How Much Does a Website Cost? Custom Code vs. Website Platforms

March 19, 2025

7 min

How Much Does a Website Cost? Custom Code vs. Website Platforms

The cost of building a website varies depending on multiple factors, such as the development method, features, and scalability. Businesses often choose between website builders like WordPress and Shopify or opt for custom coding. In this guide, we break down the costs, highlighting the limitations of pre-built platforms and the advantages of a custom-coded solution tailored to your specific needs.

What factors influence the cost of a website?

The cost of a website depends on several factors:

Development method: Pre-built platforms (e.g., WordPress, Shopify) are generally cheaper but offer limited flexibility, while custom-coded websites require a larger investment but provide full control.
Features & Complexity: A basic business website costs less than an advanced e-commerce platform with custom functionalities.
Design & Customization: A simple template-based design is cost-effective, but a fully custom UI/UX requires more resources.
Hosting & Security: Managed hosting services (e.g., Shopify) include security, while custom-coded solutions require separate investments in hosting and cybersecurity.
Maintenance & Scalability: Pre-built platforms have recurring fees, whereas custom-coded solutions allow for tailored scalability without limitations imposed by third-party services.

What are the options? Website Builders vs. Custom Code

Businesses have two main choices when building a website:

1. Website Builders (WordPress, Shopify, etc.)

Pre-built solutions with templates and limited customization.
Requires third-party plugins for additional features, which can compromise security and performance.
Subscription-based pricing with recurring costs and platform restrictions.

2. Custom Coded Websites

Fully tailored solutions offering maximum control, scalability, and security.
No reliance on third-party templates or platforms, ensuring long-term cost efficiency.
Designed specifically to meet unique business requirements without limitations imposed by predefined CMS structures.

How much does it cost to build a website with WordPress, Shopify, and similar platforms?

While platforms like WordPress and Shopify are cost-effective, they come with significant trade-offs in flexibility, security, and ownership.

WordPress:
- Domain: $10 - $20 per year
- Hosting: $5 - $50 per month
- Themes & Plugins: $100 - $500 per year
- Development (if hiring experts): $1,000 - $5,000
- Security & Performance Optimizations: Additional costs
Shopify:
- Basic Plan: $39 per month
- Advanced Plan: $399 per month

How much does it cost to build a custom-coded website?

A custom-coded website is built from scratch, offering complete flexibility, scalability, and security. Unlike pre-built platforms, custom development eliminates dependency on third-party services and ensures full control over performance and features.

💰 Estimated Costs (varies by project scope & client budget):

Domain & Hosting: $50 - $500 per year
Custom UI/UX Design: $1,000 - $5,000+ (varies by complexity)
Front-end & Back-end Development: $5,000 - $50,000+ (depends on required features)
Security & Performance Optimizations: $500 - $5,000
Maintenance & Scaling: Flexible pricing based on long-term needs

📌 Advantages of Custom Development:

Tailored Solutions: Every aspect of the website is designed to fit your exact needs without limitations.
Higher Security: No dependency on third-party plugins that can introduce vulnerabilities.
Scalability & Performance: Optimized for speed and business growth without being restricted by platform constraints.

⚠️ Final Note on Pricing: The above figures are industry-standard estimates based on typical hourly developer rates. However, pricing is always tailored to meet each client's budget and project requirements.