Over the years, the number of tools and platforms to develop websites has multiplied. Nowadays, web developers can pick from a wide range of tools to create stunning and functional websites. While picking such a web development application, one has to think about various aspects, including the cost involved. Interestingly, you may have to think of the cost factor even when using some of the free web development tools. WordPress is one such example.
Is WordPress web development free?
Technically, WordPress is an Open Source CMS based on PHP. You can use the community version (WordPress.org) free of cost. But that is not the end of the story! In the web development sector, usually, no tool is totally free in finer analysis, and the same can be said about WP. Regardless of the type of website you develop using WP, it would be necessary to incur some expenses. The amount of expense may vary from one instance to another- for sure.
Factors that affect WordPress web development costs?
Before you hire a custom WordPress development agency to build your brand website or launch an e-commerce portal, it is necessary to know the various cost factors involved. Of course, the agency you hire will charge you an amount, but there are some other aspects that add to the final amount. These are:
- Domain Name– Every website needs a domain name, and the same is true for your WP-based site. You will need to purchase a domain name from a suitable domain registrar. For typical domain names, expect to pay around $12 a year, but in some cases, paying a higher amount may be necessary.
- Web hosting charges- Your WP website has to be hosted. A hosting plan ensures you can reserve a space for your website, and people can access it. There are numerous hosting agencies, and the types of hosting offered also vary. Basic and Shared hosting is cheap, but the impact on the performance of the website will be felt. It starts at $3 /month. Bluehost is recommended by many custom WordPress development services.
For growing ventures, a Managed WordPress hosting plan is better. Those setting up an e-commerce website should go for WooCommerce hosting plans. Dedicated WP hosting plans will tax your wallet more, but the performance is way better. So, eventually, it is a trade-off between price and website performance when it comes to hosting plans.
- Themes- When you develop a website using WP, using a theme is what you need to do. There are free themes, and choosy users opt for the premium ones. The premium WP themes can tax your wallet. The premium themes may cost as much as $200, but you may get some good ones for below $100 too. Of course, paid themes help make your website look exclusive. This is a one-time payment, and then you can use a theme many times for site creation.
- Plug-ins- WP supports a huge range of plug-ins, and that is one of the reasons it is so popular in the sector. These plug-ins help enhance website functionality. You can find both free and paid plug-ins, much like the themes. Some WP plug-ins have both free and paid editions, such as the Yoast SEO plug-in and MailChimp plug-in. Some plug-ins require one-time payment, and others are offered at yearly charges.
- Security cost- In the past, WP websites have faced flak owing to security issues, and instances of such sites getting hacked have made headlines too. However, the truth is WP is not an unsafe platform by default. The way it is handled makes the website based on the platform safe or unsafe, eventually. You should use top-rated security plug-ins for WP. This may incur you an extra amount, but it is worth it. The top WordPress website development services help clients in picking the right security extensions or plug-ins.
- SSL Certificate– SSL denotes ‘Secure Sockets Layer,’ and an SLS certificate acts as an additional security layer for a website. It helps keep internet connections safer. It is recommended that you get an SSL certificate for your WP website. Without it, the site viewers will see a display prompt about possible security risks. You may have to pay $50 a year or more for using an SSL certificate for your WP website. Some hosting providers bundle in SSL security with their packages. Extended Validation SSL certificate costs around $200/year.
- Developer charges– Of course, the WP development agency or developer will charge you an amount. This can vary widely, and factors like the reputation of the agency, the expertise of the developer, and site complexity will come into the picture. A freelance WP developer may charge you less than a veteran agency, for sure. Still, you may have to pay $100 – $200. The top WordPress development services may charge you $1,000 or more per project.
Tips to keep WP development costs within limits
No matter how hard you try, spending some amount on developing a WP website is something you can’t evade. However, it is certainly possible to keep WP web development costs within a limit. For this, you need proper planning and knowledge about the nuances of WP development.
- Choosing plug-ins carefully- WP supports more than 50000 plug-ins. You have to choose the ones required for your website wisely. Before paying for a WP premium plug-in, assess if it is absolutely necessary for your website or what you can do with its free iteration? Besides, you have to check the ratings and reviews of any WP plug-in before paying for it. Picking the safe plug-ins is also a prerequisite here.
- Picking the apt hosting plan– Many hosting agencies offer WP-specific hosting packages these days. You should keep some time for comparing their plans carefully. Check out for bandwidth limitation, bundled goodies, and support options. It is not only about picking the cheapest hosting plan, but you have to see the overall viability for your website and usage needs. If the host offers SSL, that leads to cost-saving. You can start with an entry-level hosting plan and then upgrade as per your needs.
- Choosing the right developer- Given the huge popularity of WP, you should not face hardship in finding WP developers nowadays, anywhere. However, assess the contenders carefully so that you pick the apt one within your budget. There are freelancing WP developers offering affordable services, and they have worked for reputed clients too. For developing regular websites with WP, you may hire such a developer and stick to the budget.
Is building a website with WP on your own a practical idea?
In some instances, developing a website with WP without hiring a developer can be prudent. If you own a start-up and the budget is modest, you would want to evade extra expenses-even for developing a brand website. WordPress is quite user-friendly, and to set up a basic WP website, you will not need coding skills or technical acumen. Besides, you can gain from using the huge online WP community and available resources.
Summing it up
Even though WP is a free platform, additional charges of developing a WP website are very much there. Based on your website needs, the development cost will vary widely. You can save money by picking the WP agency or developer after careful evaluation and using additional components wisely.
