Web development
How much does a custom website cost?
By Tamás Mezei · Updated
What drives website development costs, which features affect the scope and what to prepare before requesting a quote.
Website cost depends on goals, features, integrations and support needs, rather than page count alone.
What determines the cost?
Scope, custom design, content preparation, integrations and admin features determine the work involved. Ask for a proposal based on your actual requirements rather than comparing headline prices alone.
What costs continue after launch?
Domain renewal, hosting, maintenance, security updates and optional content support may be recurring costs.
What should you prepare?
Your business goal, audience, page list, required features, brand assets and any deadline.
CMS or custom development?
A well-configured CMS can suit a straightforward business website. Custom user journeys, complex integrations or a distinctive interactive experience may justify bespoke development. Compare the full lifecycle cost before choosing.
What should a clear proposal include?
Define discovery, design, responsive layouts, content entry, technical SEO, measurement setup, testing and handover. Show optional integrations, revision rounds and ongoing maintenance separately.
How should you compare two proposals?
Compare the scope as well as the total. Check source code and access handover, performance and accessibility goals, support terms and the effort required for future changes.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
Skipping content planning, treating mobile as an afterthought and ignoring measurement or maintenance costs can increase the total project cost.
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