Where the comparison numbers come from.
Prices checked in November 2026 from public price lists and 2026 cost surveys. These are typical U.S. figures, not a quote from a local designer. Prices change.
The comparison on our pricing page uses these sources. We rounded figures on purpose and say “often” and “about” because your quote may be lower or higher.
- U.S. designer starting prices, October 2026: leavsy.com/research/web-designer-prices-2026
- U.S. agency 5-page site median, 2026: lindo.ai/reports/web-design-agencies-united-states
- Bluehost hosting: bluehost.com/pricing
- SiteGround hosting: siteground.com/web-hosting.htm and current shared-hosting rates
- Namecheap .com renewal (as of Nov 1, 2026): Namecheap .com price change, November 1, 2026
- Let’s Encrypt (free SSL): letsencrypt.org/docs/faq
- Wix U.S. plans, Nov 5, 2026: wix.com/plans and Wix Harmony cost article
- Squarespace U.S. plans, Oct 2026: squarespace.com/pricing
- Maintenance ranges: GoDaddy website maintenance cost
Design ranges come from a survey of U.S. web designers and from a 2026 report of U.S. agency project prices. Hosting, domain, and builder prices come from Bluehost, SiteGround, Namecheap, Wix, and Squarespace. SSL is free from Let’s Encrypt and is included by those hosts and builders. Care-plan and hourly figures use the low end of published ranges.
Building a site yourself with a tool like Wix or Squarespace can cost less in dollars if you do all the work. The security lock (SSL) is usually free and is not a required paid extra. This comparison is for the website itself. It does not include ads, professional photo shoots, or optional add-on plans. Prices are in U.S. dollars and do not include tax.