website builders cheap Guide for Small Businesses

Introduction

If you search for website builders cheap, you will find many low-cost options, but the real cost is often in features, scalability, and time. A handful of dollars per month can buy a usable site, but hidden fees, limited sales tools, and poor performance can cost you customers.

This guide covers what “cheap” really means, how to evaluate platforms, exact pricing benchmarks, a four-week build plan, and when to upgrade or hire help. The emphasis is practical: numbers, timelines, checklists, and platform comparisons you can use to choose and launch a site that supports revenue and growth.

Read this if you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, or individual with a limited budget who needs a professional online presence without unnecessary risk.

Website Builders Cheap Overview

What “cheap” costs and tradeoffs

Cheap website builders typically fall into three cost buckets: free with limitations, basic paid plans for $3 to $15 per month, and full-featured hosted plans for $15 to $40 per month. com. Low-cost paid plans remove branding, include a custom domain, and add basic storage and bandwidth.

Tradeoffs to expect when choosing the cheapest option:

Limited ecommerce: most $3 to $12/month plans either do not support online payments or charge fees per transaction.
Reduced site speed: cheap shared hosting and bloated templates raise page load time, hurting conversions.
Limited SEO tools: some builders limit meta tag editing, site maps, or custom URLs.
Scaling friction: moving from a simple builder to a self-hosted or custom solution can require migration work.

Concrete examples and numbers

Use these numbers as benchmarks for decision making:

Domain cost: $10 to $20 per year for a .com domain through registrars like Namecheap or Google Domains.
Entry hosting: shared hosting plans from Hostinger or Bluehost start around $2.99 to $3.95 per month on promotional rates.
All-in-one builders: Wix Premium $16 to $27/month, Squarespace $16 to $23/month, Weebly Connect $5 to $12/month (prices vary by promotions).
Ecommerce starter: Shopify Basic $29/month or Shopify Starter $5/month for social selling; transaction fees 2.9% + $0.30 per sale commonly apply.

When cheap is good

Choose the cheapest path when:

You need to validate an idea quickly with minimal cost and time.
You are building an informational site or simple portfolio without complex integrations.
You expect low traffic and minimal custom functionality.

When cheap is not enough

Avoid the cheapest options if:

You need fast, reliable ecommerce.
You require advanced SEO and content control.
You plan to scale traffic beyond a few thousand visitors per month in the next 6 to 12 months.

Principles for Choosing a Cheap Website Builder

Prioritize based on measurable criteria

When comparing low-cost options, score each candidate across five measurable dimensions: monthly cost, setup time (hours), ecommerce capability, customization, and long-term migration cost. Use a 1 to 5 scale where 5 is best.

Minimum criteria to look for in a cheap builder:

Custom domain support included or affordable
SSL certificate included (Secure Sockets Layer)
Accepts payments or integrates with Stripe/PayPal for ecommerce
Basic SEO controls: title tags, meta description, editable URLs
Export or migration options (important for future upgrades)

Quick scoring example

Score: Wix vs WordPress.org hosted vs Squarespace (example scales)

Wix Combo ($16/mo): cost 4, setup time 5 (1-3 hours), ecommerce 2, customization 4, migration 3.
WordPress.org + Hostinger ($3.99/mo hosting + $10/yr domain): cost 5, setup time 2 (6-12 hours), ecommerce 4 (with WooCommerce), customization 5, migration 5.
Squarespace Personal ($16/mo): cost 4, setup time 4, ecommerce 2 (Personal plan no ecommerce), customization 3, migration 2.

How to weight criteria

Weighting reduces noise based on your goals:

If selling online, give ecommerce weight 40 percent, cost 20 percent, customization 20 percent, and migration/setup 20 percent.
If information-only, give setup time 40 percent, cost 30 percent, customization 20 percent, and migration 10 percent.

Checklist to compare platforms in 15 minutes

Does the plan include a custom domain and SSL?
Can I add a payment gateway now or later?
How many pages, storage, and monthly visitors are included?
Does the service show ads or platform branding?
Are there transaction or percentage fees for sales?
How easy is content export or domain transfer?

Example decision scenario

You are a photographer validating bookings for 3 months and need a portfolio with a contact form. Priorities: setup time and visual templates. Choose a builder with a strong template library and a low-cost visual editor (Wix or Squarespace).

If you will sell prints later, prefer a plan that supports simple payments or integrates with Shopify Lite.

Step by Step Build Plan on a Budget

4-week timeline to launch a basic business site for $50 to $200 initial cost

Week 1 Planning and selection (4-8 hours)

Define core goals: information, lead capture, or direct sales.
Choose a platform: pick a builder based on the principle checklist above.
Purchase domain ($10 to $20/year) and pick a plan. Example: Hostinger $3.99/mo or Wix Combo $16/mo.

Week 2 Design and content (8-20 hours)

Pick template and populate home, about, services/products, contact pages.
Create or source 6 to 12 high-quality images sized for web (compress to under 200 KB each).
Write concise headlines and 3-5 calls to action. Aim for 300-600 words of unique content on the home page.

Week 3 Integrations and testing (6-12 hours)

Install Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Set up email contact form and verify SMTP if needed.
Test mobile responsiveness and page speed using Google PageSpeed Insights. Make image and script optimizations if score is below 50.

Week 4 Launch and promotion (6-12 hours)

Configure SEO metadata: page titles, meta descriptions, and a clean URL structure.
Submit sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Launch promotion: 1 week of social posts scheduled, one announcement email to lists, and a small ad test (Facebook or Google) with $50 spend to validate demand.

Example budget breakdown (first year)

Domain: $12
Builder hosting/plan: $48 to $200 (annual cost varies by provider)
Premium theme or template: $0 to $60 one-time
Stock photos or paid tools: $0 to $50
Optional ads/testing budget: $50 to $200

One-month example: WordPress.org on Hostinger

Hostinger Single shared hosting promotional: $3.99/month (~$48/year) + domain $12 = $60 first year.
Install WordPress, use free Astra theme, and Elementor or native block editor. Time to launch 2 to 3 weeks.

Checklist to stay on budget

Use free trial periods to test UI before paying.
Avoid per-month premium plugins until revenue covers them.
Keep the site lean: limit third-party scripts and avoid bloated page builders unless necessary.

When to Upgrade or Hire a Developer

Signals that cheap is holding you back

Monitor these performance and business metrics to decide when to upgrade:

Monthly visitors consistently above 5,000: consider faster hosting or a content delivery network (CDN).
Ecommerce revenue exceeding $2,000/month: evaluate transaction fees and a platform that reduces fees or adds automation.
Conversion rate below industry benchmarks (example: 1 to 3 percent for ecommerce): invest in optimization work from a specialist.
Need for custom integrations (CRM, custom API, membership systems): hire a developer.

Cost thresholds that justify upgrades

Use these simple rules of thumb:

If hosting or platform limits are causing at least 5 minutes of daily manual work, budget $500 to $2,000 for automation or developer time.
If transaction fees cost more than $100/month, migrate to a lower-fee payment processor or platform (example: use Shopify Payments where available).
If downtime or slow pages lead to lost sales, invest $15 to $50/month for managed hosting or a CDN.

Hiring options and timelines

Freelance developer for small tasks: $30 to $80/hour, typical 2 to 20 hours per task. Use Upwork, Fiverr Pro, or local listings.
Agency or specialist for a full redesign: $2,000 to $12,000 depending on scope and ecommerce complexity. Timeline 4 to 12 weeks.
Managed WordPress provider or developer retainer: $100 to $500/month for maintenance, security, and minor updates.

What to ask before hiring

Ask for examples of similar projects and measurable outcomes.
Request a clear deliverable list and timeline with milestones.
Confirm backup and rollback procedures and who owns source files and hosting accounts.

Decision matrix example

If your monthly revenue from the site is below $500 and your monthly platform cost is under $50, stick with a cheap builder and focus on marketing and conversion tests. If monthly revenue grows above $1,500 and you face technical limits, re-evaluate for a higher-tier plan or developer support.

Tools and Resources

Practical platforms and pricing (USD approximate, check provider for current offers)

Wix

Free plan with Wix branding and subdomain.
Premium plans: Combo $16/month, Unlimited $27/month, Business Basic $27/month. Ecommerce features start at Business plans.
Strengths: drag-and-drop editor, rapid setup, large template library.

Squarespace

Personal $16/month, Business $23/month, Commerce plans $27 to $49/month.
Strengths: polished templates, built-in ecommerce on Commerce plans, good for visual brands.

Shopify

Starter $5/month (social selling), Basic $29/month, Shopify $79/month.
Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments: 2% extra typical.
Strengths: robust ecommerce, inventory, shipping, and payment tools.

Weebly (Square)

Free plan available, paid plans from $5 to $26/month.
Strengths: simple editor, tight Square payment integration for local sellers.

WordPress.com (hosted)

Free plan, Personal $4/month, Premium $8/month, Business $25/month, Ecommerce $45/month.
Strengths: scalable content features, but custom plugins limited to Business and up.

WordPress.org (self-hosted) + Hosting providers

Hostinger: promotional $1.99 to $3.99/month initial; renewal higher. Good for budgets.
Bluehost: promotional $2.95 to $3.95/month.
SiteGround: $6.99 to $14.99/month for entry managed hosting.
Cloudways (managed cloud hosting): starting $11/month.
Strengths: full control, WooCommerce for ecommerce, tens of thousands of plugins.

Domain registrars and cost

Google Domains: $12/year .com typical.
Namecheap: $8 to $13/year .com promotions.
GoDaddy: $9 to $18/year depending on promotions.

Email and marketing tools

Mailchimp free tier to 500 contacts, then $13+ per month.
ConvertKit free starter with paid plans for automation.
Sendinblue free tier for transactional emails; paid plans from $25/month.

Performance and security add-ons

Cloudflare CDN: free tier available; Pro $20/month.
SSL: usually included with builders and most hosters; otherwise $0 to $70/year.

Payment processing fees

Stripe and PayPal: standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US.
Square for in-person or simple online: 2.6% + $0.10 per tap.

Migration and backup tools

WordPress plugins: All-in-One WP Migration, UpdraftPlus.
Managed hosters often include automatic backups as a feature.

Quick picks by use case

Fast portfolio, no ecommerce: Squarespace Personal or Wix Combo.
Low-cost, flexible site with future ecommerce: WordPress.org on Hostinger with WooCommerce.
Pure ecommerce with minimal setup: Shopify Basic.
Social selling and low-cost testing: Shopify Starter or InstaShop integrations.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1 Using free plans with platform ads and subdomains

Problem: Branding looks unprofessional and harms trust.
Fix: Buy a custom domain ($10 to $20/year) and upgrade to the smallest paid plan that removes ads.

Mistake 2 Underestimating add-on costs

Problem: Plugins, premium templates, email tools, and apps quickly add $20 to $200/month.
Fix: Create an annual budget with expected add-ons and prioritize features that directly improve conversion or revenue.

Mistake 3 Choosing visuals over performance

Problem: High-resolution images and heavy page builders slow page speed and hurt SEO.
Fix: Use web-optimized images (JPEG/WEBP under 200 KB), lazy load images, and limit third-party scripts.

Mistake 4 Ignoring backups and security

Problem: Losing content or hacked sites cause long downtime and lost revenue.
Fix: Enable automatic backups and one-click restore, use a strong admin password, and keep themes/plugins updated.

Mistake 5 Not measuring results

Problem: Without analytics you cannot make data-driven improvements.
Fix: Install Google Analytics and Google Search Console before launch and review performance weekly for first 90 days.

FAQ

What is the Cheapest Way to Build a Website That Looks Professional?

org on low-cost shared hosting (Hostinger or Bluehost) with a free theme and basic plugins. Expect an initial annual cost of $50 to $100 including domain and hosting, plus time to set up and learn.

Are Free Website Builders Good for Businesses?

Free builders are suitable for testing ideas or personal portfolios but often include branding, limited SEO, and no ecommerce. For a business, upgrade to a paid plan to remove branding and use a custom domain.

How Much Should I Budget Monthly for a Small Business Website?

A realistic small business budget is $5 to $50 per month for hosting and platform fees, and $50 to $200 per month initially for marketing and minor tools. Add one-time costs for premium templates or developer help as needed.

Can I Switch Platforms Later If My Business Grows?

Yes, you can migrate from most builders but migration effort varies. WordPress-based sites export content more flexibly, while proprietary builders like Wix or Squarespace may require manual content transfer or paid migration services.

Do Website Builders Charge Transaction Fees for Sales?

Many builders integrate payment processors with standard fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Some platforms add platform transaction fees when not using their native payments; check each plan’s fine print.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Basic Site on a Budget?

A basic informational site can go live in 1 to 4 weeks depending on content readiness and chosen platform. Expect 2 to 6 weeks for a simple ecommerce launch with product photography and payment setup.

Next Steps

Define your primary goal and budget

Choose whether your site is for lead generation, information, or direct sales and set a monthly budget range.

Use the 15-minute comparison checklist

Compare 2 to 3 platforms against the checklist in the Principles section and score them.

Commit to a 4-week launch plan

Follow the week-by-week timeline: plan, build content, integrate tools, test, and launch.

Measure and iterate

Install analytics, track the first 90 days, and invest in the top-performing channels or upgrades that increase conversions.

Checklist for immediate action

Buy domain and choose a plan with SSL.
Prepare 6 to 12 optimized images and 600 to 1,200 words of core content.
Set up Google Analytics and publish a sitemap.

Website Builders Cheap Guide for Small Businesses