website designing cost
Exact costs, real-world examples and a practical plan to pick the most cost-effective option for your business — including a side-by-side look at Congero's $49/month managed websites.
Quick take — What does website designing cost in 2025?
Typical first-year costs range from $0 (DIY templates) to $20,000+ (premium agency builds). Most small businesses pay between $500–$5,000 up front, then recurring hosting, domain and maintenance fees. If you want a managed, local-SEO optimised website without surprise fees, Congero offers a flat $49/month that includes domain, hosting, SSL and unlimited updates.
Why website design costs vary so much
Price depends on complexity, who builds it, level of custom design, integrations (e.g. bookings, payments), and ongoing optimisation for search engines. Here's how these factors affect price.
Complexity
Simple brochure sites cost less. Custom design, animations, or many pages increase effort and price.
Who builds it
Agencies charge more for full-service support. Freelancers are cheaper but can be inconsistent. AI-managed services like Congero standardise costs and include maintenance.
Maintenance & SEO
Ongoing updates, hosting, SSL, and SEO add recurring fees. Factor annual renewals and optimisation into the total cost of ownership.
Cost comparison: Agency vs Freelancer vs DIY vs Congero
Realistic ranges and what you actually get for your money.
Digital Agency
Custom design, project manager, strategy, development, QA and often marketing services.
- Custom UX & branding
- Complex integrations
- Higher quality control
Freelancer
Good for small projects; speed and reliability vary by person.
- Lower up-front cost
- May lack ongoing support
DIY (Wix/Shopify/WordPress)
Lowest entry price but time-consuming and often needs paid plugins and maintenance.
- Low up-front cost
- Ongoing plugin/theme costs
Congero (AI-managed)
AI-built sites in seconds, unlimited updates via text, domain & hosting included, local SEO built-in.
- Live in ~60 seconds
- Unlimited updates via WhatsApp
- Domain, SSL, hosting & analytics
Calculate true cost of ownership (3-year view)
Up-front price is only part of the story. Factor in hosting, domain, updates, SEO and opportunity cost to compare options fairly.
Example: Agency build
- Initial build: $8,000
- Monthly hosting & maintenance: $150 × 36 = $5,400
- SEO & marketing extras: $200×24 = $4,800
- Total (3 years): ≈ $18,200
Example: Congero
- Set up & AI generation: Free demo, live in 60 seconds
- Monthly fee: $49 × 36 = $1,764
- Includes domain, hosting, SSL, unlimited updates & local SEO
- Total (3 years): $1,764
How to choose the right option for your business
Answer these questions to pick the most cost-effective path.
- Do you need a fast, professional site that ranks locally? If yes, consider managed services with built-in local SEO (like Congero).
- Do you need heavy custom functionality? Agencies or experienced freelancers may be required for complex bookings or membership systems.
- How much time can you invest? DIY saves money but costs time. If you’d rather focus on customers, a managed monthly service is usually cheaper in total time cost.
- Can you budget predictable monthly spend? Flat-fee services remove surprise invoices and make ROI planning easier.
Real examples — What businesses paid and what they got
Sample scenarios from Australian small businesses in 2025.
Plumbing tradie
Needed fast local leads. Chose Congero: live in 60s, local SEO, WhatsApp updates.
Small café
Wanted booking and menus. Used freelancer + extra integrations.
Landscaping business
Opted agency for branding and portfolio gallery.
What a $49/month Congero site looks like
Built-for-mobile, local-SEO optimised, and editable via WhatsApp — with unlimited updates included.
Frequently asked questions about website designing cost
Short, actionable answers to help you decide.
What is the minimum I should budget for a professional site?
For a simple, professional presence expect $500+ upfront or $49/month with managed services like Congero which include hosting and updates.
Are ongoing SEO and updates extra?
Often yes. Many agencies charge monthly retainers. Congero includes local SEO and unlimited content updates in the flat monthly fee.
Is AI-generated content penalised by Google?
No — search engines reward helpful, original content. Congero's AI focuses on people-first, customised content plus technical SEO like schema and meta tags.
Can I switch providers later?
Yes. Congero allows you to export your content or transfer domains so you aren't locked in by hidden exit fees.
