How Much Do Websites Really Cost in 2026?

Web designers quote thousands. Agencies quote tens of thousands. The honest truth in 2026? You can launch a professional website for about $25 a year. To go live you need three things: a domain name, a website builder, and hosting.

The Real Stack

• Domain — about $25/year via Canva or any registrar.
• Builder — Lovable AI is free to start.
• Hosting — Netlify's free tier handles most small sites.

That's roughly $125 over 5 years versus $8,000+ for an agency build. Learn how to do it yourself in our guide on building a website with AI, or see why your small business needs a website.