This is probably the question I get asked most before anyone even says hello. And I get why: online you'll find websites ranging from 0 euros to 50,000, and nobody properly explains why that gap exists.
Key takeaways
- In 2026 a professional website costs anywhere from €0 to €500 a year with a builder like Wix up to €8,000 to €25,000 or more for an AI-integrated site, with WordPress from a freelancer at €500 to €3,000 and from an agency at €2,000 to €8,000.
- A custom-built Next.js website costs €5,000 to €15,000, but its total cost over 3 years is usually lower than a WordPress site because there is no ongoing plugin maintenance.
- A website quote usually leaves out hosting and domain (€100 to €500 a year), ongoing maintenance, real technical SEO, copywriting, integrations and translations.
- A website that loads in 5 seconds loses 50% of visitors before they read a single line, which is why the cheapest option usually costs more in the end.
- The main factors that push a website's price up are the number of pages, complex animations, integrations with CRMs or payment gateways, multiple languages, urgent delivery and a custom admin panel.
The first thing you need to know is that “website” doesn't mean the same thing it did 10 years ago. A website in 2026 should load in under 2 seconds, work on any device, rank on Google (and in AI responses), and in many cases connect to your business tools. That's not the same as setting up a WordPress site with a 59-euro template.
The real price ranges
Website builder (Wix, Squarespace): €0–500/year
For very small businesses where just having a presence is the goal. The problem: it's not fully yours, you depend on a platform, and performance and SEO have a very low ceiling. What nobody tells you: if Wix changes its terms tomorrow, you have nothing. And if they raise their prices, you just have to go along with it.
WordPress with a freelancer: €500–3,000
The most common range. Results vary a lot depending on who builds it. Many deliver a template with your logo and call it “custom-built”. Maintenance, plugins and security become your problem afterwards.
WordPress with a professional agency: €2,000–8,000
Here you get real expertise — a more thoughtful design, better structure, actual support. It's still WordPress though, with everything that implies: plugins, constant updates, vulnerabilities.
Custom-built website (Next.js): €5,000–15,000
No plugins, no themes, no dependencies. The code is yours. Fast, secure, scalable. What used to be reserved for large companies is now the standard for any business that takes its digital presence seriously.
AI-integrated website: €8,000–25,000+
Chatbots, automations, dynamic personalisation, content generation. Not marketing fluff — real code that connects your website to AI tools so it works on its own while you focus on other things.
| Provider type | Price | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | €0 to €500/year | Very small businesses that only need a basic online presence |
| WordPress with a freelancer | €500 to €3,000 | Small projects on a tight budget |
| WordPress with a professional agency | €2,000 to €8,000 | Businesses that want real support and a thoughtful design, and accept WordPress upkeep |
| Custom-built website (Next.js) | €5,000 to €15,000 | Businesses that want a fast, secure site with no plugins and code they own |
| AI-integrated website | €8,000 to €25,000+ | Businesses that need chatbots, automations or dynamic personalization |
| Hexagonize | From $2,000 (USD) | Businesses that want a custom Next.js site with a fixed quote in 24 hours and the code, domain and accounts in their name |
What nobody tells you about the price
The price you're quoted usually doesn't include:
- Hosting and domain (€100–500/year depending on the server)
- Maintenance and updates (WordPress needs this constantly)
- Technical SEO beyond installing a plugin
- Copywriting — you write the text, or you pay for it separately
- Integrations with CRM, email marketing, analytics
- Translations if you need multiple languages
With a cheap website, those costs come later. And they usually exceed whatever you “saved” upfront.
Why the cheapest option usually costs more in the end
I'm not saying this to scare you. I'm saying it because I see it constantly.
A website that loads in 5 seconds loses 50% of visitors before they read a single line. A hacked site because a form plugin hasn't been updated since 2023 can cost you weeks of work and your reputation. And a website that needs a full rebuild in 18 months because the platform changed its terms... that's not a website, it's a rental.
Have a web quote on the table and not sure if it's fair? Tell us the details and we'll help you evaluate it, no strings attached.
What pushes the price up
- Number of pages and sections
- Complex animations and interactions
- Integrations with external tools (CRM, payment gateways, APIs)
- Multilingual — each language multiplies the content work
- Delivery speed — urgent always costs more
- Technical SEO from day one
- Custom admin panel so you can edit without touching code
What we do at Hexagonize
We build custom websites starting at $2,000. No WordPress, no plugins, our own code in Next.js. It costs a bit more than a template, yes. But the total cost over 3 years is usually lower: no ongoing plugin maintenance, no hacks, and the site doesn't go stale in 18 months.
If you want to know whether it makes sense for your project, start with the free audit. I'll tell you in 48 hours what you need and what you don't.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website?
A freelancer typically charges €500 to €3,000 for a WordPress site, a professional agency €2,000 to €8,000, and a custom-built Next.js website runs €5,000 to €15,000. Always ask what the quote leaves out, since hosting, copywriting, technical SEO and maintenance are usually extra. At Hexagonize, custom websites start from $2,000 with a fixed quote in 24 hours.
How much does a website cost per month?
Hosting and domain alone run about €100 to €500 a year depending on the server. A WordPress site adds ongoing costs for plugin updates, security and premium licenses, while a business Next.js site on Vercel runs on the Pro plan, about $20 a month.
How much does a small business website cost?
A very small business that only needs a basic presence can use a builder like Wix or Squarespace for €0 to €500 a year. A WordPress site from a freelancer costs €500 to €3,000, and a custom-built site that is fast, secure and fully yours costs €5,000 to €15,000.
Is Next.js or WordPress cheaper to maintain for a small website?
Next.js is usually cheaper to maintain because there are no plugins to update, no premium licenses to renew and no third-party vulnerabilities to patch. WordPress costs less to launch, but it needs constant updates, so the total cost of a custom Next.js site over 3 years is usually lower.