“How much will my website cost?” is the first question almost every client asks me, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you need the website to do. A five-page site for a local consultant and an online store with 500 products are completely different projects, even though both are called “a website”.
After 5 years of designing and building websites in Mumbai, here’s a clear breakdown of what websites typically cost in India in 2026, what drives the price up or down, and how to avoid paying for things you don’t need.
Quick answer: typical website costs in India (2026)
These are typical market ranges for professionally designed and built websites. Prices vary by city, experience and scope, but this gives you a realistic starting point.
| Type of website | Typical cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic business website (4–6 pages) | ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 | Consultants, freelancers, local services |
| Custom WordPress business website (8–15 pages) | ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000 | Growing businesses, agencies, clinics, firms |
| E-commerce store (Shopify or WooCommerce) | ₹60,000 – ₹3,00,000+ | Brands selling products online |
| Custom web app or portal (React, PHP) | ₹2,00,000 – ₹10,00,000+ | Startups, SaaS, booking systems, dashboards |
If someone quotes you ₹5,000 for a “complete website”, be careful. That usually means a stock template with your logo dropped in, no SEO setup, and no support after launch.
What actually decides the price
1. Number of pages and amount of content
Every page needs to be planned, designed, built and tested on desktop, tablet and mobile. A 5-page website takes far less time than a 20-page one, especially if each page has a unique layout.
2. Template vs custom design
A ready-made theme is cheaper and faster. A custom design created in Figma around your brand and your customers costs more, but it’s what makes a website feel premium and convert better. For most small businesses, a good middle path is a customised theme with a few fully designed key pages, like the homepage and service pages.
3. Features and functionality
Contact forms and WhatsApp buttons are simple. Things like online payments, booking systems, member logins, multi-language support, CRM integrations or custom calculators add development time, and cost.
4. E-commerce complexity
An online store’s price depends on the number of products, variants (sizes, colours), payment gateways like Razorpay or UPI, shipping rules, GST setup and integrations with inventory or accounting tools.
5. Who builds it
Large agencies charge more because of overheads and team size. Experienced independent designers and developers usually offer agency-quality work at a lower cost, with the benefit of working directly with the person building your site.
The yearly costs most people forget
Your website isn’t a one-time expense. Budget for these every year:
- Domain name: around ₹800 – ₹1,500 per year for a .com or .in domain.
- Hosting: roughly ₹3,000 – ₹15,000 per year for a reliable business website. Online stores and high-traffic sites need more.
- Shopify subscription (if you use Shopify): a monthly plan, plus apps you may add. Check Shopify’s current India pricing before deciding.
- Premium plugins or themes: some tools, like Elementor Pro or booking plugins, need yearly licences.
- Maintenance: updates, backups and security checks, often ₹2,000 – ₹10,000 per month depending on the site.
- Payment gateway fees: for online stores, gateways typically charge around 2% per transaction.
How to get the best value from your budget
- Start with what brings customers. A strong homepage, clear service pages and a contact form matter more than ten extra pages nobody reads.
- Prepare your content early. Having your text, logo and photos ready saves time, and time is what you pay for.
- Choose a platform you can manage yourself. WordPress with Elementor or Shopify lets you update content without calling a developer every time.
- Don’t skip SEO basics. Proper page titles, fast loading and a sitemap cost very little at build time, but are expensive to fix later.
- Ask what’s included after launch. Training, a support period and backups should be clearly agreed before you start.
Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- Can I see websites you’ve built for businesses like mine?
- Will the design be custom, or based on a template?
- Will I be able to edit the website myself?
- Is basic SEO (titles, descriptions, sitemap, speed) included?
- Who owns the website, domain and hosting accounts?
- What happens if something breaks after launch?
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a good website for under ₹20,000?
Yes, for a simple 4–6 page business website on a quality theme. Just don’t expect custom design, advanced features or ongoing support at that price.
Is WordPress or Shopify cheaper?
WordPress is usually cheaper to run for business websites. For online stores, Shopify is simpler to manage but has monthly fees, while WooCommerce has lower running costs but needs more setup. I’ve compared them in detail in Shopify vs WooCommerce for Indian businesses.
How long does it take to build a website?
A basic business website takes 1–3 weeks, a custom WordPress site 3–6 weeks, and an online store 3–8 weeks, depending on content and features.
Need an exact quote?
Every business is different, so the best way to know your cost is to talk it through. Tell me what you need, whether it’s a WordPress website, an online store or a custom web app, and I’ll send you a clear, no-obligation quote. Get in touch here.
