"How much does it cost to build a website?" is probably the first question every small business owner asks. The answer you'll get varies wildly depending on who you ask – from "free" to "$50,000+."

The truth? The cost of building a website in 2025 depends entirely on which path you choose. After analyzing real pricing data across different approaches, here's what you'll actually pay.

The Three Paths to Building a Website

Small businesses today have three main options:

• AI website builders (Wix, Durable, Mysite.ai, etc.)

• Freelance developers/designers

• Digital agencies

Each comes with dramatically different costs, timelines, and results. Let's break down what you're really signing up for.

AI Website Builders: The Budget-Friendly Speed Option

What It Costs to Create a Website with AI

Monthly subscription: $5-$30/month for most platforms

• Wix AI: $17-$36/month

• Durable: $12-$20/month

• Hostinger: $3-$13/month

• Framer: $5-$15/month

Additional costs:

• Custom domain: ~$10/year

• Premium templates: $0-$200 (optional)

• Professional copywriting: $1,500-$3,500 for 5-6 pages (if you want help)

Total first-year cost: $170-$600 (if you write your own content)

Timeline: Minutes to Hours

AI builders are ridiculously fast. Durable can generate a usable website in under 60 seconds. Even with customization, you're looking at:

• Auto-generation: Minutes

• Customization: Few hours

• Total time to launch: 1-2 days

What You Get

• Professional-looking site that works on mobile

• Basic SEO setup included

• Hosting and security handled automatically

• Easy editing tools for ongoing updates

• Templates designed for your industry

What You Don't Get

• Completely unique design (templates can look similar)

• Advanced customization without coding

• Strategic marketing guidance

• Dedicated support person

Freelance Developers: The Middle Ground

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website with a Freelancer?

Hourly rates vary by location:

• North America: $50-$100/hour

• Latin America: $50-$70/hour

• North Africa: $20-$30/hour

Project scope: Most small business sites need 20-40 hours of work

Real-world costs:

• US freelancer: $1,000-$4,000 for a basic site

• Brazilian freelancer: $1,000-$3,000 (BRL 5,000-15,000)

• North African freelancer: $400-$1,200

Additional costs:

• Domain and hosting: $5-$30/month

• Professional copywriting: $1,500-$3,500 (often extra)

• SEO setup: $100-$400 per page (if not included)

Total project cost: $1,500-$8,000+ depending on location and scope

Timeline: Weeks to Months

• Development time: 1-2 months calendar time

• Actual coding: 20-40 working hours

• Client communication and revisions: Add 2-4 weeks

• Content creation: Additional 1-2 weeks if included

What You Get

• Custom design tailored to your business

• One-on-one communication with your developer

• Flexible scope (can add features as needed)

• Human-written content (if included)

What You Don't Get

• Instant results (plan for 1-2 months)

• Ongoing support unless you pay extra

• Project management (you coordinate everything)

• Guaranteed quality (varies by freelancer)

Digital Agencies: The Full-Service Premium Option

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Website Through an Agency?

US agency pricing: $6,500-$15,000+ for basic small business sites Global pricing: Varies significantly (offshore agencies cost less)

What's typically included:

• Custom design and development

• Professional copywriting

• Basic SEO setup

• Project management

• Quality assurance testing

Additional costs:

• Domain: $10-$60/year

• Ongoing maintenance: Often required contract

• Advanced features: Can quickly add thousands

Total project cost: $8,000-$20,000+ for most small businesses

Timeline: Months

• Typical timeline: 6-8+ weeks

• Process includes: Design mockups, client revisions, development, testing

• Launch: Often 2+ months from start to finish

What You Get

• Professional polish and strategic thinking

• Full team (designer, developer, project manager, copywriter)

• Comprehensive solution (design, development, content, SEO)

• Quality assurance and testing

What You Don't Get

• Quick turnaround (plan for 2+ months)

• Budget-friendly pricing

• Direct control over every decision

• Flexibility to make quick changes

Real-World Cost Comparison

The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About

Ongoing Maintenance

• AI builders: Included in monthly fee

• Freelancers: $50-$100/hour for updates

• Agencies: Often require maintenance contracts ($100-$500/month)

Content Creation

• Copywriting: $1,500-$3,500 for a small site (potentially reduced to minimum if you leverage AI tools for creating web copy)

• Photography: $500-$2,000 for professional photos (as above - potentially reduced to almost zero if you tap into AI tools like Midjourney)

• SEO optimization: $100-$400 per page

Marketing and Growth

Building the site is just the beginning. Getting found online requires:

• SEO services: $500-$5,000/month

• Google Ads management: 10-20% of ad spend

• Social media management: $500-$3,000/month

The catch: Time zones, language barriers, and project management become factors when working internationally.

Mysite.ai: Redefining Value in Website Creation

While traditional AI builders focus on just creating websites, Mysite.ai approaches the problem differently.

Beyond Just Building Websites

Most AI builders give you a website and call it done. Mysite.ai acts as your first AI employee – handling not just website creation, but your entire digital presence:

• Website creation: Professional site in minutes

• Social media management: Coming soon

• Ad campaign creation: Automatically optimized

• Lead generation: Real-time adaptation to performance

The Real Cost Advantage

Traditional approach costs:

• Website: $1,500-$8,000

• Social media management: $500-$3,000/month

• Ad management: 10-20% of spend + $1,000+/month

• Total first year: $15,000-$50,000+

Mysite.ai approach:

• Everything handled by one AI employee

• Scales with your business automatically

• No need to coordinate multiple providers

• Total first year: Fraction of traditional costs

Built for Small Business Reality

Unlike other solutions, Mysite.ai understands that small business owners:

• Don't have time to learn multiple platforms

• Can't afford to hire multiple specialists

• Need results that adapt as their business grows

• Want to focus on customers, not technology

Which Option Is Right for Your Business?

Choose AI Builders If:

• You need to launch quickly (days, not months)

• Budget is your primary concern

• You want to maintain control over updates

• Your business model is straightforward

Choose Freelancers If:

• You want custom design that stands out

• You have 1-2 months for development

• Budget is moderate ($2,000-$8,000)

• You don't mind project managing

Choose Mysite.ai If:

• You want an AI that actually understands business

• You need more than just a website

• You prefer conversation over form-filling

• You want a solution that grows with you

The Bottom Line on Website Costs in 2025

The cost to build a website ranges from $200 to $20,000+ – but price alone doesn't tell the whole story.

For most small businesses, the sweet spot is AI builders because they:

• Remove technical barriers completely

• Get you online fast while competitors are still planning

• Cost a fraction of traditional development

• Let you invest saved money in marketing and growth

The key insight: Your website is a starting point, not a destination. The platform that lets you iterate quickly and grow your online presence will serve you better than a "perfect" static site that costs months and thousands to update.

Ready to skip the traditional website hassles? Try Mysite.ai and experience what it's like to have an AI employee handle your entire digital presence – starting with a professional website created in minutes, not months.