Website Cost Calculator

Pricing basis: current public introductory pricing, verified 2026-08-18

Estimate what a website really costs — hosting, domain, email, theme, design, and maintenance — based on your choices. The hosting figures use current introductory pricing from Hostinger and Bluehost rather than made-up numbers.

Assumptions behind the estimate

Hosting introductory prices are taken from the official pricing pages as of 2026-08-18: Hostinger shared hosting from around $2.99/mo (48-month term) and Bluehost from around $3.99/mo (36-month term). Introductory prices renew higher.
A custom domain is included free for the first year on eligible plans from both hosts; after that, budget roughly $10–$15 per year.
Free SSL and free email are included on eligible plans. A premium email service, if you choose one, typically costs around $5–$7 per user per month.
Premium themes and plugins are optional, one-time or yearly costs.
Design, copy, and maintenance costs depend entirely on whether you do the work yourself or hire help — the figures are illustrative ranges, not quotes.

Methodology: how the estimate is calculated

Calculation logic

First-year cost = the items you select in the calculator, added together:

Web hosting: monthly price × 12 (Hostinger shared intro from about $2.99/mo on a 48-month term; Bluehost intro from about $3.99/mo on a 36-month term; or a price you enter).
Domain: about $12.50 per year if you buy one (free first year on eligible plans).
Premium email: about $5 per user per month × 12, optional.
Premium theme: one-time about $59, optional.
Premium plugins: about $50 per year, optional.
Design and copy help: one-off $0, about $150, or about $500 — illustrative ranges, not quotes.
Managed maintenance: about $30 per month × 12, optional.

Monthly equivalent = first-year total ÷ 12. It is an average across the first year, not a real monthly bill.

Pricing ranges and data sources

Hostinger and Bluehost introductory shared-hosting prices: current public pricing pages, verified 2026-08-18.
Domain (about $10–$15/yr), premium email (about $5–$7/user/mo), premium theme (about $59 one-time), premium plugins (about $50/yr), and managed maintenance (about $30/mo): typical public market ranges for beginner-level setups.

Update date

2026-08-18. Pricing is reviewed at least quarterly and whenever a provider changes its public introductory pricing.

Limitations

Introductory prices renew higher after the initial term — the estimate uses the introductory price and says so.
Estimates are illustrative, not quotes. Actual costs vary by provider, contract term, location, and promotions at the time you buy.
Optional items are only included if you select them.

Start with a host that fits your budget

Hostinger

Budget-friendly managed web hosting with free domain, SSL, CDN, backups, and 24/7 support. Great for beginners and small businesses.

See Hostinger Plans Read review

Bluehost

A long-established WordPress-recommended hosting provider with beginner-friendly plans, free domain, and 24/7 support.

See Bluehost Plans Read review

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a basic website cost per year?

For a simple site on shared hosting with a free domain and free SSL (for example Hostinger or Bluehost), the first year is typically around $40 to $120 in hosting plus any optional theme, email, or design costs. The calculator gives a personalised estimate from your choices.

Why are introductory hosting prices so low?

Hosts such as Hostinger and Bluehost advertise low introductory prices for longer terms (for example 12 to 48 months). These prices renew at a higher rate, which is why the calculator shows a renewal note alongside the first-year estimate.

What website costs do people usually forget?

Renewal pricing, a custom domain after the first free year, premium themes and plugins, professional email, and the time or money spent on design and maintenance are the most commonly forgotten costs.