WordPress pricing: what does WordPress cost?
The short answer: the WordPress software is free. The long answer: you pay for everything that makes it run — hosting, domain, theme, plugins, and potentially professional help. Here is the full breakdown of WordPress pricing so you know exactly what to budget for.
WordPress.org is free — but not cost-free
WordPress.org (the self-hosted version) costs nothing to download. You get a full CMS with thousands of free themes and plugins. But you need to handle hosting, domain, and setup yourself.
Think of it like getting a free car — you still need to pay for fuel, insurance, and maintenance.
What do you actually pay for?
| Cost item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | 50–300 EUR/year | Shared hosting is cheapest, managed WordPress hosting costs more but performs better |
| Domain | 10–20 EUR/year | .com domains are around 10-15 EUR/year, country-specific domains vary |
| Premium theme | 0–300 EUR (one-time) | Free themes work fine for simple sites |
| Premium plugins | 50–500 EUR/year | SEO, security, forms — many have free versions |
| SSL certificate | 0 EUR | Included with most hosting providers today |
| 0–50 EUR/year | Many hosts include email, otherwise it costs extra |
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
These are two very different things despite sharing a name.
WordPress.org (self-hosted):
- You download the software and install it with your own hosting provider
- Full control over design, plugins, and code
- You are responsible for updates and security
- Requires a bit more technical understanding
WordPress.com (hosted platform):
- All-in-one solution with hosting, domain, and editor
- Limited control on cheaper plans
- Plugins and custom themes require the Business plan (around 200 EUR/year)
- Easier to get started, but more expensive long-term if you want full freedom
For most businesses, I recommend WordPress.org. You get more control, better performance, and lower costs over time.
What does it cost in practice?
Year 1 — everything included
| Scenario | Hosting | Domain | Theme | Plugins | Year 1 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 50 EUR | 10 EUR | 0 EUR (free) | 0 EUR (free) | 60 EUR |
| Standard | 120 EUR | 15 EUR | 50 EUR | 150 EUR | 335 EUR |
| Professional | 300 EUR | 15 EUR | 250 EUR | 400 EUR | 965 EUR |
Ongoing annual costs (year 2+)
The theme is a one-time expense, so ongoing costs drop:
- Budget: approx. 60 EUR/year
- Standard: approx. 285 EUR/year
- Professional: approx. 715 EUR/year
Where can you save money?
- Start with free themes. Themes like Astra, Kadence, and GeneratePress have strong free versions
- Use free plugin versions first. Most popular plugins (SEOPress, Bit Form, PatchStack) have free versions that cover basic needs
- Choose a host that includes SSL and email. That eliminates extra costs
- Avoid buying "bundles" with 30 premium plugins. You rarely use half of them, and they all need updating
What about professional help?
The prices above only cover software and infrastructure. If you want a professional to build your site, development costs come on top.
Typical prices for professional WordPress development:
- Simple business site: 800–2,000 EUR
- Business site with forms and integrations: 1,500–3,500 EUR
- Online store (WooCommerce): 2,000–5,000 EUR+
Read more about what a WordPress website costs or see the general pricing overview for websites in 2026.
Conclusion
WordPress pricing depends on your ambitions. You can get started for under 100 EUR per year, but a professional business site with premium plugins typically lands at 300–1,000 EUR annually in ongoing costs. That is still significantly cheaper than most alternatives.
Want a concrete price estimate?
Contact me for a no-obligation conversation about what your WordPress site will cost — based on your specific needs.
