Website Cost Guide 2026: What You Actually Pay and Why

"How much does a website cost?" is a question agencies and freelancers hate to answer directly. The reason: there is no fixed price. The range runs from €300 for a landing page to €15,000+ for an e-commerce platform · in the same city, in the same month. What accounts for that difference, which type of site you actually need, and how to tell whether a quote is fair · this guide answers all of that, in order.

Real pricing · what websites cost in 2026

The figures below reflect real market rates for June 2026 · an average of what agencies, freelancers, and independents charge for specific site types. All prices are for a one-time project · fully owned by the client after delivery.

Landing page (single-page sales page)

The simplest type. One long page focused on conversion. Works well for promoting a single service, launching a product, or running a campaign site.

• Freelancer (template-based): €200–€400
• Small studio: €400–€800
• Professional agency: €800–€1,500
• Premium / custom (unique illustrations, animations): €1,500–€3,500

Business website (5–10 pages)

The classic business site · home, about, services, portfolio, contact. Most small businesses use this type.

• Freelancer (WordPress template): €400–€800
• Small studio: €800–€1,800
• Professional agency: €1,800–€3,500
• Premium custom (original design + content writing): €3,500–€7,000

Corporate / multi-page site (15–30 pages)

For mid-sized businesses. Multiple service pages, multi-language support, CRM or email platform integrations, a blog section, intranet.

• Small studio: €2,500–€5,000
• Professional agency: €5,000–€12,000
• Premium / enterprise: €12,000–€30,000

E-commerce website

An online store. Price scales with the number of products, payment methods, integrations (Stripe, PayPal, local gateways), and custom functionality (gift cards, subscription models, B2B portal).

• Shopify / WooCommerce template setup (up to 50 products): €600–€1,500
• Custom WooCommerce / Shopify (up to 200 products): €1,800–€4,500
• Professional custom e-commerce (300+ products, integrations): €5,000–€15,000
• Enterprise with B2B features and ERP integrations: €15,000–€50,000+

Web application / SaaS

Not a static site · includes user accounts, databases, and business logic. Booking systems, online platforms, course platforms.

• MVP (minimum viable product): €4,000–€10,000
• Full product: €10,000–€50,000+
• Ongoing maintenance is mandatory (15–25% of initial cost per year)

What affects the price · 6 key factors

1. Design (template vs. custom)

The biggest line item. A template-based site (Wix, WordPress theme, Webflow template) costs 5–10× less than a fully custom design. The reason: the design work is already done · you fill it with your content.

Custom design means a graphic designer builds everything from scratch. Logo, layout, illustrations, animations · all unique. That is 30–60 hours of billable work.

2. Number and complexity of pages

More pages means more work. But not linearly · 10 similar service pages is not the same as 10 pages with different structures and custom components. A good agency gives you a fixed price per page type (e.g. "service page €200, blog post €100").

3. Content writing

Who writes the copy? You or the agency? If the agency · that adds €50–€200 per page for content plus SEO optimization. Most freelancers do not write copy · you have to supply it yourself.

4. Technology

• WordPress: affordable, fast to develop, but maintenance-heavy (security updates, plugins)
• Shopify: ideal for e-commerce, but you pay monthly fees plus transaction fees
• Webflow: a middle ground — custom design without code, but expensive hosting
• Custom (React / Next.js): most flexible, most expensive, hardest to maintain independently

5. SEO and analytics

Is the site SEO-optimized from day one? With schema markup? With conversion tracking? Most freelancers ship sites without any of this · meaning you pay an additional €200–€500 for someone else to set it up later.

6. Mobile-first and performance

A fast, mobile-optimized site with a PageSpeed score above 80 costs 20–40% more than a standard template setup. The reason: image optimization, lazy loading, CSS/JS minification, CDN hosting · all of it takes time. See the on-page SEO checklist for 15 items every fast site must have.

What is NOT included in the price (hidden costs)

• Domain: €10–€20/year (if you do not already have one)
• Hosting: €50–€300/year (depends on provider and site size)
• SSL certificate: usually free (Let's Encrypt), but premium SSLs run €50–€200/year
• Stock photos or a custom photoshoot: €100–€2,000
• Logo design (if you do not have one): €200–€2,000
• Business email (info@yourcompany.com): €5–€10/month per account
• Plugins and licenses (premium WordPress plugins, Webflow plan, Shopify apps): €20–€100/month
• Monthly maintenance (security, backups, updates): €30–€200/month

The realistic total annual overhead on top of the build itself for an average business site: €500–€1,500. Before you sign any quote, ask for a written list of everything you will pay additionally.

One-time vs. subscription model · long-term savings

Classic model: pay once, own the site

The traditional approach. You pay a deposit (30–50%), the agency builds the site, you pay the balance on go-live. The site is yours. After that · maintenance, hosting, and updates are your responsibility or covered by a separate contract.

Advantage: you own the site. Disadvantage: the upfront cost is high, after a year or two you have no new features, and hosting and maintenance become your problem.

Subscription model: monthly payment, site + maintenance

A newer approach. You pay monthly and the agency builds and maintains your site on an ongoing basis. Skok operates on this model · €49/mo Starter, €199/mo Growth, €799/mo Authority. No upfront payment.

Advantage: no deposit, ongoing maintenance included, the site evolves as your business grows. Disadvantage: if you cancel, the site stays with the agency (or you pay a buyout fee).

What to ask before you pay · 8 questions

• Is the site designed mobile-first, or just 'responsive'?
• What is included in the price exactly, and what costs extra?
• Who writes the copy · me or you? If you, is it SEO-optimized?
• What happens if I need changes after the site goes live?
• Is the site SEO-optimized from the start (meta tags, schema, page speed)?
• What does maintenance cover · security updates only, or content edits too?
• Do I own the site after delivery? Can I move it to another host?
• What is the timeline · 7 days, 30 days, 90 days? What are the penalties for delays?

Red flags to watch out for

• Price under €300 for a business site · either it is a template setup you will have to maintain yourself, or the work is not being done properly
• 'Lifetime maintenance included' for a one-time fee · no one can sustain that profitably
• No portfolio · ask for live examples, not screenshots
• 100% deposit required · the standard is 30–50% maximum
• No written contract with deadlines and deliverables · verbal agreements get rewritten
• Technology you do not understand and the agency does not explain · often signals vendor lock-in

How to decide what you need

Ask yourself these three questions:

• How many products or services do I sell? (one = landing page, 3–10 = business site, 50+ = e-commerce)
• Will I update the content myself, or do I need someone to do it? (if you, ask for an intuitive CMS · if the agency, a subscription model is better)
• What is my annual budget? (upfront €2,000 = classic model; €100–€500/mo = subscription)

For a small business just starting out, the best combination is a subscription model with a mid-tier plan (€100–€200/mo) that includes hosting, maintenance, and minor edits. That carries less risk than a €2,500 upfront investment that will need upgrading in a year.

For a mid-sized business with an established brand and significant traffic, the classic model with a professional agency is often the better choice · you pay once and get a site that serves you for 3–5 years.

For a startup still testing the market · a landing page at €300–€800 is enough until you validate demand. Do not spend €5,000 on a site before you have paying clients.

Before you sign anything, ask for a written quote with every line item listed. A genuine quote includes: price, timeline, deliverables by phase, what is included, what costs extra, a warranty, and a cancellation clause. If an agency refuses to put that in writing, find another one.