“How much does a website cost?” — it is the number one question we hear from entrepreneurs, startups and established companies alike. The honest answer is: it depends. In 2026, the price of a website can range from €500 for a simple landing page to €100,000+ for a complex web application.
This huge price gap is not random — it depends on the type of website, design complexity, required features and who builds it. In this guide, we break down every category of website, the real costs across the European market, and the hidden expenses most clients only discover after signing the contract.
Factors that influence website pricing
Before we look at concrete numbers, you need to understand what makes a website cost €2,000 or €20,000. Here are the main factors that determine the final budget:
Type of website
A single-page landing page is fundamentally different from an online store with 5,000 products. Structural complexity is the biggest cost driver.
Design: template vs. custom
A pre-made template costs between €50–200 and can be customized quickly. A custom design, built from scratch, starts at €1,500 and can reach tens of thousands.
Number of pages
Every additional page means design, copywriting, SEO optimization and testing. A 5-page site takes days; a 50-page site takes months.
Special functionalities
Booking systems, payment gateways, CRM integrations, live chat, client portals, dashboards — each one adds complexity and cost.
CMS choice
WordPress is the most affordable option. Shopify simplifies e-commerce but comes with monthly fees. Custom solutions (Next.js, Laravel) offer maximum flexibility but require specialized developers.
SEO & performance optimization
A fast, search-engine-optimized site requires additional technical work: URL structure, meta tags, schema markup, Core Web Vitals, image compression.
Content creation
Professional copywriting, product photography, videos — quality content is the difference between a site that converts and one that just exists.
Price table by website type
We have compiled the average prices across the European market for 2026, based on our experience and industry data:
| Website type | Price (EUR) | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page | €500 – €2,000 | 1–2 weeks | Campaigns, product launches |
| Presentation site (5–10 pages) | €2,000 – €5,000 | 3–6 weeks | SMBs, service businesses |
| Corporate website | €5,000 – €15,000 | 6–12 weeks | Medium-sized businesses |
| E-commerce (Shopify/WooCommerce) | €3,000 – €15,000 | 4–10 weeks | Online retail |
| Custom e-commerce | €10,000 – €50,000+ | 12–24 weeks | Large catalogs |
| Web application | €15,000 – €100,000+ | 12–40 weeks | SaaS, platforms |
These prices include design, development and basic configuration, but typically do not cover content (copywriting, photography) or post-launch marketing. A solid presentation site starts at around €2,000 while a professional Shopify or WooCommerce store sits between €3,000 and €15,000 depending on catalog size and custom features.
Hidden costs nobody tells you about
The upfront price of a website is just the tip of the iceberg. Most businesses discover only after launch that there are recurring costs that add up quickly. Here is what you should budget for monthly:
Recurring monthly costs:
- Hosting€10 – €100/month
- Domain name (.com / .eu)€10 – €30/year
- SSL certificateFree – €200/year
- Maintenance & updates€50 – €300/month
- Content updates€100 – €500/month
- Premium plugins & licenses€20 – €200/month
- Security monitoring€30 – €150/month
- Automated backups€10 – €50/month
- Estimated monthly total€230 – €1,300/month
A “free” or extremely cheap website at launch can become expensive long-term if you have not budgeted for these ongoing expenses from the start. Professional agencies typically include a maintenance package in their offering, which simplifies budgeting and ensures your site stays secure, fast and up to date.
Freelancer vs. Agency vs. DIY
Beyond the type of website, who builds it has a major impact on price, quality and delivery timeline. Here is how the three main options compare:
| Criteria | DIY (Wix, Squarespace) | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €0 – €500 | €500 – €5,000 | €2,000 – €50,000+ |
| Design quality | Limited templates | Good, but depends on the individual | Premium, custom-built from scratch |
| Delivery time | A few days | 2–6 weeks | 4–16 weeks |
| Post-launch support | Self-service | Limited, no guarantees | Maintenance contract, SLA |
| SEO & performance | Basic | Variable | Full optimization included |
| Scalability | Limited by platform | Moderate | Maximum – scalable architecture |
| Best for | Hobby, quick idea validation | Small budget, simple projects | Serious business, long-term ROI |
A DIY platform can be a good solution for a personal blog or a quick market test. But if your website is meant to generate leads or sales for your business, investing in an experienced freelancer or an agency pays for itself quickly through higher conversions, better SEO and a professional image that builds trust with potential customers.
Why prices vary so much
A €1,000 website and a €10,000 website can look similar on the surface — but the differences under the hood are enormous. Cheap websites typically come with unoptimized code that loads slowly, no proper SEO structure, no mobile testing, inadequate security and no documentation.
A professional website includes: data-driven UX architecture, responsive design tested on 10+ devices, loading speed under 2 seconds, complete SEO structure (schema markup, XML sitemap, canonical tags), analytics and CRM integrations, and clean code that allows future expansion.
Think of it this way: a cheap website is an expense. A professional website is an investment that generates revenue for years. A well-built presentation site can generate leads worth tens of thousands of euros per year — often paying for itself within the first 3–6 months.
Additionally, a cheap website often requires a complete rebuild after 1–2 years when its limitations become apparent. A professional website has a lifespan of 4–5 years with proper maintenance — the actual cost per year ends up being lower.
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