One developer quotes ₹8,000 for your website. Another quotes ₹1.5 lakh. Both say “fully responsive, SEO-friendly website”. How do you know which one is fair, and which one will actually bring you customers?
This guide breaks down website development cost in India in 2026: typical prices by website type, the yearly running costs most people forget, what drives the price, and how to judge a quote.
Key takeaways
- A simple business website in India typically costs ₹15,000 to ₹60,000 one-time with a freelancer or small agency.
- A custom-designed business website from an agency often costs ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
- E-commerce websites usually start around ₹25,000 and can go above ₹4 lakh for custom builds.
- Add yearly costs: domain (₹500–₹1,500), hosting (₹2,000–₹8,000+) and maintenance.
- The cheapest website is often the most expensive if it doesn’t load fast or bring enquiries.
Website development cost in India: price ranges (2026)
These are typical market ranges. Prices vary by city, developer experience and scope, and are usually before GST.
| Website type | Typical one-time cost | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | ₹2,000 – ₹7,500 / year | Templates, limited design, you do the work |
| Basic business website (freelancer) | ₹10,000 – ₹40,000 | 5–8 pages, template-based design |
| Business website (small agency) | ₹25,000 – ₹75,000 | Better design, content help, SEO setup, tracking |
| Custom business website (agency) | ₹50,000 – ₹1,50,000 | Custom design, 10–20 pages, copywriting, integrations |
| E-commerce (WooCommerce, freelancer) | ₹25,000 – ₹1,00,000 | Product catalogue, cart, payment gateway |
| E-commerce (agency) | ₹1,50,000 – ₹4,00,000+ | Custom design, many products, advanced features |
| Custom web application | ₹2,50,000 – ₹10,00,000+ | Custom features, dashboards, logins, APIs |
Yearly running costs you should budget for
| Item | Typical yearly cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name (.com or .in) | ₹500 – ₹1,500 |
| Shared hosting | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 |
| Managed WordPress hosting | ₹3,000 – ₹8,000+ |
| Premium themes and plugins | ₹0 – ₹15,000 |
| Maintenance (small site) | ₹1,500 – ₹10,000 |
| Maintenance (e-commerce) | ₹10,000 – ₹25,000+ |
| Payment gateway fees (e-commerce) | About 2% per transaction, depending on gateway and method |
What affects website cost?
- Number of pages. 5 pages and 40 pages are different projects.
- Design. A ready-made template costs less than a custom design made for your brand.
- Content. Writing all the website copy, especially sales copy that converts, is real work. Many cheap quotes don’t include it.
- Features. Booking systems, calculators, multi-language, member logins, CRM and WhatsApp integrations add cost.
- E-commerce. Number of products, variants, payment and shipping setup.
- SEO and speed. Proper technical SEO, speed optimisation and schema take time.
- Tracking. GA4, Google Tag Manager, Meta Pixel and Conversions API setup.
- Who builds it. Freelancer, small agency or large agency.
WordPress vs website builders vs custom code
| Option | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website builders (Wix, Hostinger builder, Shopify) | Low upfront, monthly subscription | Easy, fast to launch, hosting included | Less flexibility, ongoing fees, platform limits |
| WordPress | Low to medium | Flexible, huge plugin ecosystem, good for SEO, you own it | Needs updates, security and decent hosting |
| Custom code | High | Full control, built for exact needs | Expensive, depends on the developer for changes |
For most small and medium businesses, WordPress offers the best balance of cost, flexibility and SEO. It is what we use for most business websites.
What a good business website should include
- A clear headline that says what you do and for whom.
- Service pages written around your customers’ real problems.
- Fast loading on mobile.
- Clear calls to action: call, WhatsApp, enquiry form.
- Trust signals: real photos, reviews, case studies, address, team.
- Basic SEO: titles, descriptions, headings, schema, sitemap.
- Tracking set up so you know where leads come from.
- Privacy policy and terms pages, which are also needed for running Meta and Google ads.
Red flags in cheap website quotes
- No mention of content, or “you send us the text”.
- No speed or SEO setup included.
- You don’t own the domain or hosting account.
- No source files or admin access handed over.
- Unlimited pages for a tiny price.
- No support after launch.
Is a cheap website really cheaper?
A ₹10,000 website that loads slowly and doesn’t explain your offer can cost you far more in lost enquiries, especially if you are paying for ads that send traffic to it. Think of your website as your best salesperson. The right question is not “what is the cheapest website?” but “what website will bring me the most enquiries for my budget?”
If you plan to run ads to your website, read our guide on lead generation funnels to see how the website fits into the full journey.
How much does a website cost with SKP DigitX?
Our WordPress websites start from ₹24,999 for up to 5 pages, with content writing, mobile-first design, lead forms, WhatsApp integration and tracking setup included. You own your domain, hosting and website. See full details on our pricing page.
Not sure what you need? Book a free lead audit and we’ll review your current website, if you have one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic website cost in India?
A basic 5 to 8 page business website typically costs ₹10,000 to ₹40,000 one-time with a freelancer, plus yearly domain and hosting costs.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in India?
A WooCommerce store from a freelancer typically costs ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh. Agency-built and custom e-commerce sites often cost ₹1.5 lakh to over ₹4 lakh.
How long does it take to build a website?
A simple business website takes about 1 to 3 weeks. Custom and e-commerce sites can take 4 to 12 weeks, depending on content and features.
Is WordPress good for business websites?
Yes. WordPress is flexible, SEO-friendly and widely supported, which makes it a strong choice for most small and medium businesses.
Do I need to pay every year for a website?
Yes, for the domain and hosting at minimum. Maintenance, security, backups and plugin renewals are recommended yearly costs too.
Final word
Website cost in India depends on what you need the website to do. Compare quotes on what is included, especially content, speed, SEO, tracking and ownership, not just the price. A good website should pay for itself in enquiries.