What Does a Website Cost in 2026?
By Ignace Knops "What does a website cost?" It's the first question every entrepreneur asks — and rightly so. You want to know where you stand before you invest. The honest answer: it depends. But in this article we give you a concrete overview of the prices in 2026, based on current market data from Belgium.
Did you know that according to research by Sortlist a full 42% of Belgian SMEs still don't have a website? And of the businesses that do have one, 93% show avoidable flaws. A professional website is therefore still a competitive advantage.
Price overview: what does a website cost in 2026?
The costs vary widely based on the type of website you need. According to Kreatix and WebFantast prices in Belgium are as follows. For SMEs and self-employed professionals who want an effective website, you can realistically expect to pay €1,500 to €3,500 according to Artissoft.
| Type of website | Price range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple business website | €500 - €2,500 | 1-3 weeks |
| Custom WordPress website | €1,500 - €5,000 | 2-6 weeks |
| Webshop (WooCommerce/Shopify) | €2,000 - €10,000 | 3-8 weeks |
| Custom web application | €5,000 - €25,000+ | 6-16 weeks |
What determines the price of a website?
The final price depends on a number of factors. The standard hourly rates of web design agencies in Belgium range between €98 and €135 per hour according to Deal Webdesign. Understanding which factors influence the costs helps you make the right choices.
1. Design: template or custom
A template-based website is the most affordable option. You choose an existing design and adapt it with your colours, logo and content. This is perfect for small businesses that want to be online quickly.
A custom design is built from scratch specifically for your brand and audience. This costs more, but creates a unique look that sets you apart from the competition.
2. Features
Every extra feature affects the price. Commonly requested features and their impact on the costs:
- Contact form — minimal extra cost (€0-€100)
- Booking system or calendar — €200-€1,000
- Multilingual support — €500-€2,000 (depending on the number of languages)
- Integration with an external system (e.g. accounting software, CRM) — €500-€3,000
- Webshop functionality — €1,000-€5,000
3. Content and SEO
A website without good content is like a shop without a window display. Professional copywriting and search engine optimisation (SEO) are essential to be found on Google. Expect to pay €50-€150 per page for professional web copy and €300-€1,000 for a basic SEO setup.
WordPress vs custom: which is the best choice?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions. Both options have their pros and cons:
WordPress
- ✓ Lower build cost (€500-€5,000)
- ✓ Large ecosystem of plugins
- ✓ Manage content yourself via a CMS
- ✗ Requires regular updates
- ✗ Vulnerable without proper maintenance
Custom
- ✓ Exactly what you need
- ✓ Better performance and speed
- ✓ More secure, smaller attack surface
- ✗ Higher build cost (€3,000-€25,000+)
- ✗ Changes require a developer
Our recommendation: for most small businesses and self-employed professionals, WordPress offers the best value for money. Do you need specific features that go beyond standard plugins? Then a custom build is worth the investment.
Don't forget the monthly costs
The build price is only the beginning. Every website has ongoing costs:
- Hosting — €5-€50/month (depending on traffic and performance requirements)
- Domain name — €10-€25/year (.be domain)
- SSL certificate — often included for free with hosting
- Website maintenance — €50-€200/month (updates, backups, security)
- Email hosting — €5-€15/month per mailbox
According to Conversal, the total annual cost of a professional WordPress website averages €500 to €2,000 per year for hosting, maintenance and updates — on top of the one-off build cost. Would you rather not have to worry about this? Then a maintenance package is a smart choice.
5 tips to save on costs
- Start small, grow later. Begin with the core features and expand as your business grows. You don't have to build everything at once.
- Provide good content. The better you prepare your copy and images, the less time (and money) the developer needs.
- Choose the right platform. Don't pay for a Ferrari when you need a reliable city car. A well-built WordPress site is more than enough for most businesses.
- Invest in SEO from day one. A beautiful website without visitors achieves nothing. SEO optimisation during the build is far cheaper than fixing everything afterwards.
- Don't compare on price alone. The cheapest option is rarely the best. Pay attention to experience, portfolio, support after delivery and whether the partner is active in your region.
Frequently asked questions
What does a simple website cost?
A simple business website with 5-10 pages costs between €500 and €2,500, depending on the design, the features and whether you choose a template or a custom build.
What does a webshop cost?
A professional webshop costs between €2,000 and €10,000+. The price depends on the number of products, payment integrations, inventory management and connections to external systems. Read more in our complete guide to webshops.
What are the monthly costs of a website?
Expect €30-€250 per month for hosting, a domain name and maintenance. Without maintenance you run the risk of security problems and outdated software.
Is a WordPress website cheaper than a custom build?
Yes, WordPress is generally cheaper to build (€500-€5,000 vs €3,000-€25,000+ for a custom build). But a custom build can be more cost-effective in the long run thanks to lower maintenance costs and better performance.
Conclusion
The cost of having a website built ranges from a few hundred euros to tens of thousands, depending on your wishes and needs. The most important thing is to choose a website that fits your goals and budget — and that leaves room to grow.
Want to know what a website would cost for your specific situation? Request a free, no-obligation consultation. We're happy to think along with you.
Ignace Knops
Ignace Knops is the founder of Knops Media. He helps entrepreneurs and businesses across Flanders with professional websites, webshops and custom web applications.
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