Website Development Cost 2024 – How Much Does it Cost to Build Websites?

Every dollar spent on building a good website for your business statistically provides $10 in return in the long term! Thus it is considered wise to spend some money on building an online platform for your business or yourself keeping the one time website development cost aside.

Further, it is also tricky to understand the cost of website development as there are multiple factors that decide the final estimation. Some of the most common factors include features, design, tech stack, number of pages, developer’s location, etc.
To help you out, we will be presenting a detailed guide on web development costs based on different criteria. This will help you get an idea about your requirement and how much it will cost roughly. Let us start with some basics first, i.e. understanding what is website development.

What is Website Development?

Website development is the method of developing, building, and maintaining websites and applications that run on browsers. It includes UI/UX design, backend development, front-end development, database management, content management, and other miscellaneous tasks. Some of the most common programming languages used in website development are JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Further, some of the most common web development frameworks in the market are Django, Ruby on Rails, Express.js, and Laravel.

Fact – The first ever website was created by Tim Berners Lee in 1991

Types of Working Model for Website Development – and the Cost Associated

Team Type	Web Development Cost
In-house	$50,000 – $90,000
Local agency	$100,000 – $120,000
Outsource agency	$10,000 – $40,000
Freelancers	$15,000 – $30,000

In-house Development

It is not always feasible for a business to hire an internal team or department. Also, the experts you employ will be the same as those of the agency you hired plus you will need to guarantee efficient administration and favorable working circumstances. In addition, hiring involves a time-consuming search process, interviews, and other procedures. There are instances when no qualified applicants meet your requirements.
If your website is the cornerstone of your business and you do not want to depend on outside parties to maintain its functionality, then hiring an in-house team makes sense. For instance, it makes sense for a corporate website or an online store, but it might be over the top for a landing page or portfolio.

Outsourcing Development

This is the priciest but most secure way to develop a personalized website for your business. Web development companies are aware of the latest web development trends and have all the personnel and expertise needed to complete projects of varying degrees of complexity. They are the perfect answer for a busy business owner who has a deadline for finishing the task.
However the majority of web development companies in India don’t make their rates public. Rather, they make separate web development cost estimates for each job. In this industry, it is customary to contact multiple providers, explain your needs for a website, and request an estimate. The cost of website development companies is also influenced by their location. Companies engaged in nearshore development typically demand more fees, whereas offshore companies provide lower costs but with greater disadvantages.
The cost of web development with outsourcing model can range anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 or more overall.

Note – The average cost to hire website developers in North America is $100 – $150/hour while the same developer in Asia is hired at $20 – $50/hour.

Freelancers

A web developer, a UI/UX designer, and a copywriter/content manager are typically required when creating a website and adding content. This option typically indicates that you’ve chosen to use a well-known site builder with customizable content management system. Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, WordPress.org, and GoDaddy are among the most popular examples.
Based on data from Upwork, web designers and developers often charge $15–30 per hour, while copywriters charge $20–45. This implies that you will pay between $1,500 and $5,000 for a modest business website created by freelancers, while you will pay between $20,000 and $30,000 for a complicated website requiring 1000 hours of effort.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

If you have some spare time, you may attempt applying your abilities and perseverance to develop your idea into a functional website. Given the magnitude of this task, you must carefully assess your abilities and resources. You may have to study all the web development frameworks and analyze all the web development trends. However, you will only be able to manage a modest, straightforward project, and you will encounter numerous difficulties along the way. You should consider your options thoroughly and determine if you are capable of doing this assignment. Even with some skill, this is usually the slowest method of creating a website.

Types of Websites Based on Complexity – and the Cost Associated

Website Development	Web Development Cost	Website Development Time (Weeks)
Basic Functionality	$5,000 to $30,000	4 – 9
Standard Complexity	$30,000 to $50,000	15 – 26
Advanced Complexity	$50,000 to $80,000	26 – 74

Basic Functionality Website

A basic site, which typically ranges from $5,000 to $30,000, is suitable for corporate websites with basic functionality. With CMS integration, custom UX/UI design, custom animations on the front end, and a basic database on the backend, this website has up to fifteen pages.
The following professionals are typically needed to build a basic site: A backend developer(s), a frontend developers, project manager, UX/UI designer, and QA engineer.
Websites with basic complexity include portfolios, blogs, and landing pages. Development takes roughly two months. This category includes blogs, portfolio websites, and landing pages. Websites like Wayfair are such examples and the best option is to consider some WordPress web development companies in India.

Standard Complexity Website

These websites typically have 500k to 1.5 million monthly visitors, are somewhat complicated, and update their material frequently. The web development cost between $30,000 and $50,000. Up to 50 pages of unique UX/UI design, a sophisticated database, third-party integrations, a custom frontend with sophisticated animations, and search engine optimization are all typical examples of the website’s complexity.
Project managers, business analysts, UX/UI designers, senior backend and frontend developers, two QA testers, DevOps, support specialists, and an SEO manager, copywriter, and link builder are typically needed for this kind of complexity.
Cloud software solutions and major business websites are examples of websites with an average level of complexity. A project takes four to six months to develop and websites like Pinterest are good examples of such site.

Advanced Functionality Site

Complex sites generally require high functionality integrations, robust UI/UX design, complex frontend interactions, cloud systems, and a high maintenance team. The cost for website development for such projects can range anywhere between $50,000 and $80,000.
Further, these website require complex functionalities and thus require best professionals to work in the team. It includes project managers, designers, developers, QAs, writers, marketers, and SEO managers. The time required to build such sites is between six to eighteen months and websites like eBay or LinkedIn are some primary examples of advanced functionality sites.

Fact The latest web development trends in the market are artificial intelligence and augmented reality

Process of Website Development – and the Cost Associated

Web Development Phase	Average Cost of Web Development ($)	Average Web Development Time (weeks)
UI/UX	750 – 4,000	1 – 4
Front-End development	1,000 – 15000	2 – 12
Back-End development	4,000 – 12,000	2 – 12
CMS development	3,000 – 9,000	3 – 8
Total	$8750 – $40,000	8 – 36

UI/UX Designing

A beautiful website design is a surefire sign that the good or service will succeed. In summary, the success of your website greatly depends on the UI/UX design.
What does it take to create a visually appealing website that will captivate potential clients? This method consists of the following stages:

• Researching
• Wireframing
• UI/UX design

In summary, the UI/UX stage may need one to three weeks on average and cost $750–$4,000 or more. The length of time would vary based on the complexity and requirements of the project.

Fact – More than 38% users stopped using a site after a poor layout

Frontend Development

Once the designer builds the prototype and gets it approved by the client, frontend development work starts. Frontend Developers bring the prototype to life that users see on a website. It includes buttons, forms, animations, and other elements.
On the other hand, testers and QA also start working on the site and continue till the delivery. A good frontend built site is responsive, interactive, and attractive that converts clients.
The cost of frontend website development ranges starts as low as $1000 and can go as high as $15,000.
Popular Frontend Technologies – HTML, CSS, Angular, React, JavaScript, TypeScript

Backend Development

Backend development is building the server side of a website and making the frontend functionalities work. In other words, it is the heart of a site that bridges database response and user controls.
Some of the most influential factors for backend development are complex queries, third party service, and data processing tasks. The average cost of backend website development ranges between $4,000 and $12,000, depending upon the project complexity and the functionalities. Further, it takes between 2 to 12 weeks on average to get the backend done for a site.

Popular Frontend Technologies – .Net, Node.js, Express.js, Python, PHP, Java, Golang

CMS System Development

Every now and then, you might want to build, modify, and oversee the content of your website. Furthermore, you shouldn’t contact engineers each time you wish to make a small adjustment. For all of the aforementioned duties to be completed efficiently, CMS software is required.
Some CMS engines, such as WordPress, Drupal, and Shopify, may be encountered. Though they are meant to save development time and money when building a website, you will find that their usefulness is limited.
What is the price of developing a CMS? It could cost anything from $3,000 to $9,000 or more, and take an average of three to eight weeks.

Fact – Text is the most popular type of content for websites followed by images and videos, respectively.

Real-World Website Cost Examples

Cost to Build Websites like Shein

Shein is an ecommerce lifestyle and fast fashion retailer that makes thousands of fashion accessories and clothes. The company was founded by the Chris Xu in 2008 and in less than a decade, Shein became a dominant player of the industry.
The company made a record breaking $22.7 billion in revenue in 2022. The company’s app was downloaded more than 200 million times in 2022 with an active user base of 65 million, making it the most downloaded shopping app of the year 2022.
Here are some of the basic features built in websites like Shein – multiple shipping options, in-app payment, robust UI/UX, and interactive product details for users.
Now, to build sites like Shein the ecommerce web development cost ranges between $15,000 and $30,000. However, the exact price can vary and can be lower or higher, depending upon the requirements. You can consider some PHP web development companies in India to build a similar platform for you.

Cost to Build Websites like Etsy

Etsy is a US based global marketplace for buying and selling of unique, one of a kind goods & services, connecting individual sellers and buyers worldwide.
Currently, Etsy website has over 95 million buyers and more than 7.5 million sellers on the platform. The company made record breaking $2.5 billion revenue in 2022 and is expecting to make more than $3 billion in 2023.
The platform has huge potential and carries the following functionalities – personalized recommendations, safe & secure transactions, seller rating system, easy payment integration, and internal analytics data for sellers.
Furthermore, the average ecommerce website development cost for sites like Etsy ranges between $10,000 and $25,000, depending upon the website design and complexity.

Cost to Build Websites like Airbnb

Airbnb is another US based online marketplace for booking long term and short term accommodations. The platform connects property owners with guests and acts as a broker between both the parties, in exchange for commission or some charge.
The company made staggering $8.3 billion revenue in 2022 with overall gross booking value of $63.2 billion. The platform was built by three friends in 2008, namely Joe Gebbia, Brian Chesky, and Nathan Blecharczyk.
It includes the following features – Instant rebooking credit, pricing visibility, guest navigation, smart in-app messaging, and verified profile listing.
In addition, the average cost to build websites like Airbnb ranges between $15,000 and $40,000.

Cost to Build Websites like Cargurus

Cargurus is a website that allows dealers and people to sell & buy used and new cars. The online marketplace connects car owners and buyers on a single platform.
The US based automobile marketplace currently employs more 1400 employees and recorded more than 1.65 billion US dollars in 2022.
Building websites like Cargurus is a complex and time taking task. It uses a lot of data and uses machine learning technology to build its algorithm. The platform includes the following features – IMV (instant market value), 360° interactive view, powerful data analytics, each deal rating, and seller protection.
At last, the cost to build websites like Cargurus ranges between $5,000 and $20,000.

Cost to Build Websites like Fiverr

Websites like Fiverr act as a marketplace for people looking to hire freelancers for their project. The Israel based online marketplace was started by Tel Aviv in 2010 and currently employs over 750 employees.
Fiver recorded over $300 million revenue in 2022 and is a listed business on NYSE. Some of the top features that make Fiverr one of the top freelancing marketplaces are – activity tracking, billing based upon hours, ACH payment processing, and easy to interact UI/UX.
Seeing the trend, building websites like Fiverr & Upwork looks promising and the average cost to build websites like Fiverr lies between $10,000 and $30,000

Cost to Build Different Types of Websites

Type of Websites	Average Development Time	Average Cost
Business Website	6 to 30 weeks	$15,000-$160,000
Personal Website	4+ weeks	$5000+
MVP Business Website	12 to 20 weeks	$35,000+
E-Commerce Website	16 to 26 weeks	$50,000+
Custom Web Application	52+ weeks	$50,000-$100,000
Web Portal	52+ weeks	$60,000-$100,000
SaaS Website	72+ weeks	$120,000+

How to Reduce the Website Development Cost? – Cost Optimization Strategy

You will need to identify ways to cut costs with the least amount of sacrifice to functionality and quality if your budget is tight. Here are some of the ways to optimize your website development cost –

Jot Down Your Requirement

List the features and functionalities in order of importance. For the development process to be successful in terms of both budget efficiency and product quality, goals and priorities must be established.

Take Advantage of Open Source Resources

Make use of open-source web development frameworks and solutions. For a tight budget, there are several website builders available. Small businesses typically use web builders, theme templates, and CMS plugins to design their websites.

Follow Agile Website Development Methodology

Make use of agile project management. Agile methodology prioritizes quality and customer interaction while allowing for a high degree of flexibility and predictability.

Outsource Your Work

Think about outsourcing as an alternative to internal development. In many cases, hiring a committed workforce is less expensive than maintaining an internal department.

Plan Your Expenses

Make advance plans for long-term expenses. Remember that your website will require upkeep, fresh material, and other modifications and enhancements. Long-term plans for web hosting and other subscription-based services are less expensive.

Final Words – Website Development Cost

So, this was the detailed guide about website development costs. The article has presented the cost for web development based on different factors, including types of websites, working models, and processes. Additionally, we have given you the top 5 strategies to reduce the overall cost.
No doubt cost plays a major role when selecting a web development company for your project. However, know that choosing the cheapest option is not a rational choice. Instead, go for an affordable service provider that has the relevant experience and expertise to build similar projects.

Website Development Cost – Top FAQs

1. What’s the difference between web design and development?

Website design is associated with how the website will look and feel to the final users. An ideal website design is easy to navigate, understandable, interactive, and eye catching. On the other hand, website development is executing the website design and maintaining the site infrastructure on the backend.

2. What is the Cost for Web Development in 2024?

The cost for website development in 2024 ranges between $5000 and $80,000 depending upon the functionality features, and design required. A basic website costs between $5000 and $30,000; a medium functionality site costs between $30,000 & $50,000, and an advanced functionality site costs between $50,000 and $80,000.

3. How long does it take to develop a website in 2024?

Building a website is a time taking task and requires significant efforts by several developers. Thus, the time required to build a website in 2024 ranges anywhere between 1 to 12 months, depending upon the complexity and design of the site.

4. What is the cost for website development for small businesses?

Usually, the web development cost for small businesses ranges between $5000 and $15000. However, the price can be less or more depending upon the complexity and the project requirement.

5. What is the cost of website maintenance per month?

The cost of website maintenance usually ranges between $500 and $2000 per month. However, the exact price can be determined after understanding and analyzing the exact project.

6. How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website?

The price of hiring a website developer depends upon the roles, responsibilities, location, hiring model, time required, and the technical expertise. Usually, developers charge between $20 and $50 per hour but the exact price can differ by individuals.

7. What are the factors that influence the cost of website development?

Some of the most common factors that influence the cost for website development are –

• UI/UX Design
• Developer Skills
• Developer’s Location
• Support & Maintenance
• Functionality
• Delivery Timeline