, such as CRMs, ERPs, or third-party APIs. This integration capability contributes to process simplification and increased productivity.
• User Friendly Interfaces: To ensure usability and increase productivity, custom web apps place a high priority on user experience (UX) design and intuitive user interfaces (UI). The interfaces can be modified to correspond with the organization’s unique procedures and preferences.
• Security and Access Control: Strong security measures can be implemented by custom web apps to safeguard sensitive information and guarantee secure access to authorised users. The security protocols mentioned here include user authentication, data encryption, role-based access control, and others.
• Long-term Cost Efficiency: Custom web applications can be more expensive to develop initially than off-the-shelf alternatives, but they can be more cost-effective in the long run by avoiding the need for multiple software licences, customization restrictions, and potential inefficiencies brought on by using generic software that doesn’t exactly meet the organization’s needs.

Custom web applications are ideal for businesses or organizations that have unique processes, complex workflows, specific data management needs, or require a high level of customization to maximise efficiency and productivity.

Estimated cost range

Depending on the complexity, scope, and particular requirements of the project, the price range for a custom web application in the UK might vary considerably.

Custom web apps are highly specialised solutions, and their costs depend on a variety of elements, including development time, functionality complexity, technology stack, level of design complexity, and the level of experience of the development team.

Even though it can be difficult to predict costs without knowing the specifics of the project, the following is a general price range for custom web apps in the UK:

1. Small-scale Custom Web Application: £5,000 – £20,000
   • This range often contains rather basic online applications with simple user interfaces, no need for complex data management, and little integration demand.
2. Mid-range Custom Web Application: £20,000 – £100,000
   • This range includes moderately complicated web applications with more sophisticated functionality, specialised user interfaces, substantial data management, integration with external systems or APIs, and perhaps mobile responsiveness.
3. Large-scale Custom Web Application: £100,000+
   • This range includes intricately functioning, highly advanced user interfaces, real-time data synchronisation, integration with numerous systems, complicated workflows, and enterprise-grade security requirements.

Key Cost Factors for Websites

Understanding the major cost elements is crucial for efficient budgeting and decision-making when preparing to develop a website.

The type of website, the complexity of the design, the amount of functionality needed, and the cost of continuous maintenance are just a few of the many variables that affect the overall price of developing a website.

Businesses and individuals can traverse the website-building process with clarity and make educated decisions by acquiring insight into these cost considerations.

Domain registration and hosting

Domain registration costs

The top-level domain (TLD) you select, the domain registrar you employ, and any additional services or features included in the registration package can all affect the price of domain registration.

Here are a few general ideas to keep in mind regarding the price of domain registration:

• TLD Selection: Price points for various TLDs vary. Common TLDs like.com ,.net, and.org frequently have competitive prices, however specialised or national TLDs may not. The cost of premium or sought-after domains may also be greater.
• Registrar Pricing: Companies that are authorised to sell domain names are known as domain registrars, and they may have several pricing plans. It is advised to research costs from various registrars to discover the best offer for the TLD of your choice.
• Registration Duration: Normally, domain registration is available in 1-year increments. The upfront cost increases with the length of the registration time. A domain can typically be registered for one to ten years, with lower prices being offered for longer terms.
• Renewal Fees: To maintain ownership after the first registration time has passed, you must renew your domain. Although renewal prices are typically comparable to registration costs, it’s crucial to account for continuous renewal costs in your spending plan.
• Privacy Protection:Some registrars provide privacy protection services to prevent the public from accessing your personal information connected to the domain. There can be an additional charge for this service.

Here’s some pricing for UK domain registrars:

• IONOS Offer £1 Domain Names
• GoDaddy Domain Names for £0.99
• Fasts Hosts – £1 Domain Names

Hosting options and costs

The act of keeping and making your website available online is referred to as hosting.

All of the files, information, and material needed to construct a website must be kept on a server that is connected to the internet.

Woman sitting in front of website hosting server

Hosting companies provide the server space and other services necessary for users all over the world to access your website.

For your website to run well and be accessible, you must have a dependable hosting service.

Let’s look at hosting possibilities and costs:

• Shared Hosting: A more affordable option is shared hosting, which allows your website to share server resources with a number of other websites. It typically costs anywhere from £2 to £10 per month.
• Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting: By dividing a physical server into several virtual servers, VPS hosting provides more control and dedicated resources. Usually starts from £10 to £50 per month.
• Dedicated Server Hosting: Dedicated server hosting provides an entire physical server dedicated solely to your website. Typically starts from £80 to several hundred pounds per month.
• Cloud Hosting: Multiple servers operate together as part of cloud hosting to host your website, ensuring scalability and dependability. Varies depending on usage, often with pay-as-you-go options or fixed plans starting from around £5 to £100+ per month.
• Managed WordPress Hosting: Dedicated to only host WordPress websites, and can cost from £5 to £30+month.

We want to highlight that hosting is very important when it comes to how your website performs. If you go cheap on hosting, then you can expect issues down the line, especially if your website starts to get busy.

We always recommend spending at least £10-£20 per month to ensure you get the best host for your needs, and a great live support team when issues occur.

Additional Costs and Considerations

SSL certificates can be acquired separately and are necessary for securing your website. They normally cost between £10 and £200 per year.

Although unrelated to hosting, domain registration is a different expense to take into account when creating an online presence.

Average Website Cost Breakdown in the UK

Case Study: Small informational website

If you want to do it yourself, a small information website will most likely cost you anywhere from £15-£40/pm depending on what level of software and hosting you use.

If you were to use a professional web design agency, like ourselves, a basic website will most likely set you back £259/pm. This does include design, hosting, maintenance, support, and security. All of these features alone give you so much of your time back, and it’s one less thing to worry about!

Case Study: E-commerce website

An eCommerce website will cost you £65/pm if you’re using the Shopify plan at Shopify. We suggest using Shopify as it’s so widely used, and is very good at doing one thing, and that’s being an eCommerce website. It makes it very easy for the user.

If you’re going through a professional web design agency, then you can look at spending anywhere from £300-£600/pm on a professional eCommerce website. It’s a done-for-you solution, that let’s you not worry at all.

Case Study: Custom web application

Custom web applications cannot be done by one sole person, it requires a team, and if you’re building a business, then you will most certainly need to hire a custom web application team. These are normally done on a project price basis, but if we spread that over twelve months, just an entry-level custom web application will cost you £416 – £1666/pm.

Research and compare prices

Start by researching various website-building options and pricing schemes online.

Find trustworthy web development firms or platforms that provide website construction services by using search engines.

To learn more about the features, functions, and pricing options they provide, visit their websites.

Pot of money with a plant coming out

Any special deals, discounts, or packages of services that may affect the total cost should be noted.

Additionally, examine client endorsements and evaluations to determine the dependability and calibre of their offerings.

Make a list of possible choices that fit your needs and budget.

Make contact with the companies on your shortlist of potential web development candidates and ask for quotations or estimates for the particular website project you have in mind.

Give them specific information about your website’s requirements, including your preferences for design, your demands for functionality, and any other services you might need.

Request a breakdown of costs, including those for planning, creation, hosting, and, if necessary, continuing maintenance.

Make careful to ask about any potential hidden fees or charges that might apply later on in the development process.

When you’ve gotten estimates from many service providers, thoroughly evaluate the deals side by side.

Think about things like experience, standing, turnaround time, customer service, and the total value received for the cost.

Consider website builders and templates

You should only use a website builder if you are a small business with low funds. By picking a professional web design team you will have all of your time back, whilst having a professional web design team working on it for you, building the perfect website.

Here’s a list of some of the best website builders in the UK:

• Best all-round website builder: Wix
• Best for business: Squarespace
• Best web-hosting and site-building combo: GoDaddy SiteBuilder
• Best budget website builder: 1and1 Ionos MyWebsite
• Best for new online businesses: Square Online
• Best for growing online stores: Shopify

Final thoughts on website costs in the UK

Our final thoughts are, if you can afford it, then pick a professional web design team like Kaizen Five, but if you can’t and need a quick solution, then generate a website through one of the builders above!