WordPress pricing: An overview

WordPress often advertises that it is free, but if you take a closer look, you’ll quickly realise that this statement is only partially true. The WordPress version you use and the requirements you have for your website play a critical role in determining how much WordPress costs. Here, we take a detailed look at WordPress pricing and which WordPress costs there are.

Is WordPress free?

As an open-source solution, the question ‘How much does WordPress cost?’ is often answered with ‘Nothing at all’. However, this is only true if you opt for the free package on WordPress.com. Otherwise, there are costs for using WordPress, which we’ll discuss in detail below.

An overview of WordPress pricing

So how much does a WordPress website cost? Let’s assume that you set up your website using the freely available code from WordPress.org. In this case, costs may start at around £70 per year (£14 for the domain and £56 for the hosting). If you need more webspace, several domain names with different extensions or increased security from an SSL certificate, the costs can start adding up. A lot more aspects come into play before your website is finalised and goes live :

• Basic installation and setup
• Implementation of security and data privacy measures
• Themes
• Plugins
• Use of SEO and analysis features
• Performance optimisation
• Regular maintenance and updates
• Links to online stores (if applicable)

The total cost of your WordPress website will depend on how much you are able and willing to handle on your own. Remember, your time is valuable and should be regarded as a cost factor. Additionally, you may need to purchase certain functions and tools, which adds to the workload. Below, we provide detailed information on what each of these aspects entails.

Basic installation and setup

Provided you have the technical know-how, you can install WordPress yourself and have it all set up in about half a day. However, if you need to create and fill pages, the effort required will naturally increase. There are numerous tutorials online that provide basic information on setting up security and privacy measures. If you want to outsource the initial setup, you’ll likely be looking at spending several hundred to a good thousand pounds, depending on the scope, service provider and which security measures and other services come included.

Security and data protection measures

One of the advantages of WordPress is that there are already so many templates and plugins that meet all current security and data protection requirements. A lot of these plugins are free and can be set up in a relatively short amount of time. WordPress costs in this regard may reach a couple hundred pounds maximum, depending on how extensive the data protection measures are and whether you need to seek legal advice in the matter.

Themes

WordPress themes give your website its basic design. There are classic themes that you can get for free, but there are also more elaborate themes that can cost upwards of 100 pounds. You can also have a customised theme developed. These types of themes are the most expensive and can set you back several hundred pounds. Installing and setting up a theme should only take a few hours at most.

Plugins

You can use WordPress plugins to expand your website by giving it extra features. These can range from simple table features to elaborate eCommerce systems. There are both free and paid options although it’s difficult to give concrete examples of costs in this regard, because both the cost of the plugin itself and the time required to set it up will vary enormously.

SEO and analysis features

One of the popular SEO plugins is Yoast SEO, which is suitable for optimising WordPress sites for search engines. If you choose this method, you might need to adapt existing texts or images for SEO purposes. Analysis tools are often free, but you’ll need to set them up. In this regard, costs are also influenced by how much time you spend evaluating and implementing measures.

Performance optimisation

In the early stages, it can also be worthwhile to invest a few hours in optimising your loading times and other visible technical aspects, to make sure that both users and crawlers enjoy visiting your website. While there are plugins that do this, too, you can also opt to spend a few hours making manual adjustments.

Regular maintenance and updates

When using WordPress, you should make sure to check the version of WordPress and the plugins you’re using to make sure they are up to date. It’s also important to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities, carry out regular backups, and clean your caches and databases. Small agencies offer WordPress maintenance services starting at around £50 per month.

E-commerce sites

Setting up an online store with WordPress is a whole different ball game. While there are plugins that offer the relevant features to do this, many other factors come into play, such as data privacy requirements, links to payment platforms and databases, and more. For this reason, it’s difficult to put a ballpark figure on how much WordPress really costs when using it to build an online shop. However, even small businesses should be prepared for a hefty four-figure bill.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

It’s important to differentiate between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. On the .com site, you’ll find various plans that offer ready-to-use WordPress software including hosting. You can create your own WordPress website using predefined designs, themes and plugins. This may sound convenient but can become a problem if you want to scale up and integrate additional functions or add a store later on. With WordPress plans, you can’t access the source code. Instead, you have to buy additional themes and plugins. Additionally, if you decide to go with the free version, advertisements will be displayed on your website. This is why the .com version is mainly recommended for individuals looking for a solution to quickly and easily create a WordPress blog.

On WordPress.org, you can download the CMS code for free, giving you complete freedom over design and functionality. However, there are initial costs that you need to keep in mind to get your WordPress website online, such as hosting and a domain.

Pricing for WordPress.com and WordPress.org compared

When looking at the pricing for WordPress.com, it’s important to keep in mind that the costs listed are not cumulative, but instead represent the entire range of packages on offer. For instance, the Free version, which offers users up to 1GB free is entirely free. Users can have ads removed their website with the Personal plan for around £4 per month. The Entrepreneur plan comes with a domain and e-commerce capabilities and costs around £45 per month and is billed annually.

For WordPress.org, the costs vary depending on which WordPress themes and plugins you use, and which e-commerce system you decide to integrate.

Prices for external WordPress support from agencies and freelancers

If you opt for external support, you don’t need to invest a lot or any of your time in creating a WordPress website. In addition to the costs for plugins, themes and other software components, you’ll, of course, need to factor in what the IT professionals charge as well as any expenses for design and project and content management.

For technical implementation alone, freelance WordPress developers are a more cost-effective and faster solution, with hourly rates ranging from £75 to £130. Freelancers in other fields, such as design, writing and content management, are often somewhat cheaper. If you need to outsource multiple tasks, an agency might be a good option. They provide project management to oversee various experts for you. However, this means additional costs, so even a small WordPress website can end up costing several thousand of pounds.