# What Does a Website Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide

> All website costs explained: from one-pagers to custom builds. Compare prices from freelancers, agencies, and DIY platforms. Including ongoing costs and savings tips.

Source: https://jmwebsites.nl/en/blog/what-does-a-website-cost

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## What does a website cost?

A professional website in the Netherlands costs between **€800 and €15,000**, depending on the type, who builds it, and the features you need. A simple one-pager starts around €800, while an extensive business website with custom functionality easily reaches €5,000+.

That's the short answer. But the real cost depends on decisions you make upfront — and understanding those decisions can save you thousands.

In this guide, we break down **every cost**, compare your options, and show where you can save without sacrificing quality.

## Pricing by Website Type

The biggest price factor is the type of website you need. Here's what you can expect in the Netherlands in 2026:

| Website Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| **One-page website** | €800 – €1,200 | Freelancers, startups |
| **Landing page** | €400 – €1,500 | Campaigns, lead generation |
| **Brochure site** (5-10 pages) | €750 – €5,000 | Small businesses, services |
| **Business website** (10-25 pages) | €1,200 – €15,000 | Growing SMBs, multiple services |
| **E-commerce** | €2,000 – €30,000 | Product sales, online shops |
| **Custom platform** | €10,000 – €150,000+ | Complex applications, portals |

**JM Websites** builds custom websites with Next.js — a modern framework that loads 2-3x faster than traditional WordPress sites. Our projects start at business brochure sites and scale with your company, without the limitations of templates.

## Freelancer vs. Agency vs. DIY: What's the Difference?

It's not just the website type that determines cost — **who** builds it matters just as much.

### Freelancer (€800 – €3,000)

A freelancer is typically the most affordable option. You work directly with one person, which means short communication lines. The downside: if they get sick or busy, your project stalls, and you depend on one person's expertise.

**When to choose?** Limited budget, non-critical website, no complex functionality needed.

### Agency (€2,000 – €12,000+)

An agency deploys multiple specialists: a designer, a developer, sometimes an SEO specialist. This delivers a more professional result, but at higher cost. Hourly rates range from €75 to €125.

**When to choose?** Your website needs to generate leads and revenue, you want a long-term partner, and you value strategy alongside design.

### DIY Platforms (€12 – €40/month)

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and JouwWeb let you build your own site with templates. Monthly costs are low, but you're limited in design, speed, and scalability.

**When to choose?** Very small budget, purely informational site, and you don't mind doing it yourself.

| | Freelancer | Agency | DIY Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Price** | €800 – €3,000 | €2,000 – €12,000+ | €12 – €40/month |
| **Delivery speed** | 2-4 weeks | 4-8 weeks | Immediate |
| **Customization** | Medium | High | Limited |
| **Post-launch support** | Varies | Standard | Self-service |
| **SEO quality** | Varies | High | Basic |
| **Scalability** | Medium | High | Low |

## What Determines Website Cost?

Why the huge gap between €800 and €15,000? These are the five biggest cost factors:

### 1. Number of Pages

More pages means more design, more content, more development. A one-pager is simply less work than a 20-page site.

### 2. Design: Template vs. Custom

A template website is faster to build and therefore cheaper. Custom design costs more but gives you full control over how your brand comes across. With templates, visitors sometimes recognize the design from other websites — not ideal for professional credibility.

### 3. Functionality

A contact form costs little. A booking system, client portal, or CRM integration costs significantly more. The more the website needs to "do", the higher the price.

### 4. Content and SEO

Some agencies write your copy and optimize for search engines. Others deliver an empty site and expect you to provide content. SEO optimization can add €500 – €2,000, but delivers free traffic over time.

### 5. Technology

WordPress is cheaper to start with but requires more maintenance and is more vulnerable to attacks — [90% of hacked websites run on WordPress](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-security-statistics). Modern frameworks like Next.js are more secure and faster, but require specialized developers.

## Ongoing Costs: What Do You Pay After Launch?

Build costs are one-time, but a website has ongoing costs too. This is often forgotten when comparing quotes.

| Cost Item | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| **Hosting** | €5 – €30 | €60 – €360 |
| **Domain name** | — | €10 – €30 |
| **SSL certificate** | Often free | €0 – €100 |
| **Maintenance & updates** | €25 – €150 | €300 – €1,800 |
| **Plugins/licenses** | — | €50 – €300 |
| **Total** | **€30 – €180** | **€420 – €2,590** |

At **JM Websites**, hosting is included with our projects. Our Next.js websites run on Vercel — a platform that scales automatically and requires no separate hosting or plugin updates. That saves you €500-1,500 per year in ongoing costs compared to a WordPress setup.

## The Hidden Costs of a Cheap Website

A €500 website sounds attractive, but the real costs are often in what you **don't** get:

**No SEO optimization** — your website isn't found, so you end up paying for ads anyway

- **Slow load times** — [53% of mobile visitors leave a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load](https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/app-and-mobile/mobile-page-speed-new-industry-benchmarks/) (Google, 2018)

- **No conversion strategy** — a beautiful website without clear calls-to-action generates no customers

- **Plugin vulnerabilities** — cheap WordPress sites often go unupdated, creating security risks

- **No support** — when something breaks, you're on your own

The cheapest website isn't always the one with the lowest price. It's the one that delivers the most return on your investment.

## What Does a Website Cost at JM Websites?

At JM Websites, we work differently from traditional agencies. We don't build WordPress sites with templates — we build **custom websites with Next.js**, the framework also used by Netflix, Nike, and Uber.

### What makes our approach different?

- **2-3x faster load times** than WordPress (measured via Google Lighthouse)

- **No plugin updates** or security issues

- **Built-in SEO** and AI discoverability

- **Automation** — we can connect workflows, chatbots, and AI integrations directly

- **Free design upfront** — [request a free, no-obligation design](/en/gratis-ontwerp) before you decide

We also offer [business automation](/en#automatisering): from lead follow-up to AI chatbots and voice agents. That makes us unique — most web design agencies stop at delivering a website.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does a simple website cost?

A simple one-page website costs between €800 and €1,200 with a freelancer, and €1,500 – €2,500 with an agency. DIY platforms like Wix start at €12/month but offer limited room for growth.

### Is a cheap website worth it?

That depends on your goal. For a hobby website or temporary project, a cheap solution is fine. For a business website that needs to attract and convert customers, investing in quality is essential — the cost of missed customers through a poor website is often many times higher.

### What does website maintenance cost per month?

Website maintenance costs an average of €25 to €150 per month, depending on complexity. This covers hosting, updates, backups, and security. Modern frameworks like Next.js require significantly less maintenance than WordPress sites.

### Why are price differences so large?

Price differences come from the level of customization, number of features, builder experience, and technology used. A template site from a junior freelancer costs less than a custom site from a specialized agency — but also delivers a different result.

### Can I see a design before I pay?

At most agencies, no — you pay a deposit before design begins. At JM Websites, we offer a [free, no-obligation design](/en/gratis-ontwerp). You see what you get first, without commitments.

### Next.js or WordPress: which is cheaper?

WordPress is cheaper at the start (lower build costs) but more expensive long-term due to hosting, maintenance, plugin updates, and security costs. Next.js has higher build costs but lower ongoing costs. Over 3 years, the difference is often minimal — while quality with Next.js is significantly higher.

## Conclusion: What's the Right Investment for Your Website?

Website costs range from €800 for a simple one-pager to €15,000+ for an extensive business site. The right investment depends on your goal: a website that just "exists" costs less than one that actively brings in customers.

Businesses that invest in a fast, well-optimized website earn that investment back through higher conversions, better discoverability, and lower ongoing costs. [53% of mobile visitors leave at load times over 3 seconds](https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/app-and-mobile/mobile-page-speed-new-industry-benchmarks/) — you don't lose those visitors when your website loads fast.

**Want to know what a website costs for your business?** [Request a free design](/en/gratis-ontwerp) — see what you get first, without obligations.