From our website’s Google Analytics queries we found a common question our visitors are asking: “How much does a website cost? And added in parameters “Toronto” and “2023” to give you the latest data on this subject. We asked Google and Chat GPT-4 to see what they thought and also we will give you our UNIVERSE web design project estimate so you can compare.
The results were of course wide-ranging, but useful for a potential new client (you) in determining an answer to this question. Also, see the bottom for UNIVERSE’s current web development starting cost.
Top Organic Google Search results, from websites that are not design agencies:
Expert Market
For now, here’s a quick summary of average website costs in Canada:
- Website you make with a website builder: $0-$500 per year.
- Online shop you make with a website builder: $0-$3,000+ per year.
- One-page website built by an expert: $6,724.
Source: Expert Market, Mar 20, 2023
Techware Hut
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for! If you have a budget of less than $1000 then ask for a template based web design. There are many WordPress themes or website builders that you or your developer can use. This may mean some compromise on features, functions or the website of your dreams. You may have to buy a license or pay a nominal monthly fee as well.
A custom website would span across $3000 to $15,000 or even more. Depending on technology and your wish list of website features. Something with no payment on website or customer login can start at the lower end of the range and grow as you add more features.
Source: Techware Hut, November 2022.
We also asked an AI bot:
Chat GPT-4
The cost of a website in Toronto, or anywhere else, can vary significantly depending on various factors such as the complexity of the website, its features, design requirements, functionality, and the web development agency or freelancer you choose to work with. It is challenging to provide an exact cost without specific details, but I can give you a general idea of the different types of websites and their potential price ranges.
- Basic Static Website:
A simple website with a few pages and minimal interactive features could range from $1,000 to $3,000. - Content Management System (CMS) Website:
A website built on a CMS platform like WordPress, allowing you to update content easily, may cost between $3,000 and $10,000. The price can vary depending on customization, theme selection, and plugin integration. - E-Commerce Website:
An online store with features like product listings, shopping cart functionality, and payment gateways can range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. The cost will depend on the number of products, complexity of the design, and custom features required. - Custom Web Applications:
Complex web applications with advanced functionality, user management systems, databases, and integration with other systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. The price will be determined by the project’s complexity and the time required for development.
Additionally, ongoing costs such as domain registration, hosting, maintenance, and updates should be considered.
It’s essential to note that these are just general estimates, and actual prices can vary significantly based on individual project requirements and the web development market conditions in Toronto. To get an accurate quote, it is advisable to consult with multiple web development agencies or freelancers and discuss your specific needs and budget with them.
Source: https://chat.openai.com/, June 5, 2023.
UNIVERSE's answer:
UNIVERSE designs our websites exclusively on the Wordpress CMS platform and our starting cost for a small brochure/informational style website is $6,000. We also almost always create original brand designs that are applied to the website and these start at $2,500. We do bundle our services and offer a discounted rate for multiple services purchased, as well as include design assets of use in our brand design packages. So if you need a brochure or a social media template design with your brand design, we will include that for you so so you can hit the ground running.
As the above all stated, of course the amount of additional functionalities required for your website always increase the price, but typically not significantly.
Other website-related project costs will be your website’s Wordpress theme (we cover); and your annual hosting, domain registration, and email service (you cover).
Get in touch with us with any questions and if you have a website design and development project for your Toronto or Ontario (or anywhere!) business or organization, learning as much as you can about your options is exactly where you need to start.
