website design cost
How much does a website cost in 2025? Get realistic price ranges, the factors that drive cost, examples for trades and small businesses, and practical ways to reduce expenses — including a low-cost managed option from Congero.
- Real-world cost ranges for 2025
- What affects price and timeline
- Actionable tips to lower costs
How much does a website cost in 2025?
Typical price ranges (Australia, 2025):
Basic brochure site
3–6 pages: $700 — $3,500 (one-off) or $49/mo subscription
Small business, trades, services
Custom business site
6–20 pages: $3,500 — $12,000 (one-off)
Custom templates, more content, integrations
E-commerce & advanced
From $6,000 to $50,000+ depending on products and custom features
Payments, stock, custom checkout, integrations
These are averages — actual cost depends on scope, design complexity, copywriting, SEO, integrations and who builds it.
What affects website cost?
Understanding these factors helps you estimate a realistic budget and avoid surprises.
Design Complexity
Custom designs, illustration, animations and bespoke UI increase hours and cost. Using templates reduces price significantly.
Content & Copywriting
Professional copy, service descriptions and photography add to the budget. Many agencies charge per page or per hour.
Integrations & Features
Bookings, payments, CRMs and APIs require configuration and testing — expect additional costs for custom work.
SEO & Local Optimisation
On-page SEO, schema, and local listings add setup time but are critical for traffic. Ongoing SEO is a monthly cost.
Hosting & Maintenance
Reliable hosting and updates are recurring costs. Managed subscriptions often bundle hosting, SSL and backups for one monthly fee.
Who Builds It
Freelancers, agencies and automated services each have different rates and delivery speeds. Hourly vs fixed pricing changes total cost predictability.
How website pricing is structured
Choose the pricing model that matches your appetite for control, support and budget predictability.
Hourly
Good for small tweaks or when scope is undefined. Rates vary widely: $50–$200+/hr depending on expertise.
Less predictable total cost if scope expands.
Fixed Price
Set fee for defined scope. Better for larger, clearly-specified projects. Expect change-order fees for extra work.
Common for agency-built custom sites.
Subscription / Managed
Monthly fee that bundles hosting, updates and support. Predictable cost and fast updates — Congero offers a managed subscription at $49/month.
Great for trades and small businesses who want no fuss updates via text.
DIY vs Freelancer vs Agency vs Congero
Simple comparison to help pick the right route for your budget and time.
DIY Builders
$0–$50/month + templates. Cheap but time-consuming. Good if you enjoy building and maintaining the site yourself.
- - Low initial cost
- - Learning curve
- - Limited SEO & customisation unless you pay
Freelancer
$800–$6,000 one-off. Flexible and cost-effective for small projects; quality varies with experience.
- - Personal attention
- - May be slower for updates
- - Variable support & SLAs
Agency
$4,000–$50,000+. Best for bespoke design, complex integrations and long-term strategy.
- - Brand & strategy expertise
- - Higher cost & longer timelines
- - Retainers often required
Congero (Managed)
$49/month — live in 60 seconds, unlimited updates via text, domain, hosting & local SEO included.
- - Predictable monthly cost
- - Fast updates and built-in SEO
- - No lock-in — cancel anytime
Real pricing examples (typical)
Illustrative cases so you can map the numbers to your business.
Local Plumber — Fast Start
Needs a 5-page brochure site + local SEO.
- - Freelancer: $1,200 one-off, 2–3 weeks
- - Agency: $3,500+, 4–6 weeks
- - Congero: $49/month, live in ~60 seconds, unlimited edits
If leads increase by 10% the Congero subscription often pays for itself in weeks.
Beauty Salon — Bookings & Gallery
Needs booking system, gallery & mobile-first design.
- - Freelancer: $2,500–$6,000 (depends on booking plugin)
- - Agency: $6,000–$15,000
- - Congero: $49/month + plugin fees (if booking integration required)
Consider plugin costs and ongoing subscription for bookings.
E‑commerce Store
Simple store (20 products) vs marketplace-level features.
- - Basic store: $6,000–$12,000
- - Complex custom store: $25,000+
- - Congero: suitable for brochure + simple buy links; full e‑commerce may require bespoke work
Factor inventory, shipping and payment gateway costs into your budget.
How to lower website cost — practical tips
Smart choices that trim cost but keep results strong.
- Start with a clear scope — fewer change orders lower total spend.
- Use high-quality templates or a managed service to avoid custom design fees.
- Provide your own photos and copy where possible.
- Bundle hosting, maintenance and updates with a subscription to predict costs.
- Prioritise essential features first; add extras later after measuring ROI.
- Ask for milestone-based payments and clear delivery timelines.
- Compare total cost of ownership: one-off build + monthly maintenance vs managed subscription.
A predictable option: $49/month
Congero bundles domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO and unlimited text-in edits — a low-risk way for trades & small businesses to get a professional site without big upfront fees.
SEE DEMOBefore you sign a quote
Use this checklist when comparing quotes.
- Does the price include hosting, SSL and backups?
- Who owns the content and can you export it later?
- Are updates included and how fast are they applied?
- Is local SEO part of setup or a separate add-on?
- What is the timeline and payment schedule?
Frequently asked questions about website design cost
Short answers to common pricing questions.
Why do quotes vary so much?
Is cheaper always worse?
How much should I budget for ongoing costs?
Can I get a website live quickly on a budget?
Ready to see costs in action?
Try Congero's free demo to get a tailored website preview and an instant cost comparison — no credit card required.
START FREE DEMOLive in 60 seconds • $49/month option available • Unlimited updates via text
