Website Builder Pricing Compared (2026): Real Costs
· 6 min read
Website builder pricing is rarely just the sticker number. Between monthly tiers, add-ons, transaction fees, and domain renewals, the real cost can be very different from the headline. Here's an honest 2026 comparison of the major builders, plus the hidden costs to watch for.
How website builder pricing works
Most builders charge a monthly or annual subscription, often cheaper if you pay yearly. On top of that, watch for ecommerce transaction fees, paid apps or plugins, and domain renewal prices that jump after a free first year. Self-hosted options like WordPress flip the model: the software is free, but you pay for hosting and maintenance.
2026 pricing at a glance
Starting prices below are billed annually and were verified in May 2026, always confirm current pricing on each provider's site, since plans change.
| Builder | Starting paid price | Free plan? |
|---|---|---|
| Looops | $15/mo (Personal) | Yes |
| Wix | $17/mo (Light) | Yes |
| Squarespace | from $16/mo | No (trial) |
| Webflow | $15/mo (Basic) | Yes (Starter) |
| Framer | $10/mo (Basic) | Yes |
| WordPress.com | from ~$4/mo | Yes |
| WordPress.org | Free software + hosting (~$50-300+/yr) | n/a |
| Lovable | ~$25/mo | Yes |
| Carrd | $9-49/year | Yes |
Hidden costs to watch
Transaction fees: some platforms add a cut of each sale on lower ecommerce tiers, on top of standard payment processing (commonly around 2.9% + $0.30). Apps and plugins: a builder can look cheap until you add paid extensions. Domain renewals: a free first-year domain often renews at $15-25/year. Maintenance: self-hosted WordPress adds hosting, and your time for updates, plugins, and security.
Cheapest options by use-case
For a simple one-page or link-in-bio site, Carrd ($9-49/year) is the most affordable. For a full multi-page site, Webflow Basic, Looops Personal, and Squarespace cluster around $15-16/mo. WordPress.com starts lower but adds up as you need plugins and AI; self-hosted WordPress is free software but you pay in hosting and time.
Don't forget what you own
Price isn't the whole picture. With most hosted builders you're renting, leave, and you rebuild from scratch. With self-hosted WordPress, Lovable, or Looops (which lets you download your whole site), you can own and move it. That portability is worth factoring into the true cost.
FAQ
How much does a website builder cost in 2026?+
Most full website builders start around $15-16/mo billed annually (e.g. Looops, Webflow, Squarespace). Simple one-page tools like Carrd are $9-49/year, and self-hosted WordPress is free software plus hosting (~$50-300+/yr).
What's the cheapest website builder?+
For simple one-page sites, Carrd is cheapest. For full sites, Webflow Basic and Looops Personal ($15/mo) and Squarespace ($16/mo) are close; WordPress.com starts lower but costs rise with plugins and AI.
Are there hidden costs?+
Often. Watch for ecommerce transaction fees, paid apps/plugins, domain renewal jumps after year one, and, for self-hosted WordPress, hosting and maintenance time.
Is a more expensive builder always better?+
No. The best value depends on what you need and what you own. A tool that lets you export and own your code can be cheaper over time than a locked-in subscription.
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