How much does a website cost in the UK? A 2026 breakdown
Ryan Pleasance
Ryan is a Senior Software Engineer at kwiboo. He has a passion for building software that is not only functional but also beautiful and easy to use.
Most businesses asking this question get the same frustrating answer: "it depends." We are going to do better than that.
After 20 years of building websites for businesses of all sizes, we have seen every pricing model, every hidden fee, and every budget blown by unexpected costs. This guide gives you the real numbers so you can make smart decisions about your investment.
All prices are representative of when the article was written, website development is deeply dependent on your requirements and should only be used as a guide.
The short answer
A professional website for a UK small business typically costs £1,500 to £10,000 for the initial build. Ongoing maintenance costs run £500 to £3,000 per year depending on what you need. At the budget end, DIY website builders start from around £12 to £20 per month. At the top end, bespoke web applications can exceed £100,000.
The wide range reflects fundamentally different approaches, and different requirements. Each suits different business needs, technical capabilities, and growth ambitions. The trick is knowing which approach fits your situation.
DIY website builders: when they work and when they do not
For businesses wanting to minimise upfront investment, website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify offer the lowest barrier to entry. But the advertised prices need careful interpretation. Most platforms display pre-VAT pricing, so UK businesses should add 20% to whatever you see.
Wix ranges from £9 per month for basic sites up to £119 per month for advanced e-commerce. The £16 per month Core plan is the minimum for accepting payments online. One advantage: Wix charges no platform transaction fees, only standard payment processing of around 2.1% plus 20p per transaction.
Squarespace recently restructured its pricing, now offering plans from £12 to £79 per month. The platform charges 0% transaction fees on product sales from the Core plan upward, which matters if you are selling in volume.
Shopify dominates for dedicated online shops, starting at £19 per month and rising to £259 per month for Advanced features. Transaction fees depend on your payment method. Using Shopify Payments costs 2.0% plus 25p per transaction on the Basic plan.
Here is the honest truth about DIY builders: they work brilliantly for simple brochure sites, portfolios, and small shops where you have time to learn the platform. They struggle when you need custom functionality, complex integrations, or anything that does not fit their templates. We have helped many businesses migrate away from builders after outgrowing them, and that migration often costs more than building properly would have from the start.
Freelancer costs: the middle ground
UK freelance web developers offer a middle ground combining professional expertise with competitive pricing. Day rates typically range from £240 to £550 depending on experience and specialism.
Junior developers charge around £240 to £360 per day. Mid-level developers command £350 to £450 per day. Senior specialists reach £450 to £550 per day. London freelancers charge a significant premium, with median rates around £513 per day compared to £325 elsewhere in the UK.
For project-based pricing, expect to pay £500 to £1,500 for a basic 5-page brochure site. A small business site with 5 to 10 pages runs £1,000 to £3,000. WordPress sites with custom themes range from £2,000 to £5,000. E-commerce builds using WooCommerce typically cost £2,000 to £5,000 for standard implementations.
Freelancers can be excellent value. The key questions to ask: who handles the project if they get ill or busy? What happens to your site in three years when you need updates? Make sure you have answers before committing.
Agency costs: what you actually get for the money
Web design agencies charge more because you get a team, not just an individual. That means project management, multiple specialists, quality assurance, and ongoing support. It also means someone will answer the phone in three years when you need help.
Location makes a dramatic difference to pricing. London agencies charge 65% to 280% more than regional alternatives for comparable work.
For brochure websites, agencies can charge around £3,000 to £12,000. Whilst London agencies might typically quote £8,000 to £25,000.
E-commerce projects follow similar patterns. A standard WooCommerce or Shopify build can cost £5,000 to £15,000 from most UK agencies, rising to £12,000 to £40,000 for complex custom work.
Custom web applications represent the highest tier. Simple web apps start around £15,000 to £40,000. Medium complexity projects range £35,000 to £75,000. Complex enterprise applications with integrations span £75,000 to £250,000 or more.
When does agency investment make sense? When you need bespoke functionality, when the site is business-critical, when you need ongoing support you can rely on, or when getting it wrong would cost more than getting it right.
The hidden costs everyone forgets
Many businesses underestimate ongoing costs, which can exceed the initial build over a website's typical 3 to 5 year lifespan.
Domain registration for a .co.uk costs around £10 to £15 per year after the first-year promotional pricing. Premium domain names cost considerably more.
Web hosting varies by requirement. Shared hosting suitable for most small business sites costs £7 to £12 per month at renewal rates. Managed WordPress hosting averages £9 to £18 per month. Cloud hosting through AWS or Azure scales with usage.
SSL certificates are now largely free through services like Let's Encrypt, included with most quality UK hosts. You only need paid certificates for specific compliance requirements.
Maintenance is where costs catch people out. Professional maintenance packages start at £25 to £50 per month for basic updates and backups, rising to £100 to £500 per month for security monitoring, content updates, and performance work. Neglecting maintenance creates real risk. Malware removal can be expensive, plus the business you lose while your site is compromised.
Budget realistically for £500 to £2,500 per year in ongoing costs for a typical small business site. E-commerce sites need more.
The real cost of "free" websites
Free tiers from website builders appear attractive but impose costs that frequently exceed professional alternatives over time.
Free plans typically give you minimal storage, force you onto a subdomain like yourname.wixsite.com, display platform advertising on your site, block e-commerce entirely, and restrict basic functionality like analytics and SEO tools.
The SEO limitations prove particularly damaging. Free subdomain hosting makes building search visibility significantly harder. You build authority for the platform, not for your business.
Migration costs compound the problem. When businesses inevitably outgrow free platforms, professional migration to a proper setup typically costs start at £500 but can be much higher depending on how complex the site is. The process involves recreating designs, rebuilding product catalogues, and accepting temporary ranking losses while search engines catch up.
Questions to ask before you commit
Whatever route you choose, get clear answers to these questions:
What exactly is included in the quoted price? Get specifics on number of pages, revisions, mobile responsiveness, and content management training.
What are the ongoing costs after launch? Hosting, maintenance, updates, and support should all be spelled out.
Who owns the website and the code? This matters enormously if you want to move later.
What happens if something breaks? Understand response times and support availability.
Can you show me similar projects you have completed? Past work tells you more than promises.
Why kwiboo might be the right choice for your business
If you need a simple online presence, have limited budget, and can invest time learning a platform, DIY builders can work well. Consider our design services if you want professional, and highly converting templates.
If you need something more capable but budget is tight, a good freelancer offers professional quality at competitive rates. Just plan for the long term.
If your website is business-critical, needs custom functionality, or must integrate with other systems, working with kwiboo typically pays for itself. We give you expertise, reliability, and someone to call when things go wrong.
The most expensive mistake is underinvestment that requires rebuilding. Businesses that outgrow free platforms, need to migrate from poorly built sites, or lose customers due to slow loading and unprofessional appearance pay significantly more in total than those who invest appropriately from the start.
Got questions about what approach suits your business? We are always happy to talk through your options, even if we are not the right fit for your project. Get in touch and let us help you figure out the smart path forward.