"Wix is free to start!" "SiteGround is only $2.99/month!" "Squarespace is just $16/month!"
You've seen these ads. Your friend's coffee shop signed up for one of them. And you're wondering: what does a website actually cost?
Here's what nobody tells you: everyone is doing bait-and-switch pricing. Website builders. Hosting companies. All of them. The only difference is how they do it.
Let me break it down with real numbers.
Website Builders: At Least They're Honest About the Price
I'm going to say something that might surprise you: website builders like Wix and Squarespace are actually more transparent than "cheap" hosting companies.
Here's what they charge:
Wix (if you want your own domain and no Wix ads):
- Light: $17/month - Basic sites, no payments
- Core: $29/month - Can accept payments
- Business: $39/month - More storage, better analytics
Squarespace:
- Basic: $16/month - But has a 2% transaction fee if you sell anything
- Core: $23/month - No transaction fee
- Plus: $39/month - More features
GoDaddy Website Builder:
Are these prices high? Kind of. But here's the thing: they stay the same when you renew. $29/month this year, $29/month next year. No surprises.
The "Cheap Hosting" Lie
Now let's talk about what the hosting companies advertise: SiteGround at $2.99/month! Namecheap at $1.98/month! Bluehost at $2.95/month!
Sounds way cheaper than Wix, right? Here's what they don't tell you in the ads (and why I compare shared hosting to a sketchy motel):
SiteGround:
- Promotional price: $2.99/month (first year only)
- Renewal price: $17.99/month
- That's a 6x price increase.
Namecheap:
- Promotional price: $1.98/month (first year only)
- Renewal price: $4.07/month ($48.88/year)
- That's a 2x price increase. (Namecheap is actually the most reasonable here.)
Bluehost:
- Promotional price: $2.95/month (first term only)
- Renewal price: $11.99/month
- That's a 4x price increase.
And no, you can't just pre-pay for 3 years at the promo rate anymore. They got wise to that trick.
Let's Do Honest 3-Year Math
I'm going to calculate the actual 3-year cost of each option. No cherry-picking promo prices. No pretending renewal rates don't exist.
Squarespace Core (Website Builder)
- Website: $23/month × 36 months = $828
- Domain (years 2-3): ~$20/year × 2 = $40
- Professional email (3 users): $7.20/user/month × 3 × 36 = $778
- 3-year total: ~$1,646
GoDaddy Website Builder Commerce
- Website: $23.99/month × 36 months = $864
- Domain (years 2-3): ~$22/year × 2 = $44
- Email (GoDaddy's bundled option): ~$204 over 3 years
- 3-year total: ~$1,112
SiteGround DIY Hosting (HONEST Numbers)
- Year 1 hosting: $35.88 (promo)
- Year 2 hosting: $215.88 (renewal at $17.99/mo)
- Year 3 hosting: $215.88 (renewal)
- Domain: ~$16/year × 3 = $48
- Email (3 users): $7.20 × 3 × 36 = $778
- SSL: Free (included)—anyone charging for SSL is a red flag
- 3-year total: ~$1,294
- Plus 50-100+ hours of your time building and maintaining the site.
Namecheap DIY Hosting (HONEST Numbers)
- Year 1 hosting: $22.88 (promo)
- Year 2 hosting: $48.88 (renewal)
- Year 3 hosting: $48.88 (renewal)
- Domain: ~$16/year × 3 = $48
- Email (3 users): $7.20 × 3 × 36 = $778
- SSL: Free (included)—anyone charging for SSL is a red flag
- 3-year total: ~$947
- Plus 50-100+ hours of your time.
The Part Nobody Wants to Talk About: Your Time
Here's the thing about "cheap" hosting: the hosting is just the beginning. (And if you want to see how much some agencies mark up this stuff, that's a whole other story.)
With SiteGround or Namecheap, you still need to:
- Install WordPress (or whatever)
- Find and configure a theme
- Figure out plugins for contact forms, SEO, security, backups
- Write all your content
- Make it look good (or pay for a premium theme)
- Keep everything updated so you don't get hacked
- Fix things when they break
With a website builder like Squarespace, it's easier. You pick a template, drag and drop. Still takes time, but less of it.
But with either option, you're doing the work. Your time has value. If you spend 50 hours building and maintaining a site over 3 years, and your time is worth $50/hour, that's $2,500 of labor you're not billing to clients.
When DIY Actually Makes Sense
I'm not saying DIY is always wrong. It makes sense when:
- You actually enjoy building websites. Some people do. If it's fun for you, the time cost doesn't feel like a cost.
- You're just starting out and have more time than money. A $1,000 budget goes further if you do the work yourself.
- You want full control. You know exactly what you want and how to build it. You don't want to explain it to someone else.
- It's a simple site. A basic brochure site with 5 pages? Squarespace handles that fine.
But be honest with yourself about the time commitment. "I'll figure it out this weekend" turns into 6 months of a half-finished site.
What YouGrow Does Differently
YouGrow is website as a service. Not hosting. Not a website builder. Done-for-you.
Here's what that means:
- Custom design: Your site doesn't look like a template because it isn't one. I design it for your business.
- $79/month, flat: No promo-to-renewal price jump. $79 this month, $79 next year. Domain, hosting, SSL, everything included.
- Month-to-month: No annual contracts. Cancel anytime.
- Unlimited reasonable edits: Need to update your hours? Add a new service? Just tell me. I handle it.
- You own it: Want to leave? I'll export everything. No lock-in.
- Direct access: You talk to me. Not a support ticket queue.
3-year cost: $2,844.
Is that more than DIY? Yes. Is it more than a website builder? Yes.
But here's what you get for that money: zero time investment. You tell me what you need. I build it. You run your business.
The Honest Summary
| Option | 3-Year Cost | Your Time | Custom Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namecheap DIY | ~$947 | 50-100+ hours | No (template) |
| GoDaddy Builder | ~$1,112 | 30-50 hours | No (template) |
| SiteGround DIY | ~$1,294 | 50-100+ hours | No (template) |
| Squarespace | ~$1,646 | 30-50 hours | No (template) |
| YouGrow | ~$2,844 | 0 hours | Yes |
The cheapest option in dollars (Namecheap DIY) costs you the most in time. The most expensive option in dollars (YouGrow) costs you zero time and gives you custom design.
What's your time worth? That's the real question.
The Bottom Line
"Free" website builders aren't free. But "cheap" hosting isn't cheap either—they just hide the real price until renewal time.
If you want to DIY, Namecheap is probably your best bet for honest pricing. Squarespace is good if you want something easier. Both will cost you significant time.
If you want done-for-you with custom design and no time investment, that's what YouGrow is for. It costs more in dollars, but the time savings are real.
Whatever you choose, do the math first. Calculate the 3-year cost with renewal prices. Factor in your time. Then decide.
And if you want to talk through what makes sense for your specific situation, reach out. I'll tell you honestly if YouGrow is the right fit or if you'd be better served by something else.