Website Builders · Pricing

Website Builders Software Pricing and Cost Guide

What website builder software really costs, with verified starting prices for the major tools and the five places the bill quietly grows beyond the monthly plan.

          Reviewed by Fredrik Filipsson·
          Updated June 2026·
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What website builder software really costs

Website builder pricing looks simple on the pricing page and rarely stays that way. The monthly plan is only the floor. The bill you actually pay is that plan plus a domain, premium templates, apps and plugins, email, and the transaction fees a store can carry, along with the gap between monthly and annual billing. This guide lays out the verified starting numbers and then the places the total quietly grows.

All figures below are list prices in US dollars as of June 2026, drawn from each vendor's pricing page in the same session this guide was written. Most are the annual billing rates, which are lower than paying month to month. Vendors change pricing and packaging often, so treat these as a starting map and check the vendor for current pricing before you commit.

Verified starting prices

Entry and mid tier, per month

Tool
Entry paid tier
Mid tier
Billing basis

Wix

$17

Light, annual

$39

Business, annual

Per month on annual billing. Core sits at $29; Business Elite at $159. Monthly billing runs higher. Free tier available on a Wix subdomain.

Squarespace

$16

Basic, annual

$39

Plus, annual

Per month, billed annually. Core $23, Advanced $99. Monthly billing runs $25 to $139. No permanent free tier, 14 day trial.

Webflow

$15

Basic, annual

$25

Premium, annual

Per site, per month, billed annually. Monthly billing is higher. Free Starter plan on a webflow.io subdomain. Workspace seats are billed separately.

WordPress.com

Personal

$40

Business

Per month. Premium $18, Commerce $70. Free tier with ads. Plugins unlock only on the Business plan, a common cost driver.

Shopify

$29

Basic, annual

$299

Advanced, annual

Per month on annual billing; monthly Basic is $39. Grow about $79. Transaction fees apply unless you use Shopify Payments.

GoDaddy

$9.99

Basic, annual

$20.99

Commerce, annual

Per month on annual billing. Premium $14.99. Renewal rates are commonly higher than the first term, so judge cost over two to three years.

List prices in USD as of June 2026, verified against each vendor's pricing page this session. Most figures are annual billing rates; monthly billing is higher. Tiers, limits, and fees change often; check the vendor for current pricing. Squarespace renamed its plans in late 2025 and Webflow simplified its plans in May 2026, so older guides may show different tier names.

Where the bill grows

The five hidden cost drivers

Driver
Where it shows up
How to measure it

Domain and email

A custom domain after the free first year, plus business email

Budget for the domain renewal and email separately; the free first year domain often renews at a higher rate

Apps, plugins, and templates

Premium templates and third party apps sold on top of the plan

List the apps and template your design needs and price the bundle, not just the base plan

Transaction and payment fees

A per sale fee on stores, unless you use the vendor's own payments

Estimate your sales volume and check the fee on each tier; Shopify waives its fee only with Shopify Payments

Tier jumps for one feature

Plugins, ecommerce, or removing storage limits often sit one tier above where you start

Confirm the exact plan that unlocks your must have feature before you budget, for example WordPress.com gates plugins at Business

Annual versus monthly and renewals

Monthly billing costs more, and some builders raise the rate at renewal

Start monthly to confirm fit, switch to annual for the saving, and read the renewal price, not just the intro rate

Cost drivers reflect common vendor packaging as of June 2026. Specific fees vary by vendor, region, and contract; check the vendor for current pricing.

Keep reading

Common questions

How much does a website builder cost per month?

Mainstream paid builders run from about $9 to $40 per month on entry and mid tiers as of June 2026, with store first plans such as Shopify Advanced reaching a few hundred dollars. Several tools, including Wix and Webflow, offer a free tier. Check the vendor for current pricing.

Why is the price higher than the number on the pricing page?

Because the plan is only the floor. A custom domain after the first year, premium templates, apps, business email, and store transaction fees all add to the total, and the tier that unlocks your must have feature may sit above where you start. Annual billing is cheaper than monthly but locks you in.

Which website builders have a genuinely free plan?

As of June 2026, Wix, Webflow, and Carrd offer free plans, and WordPress.com has a free tier with ads. Free plans publish on the vendor's subdomain and cap features; a custom domain and serious tools need a paid plan. Check the vendor for current limits.

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