Introduction

If you are comparing the cheapest website builders, this guide gives a practical, number-driven road map to pick, build, and launch a website without overspending. Many entrepreneurs assume the lowest monthly fee equals the lowest total cost. That is rarely true: domains, payment processing, add-on apps, and growth needs change the math.

This article covers what truly makes a builder cheap for small businesses and solopreneurs, side-by-side pricing examples, a setup timeline, and concrete checklists you can follow. You will see realistic monthly and yearly costs for platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, WordPress (hosted and self-hosted), Carrd, Zyro, and Hostinger.

Read this to learn which builder saves you time and money now, which saves money over 12 to 36 months, and where spending a little more early prevents costly migrations later.

Overview:

what “cheap” really means for a business

Cost has multiple parts. A platform with a low sticker price can cost more when you add a domain, remove branding, add ecommerce, or pay transaction fees. To evaluate cost, calculate total cost of ownership (TCO) over 12 and 36 months.

TCO components to track:

Monthly subscription or hosting fee
Domain registration and renewal (typical $10 to $20 per year)
SSL certificate (usually included; otherwise $0 to $50 per year)
Transaction fees (card processing 2.9% + $0.30 per sale typical)
App or plugin costs for important features (SEO, bookings, email)
Design and labor time (in-house hours or contractor rates)

Example comparisons:

Wix Combo plan: around $16 per month billed annually, includes a free domain year and removes Wix ads. TCO year 1 roughly $16*12 + $0 domain + $0 SSL = $192.
WordPress.org self-hosted with Hostinger: hosting from $2.99 per month, domain $12/yr, premium theme $50 one-time. TCO year 1 roughly $36 + $12 + $50 = $98 (excluding labor).
Shopify Basic for an online store: $39 per month plus payment fees. TCO year 1 roughly $468 plus card fees.

When “cheapest” makes sense:

You need a brochure site or landing page and want the fastest path with minimal technical setup.
You value predictable monthly bills and included hosting, templates, and security.
You have limited time and prefer drag-and-drop builders.

When not to choose the cheapest:

You plan to scale to complex ecommerce, custom integrations, or advanced SEO.
You need full control over hosting, code, and database access.

Actionable metric: compare 12-month TCO and projected revenue. If the cheaper option saves less than you spend on migration or lost conversions, choose the slightly higher plan that reduces risk.

Cheapest Website Builders

This section lists low-cost platforms that deliver real value for small sites and small stores. For each platform I give baseline pricing, typical use cases, and a quick cost caveat.

Wix

Pricing: Free tier; Combo around $16/mo; Unlimited $22/mo; Business Basic $27/mo (billed annually; prices vary).
Best for: drag-and-drop visual design, quick brochure sites, simple stores.
Caveat: apps for advanced features cost extra; free plan displays Wix ads.

Squarespace

Pricing: Personal about $16/mo; Business about $23/mo; Basic Commerce $27/mo; Advanced Commerce $49/mo (billed annually).
Best for: visually driven sites, portfolios, small boutiques.
Caveat: limited app marketplace; transaction fees on Business plan.

WordPress.com (hosted)

Pricing: Free; Personal $4/mo; Premium $8/mo; Business $25/mo; eCommerce $45/mo (billed annually).
Best for: content-focused sites with easier hosting than self-hosted WordPress.
Caveat: less plugin freedom unless on Business plan or higher.

WordPress.org (self-hosted)

Pricing: Hosting from $2.99/mo (Hostinger), $2.95-$3.95/mo (Bluehost) when promoted; domain $10-$20/yr.
Best for: full control, advanced SEO, scalable sites, WooCommerce stores.
Caveat: maintenance, updates, and security are your responsibility unless you pay managed hosting.

Shopify

Pricing: Basic $39/mo; Shopify $105/mo; Advanced $399/mo (card rates apply).
Best for: dedicated ecommerce with shipping, inventory, and multi-channel sales.
Caveat: heavier monthly cost but includes commerce features and security.

Carrd

Pricing: Free; Pro plans start around $19 per year (Carrd Pro Lite $9/yr historically, price tiers depend on features).
Best for: single-page sites, landing pages, microsites.
Caveat: single-page limitation for complex sites.

Zyro

Pricing: From around $2.90 to $9.90 per month depending on features and billing cycle.
Best for: ultra-affordable DIY sites with AI content tools.
Caveat: limited third-party integrations compared to major builders.

Hostinger Website Builder

Pricing: Website builder from $1.99 to $3.99 per month on promotions; managed hosting plans similar.
Best for: low-cost hosted sites with integrated hosting and domain options.
Caveat: renewals can increase; check renewal pricing.

GoDaddy Website Builder

Pricing: Basic plans from $6.99 to $9.99/mo; Business/ecommerce higher.
Best for: simple small-business sites with local tools.
Caveat: limited flexibility for growth and complex features.

How to read these numbers:

Most monthly prices require annual billing to get the low advertised rate.
Promotional first-year pricing is common; renewals can be 20 to 100 percent higher.
Account for one-time design costs (template purchase, pro setup) and time investment.

Quick pick by use case:

One-page landing: Carrd or Google Sites for free or under $20/yr.
Portfolio or brochure: Squarespace or Wix $12-$23/mo.
Small ecommerce store under $1,000/mo revenue: Shopify Basic or Wix Business Basic $27-$39/mo.
Scalable content site and blog: WordPress.org on low-cost hosting $3-$10/mo.

How to Choose the Right “Cheap” Option:

checklist and decision steps

Selecting among the cheapest website builders requires matching features to business goals. Use this step-by-step checklist and decision timeline.

Step 1: Define your core goal (1 day)

List primary action you want visitors to take (contact, buy, subscribe).
Estimate monthly visitors and average order value (if ecommerce).
Decide whether you need appointment booking, memberships, or complex product variants.

Step 2: Map must-have features (1 day)

Required features: SSL, custom domain, basic SEO, mobile responsiveness, analytics.
Ecommerce needs: inventory, shipping calculations, tax, coupons, point of sale.
Integrations: email marketing (Mailchimp, ConvertKit), Google Analytics, Zapier.

Step 3: Compare direct costs (1-2 days)

Build a 12-month TCO table for candidate platforms. Include subscription, domain, apps, and expected transaction fees.
Example: Compare Wix Business Basic ($27/mo) vs WooCommerce on Hostinger ($4/mo hosting + $20/yr domain + $100 one-time theme).
Calculate break-even: if you expect $1,000/mo revenue with 3% conversion, compute fees lost vs time saved.

Step 4: Trial and test (1-7 days)

Use free trials or free tiers to prototype a page.
Build a single landing page and test forms, checkout flow, and mobile rendering.
Timebox the prototype: spend no more than 4 hours evaluating each platform.

Step 5: Plan for growth and exit costs (1 day)

Check export options: can you export content or product lists?
Evaluate theme portability and data export for customers/orders.
If moving costs more than 3 months of hosting, factor migration cost into decision.

Checklist summary:

Must-have features identified
12-month total cost calculated
Transaction fees estimated
Trial built and tested
Migration/export options verified

Decision rules:

If you need speed and low technical overhead, choose hosted builder (Wix, Squarespace, Zyro).
If you need full control, choose self-hosted WordPress and budget time for maintenance.
If you plan to scale ecommerce above $5,000/month, favor Shopify or WooCommerce with proven shipping/payment stacks.

Time estimates:

Basic one-page launch: 1-3 hours on Carrd or Wix.
Small brochure site (5-10 pages): 4-12 hours with template customization.
Small ecommerce site (up to 50 SKUs): 1-2 days with Shopify; 2-5 days for WooCommerce depending on experience.

Platform Comparisons and Realistic Pricing Examples

This section gives concrete monthly and first-year cost examples for common small-business scenarios. All prices assume annual billing where applicable and include domain first-year where included by provider.

Scenario A: Simple brochure site for a local service (5 pages)

Option 1: Wix Combo
Price: $16/mo ($192/yr)
Domain: free first year or $12/yr after
Add-ons: booking app $5-$10/mo if needed
First-year TCO estimate: $200 to $250
Option 2: Squarespace Personal
Price: $16/mo ($192/yr)
Domain: free first year
First-year TCO estimate: $192
Option 3: WordPress.org self-hosted (Hostinger)
Hosting: $3/mo ($36/yr)
Domain: $12/yr
Theme: $0-$60 (free theme or one-time purchase)
First-year TCO estimate: $48-$108

Recommendation: If you or a contractor can manage WordPress, self-hosted is cheapest. If you want speed and included support, Wix or Squarespace is fine.

Scenario B: Small ecommerce store, under 100 orders/month

Option 1: Shopify Basic
Price: $39/mo ($468/yr)
Payment fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per order (more if not using Shopify Payments)
Apps: $0-$50/mo for extra features
First-year TCO estimate: $500-$1,000
Option 2: Wix Business Basic
Price: $27/mo ($324/yr)
Payment fees: 2.9% + $0.30
Limitations: less advanced commerce features
First-year TCO estimate: $350-$800
Option 3: WooCommerce on Hostinger
Hosting: $6/mo for better performance ($72/yr)
Domain: $12/yr
WooCommerce: free core, paid extensions $50-$200 if needed
Payment fees: depends on gateway, typically 2.9% + $0.30
First-year TCO estimate: $100-$400 (higher if paid extensions are added)

Recommendation: For tight budgets with desire to avoid Shopify fees, WooCommerce on cheap hosting is cost-effective but needs technical setup and maintenance.

Scenario C: One-page funnel or portfolio

Option 1: Carrd Pro
Price: $19/year for a common Pro tier (historical tiers vary)
Domain: add custom domain at low cost
First-year TCO estimate: $25-$30
Option 2: Google Sites
Price: Free
Domain: buy domain separately $12/yr
First-year TCO estimate: $12-$20

Recommendation: Carrd or Google Sites provide the absolute lowest cost for single-page needs.

Interpretation notes:

Theme or template purchases are often one-time and amortize over multiple years.
Yearly billing typically cuts the monthly price by 15-40 percent versus month-to-month.
Promotional pricing often applies only in the first year; always check renewal rates.

Tools and Resources

Use these tools for budgeting, building, and measuring success. All listed tools offer free tiers or trials.

Builders and hosting

Wix: visual builder, built-in hosting, free plan with Wix branding.
Squarespace: design-forward templates, built-in commerce.
Shopify: commerce-first platform with POS and shipping integrations.
WordPress.org: self-hosted CMS, use Hostinger, Bluehost, or SiteGround.
Carrd: low-cost single-page builder.
Zyro: AI tools and low introductory prices.
GoDaddy Website Builder: simple business sites with local business tools.

Payment processors

Stripe: online card processing, typical rate 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S.
PayPal: payment buttons and hosted checkout; rates similar to Stripe.
Shopify Payments: built into Shopify; avoids Shopify’s extra transaction fees.

Analytics and marketing

Google Analytics 4: free analytics for traffic and conversion tracking.
Google Search Console: free monitoring of site indexing and search performance.
Mailchimp / ConvertKit / Sendinblue: email marketing platforms with free tiers.

Design and assets

Canva: free and paid templates for graphics and social posts.
Unsplash / Pexels: free stock photos.
ThemeForest: paid WordPress themes from $20-$60.

Cost and planning spreadsheets

Use a simple 12-month TCO spreadsheet with columns: platform, subscription, domain, apps, payment fees estimate, one-time costs, total.
Include a migration buffer of one-time cost (estimate $100-$1,000 depending on complexity).

Developer and contractor marketplaces

Fiverr: lower-cost freelance help for specific tasks (logo, page setup).
Upwork: hourly or project-based hiring for developers and designers.
Local web agencies: better for full-service projects; higher cost but less time investment.

Learning and guides

WordPress.org documentation for plugins and themes.
Official help centers for Wix, Squarespace, Shopify.
YouTube tutorials for step-by-step visual walkthroughs.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Choosing solely on advertised monthly price

Problem: Promotional pricing and missing add-ons inflate the real cost.
Fix: Build a 12-month TCO that includes renewal pricing, domains, apps, and transaction fees.

Ignoring transaction and payment fees

Problem: Payment processors take 2.9% + $0.30 per sale in many cases; platforms may add extra fees.
Fix: Estimate fees per sale and calculate impact on margin. Consider Shopify Payments or Stripe for simpler fee structures.

Underestimating content and SEO work

Problem: A low-cost template is not a traffic strategy. Poor SEO and content reduce returns.
Fix: Allocate time or budget for keyword-driven content, meta tags, and a simple content schedule (e.g., one blog post per week for three months).

Choosing a platform with poor export options

Problem: Migrations are expensive if content/products are locked in.
Fix: Check export capabilities before committing. Prefer platforms that allow CSV export of products and pages.

Not factoring in time and maintenance

Problem: Self-hosted WordPress requires updates, backups, and security work.
Fix: If you lack time, choose a managed or hosted solution and include managed support or a maintenance retainer in your budget.

FAQ

Which Platform is the Absolute Cheapest to Start With?

The absolute cheapest for a one-page site is Carrd or Google Sites; costs can be under $20 per year if you buy a domain. For a more robust site the cheapest entry on paper is self-hosted WordPress on low-cost hosting (around $3-$6 per month), but it requires more setup and maintenance.

Are Free Plans Worth It for a Business Site?

Free plans are useful for prototypes and testing, but they often include branding, limited features, and lack eCommerce or custom domains. For a trustworthy business presence, budget at least $5-$16 per month for a paid plan.

How Much Does Ecommerce Usually Add to the Cost?

Ecommerce adds platform fees (e.g., Shopify $39/mo), payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30), and sometimes app costs for shipping, subscriptions, or advanced checkout. Expect $300-$600 minimum annual overhead for a small store.

Is Wordpress.org Cheaper than Hosted Builders Long-Term?

org can be cheaper in subscription cost if you use low-cost hosting and free plugins, but maintenance and potential developer cost can offset savings. Over 2-3 years it is typically cheaper for content-heavy or highly customized sites.

Should I Pick a Cheap Builder Now and Migrate Later?

You can start cheap and migrate later, but migrations cost time and money and risk SEO disruption. If you expect rapid growth, choose a platform with export options or one designed for scaling.

How Do I Calculate Total Cost of Ownership?

Add subscription fees, domain cost, expected app/plugin costs, payment processing estimates, and one-time design/development fees for 12 and 36 months. Include a migration buffer equal to one month of current hosting or $100-$1,000 depending on complexity.

Next Steps

Create a 12-month budget spreadsheet

Columns: platform, subscription, domain, apps, payment fees, one-time costs, total.
Fill in numbers for 3 candidate platforms and compare totals.

Build a 1-page prototype on the cheapest candidate

Timebox to 4 hours. Test form submissions, checkout (if ecommerce), and mobile view.

Run a small traffic test

Spend $50 on a simple ad or share to an email list to validate the call to action and conversion flow.

Decide and document a migration plan

If you pick a hosted builder, document export options and expected migration costs in case you need to move later.

Schedule recurring tasks

For self-hosted sites, schedule monthly backups and updates.
For hosted builders, plan quarterly reviews of app needs and costs.

Checklist to launch in 7 days

Day 1: Pick platform and register domain.
Day 2: Select a template and basic branding (logo, colors).
Day 3: Create 5 essential pages (home, about, services/products, contact, terms).
Day 4: Set up analytics and contact forms.
Day 5: Configure payment processing and shipping (if ecommerce).
Day 6: Test across devices and browsers.
Day 7: Publish and promote with a small ad or email blast.

This practical roadmap gives clear comparisons and next steps to pick one of the cheapest website builders while managing long-term costs and growth risks.

Cheapest Website Builders for Small Businesses