What you pay every year
| Item | Usual price |
|---|---|
| Domain | $10–20 a year |
| Hosting — static site | free to $5 a month |
| Hosting — WordPress | $5–20 a month |
| SSL certificate | free (Let's Encrypt) |
| Changes and updates | $15 an hour, only when needed |
Typical totals per month
- Static company site: about $1–5 a month including the domain.
- WordPress site: about $10–40 a month with hosting, updates and backups.
- Online shop or web app: more, depending on traffic, payments and integrations.
Why a static site is cheaper to maintain
A static site has no database or plugins that need updating, so there is almost nothing to break or hack. It can be hosted for free or for a few dollars, and it stays fast. WordPress needs regular updates and backups; skipping them is how most small sites get hacked.
What WordPress maintenance includes
- Updating WordPress itself, the theme and plugins.
- Automatic daily backups stored outside the server.
- Security: strong passwords, limited admin access, a firewall plugin.
- Uptime monitoring that warns when the site is down.
- Checking that forms still deliver requests.
Do you need a monthly retainer?
Usually not. For a static site there is almost nothing to maintain, and for changes you pay when you need them — from me $15 an hour, with no retainer. A retainer makes sense for large sites that change every week.
How to choose hosting
For a static site, free or very cheap static hosting is enough: it is fast, needs no updates and survives traffic spikes. For WordPress, managed hosting costs more than the cheapest shared plan but includes updates, backups and support. Whatever you choose, check four things: servers close to your customers, automatic backups, free HTTPS and a way to reach a person when something breaks.
Speed and security checks
- Run a speed test such as PageSpeed Insights after every big change — slow pages lose visitors and ad money.
- Turn on an uptime monitor that emails you when the site is down.
- Check for broken links and images once a quarter.
- Send a test request through every form and messenger button.
- Keep admin access to the people who really need it, and remove former employees.
Example: a year's budget for a company website
| Static company site | WordPress site | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | about $15 | about $15 |
| Hosting | $0–60 | $60–240 |
| Updates and backups | not needed | about $180 (an hour a month at $15) |
| Small changes | about $45 (three hours) | about $45 (three hours) |
| Total per year | about $60–120 | about $300–480 |
The difference comes almost entirely from WordPress needing regular care. For a company site that changes a few times a year, a static site is usually the cheaper and safer choice.
A simple maintenance checklist
- The domain is registered in your name, with auto-renewal on.
- The SSL certificate renews automatically.
- Backups run automatically, and you have tested restoring one.
- Updates are installed monthly (for WordPress).
- Forms and messenger buttons are tested every month.
- Speed is checked after big changes.
- Prices, contacts and works are kept up to date.
Questions
How much does website maintenance cost per month?
From about $1–5 for a static site to $10–40 for WordPress with updates and backups; changes are paid separately when needed.
Who should own the domain?
You. Register the domain in your own name and account, even if a developer sets it up.
What about backups?
A static site is stored with its code; WordPress needs automatic daily backups kept outside the server.
What happens if I don't maintain my site?
A static site keeps working; an un-updated WordPress site becomes vulnerable to hacking and may stop working after server updates.
How much do changes cost?
From me $15 an hour, only when you need them — no monthly fee.