Website development is about creating and maintaining websites. Many businesses use these sites to connect with customers, showcase their products, and build their brands. Knowing the costs involved in the process is crucial as it allows you to budget effectively and avoid unnecessary expenses.
In this guide, our experts discuss the factors that influence web development costs and how these can impact your project. Whether you’re building new web pages or improving existing ones, it’s vital to grasp the financial aspects of website development from beginning to end.
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Web Development Costs Breakdown
Generally, web development costs around $12,000 to $150,000, depending on the intricacies of the product. Such expenditures can vary widely based on the complexity of features, the level of customization, and the development team’s expertise.
Here is an overview of the factors impacting the total cost of web development:
Domain Name
The domain name is the site’s name appearing in the URL when consumers visit your pages. It is a vital branding piece for your website as it bears your brand name, telling prospective clients who you are. The cost of your domain name will vary based on where you purchase it, and its price influences the overall cost of web development.
These are the leading domain name registrars most popular among profitable enterprises:
- Hostinger – domains start at $0.99
- DreamHost – domains start at $0.99
- Bluehost – domains start at $1.99/1st yr
- HostGator – domains start at $1.99/1st yr
- GreenGeeks – starts at $2.95/month
- SiteGround – starts at $3.99/month
- A2 Hosting – domains start at $9.99
- InMotion – starts at $2.99/month
- WP Engine – starts at $25/month
- Nexcess – starts at $52/month
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate
An SSL certificate is essential for data protection, especially if you run an eCommerce website. It’s designed to encrypt user data, which helps prevent malicious intrusions. Without an SSL certificate, your website risks losing sensitive information.
As for how much, the cost of an SSL certificate will depend on the level of protection you need and where you purchase it.
Average Cost: $0 to $1,500 per year
Website Hosting
Your web hosting is your site’s home, and it is a critical expenditure. Website hosting enables your web pages to appear on the internet. The price will differ according to your choice of host and where you get it.
You have these four main options for web hosting:
Average Cost: $24 to $10,000 per year
UI/UX Design
Website design is another significant contributor to the cost of web development. Investing in a well-designed site can enhance user experience and increase engagement. This, in turn, can lead to improved business results, such as higher conversion rates and better customer retention.
Jamin Giersbach, Company Owner at Popproxx, states: "Businesses should not cut corners on essential aspects like security and UX but also avoid overspending on unnecessary features. Consider the 80/20 rule: 80% for web development and 20% for ongoing maintenance and hosting. A well-planned budget aligned with clear business goals ensures a cost-effective and successful web development project."
Meg Mothershed, Co-owner of Mothershed Design Co., agrees with the importance of UX and adds: "When evaluating your web development budget, consider the sales you are potentially losing vs the sales you could be closing with a well-designed, user-friendly website. Framing your thinking in this way can help you to ensure your budget matches your goals and expectations of your website."
A larger enterprise with a higher budget allocation can achieve a more intricate and elaborate design at a higher price. This allows them to integrate advanced features and custom functionalities that enhance user interaction and satisfaction.
Average One-Time Cost: $2,000 to $15,000
Responsive Design
Responsive web design is about ensuring a site adapts readily to any device and screen size, providing users with an optimal experience. It’s crucial because more than 90% of sites have implemented responsive design to meet user expectations.
Having your pages load correctly while looking appealing on both desktop and mobile keeps potential customers engaged. Additionally, responsiveness has a huge impact on search engine rankings, which enhances visibility and accessibility.
Julie Cropp Gareleck, Founder & Managing Partner at Junction Creative, suggests: “Factor into your budget at least 40 hours for planning and design and then 5 hours per page for development. This will be a general baseline, not factoring in custom functionality.”
These are the factors that will affect the cost of building a responsive site:
- Your business type
- The number of web pages
- The number of product pages
Average Cost: $3,000 to $25,000, one-time payment plus maintenance
Interactive Multimedia
Dazzle website visitors with interactive elements on your pages. Although these components are an appealing addition to your site, they come at an extra cost. If the interactive visuals you envision for your business page are challenging to create and require more time, you should be prepared to shell out more.
Average Cost: $250 to $10,000, one-time payment and maintenance
Content Management System (CMS) Integration
Incorporating custom features like a content management system or an administrator panel allows you to manage and publish valuable blog articles, FAQ pages, and video tutorials on your website. It also lets you easily update your content to keep it fresh and relevant, ensuring that users stay engaged and satisfied.
Frequent updates help you quickly adapt to market changes and search analytics. This user-centric approach keeps your site relevant and attuned to the needs of your audience.
Average Cost: $2,000 to $25,000 per year
eCommerce Functionality
Website development costs more for eCommerce enterprises. Integrating an eCommerce feature into your site is a necessary investment when selling products or services online. Its costs will depend on the functionalities that will keep your site working.
You must allot a budget for third-party services required for your eCommerce pages to function. These include:
- Checkout processing
- Payment gateways for fast online purchases
- Fees and commissions
- Product and service catalog creation
Average Cost: $2,000 to $25,000 per month
Database Integration
You must factor database integration into the web development costs to gather audience data. It is key to helping you obtain and maintain relevant information about consumers interested in transacting with your business.
The price of this feature will depend on the database size and the amount of data you intend to collect and maintain.
Average Cost: $2,000 to $25,000, one-time payment
Themes
One of the first steps when creating a new website is installing a theme that aligns with your brand. You can hire a web developer or utilize a website builder that does not require coding. However, the latter can be time-consuming and may not work as you envision it if you are not adept at the task. In turn, it will be more expensive, doubling your expenses. A professional developer can customize a theme for you.
Modifications to off-the-shelf themes and customization are the major considerations that will influence the cost of web development.
Average Cost: $25 to $250, single payment
Business Analysis
Business analysis is most fitting for larger web products. However, you still need a plan to include it even if you are developing a relatively smaller website. This is the preparatory stage, helping you and your developers set goals to define the site features. It also covers market research, enabling you to understand competitors’ advantages and strengths.
Business analysis is also important in figuring out industry standards. It involves wireframes presenting the transitions across different pages and screens. Your business analyst will perform an evaluation and produce the technical specifications, enumerating all tools necessary for site-building. They will provide a step-by-step development process and illustrate the wireframe with each site element in place.
Average Hourly Cost: $35 to $44
Frontend Development
The frontend is the product users interact with. It includes page loaders, content, and buttons. These are the common technologies web development specialists use to create the frontend of your website:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- Angular
- React
- Bootstrap
- SASS
- LESS
The following are the three key factors impacting the cost of frontend development:
- Website size
- Complexity
- Developer’s salary or hourly rate based on location and skill level
Executing quality assurance (QA) and control alongside front-end development is good practice. A QA specialist will check for bugs and problems your developer may miss.
Average Cost: $3,000 to $10,000 with QA, based on the number of pages and complexity
Backend Development
The backend side of your site is responsible for its proper functioning. You manage, transfer, and store information — from user logins and passcodes to web page content and articles — on the backend. It powers the features for loading, payments, and other user interactions.
Database-driven web development should have the following adequately set up:
- Business logic
- Backend architecture
- Caching
- APIs
- Storage
- Data processing logic
- Metadata
Average Cost: $3,000 to $14,000, single payment
Marketing (SEO, Content, and PPC)
A business website needs engaging and appealing content and robust credibility. Ample search engine optimization (SEO) helps a website appear on the first page of search engines and get as much traffic as possible. You should strive for online discoverability and visibility.
Additionally, you can boost your web marketing further via pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. Some PPC firms offer payment schemes on a flat rate or commission basis. PPC can be a very flexible marketing campaign, as you can only be charged when people click on your advertisements. And it brings exceptional results.
Ron Geertsma, Partner at Upside, advises to evaluate your website’s impact on sales: “forecast potential revenue from web leads and assess the likelihood of achieving this target. Allocate 10% to 50% of this potential revenue for development, adjusting the budget based on your confidence in reaching these financial goals. Remember, a website’s ROI is key."
Social media is another channel through which you can promote your website. Study the differences among Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to get the most out of how they work.
Average Cost of SEO: $300 to $1,600 per month
Average Rate for Content Creation: $5 to $100 per hour
Best Website Development Agencies To Hire
Jason Moyer, Founder & Creative Director at Create Element, suggests how to select the best web development agency: "Write an RFP and include the scope of the website you are looking for. Then send the RFP to at least three service providers so you can make an educated choice and don't overspend."
Ivana Katz, Owner of Websites 4 Small Business, agrees and adds: "Obtain multiple quotes and assess developers' expertise through a portfolio of previous projects and customer reviews. Moreover, prioritize providers known for transparent communication."
The best website development agencies, as selected by DesignRush, are:
1. EWM
- Location: Quai Gustave-Ador 62, Geneve, 1207, Switzerland
- Average Hourly Rate: Inquire
- Expertise: Web Design, Web & Mobile Development, Branding, Digital Marketing
EWM is a web design and digital marketing agency based in Switzerland that specializes in bespoke digital solutions. It offers comprehensive branding, digital marketing, and web and mobile development services to a diverse range of clients. Its portfolio includes successful projects for notable brands such as Maya Collection and Hotel Schweizerhof Bern.
The company leverages the latest technologies like Symfony, Laravel, and WordPress to deliver tailored solutions. Its unique approach emphasizes creativity and technical expertise to give their clients an impactful digital presence.
2. Modern Launch
- Location: 19 Mariette Ave, Milford, Connecticut 06460, United States
- Average Hourly Rate: $100/hr
- Expertise: Website Development and Design, Mobile App Development, Custom Software Development, Ongoing Maintenance
Modern Launch specializes in crafting cutting-edge digital solutions with more than 15 years in mobile app, website, and custom software development. It transforms visions into digital realities, from creating engaging business websites to developing sophisticated AI-enabled analytics engines.
Its extensive experience includes collaborating with technology companies and supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups. The company’s journey in launching and managing tech products has empowered its team to help others achieve their professional objectives.
3. Bemunchie Online
- Location: Justa House, 204 - 208 Holbrooks Lane, Coventry, CV6 4DD, United Kingdom
- Average Hourly Rate: $65/hr
- Expertise: Web Design, B2B Website Design, Small Business Website Design, SEO, PPC Marketing
Bemunchie Online is a family-run U.K. web design company specializing in creating bespoke websites while offering online marketing services, and more. It understands the critical role that effective web design plays in the success of any business.
The company believes that a brand’s website should be an investment that pays for itself. Bemunchie Online focuses on building long-term relationships with its clients by ensuring customer satisfaction through top-quality sites that deliver the best results.
4. Weband Studio
- Location: Yerusalim 51, Sofia, 1300, Bulgaria
- Average Hourly Rate: $45/hr
- Expertise: Web Design, UI/UX Design, Branding, VR/AR, Product Site, Online Store
Weband Studio is a boutique web agency focusing on innovative web design and programming. It provides branding and identity, creative web UX/UI design, web development, AR, and 3D modeling. Weband Studio has been perfecting its services for many years, helping clients leapfrog their development through digitalization and a modern approach.
The company consists of a team of young, ambitious, and creative people, with a desire to develop daily for the benefit of the people for whom they create innovative solutions. Moreover, they are focused on creative web design and development and are most helpful with brand and identity building, creative design, and development.
5. Wolftech Studio
- Location: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom
- Average Hourly Rate: $50/hr
- Expertise: Web Design, Website Development, WordPress Development
For more than 3 years, Wolftech Studio has created superior websites, helping clients elevate their brand and achieve their business goals. Its team provides top-of-the-line web design and development and builds lasting business relationships by delivering the very best results.
No matter where your business is a strong web presence will help it grow. The agency makes it its mission to provide customers with a web presence that is creative, exciting, and right for their business.
Web Development Pricing Takeaways
You can build a simple business site or landing page from scratch with pre-made templates and user interface elements. The DIY web development costs can be relatively lower than when you employ an expert development team’s service. But if you want to focus on the more demanding areas of your business requiring your full attention, you should opt for the latter. It will be worthwhile and will have more impressive results.
Overall, experts like Bohdan Mykhailo, CTO of Coderfy.com, suggest:
"To budget for web development, define objectives, understand your audience, benchmark costs, prioritize MVP features, obtain multiple quotes, account for ongoing expenses, allocate a contingency fund, and analyze potential ROI. Insight here: use multinational estimation from custom web development companies to find the perfect balance between architecture, time, and cost."
