How much does a website cost in 2025? Complete pricing guide

“How much does a website cost?” is probably the most common question I get. And the honest answer is always: it depends.

In 2025, the range of options for having an online presence is wider than ever. From free site builders to enterprise-level custom development. In this article, I will break down current price ranges and what you can expect from each so you can make the best decision for your business.

1. Do It Yourself (DIY) and Web Builders

Estimated price: €0 - €50 / month (forever)

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify dominate this segment. These are “rental” solutions. You don’t own your code, and if you stop paying, your website disappears.

• The Good: Quick to launch, no high initial cost.
• The Bad: Limited customization, poor SEO (ranking), slow on mobile, and you never truly own your website.

2. Basic Freelance Web (WordPress Templates)

Estimated price: €500 - €1,500

This is the classic option. A designer installs WordPress, buys a €50 template, and adapts it with your logo and text.

• The Good: Affordable and functional in the short term.
• The Bad: Templates often load a lot of unnecessary code (“bloat”), making the site slow. Plus, they require constant plugin maintenance to avoid hacks.

3. Custom Web Development (The Professional Choice)

Estimated price: €1,500 - €5,000

This is where modern technologies like Astro, Next.js, and React come in. Instead of using a heavy template, a developer (like me) writes the code specifically for your needs.

• Extreme Speed: With no template junk, they load instantly. Google loves this.
• Security: Being static or pre-rendered sites, they are almost impossible to hack.
• Scalability: You can start small and grow without limits.
• Long-term Savings: Hosting is usually free or very cheap (Vercel, Netlify), and you don’t need to pay for plugin licenses.

Who is this for? Companies and professionals who want a flawless image, to rank first on Google, and convert visitors into clients.

4. Complex Web Apps (SaaS / Custom E-commerce)

Estimated price: €5,000 - €20,000+

If you need your users to log in, save data, manage complex dashboards, or interact with databases in real-time. We are talking about building software, not just an informational page.

What am I really paying for?

When you hire custom development for €2,000 or €3,000, you are not paying for “hours of typing code.” You are paying for:

1. Strategy: Understanding your business and how the web will make you money.
2. Design and UX: Ensuring your customers find what they are looking for and buy.
3. Technical SEO: Ensuring Google understands your web from day 1.
4. Performance: Ensuring you don’t lose a single visit because the web takes 3 seconds to load.

Conclusion

If your budget is zero, start with a social network or a free builder. But if your website is the center of your business, investing in custom development in 2025 is the most profitable decision. A slow or generic website will cost you much more in lost clients than what you saved on its development.

Have a project in mind? Contact me, and I will study your case to offer you the best technical and economic solution. No obligation.