Choosing a website builder is about more than just features and design — pricing plays a decisive role in the decision. With monthly subscriptions, domain costs, transaction fees, and premium add-ons, the total cost of running a website can vary dramatically between platforms. Some builders lure you in with free plans that quickly reveal their limitations, while others charge premium prices for advanced functionality that you may not need.
In this guide, we break down the pricing structures of the six most popular website builders: Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, WordPress.com, Weebly, and Framer. We compare what you get at each tier, highlight hidden costs, and help you determine which platform offers the best value for your specific needs. Whether you are a budget-conscious blogger or a growing ecommerce brand, this guide will help you make an informed financial decision.
Most website builders use a tiered subscription model. The cheapest tier is usually the free plan, which includes the platform's branding (ads) and limited storage and bandwidth. The next tier removes ads and adds a custom domain. Higher tiers unlock ecommerce, analytics, professional email, and advanced features. Annual billing typically saves you 20 to 30 percent compared to monthly payments, and many platforms offer a free domain for the first year on annual plans.
Some platforms also charge transaction fees on ecommerce sales — this is an often-overlooked cost that can add up significantly. Additionally, premium templates, third-party apps, and plugins may cost extra. Understanding the full picture of recurring and one-time costs is essential for accurate budgeting.
Wix offers one of the most flexible pricing structures with seven tiers. The Free plan includes 500 MB storage and 1 GB bandwidth but displays Wix ads and does not allow a custom domain. The Combo plan at $16/month removes ads, adds a custom domain, and gives you 2 GB storage. The Unlimited plan at $22/month is the most popular choice among bloggers and freelancers, offering 10 GB storage and a site booster app. For ecommerce, the Business Basic plan at $27/month adds online payments, a shopping cart, and 50 GB storage. The Business Unlimited plan at $32/month adds subscriptions and 100 GB storage. Wix charges a 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee on ecommerce plans. Annual billing brings these prices down by roughly 25 percent.
Squarespace keeps things simpler with four plans. The Personal plan at $16/month (billed annually) includes unlimited storage and bandwidth, a free custom domain for the first year, and SSL security. The Business plan at $23/month adds professional email from Google, advanced analytics, promotional pop-ups, and a 30 percent reduction in transaction fees (3% vs 2.9% for third-party payment processors, plus a $0.30 fee for Squarespace Commerce transactions). The Commerce Basic plan at $27/month removes all transaction fees and adds powerful ecommerce features like customer accounts, product reviews, and abandoned cart recovery. The Commerce Advanced plan at $36/month adds subscriptions, advanced shipping, and unlimited staff accounts. Squarespace does not offer a free plan, but there is a 14-day free trial.
Webflow splits its pricing into Site plans (for the frontend) and Account plans (for the designer/agency). For a basic content site, the Basic plan at $14/month (billed annually) includes 500 monthly form submissions and 50 GB CDN bandwidth. The CMS plan at $23/month adds 2,000 CMS items, 1,000 form submissions, and 200 GB bandwidth — ideal for blogs and content sites. The Business plan at $39/month offers 10,000 CMS items, 2,500 form submissions, and 400 GB bandwidth. For ecommerce, the Standard plan at $29/month includes 500 products, while the Plus plan at $74/month supports 5,000 products. Webflow does not have a free plan but offers a free starter project with two pages and a Webflow.io subdomain for testing. Transaction fees on ecommerce are 2% for Standard and 0% for Plus. Webflow's pricing can quickly add up for complex sites, but the design control and performance are correspondingly high.
WordPress.com has five tiers. The Free plan includes 3 GB storage and a wordpress.com subdomain but displays ads. The Personal plan at $4/month (billed annually) removes ads and adds a custom domain and 6 GB storage. The Premium plan at $8/month adds 13 GB storage, premium monetization options, and advanced design customization. The Business plan at $25/month is the sweet spot for most users, offering 50 GB storage, plugin installation (including SEO tools like Yoast), third-party theme upload, and ecommerce capability through WooCommerce. The Commerce plan at $45/month adds 200 GB storage, premium WooCommerce features, and automated tax calculations. WordPress.com offers excellent value at the Personal and Premium tiers, making it the cheapest option for a professional ad-free site.
Weebly keeps pricing simple with four tiers. The Free plan includes 500 MB storage and a Weebly subdomain with ads. The Personal plan at $6/month (billed annually) removes ads and adds a custom domain. The Professional plan at $12/month adds unlimited storage, video backgrounds, and advanced site analytics. The Performance plan at $26/month is the ecommerce tier, offering unlimited products, real-time shipping, and abandoned cart recovery. Weebly charges a 3% transaction fee on the Professional plan for ecommerce transactions, which drops to 2.9% on Performance. Weebly is one of the most affordable options, especially for users who just need a simple website.
Framer offers a Free plan with a framer.app subdomain, up to 3 pages, and Framer branding. The Mini plan at $5/month (billed annually) removes branding, adds a custom domain, and supports up to 30 pages. The Basic plan at $10/month offers 150 pages, 1,000 CMS items, and a blog. The Pro plan at $20/month adds 300 pages, 10,000 CMS items, password protection, and multiple languages. For ecommerce, the Store plan at $25/month includes 500 products, and the Store Plus plan at $45/month supports 5,000 products. Framer charges 0% transaction fees on its ecommerce plans, making it attractive for sellers. Framer's pricing is competitive, especially at the Mini and Basic tiers.
| Platform | Free Plan | Entry Paid Plan | Popular Plan | Ecommerce Plan | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | Yes (ads) | $16/mo | $22/mo (Unlimited) | $27/mo (Business Basic) | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Squarespace | No (14-day trial) | $16/mo | $23/mo (Business) | $27/mo (Commerce Basic) | 0% on Commerce plans |
| Webflow | Free starter (2 pages) | $14/mo | $23/mo (CMS) | $29/mo (Standard) | 2% (Standard), 0% (Plus) |
| WordPress.com | Yes (ads) | $4/mo | $8/mo (Premium) | $45/mo (Commerce) | Variable (WooCommerce) |
| Weebly | Yes (ads) | $6/mo | $12/mo (Professional) | $26/mo (Performance) | 3% (Pro), 2.9% (Perf) |
| Framer | Yes (branding) | $5/mo | $10/mo (Basic) | $25/mo (Store) | 0% on Store plans |
Beyond the monthly subscription, watch out for these additional expenses:
For budget users: WordPress.com Personal at $4/month is the cheapest way to get a professional site without ads. Framer Mini at $5/month is also excellent value for a modern, visually rich site.
For bloggers and content creators: WordPress.com Premium ($8/month) or Framer Basic ($10/month) offer great features at reasonable prices. Squarespace Personal ($16/month) is also a strong contender with beautiful templates.
For small business owners: Wix Unlimited ($22/month) and Squarespace Business ($23/month) provide the best balance of features, design, and ease of use. Weebly Professional ($12/month) is a solid budget alternative.
For ecommerce merchants: Squarespace Commerce Basic ($27/month) offers the best value with no transaction fees. Framer Store ($25/month) is also attractive with 0% transaction fees. Wix Business Basic ($27/month) is another strong option.
For designers and agencies: Webflow offers unmatched design control, but pricing adds up quickly. The Webflow CMS plan ($23/month) is a good starting point for client sites.
Not sure which platform fits your budget? Read our Website Builder Choose Guide for a personalized recommendation. Also check out the Best Free Website Builders if you are starting with no budget at all.
Yes, all major builders allow you to upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. Downgrading may require you to give up features, and you might need to adjust your site accordingly.
Some platforms offer discounts for students and nonprofits. Squarespace and Wix provide verified nonprofit discounts. It is worth checking each platform's pricing page for special offers.
On most platforms, yes. Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.com require a paid plan to connect a custom domain. Framer allows custom domains on the $5/month Mini plan. Squarespace's cheapest plan includes a custom domain.
Your site will be taken offline, and you may lose access to your content. Most platforms give you a grace period to download your data or reactivate your account. Always check the export options before committing to a platform.