How Much Does a Website Cost in the UK?
The honest answer: anywhere from £8 to £10,000+ depending on how you build it. Here's the complete breakdown so you can make the right choice for your budget.
Quick Answer: Website Costs at a Glance
Website Cost Breakdown by Type
Option 1: Hire a Web Agency
The traditional "professional" route
Upfront Costs
- Basic business website (5-10 pages)£3,000-£5,000
- E-commerce website£5,000-£15,000
- Custom web application£10,000-£50,000+
Ongoing Costs
- Maintenance & updates£500-£2,000/year
- Hosting£100-£500/year
- Content changes£50-£100/hour
Best for: Businesses with £5,000+ budget who want hands-off development and have complex requirements. Not recommended for simple business websites where you could save 99% of the cost.
Option 2: DIY with Wix/Squarespace
Build it yourself with drag-and-drop
Monthly Costs
- Wix basic plan£13-£39/month
- Squarespace£12-£40/month
- Domain name£10-£15/year
Hidden Costs
- Your time (learning + building)20-40 hours
- Premium templates£50-£200
- Apps & plugins£10-£50/month
Best for: People with spare time who enjoy the creative process. Be aware: 40% of users abandon these platforms within 30 days due to complexity.
Option 3: AI Website Builder
Describe your business, AI builds it
Pricing Options
- Pay-as-you-go (one website)£8-£25
- Subscription (unlimited)£5-£20/month
- Domain included or£10-£15/year
What's Included
- Hosting (free)
- SSL certificate (free)
- Mobile responsive (automatic)
- SEO basics (built-in)
Best for: Small business owners who want professional results without the agency price tag or the DIY time investment. Generate a complete website in under 60 seconds.
Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
The initial website cost is just the beginning. Here's what most providers don't mention upfront:
| Hidden Cost | Agency | DIY Builder | AI Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain registration | £10-15/year | £10-15/year | Often included |
| Hosting | £100-500/year | Included | Included |
| SSL certificate | £0-100/year | Included | Included |
| Business email | £50-100/year | £50-100/year | Included |
| Maintenance/updates | £500-2,000/year | Your time | DIY (easy) |
| Content changes | £50-100/hour | Your time | Free (instant) |
| Year 1 Total (typical) | £4,000-£12,000 | £200-£600 | £8-£100 |
The Real Cost Question: Time vs Money
Your time has value. Here's the real comparison when you factor in hours spent:
Agency Route
DIY Route
AI Route
Consider this: If your time is worth £25/hour, spending 30 hours on DIY costs you £750 in time alone - before the platform fees. With AI, you invest 1 hour maximum, saving you hundreds in time value.
How to Decide What's Right for Your Budget
Choose an Agency if...
- You have £5,000+ budget and complex requirements
- You need custom functionality (apps, integrations, databases)
- You want someone else to handle everything
Choose DIY (Wix/Squarespace) if...
- You have 20-40 hours to invest in learning
- You enjoy the creative process of designing
- You're comfortable with technology
Choose AI Website Builder if...
- You want professional results without the time or money investment
- You need a website quickly (today, not weeks)
- You have a standard business website need (90% of small businesses)
- You want to control costs with no ongoing fees
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest way to get a business website in the UK?
The cheapest way is using an AI website builder like ChilledSites, where you can get a professional website from just £8. This includes hosting, SSL, and everything you need to go live. Compare this to agencies (£3,000+) or even DIY platforms (£150+/year).
Do I need to pay monthly for a website?
Not necessarily. While platforms like Wix and Squarespace charge £12-40/month, AI builders offer pay-as-you-go options from £8 one-time, or subscriptions from £5/month for better value if you need multiple sites or frequent updates.
How much do web agencies charge in the UK?
UK web agencies typically charge £3,000-£10,000 for a small business website, plus ongoing maintenance fees of £500-£2,000 per year. Freelancers may charge £1,500-£5,000. These costs can be justified for complex projects, but most small businesses don't need this level of investment.
What hidden costs should I expect with a website?
Hidden costs include domain registration (£10-15/year), hosting (£50-200/year with agencies), SSL certificate (often free now), email (£50-100/year), and maintenance (£500-2,000/year with agencies). AI builders like ChilledSites include most of these in the base price.
Is a free website worth it for my business?
Free websites come with significant limitations: ads on your site, no custom domain (yourbusiness.wixsite.com), limited features, and they look unprofessional to customers. For a business, investing even £8-50 in a proper website is worth it for credibility and customer trust.
How much should I budget for my first website?
For a standard small business website, budget £50-100 for a great result using an AI builder. This covers the website generation, a year of domain registration, and everything you need to look professional. Only budget more if you have specific complex requirements.
Can I start cheap and upgrade later?
Absolutely. Start with an AI-generated website for £8-25 to get online quickly. You can always upgrade to a subscription for more features, or even hire an agency later if your business grows to need custom functionality. Starting small is smart.
See What £8 Gets You
Professional website, hosting included, ready in 60 seconds