Understanding the cost of WordPress in the UK is crucial if you’re planning to launch a new website, whether it’s for a personal project, a small business, or a large enterprise. With so many options, from basic setups to bespoke builds, it’s important to know what to expect. In this guide, we’ll break down WordPress pricing UK, compare options like WordPress.org vs WordPress.com, and explain why Codebrit Digital is the best choice for your wordpress web development project.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- WordPress.org vs WordPress.com pricing
- How many WordPress websites exist and their typical costs
- Detailed WordPress.org cost breakdown
- WordPress website costs by type
- WordPress.com plan costs
- Additional website costs to consider
- Comparison with other website builders
- Why Codebrit Digital is the best agency for WordPress development
WordPress.org or WordPress.com: How does this affect the cost?
Choosing between WordPress.org and WordPress.com dramatically affects your project’s final cost.
WordPress.org
- Self-hosted and free to use.
- Requires purchasing a domain and hosting separately.
- Full access to plugins, themes, and customization.
- Perfect for businesses needing flexibility and control.
- Ideal for SEO, scalability, and custom functionality.
WordPress.com
- Hosted solution managed by WordPress itself.
- Free and paid plans available.
- Limited flexibility unless you upgrade to higher-tier plans.
- Great for beginners and personal blogs but less ideal for full business websites.
How MANY WordPress websites are there and their cost?
Today, over 43% of all websites globally are built with WordPress. This popularity stems from its flexibility and affordability — the cost of WordPress varies based on how simple or complex your needs are.
You can create a basic site for under £100/year or invest £10,000+ for a fully custom, high-performing website.
How much does a WordPress.org website cost?
Building a WordPress.org website includes several core components:
Domain
- Cost: £10–£20 per year
- This is your website’s unique address (like www.yourbusiness.co.uk).
WordPress Themes and Custom Designs
- Cost: Free to £300 for a premium theme.
- Premium themes offer professional designs, extra features, and dedicated support.
Custom WordPress Theme Options
- Cost: £1,000–£10,000+
- Fully bespoke designs tailored to your brand, audience, and specific goals.
WordPress website costs by type
The type of website you want significantly influences the final WordPress pricing UK:
Basic Website Costs
- Cost: £300–£1,500
- Perfect for portfolios, blogs, or small business sites with 5–10 pages.
Advanced Website Costs
- Cost: £1,500–£5,000
- Includes advanced functionality like booking systems, live chat, integrations, or multiple templates.
Bespoke Custom Functionality Website Costs
- Cost: £5,000–£20,000+
- For websites needing membership systems, online courses, CRM integration, or app-like features.
WordPress Ecommerce Website Costs
- Cost: £2,000–£10,000+
- Based on WooCommerce, offering shop pages, product filters, secure payments, and custom checkout experiences.
How much does a WordPress.com website cost?
If you choose WordPress.com, your costs will depend on the plan you select:
Free
- Great for hobby blogs but includes WordPress branding and limited storage.
Personal
- Cost: £3/month (billed annually)
- Custom domain and no WordPress ads.
Premium
- Cost: £7/month (billed annually)
- Ideal for freelancers and small personal brands with more design options.
Business
- Cost: £20/month (billed annually)
- Advanced design tools, plugin support, and ideal for small businesses.
Additional WordPress Website Costs (Detailed)
Beyond the initial design and development, there are important ongoing costs to keep your WordPress website running smoothly, secure, and optimized for growth. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Hosting (for WordPress.org websites)
- Cost: £5–£30 per month
- Reliable hosting ensures your website loads quickly and stays online without interruptions.
- Shared hosting is cheaper but less powerful. For business websites, VPS or managed WordPress hosting is often recommended for better speed and security.
2. Premium Plugins
- Cost: £50–£300 per year (depending on the plugins)
- While WordPress has thousands of free plugins, premium plugins offer advanced features, priority support, and better performance.
- Examples include SEO plugins (like Rank Math Pro), security plugins (like Wordfence Premium), and page builders (like Elementor Pro).
3. SEO and Marketing Tools
- Cost: £200–£1,000+
- Investing in SEO tools (like SEMrush or Ahrefs) and marketing software (email marketing, lead capture tools, analytics) is essential for growing your website’s traffic and conversions.
- Some tools are subscription-based, while others are one-time purchases.
4. Website Maintenance Services
- Cost: £30–£150 per month
- Regular maintenance includes plugin/theme updates, backups, performance optimization, security monitoring, and fixing any issues that arise.
- Hiring a professional agency like Codebrit Digital for ongoing maintenance ensures your site stays secure and up-to-date without downtime.
5. Content Creation (Copywriting, Images, Videos)
- Cost: Varies per project
- Professional, high-quality content is key to engaging your visitors and improving SEO.
- Costs may include blog writing, service page copywriting, product descriptions, custom graphics, infographics, photography, or video production.
WordPress Website Statistics and Market Share
When considering the cost of a WordPress website, it’s important to recognize the platform’s dominance in the digital world.
WordPress maintains the largest Content Management System (CMS) market share at 61.3%. Across all websites globally, WordPress powers an impressive 43.4% — meaning nearly half of all websites today are built using WordPress.
Recent estimates show there are approximately 30,462,105 live websites currently using WordPress. If we include both live and historical websites, the total number rises to a staggering 66,524,301.
These figures highlight why WordPress remains the most trusted, scalable, and cost-effective choice for building websites across industries worldwide.
Compare Web Builders and Pricing
When compared to popular website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify:
- WordPress.org offers unmatched customization and flexibility.
- Better scalability for growing businesses.
- Lower long-term costs if managed properly.
- Superior SEO capabilities using plugins like Rank Math or Yoast SEO.
If you want full control and scalability, WordPress website builder UK options (like using WordPress.org with a trusted developer) are by far the best investment.
Why Codebrit Digital is the Best Agency for Your WordPress Website
When you invest in a WordPress site, you need a team that understands both your vision and the technical landscape.
Here’s why Codebrit Digital is the top choice:
- Tailored Solutions: Every website is custom-built around your business goals.
- Expert Team: Over a decade of experience crafting high-converting WordPress sites.
- Transparent Pricing: Clear, affordable WordPress pricing UK packages with no hidden fees.
- SEO-Optimized: Every site is built with performance and Google rankings in mind.
- Secure and Reliable: We implement best-in-class security practices and maintenance.
- UK-Based Expertise: We understand the UK market, audience behaviors, and compliance needs.
- Ongoing Support: Optional maintenance packages to keep your site updated and bug-free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much does it cost to build a basic WordPress website in the UK?
A basic WordPress website in the UK typically costs between £300 and £1,500, depending on the design, number of pages, and whether you use a free or premium theme.
2. Is WordPress cheaper than other website builders?
Yes, WordPress.org can be more affordable long-term compared to website builders like Wix or Squarespace, especially if you choose cost-effective hosting and manage your own updates.
3. What is the average yearly cost of maintaining a WordPress website?
On average, WordPress maintenance costs range from £360 to £1,800 per year, including hosting, plugin updates, security monitoring, and backups.
4. Does a WordPress website need paid plugins?
Not necessarily. While WordPress offers thousands of free plugins, using a few paid premium plugins (costing £50–£300/year) can greatly improve functionality, speed, and security.
5. Why should I choose a professional agency like Codebrit Digital for my WordPress site?
Choosing an expert agency like Codebrit Digital ensures your website is professionally designed, SEO-optimized, fully secure, and tailored for business growth — saving you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
