One of the most common questions I get from business owners is: "How much does a website cost?" The honest answer is that it depends — but that isn't a cop-out. It depends on specific, knowable factors. This guide breaks down exactly what those factors are and what realistic prices look like in India in 2026.
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The Indian web development market is massive and highly fragmented. You can find someone on Facebook groups offering a "professional website" for ₹3,000 and a reputable Mumbai agency quoting ₹8,00,000 for something similar on paper. Understanding why this gap exists — and what you actually get at each price point — is what this guide is about.
Why website prices vary so much in India
Website prices vary because "website" means completely different things to different people. Here are the main variables:
- Who builds it: A freelancer in a tier-3 city, a senior specialist in Delhi, or a full-service agency in Bangalore are all different propositions.
- What platform: A WordPress site built on a premium theme costs differently than a custom-coded React application.
- How many pages and features: A 5-page brochure site is very different from a 200-product ecommerce store with custom filters.
- Design quality: A generic template costs less than custom UI/UX design.
- SEO and performance: A site built with SEO, speed, and Core Web Vitals in mind costs more than one that isn't — but usually earns back that investment quickly.
Option 1: DIY website builders
Tools like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify (for ecommerce), and WordPress.com let you build a site yourself.
Typical DIY costs in India per year
- Wix: ₹2,000 – ₹12,000/year
- Squarespace: ₹14,000 – ₹25,000/year
- Shopify (basic): ₹24,000/year + transaction fees
- Domain name: ₹700 – ₹1,500/year (additional)
When DIY makes sense
- You are testing a business idea and need a basic online presence fast
- You have time to learn the platform and manage it yourself
- Your website is genuinely simple — contact info, few service descriptions, no complex integrations
When DIY doesn't make sense
- You need SEO traction — DIY builders have structural limitations for serious SEO
- You want a unique design that reflects your brand
- You need custom features or integrations
- Your website is a core part of your revenue generation
Option 2: Hiring a freelance web developer
This is the most common route for small and medium businesses in India and generally offers the best value-to-cost ratio when you hire well. See our guide on how to hire a freelance web developer in Delhi NCR for the full vetting process.
Freelancer pricing ranges in India (one-time project cost)
Entry-level freelancers (0–2 years experience)
- Basic website (5 pages): ₹5,000 – ₹18,000
- WordPress blog/business site: ₹12,000 – ₹25,000
- Basic ecommerce: ₹20,000 – ₹40,000
What you typically get: Template-based design, limited customisation, slow pages, no SEO setup, little to no post-launch support.
Mid-level freelancers (2–5 years experience)
- Business website with custom design: ₹25,000 – ₹70,000
- WordPress with SEO setup: ₹40,000 – ₹90,000
- WooCommerce store (small): ₹50,000 – ₹1,20,000
- Shopify store (small to medium): ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000
What you typically get: Proper custom design, responsive layout, basic SEO setup, Google Analytics integration, 30–60 days post-launch support.
Senior freelancers / specialists (5+ years, niche expertise)
- Business or lead generation website: ₹80,000 – ₹2,00,000
- eCommerce store (full setup, SEO-ready): ₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000
- Custom web application: ₹3,00,000 – ₹15,00,000+
What you typically get: High-quality design and development, performance-optimised code, full SEO implementation, structured data, ongoing support agreements.
Option 3: Hiring a web development agency
Agencies in India vary widely. A boutique agency in Delhi or Mumbai might charge 2–3x what a senior freelancer charges for the same work. Larger agencies with dedicated teams for design, development, SEO, and project management charge more.
Agency pricing ranges in India
- Small boutique agency (5–15 person team): ₹80,000 – ₹5,00,000 per project
- Mid-size digital agency: ₹2,00,000 – ₹15,00,000 per project
- Large full-service agency: ₹10,00,000 – ₹1,00,00,000+ for complex projects
Agencies make sense for enterprise projects, large ecommerce platforms, or when you need an integrated team handling development, design, and ongoing marketing together.
Cost by website type (realistic 2026 ranges)
Simple business/brochure website (5–8 pages)
- DIY: ₹3,000 – ₹15,000/year
- Freelancer: ₹20,000 – ₹70,000
- Agency: ₹80,000 – ₹3,00,000
WordPress website with blog
- Freelancer: ₹35,000 – ₹1,20,000
- Agency: ₹1,00,000 – ₹5,00,000
eCommerce store (WooCommerce or Shopify)
- Small store (up to 50 products): ₹40,000 – ₹1,20,000
- Medium store (50–500 products): ₹1,00,000 – ₹4,00,000
- Large or custom store: ₹4,00,000 – ₹20,00,000+
Landing page (single page for lead generation or campaigns)
- Freelancer: ₹10,000 – ₹40,000
- Agency: ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000
Custom web application or portal
- Freelancer: ₹1,50,000 – ₹15,00,000
- Agency: ₹5,00,000 – ₹1,00,00,000+
What drives website price up or down
Factors that increase cost
- Custom design (vs template-based)
- Large number of pages
- Complex functionality (bookings, memberships, multi-vendor, custom calculators)
- Integration with third-party tools (CRM, ERP, accounting software)
- Multilingual content
- SEO-focused architecture and content strategy
- Ongoing support and maintenance contracts
Factors that reduce cost
- Using a premium pre-built theme as a starting point
- Providing your own content (text, images, logo) ready to use
- Having a clear brief with minimal scope changes
- Choosing a platform that suits your needs without heavy customisation
Ongoing website costs in India
A website isn't a one-time purchase. Budget for these recurring costs:
- Hosting: ₹2,500 – ₹18,000/year depending on quality and traffic
- Domain name: ₹700 – ₹2,000/year
- SSL certificate: Often free with hosting, otherwise ₹1,000 – ₹5,000/year
- Theme/plugin renewals: ₹3,000 – ₹20,000/year depending on tools used
- Maintenance and updates: ₹2,000 – ₹15,000/month if you hire someone
- Content updates: Varies widely
Check our web development services page for information on ongoing support options.
Hidden costs to watch for
Many Indian businesses get surprised by costs that were not in the original quote. Watch for:
- "Content not included": Some developers quote only for the design and development, not writing or sourcing content. Clarify this upfront.
- Stock images: Professional images can cost ₹500 – ₹3,000 per image from stock sites if you don't provide your own.
- Revision charges: If revision limits aren't clear, you may be charged for each round of feedback beyond the first.
- Email hosting: Often not included in web hosting. Google Workspace for business email costs ₹680 – ₹2,000 per user per month.
- Hosting lock-in: Some developers host your site on their own servers and charge a "maintenance fee" to keep it live. Insist on owning your hosting account.
Value vs cheapest price: what to remember
A website that ranks on Google, loads fast, and converts visitors into enquiries can generate lakhs of rupees in new business. A poorly built website that loads slowly, looks generic, and is never updated generates nothing — and may actually hurt your credibility.
The cheapest website is often the most expensive in the long run. When you factor in rebuilding costs, lost business, and the time spent dealing with a developer who disappeared — the ₹8,000 website can cost you ₹80,000.
Think of a website as a business investment, not an expense. Budget for quality, get clarity on scope, and hire based on fit and track record rather than price alone.
Want a transparent quote for your website?
Tell me what you need — pages, features, platform, deadline — and I'll send a line-by-line quote with no rounding up and no vague "starting from" ranges. What you see is what you pay.