The Cost of WordPress.org: Is It Really Free?

Let's take a look at the actual cost related to the WordPress site. You need to know why at a hidden cost at free WordPress.org

By Claudio Pires
Updated on February 20, 2024
The Cost of WordPress.org: Is It Really Free?

So you decided to build your website on WordPress. Well, the owners of 32% of all websites on the Internet would agree with your choice. With a market share of 60%, the free and open-source WordPress.org ranks as the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). Even though the software itself is free, you still need a budget for your site. Let’s take a look at the actual cost related to the WordPress site, you need to know why at a hidden cost at free WordPress.org.

Yes, It’s Free (Well, Kind of)

WordPress.org is a free, open-source software for everyone to create and fully control their website. Downloading and implementing it doesn’t cost a dime. However, since it is a self-hosting solution, you can’t use it without buying web hosting and a domain name. And that’s where the real cost kicks in.

There are, however, options for free WordPress.org hosting, the most popular and obvious being WordPress.com. Of course, like everywhere – free usually means limited functionality, and that is exceedingly true in this case.

Free Hosting WordPress
Free Hosting

The free WordPress.com plan is very limited and suitable only for small projects, like a personal blog. With a WordPress.com subdomain in your website’s URL, ads on your page, restricted storage space, and only the essential features, it isn’t easy to build a representable and professional-looking website.

If your website will have a broader outreach and maybe even represent your brand – the free version should be out of the question. So you need to know what the hidden cost is related to a free WordPress site.

So, How Much Does WordPress.org Website Really Cost?

The cost of your WordPress.org website will depend on what you’re website is for. A general starting point would be $200/year, but if you’re striving for high performance and professionalism, the price might reach $800 and more.

If you’re starting and want to experiment with creating websites, the bare essentials will not cost you much. If you want to go further – prepare to spend some serious money.

WordPress.org Hosting Costs

If you don’t expect big amounts of traffic on your website, a shared hosting solution is the cheapest option. Choosing this won’t dent your bank account – you can expect to pay as little as $5/month. However, dedicated hosting is needed for websites with higher traffic. Depending on the hosting provider, this might cost significantly more. Overall, a price tag of $5-$20/month would be reasonable for high-quality and reliable hosting.

Domain Name Costs

You’ll also need to buy a domain name for your website. The WordPress site-related cost here will depend on the following:

  • What domain extension do you want to choose (.com being the most common one);
  • What domain name registrar do you pick;
Domain Name Costs
Domain Costs

A rule of thumb here – match your domain extension to the content of your website. If you own a tech blog, a .tech extension might suit you better than the other ones.

The price of a custom domain name might fluctuate, but realistically you can pay around $15/year. A custom domain name adds a great deal to your online presence and the creation of your brand – pick carefully with WordPress cost.

What Other Expenses Should You Consider?

A WordPress theme is one of the most important components of your website. After all, it’s what your visitors will see and use to browse your page. A theme should look good on all devices, meaning that it should also be mobile-friendly.

Themes Directory WordPress
Themes Directory

WordPress.org has a library of some basic free themes. But if you’re looking for a high-quality, customizable, and user-friendly design, you might need to invest some money. With thousands of themes available, they go for anywhere between $50-$200+. Give the free ones a try and test their performance – it might be enough for you.

Premium WordPress plugins might also add to the final cost of your WordPress.org website. For example, Akismet Anti-Spam plugin goes for $5/month, and it’s great spam and malicious content prevention system that you might want to include. From security and web form creation to information backup – plugins might be a great investment, so look into them.

WordPress Plugins
WordPress Plugins

Finally, if you’re striving for more than just a basic website, professional help from WordPress developers will also increase the price tag. Website maintenance tasks should be performed regularly, and you can do that yourself, for example, by creating a backup of your website, updating themes/plugins, or running performance tests. But if you lack skills or time, outsourcing a WordPress expert for your site’s maintenance will cost you anywhere from $10 to $70+/hour or a fixed price, depending on the service.

For example, a not secure website fix might not set you back too much if things are as simple as installing an SSL certificate, but a problem with your database might be more expensive. Getting professional help if you aren’t sure what you’re doing is usually a good idea, though, as it ensures you can’t do more harm than good.

What’s the Final Cost of a WordPress Website?

There isn’t one price point for a WordPress.org website. The budget will vary greatly depending on the level of professionalism and performance you’re looking for. Sparing $200/year would be a good starting point for a small/medium website.

However, if you want to enhance the experience, the cost of dedicated hosting, premium themes, plugins, and help from Umbraco professional developers might add up to a four-digit number. We hope we helped you understand the hidden cost related to the free WordPress.org website.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.