Website Maintenance Costs What to Expect in 2025

Posted on February 11th, 2025

The cost of website maintenance can vary based on the platform, features, and services you choose. Knowing what your website needs will help you set a realistic maintenance budget. Once your website is live, there are nine main costs for keeping it running. How much you’ll spend on maintenance depends on the type of website you have.

This article will provide an average monthly maintenance cost for different types of websites, from basic blogs to online stores.

You have two options for maintaining your site: hiring a professional or handling it yourself. We’ll compare the costs, benefits, and drawbacks of each option to help you decide which is best for you.

Essential Website Maintenance Costs

Website maintenance costs can differ a lot based on a few important factors. These include the type of website you have and the kind of services you need. Knowing these factors is important for setting a proper budget.

Step 1: Domain Name

Average costs: around $1–$100/year for registration and $10–$129/year for renewals
Level of necessity: essential

Every website needs a domain, and the renewal price typically ranges from $10 to $129 per year. Some hosting providers include a free domain with their hosting plans, which can help you save money. For example, many hosting plans come with a free domain.

The cost of a domain name mostly depends on its extension. The three most common extensions, or top-level domains (TLDs), are:

• Generic top-level domains (gTLD): These are available for any website, like .com, .net, and .org. Prices vary based on their popularity.
• Country code top-level domains (ccTLD): These are specific to certain countries, like .us for the United States or .jp for Japan.
• Sponsored top-level domains (sTLD): These are meant for specific groups or purposes, such as .edu for educational institutions.

The following table shows the website maintenance costs for different TLDs:

TLD	Registration	Renewal	Transfer
.com	₹1698.00	₹2398.00	₹829.00
.co.uk	₹2657.00	₹2997.00	₹89.00
.info	₹2398.00	₹4138.00	₹1409.00
.net	₹1239.00	₹1329.00	₹1239.00
.xyz	₹1288.00	₹2318.00	₹829.00

The domain register you choose also affects the cost of maintaining your domain.

Step 2: Web Hosting

Average Costs: Typically between $2 and $80 per month, depending on the hosting provider, type of hosting, and how long you subscribe.
Importance: It’s important to have web hosting. Web hosting is the service that allows your website to be online. The price for hosting varies depending on which company you choose and what plan you select.

Picking the right hosting provider can affect the cost of keeping your website running. Different companies offer similar plans but often charge different prices.

Before deciding on a web hosting plan, think about the total cost over time. The longer you commit to a subscription, the lower the cost might be. If you pay monthly, the total amount you spend will usually be higher.

Here are some common types of web hosting:

• Managed Web Hosting: This is good for smaller websites like blogs or portfolios. With managed hosting, you share the server with other users, which keeps costs low. Interserver’s managed hosting plans range from ₹129.00 to ₹229.00 per month. If you’re new to building websites, this is a cost-effective choice.
• VPS Hosting: 

  VPS hosting is perfect for medium-sized websites. It gives you more control over your server settings and dedicated resources, which is better for people who have some technical knowledge. Interserver’s VPS hosting costs between ₹439.00 and ₹1699.00 per month, depending on the amount of RAM, disk space, and bandwidth.

• Cloud Hosting: Cloud hosting stores your website on several servers, making it very reliable, especially for websites that get a lot of traffic. It’s a good option for websites that expect to grow. It’s also simple because the hosting company handles the technical work. Cloud hosting with Interserver costs between ₹699.00 and ₹2499.00 per month.
• Dedicated Hosting: This type of hosting is for businesses that need a lot of power and are willing to spend more. With dedicated hosting, your website gets its own server, which gives you full control over it. Dedicated servers can cost between $80 and $300 per month, which makes them the most expensive option.
• WordPress Hosting:

  

  This is a type of hosting made specifically for WordPress websites. It comes with special tools and features that make it easier for beginners to manage. Interserver’s WordPress hosting plans start from $2.50/per month.

Step 3: SSL Certificate

Average cost: $0–60/year
Level of necessity: necessary

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that ensures secure communication between a server and a browser by encrypting the data. Having an SSL certificate provides benefits like increased security, better data privacy, and improved search engine rankings. Any website that handles sensitive user information, like passwords or credit card numbers, should use SSL certificates.

The cost of an SSL certificate can vary based on how many domains or subdomains it protects. A single-domain SSL usually costs between $7 and $860 per year, while a wildcard SSL, which covers multiple subdomains, generally costs between $50 and $1,000 per year.

To save money, consider choosing a web hosting plan that includes a free SSL certificate. Interserver offers free lifetime SSL certificates with all of our plans.

To check if SSL is working on a website, open your browser and look for a padlock icon on the left side of the address bar. Clicking on the padlock will show if the SSL certificate is valid.

Step 4: Email Services

Average cost: $1–6/user/month
Level of necessity: important

Professional email hosting allows website owners to create custom email addresses using their own domain, such as [email protected]. Having a custom email address helps businesses build their brand, look more professional, and earn customer trust. Google Workspace is a popular paid email service, costing $6 per month per mailbox.

Alternatively, you can find a hosting provider that includes free email services with their hosting plans. The total cost can depend on how long you commit to the plan. For instance, the Business Email plan costs $1.59 per month if you sign up for 48 months, but it’s $2.99 per month for a one-month plan. Another factor that affects the cost is the number of email mailboxes you need. Adding more mailboxes will increase the overall price.

Step 5: Tech Support

Average cost: $2-300/month
Level of necessity: important

Having access to customer service is essential when problems arise, like website crashes, broken forms, or security issues. Whether you’re new or experienced, good tech support helps solve problems quickly before they affect your site’s visitors and overall experience.

There are different types of tech support:

• Live chat – provides instant help through chat messages.
• Email ticketing system – uses email and a system to track requests for support. It’s great for keeping records of conversations.
• Phone service – allows you to speak directly with a customer service representative.
• Knowledge base – offers guides or tutorials for users who want to fix problems on their own.

Many hosting companies include live chat and email support in their plans. These options are usually enough for personal or small business websites. For larger sites, like eCommerce stores, premium support is often better. It offers quicker, more personalized help. Interserver provides 24/7 live chat support with all its plans and also offers paid priority support. Overall, including tech support in your website costs depends on the type of website you have and how much help you need.

Step 6: Website Design

Average cost: $0–17/month if you’re designing it yourself, or $500–1,000/year for a regular maintenance plan with a professional web designer
Level of necessity: important

Website design is the visual look of your brand online. It’s one of the first things visitors notice when they come to your site, and it plays a key role in whether they stay to explore your content. Good design can also help improve your site’s ranking on search engines (SEO), which can lead to more visitors.

The cost of web design depends on whether you design it yourself or hire a professional.

Designing the Website Yourself

Designing your website on your own is a great choice for small or medium-sized sites, like personal blogs. You can create your site using free or paid tools, adding only a small monthly cost, usually around $17. For those who want more control and flexibility, using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress is a good option. You’ll need to choose and install a theme yourself.

WordPress has over 10,000 free themes to choose from, but paid themes often offer more features and better support. These themes can cost around $5–17/month, and some may require a one-time fee or a subscription.

If you’re new to WordPress or coding, using a website builder could be a simpler choice. These builders offer ready-made templates and easy drag-and-drop options to help you design your site. Some even have AI tools that can create websites based on the details you give.

Hiring a Professional Web Designer

Professional web designers are skilled in the latest design trends and can build a website that suits your needs. They use programming languages like JavaScript to create a custom site and usually offer services such as updates, help, and improving the site’s performance.

Hiring a designer can be expensive. Building a basic website might cost around $6,000. You’ll also need to set aside money for yearly maintenance, which typically ranges from $500 to $1,000. This option is usually better for bigger websites with lots of visitors.

Step 7: Plugins and Extensions

Average costs: $4–49/month
Level of necessity: optional

Plugins enhance the features of your website. Right now, there are over 59,000 WordPress plugins in the official library. While many plugins are free, the paid ones can add extra costs for maintaining your website.

We suggest starting with free WordPress plugins. As your website grows, you can begin investing in premium plugins. The cost for these paid plugins ranges from $4 to $49 per month.

Here are some plugins to consider for optimizing your website:

• Contact form plugins – These make it easier to manage messages from visitors. The paid versions range from $24 to $300 per year.
• Page builders – These add a drag-and-drop feature to your site editor. Premium versions usually cost between $20 and $350 per year.
• Security plugins – These protect your website with features like firewalls and malware scanners. The paid versions can cost anywhere from $50 to $600 per year.

The specific plugins you choose will affect your website’s maintenance costs. Other platforms, like website builders, also offer add-ons or plugins, with both free and paid options to consider.

Step 8: eCommerce Features

Average costs: $15/month for small to medium-sized online stores
Level of necessity: optional

eCommerce websites come with extra maintenance costs due to features like payment systems and inventory management. If you add optional features such as customer support or email marketing, your costs could increase. The total cost of a custom eCommerce site depends on the features you need. For example, if you sell digital products like eBooks or online courses, you may not need an inventory management tool.

Here are some important eCommerce features to consider:

• eCommerce platform: Provides all the basic tools for selling online. Many website builders offer plans specifically for eCommerce, such as Interserver’s online store plan for ₹229.00/month.
• Inventory management: Helps track products in stock. Some free or paid inventory plugins include WP Inventory Manager ($0–149/license), Zoho ($0–329/month), and Ordoro ($0–149/month).
• Payment gateways: Build trust and encourage purchases. PayPal’s secure gateway, Payflow Pro, costs $25/month.

Keep in mind that eCommerce costs can vary based on the size and traffic of your store. For a smaller online store just starting to sell, the cost for basic eCommerce features is around $15/month. As you add more products and services, the cost will increase.

Step 9: Marketing and SEO

Average costs: $0–500/month
Level of necessity: important

Marketing and SEO are essential to bring visitors to your website. This includes sharing fresh and quality content like articles, videos, and images to engage your audience.

Here are some marketing strategies to consider when planning your website’s maintenance costs:

• Website optimization: Helps your website rank higher in search engine results. Some popular SEO tools include Ahrefs ($99–999/month), Ubersuggest ($29–99/month), and Moz ($99–599/month).
• Content marketing: Create content that’s relevant and interesting to your audience. You can make content yourself or hire agencies or freelancers. Prices vary depending on the type of content, but you might spend around $1 per word for articles or $50 to $3,000 per project.
• Email marketing: Keep your audience updated about your business. Popular tools like Mailchimp ($0–1,510/month) and Constant Contact ($9.99–300/month) can help. You can also use free email plugins for WordPress.
• Social media marketing: Reach a larger audience through social media. On average, companies spend between $6,000–10,500/month on marketing tools, ads, and a social media manager.

You don’t need to use all these strategies at once. Smaller websites can start with basic SEO, email, and content marketing.

Should I Maintain the Website Myself or Hire a Developer

Hiring a professional or handling website maintenance yourself both have their advantages and disadvantages. The cost of maintaining a website also varies depending on which option you choose.

Hiring a Professional

Average cost: $200-4,500/month

Hiring a website maintenance service provider can save you time and effort. You can either choose a website maintenance company or hire a freelance expert. Maintenance agencies can manage the more complex and technical parts of your site. They also handle regular software updates, security checks, and performance improvements. They usually offer fixed maintenance packages.

Website maintenance services are more expensive because a team is assigned to your website. On the other hand, hiring a freelancer means working with just one person for all the tasks. The cost for agency services ranges from $200 to $4,500 per month, while a freelance expert typically charges $18 to $20 per hour. The final cost will depend on your agreement.

Self-Maintaining a Website

Average cost: under $100/month

Taking care of your website maintenance yourself is a more affordable option. It’s a great choice for website owners on a budget or those who want to be involved in the maintenance process. There are many free resources available, such as articles, that explain how to do things like regular backups.

Maintaining your own site allows you to learn new skills and gives you full control over your website. However, managing the technical side can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you’re not experienced.

In this case, using a website builder might be a better option for beginners, as they handle the technical maintenance for you. The cost of maintaining your site on your own will also depend on the features you use and how complex they are.

Conclusion

So, how much does it cost to keep a website running? It usually costs between $5 and $5,000 a month, or $60 to $60,000 a year. The exact cost will depend on the type of website and what it needs. This article has covered some key parts of website maintenance costs, including domain registration, web hosting, and SSL certificates. Other aspects like design and marketing can vary more in price.

Overall, there are two main ways to maintain a website:

• Doing it yourself – This is a good choice for small business websites or personal blogs. Website owners who choose this option manage the technical tasks themselves, which can help cut down on maintenance costs.
• Hiring a professional – This option offers expert help and faster results, but it tends to be more expensive.

Some websites, such as eCommerce sites, may have extra maintenance costs because of features like payment systems, inventory tracking, and other tools needed to run an online store. Now that you know the main factors affecting website maintenance costs, it’s time to plan your budget. Consider your long-term goals and create a checklist for maintaining your website. Don’t forget to account for the initial creation of your site and how long that process may take.