A website's cost has two parts: what it costs to build once, and what it costs to keep running every year. The build depends on the kind of site and who makes it; the running cost is mostly a domain and somewhere to host it. This page is the short version of what makes up each part.
This page is a summary. The complete guide, with example budgets, hidden costs and current prices, is Decoding the true cost of building a website in India. To compare the four ways to get online with Domain India, read How much does it cost to build a website for a small business.
Every website pays each year for a domain and for hosting (or a website builder plan that includes hosting). The one-time build cost depends on the type of site (a blog, a business site, a shop or a membership site) and on who builds it: you, a freelancer, an agency or a developer paid by the hour. Content, premium plugins, payment gateway fees and maintenance are extra, and they are the costs people usually forget.
1. The recurring basics
These are paid every year for as long as the site is live.
| Component | What it is | Domain India list price |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Your address, rented by the year | .in ₹575 first year, ₹625 a year after; .com ₹1,150 a year |
| Shared hosting | A managed server for WordPress or PHP sites, with email included | From ₹100 a month (DirectAdmin Starter) |
| AI Website Builder | Hosting, SSL and your own domain included in the plan | Free to build and preview; publishing from ₹200 a month |
| Business email | Mailboxes at your domain, if your plan doesn't include them | ₹60 per mailbox a month |
Prices are Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST. Compare renewal prices, not just the first year: you pay the renewal every year after.
2. The type of site sets the build cost
- Personal blog or portfolio. Usually WordPress or a builder. Cost comes from a premium theme or a few plugins, if any.
- Business website. A handful of pages, a contact form and good content. A builder or WordPress is enough.
- Online shop. Adds products, cart, payments, shipping and tax. Expect plugin or platform licences and a payment gateway fee on every sale. See Create a low-cost e-commerce website.
- Membership or custom application. Logins, paid tiers, dashboards or integrations. This is custom development, and it costs the most to build and maintain.
3. Who builds it
| Route | Typical cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Yourself, with the AI Website Builder | The plan only | Limited to the builder's features |
| Yourself, with WordPress | Free, or a premium theme | Updates, security and backups are your job |
| Freelancer | Varies widely with scope | Ask who maintains the site after launch |
| Agency | Higher, for design and larger builds | Get the scope and what is included in writing |
| Developer paid by the hour | Hours × rate | Get an hour estimate before work starts |
Domain India offers custom development at ₹500 per hour of developer time, plus GST as applicable, with an estimate of the hours before work starts. See scope of support.
Whoever builds the site, register the domain in your or your company's name, in an account you control. Recovering a domain from a former developer is slow and sometimes impossible.
4. Costs people forget
- Content: writing, photos and translation into Indian languages.
- Premium plugins and themes: many are yearly licences, and updates stop when they lapse.
- Maintenance: WordPress core, theme and plugin updates, done by you or paid for.
- Marketing: SEO work, ads and email marketing are separate budgets.
- GST: 18% is added to most bills; check whether a quote includes it.
Free SSL is included with Domain India hosting and builder plans, so most small sites never need a paid certificate. cPanel and DirectAdmin accounts are backed up weekly with JetBackup 5, keeping 5 copies.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main components of a website's cost?
A domain name and hosting (or a website builder plan) every year, a one-time build cost, and extras such as content, premium plugins, payment gateway fees and maintenance.
How much does a domain cost at Domain India?
A .in domain is ₹575 for the first year and ₹625 a year after, and a .com is ₹1,150 a year. These are list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST.
Is a custom design better than a template?
A custom design fits your brand exactly but costs more and takes longer. A good template, or an AI builder, gets a small business online quickly and cheaply. Most small businesses start with a template and customise later.
Does Domain India build websites?
Yes, as paid custom development at ₹500 per hour of developer time, plus GST as applicable. Domain India confirms your requirements and gives an estimate of the hours before work starts. You can also build a site yourself with the AI Website Builder.
Why does an online shop cost more than a normal website?
It adds products, a cart, payments, shipping and tax. Shops usually carry yearly plugin or platform licences and a payment gateway fee on every sale.
Ready to work out your own budget? Read the full website cost guide, search for a name at domain registration, or try the AI Website Builder free.
Check your name as a .in, .co.in or .com, with registration and renewal prices shown side by side.
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