Last updated: 22 October 2026 · By Maurice, freeehouse team · About 4 minutes to read
The two blocks of cost
Every website has two kinds of costs. First the build: concept, design, texts, images and technology. Then the running costs for hosting, domain, security certificate and care.
Many offers are cheap to build and earn the money back later through running costs. Others charge a lot for the build and little per year. So the only fair comparison is the total over several years. Count on at least three years.
Route 1: website builder such as Wix, Jimdo, IONOS or STRATO
With a website builder you build the site yourself. The build costs no money, but it costs your time. You pay for a plan per month, usually in advance for 12 or 24 months.
The prices in the table come from the providers' price pages on 22 October 2026. They change often and often only apply to the first term. For Wix, prices are listed without tax according to the price page. For Jimdo, IONOS and STRATO they include VAT.
| Provider and plan | Price according to provider | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wix Light | €14 per month with yearly payment | plus tax, domain free for 1 year |
| Wix Core | €25 per month with yearly payment | plus tax, with online payments |
| Jimdo Start | €12 per month | on a 12-month term, incl. VAT |
| Jimdo Grow | €20 per month | on a 12-month term, incl. VAT |
| IONOS website builder Plus | €1 per month for 12 months | then €18 per month |
| STRATO website builder (mid-range plan) | €1 per month for 12 months | then €12 per month |
Route 2: freelancer
A freelancer builds the site for you, often with WordPress or a website builder. We have not found reliable, current market figures for Germany with a sound method. So we do not quote average prices here.
The price depends on three things: how many pages, who writes the texts, and whether someone looks after the technology afterwards. Always ask whether updates, backups and hosting are in the price. With WordPress, updates come up regularly and someone has to install them.
Route 3: agency
An agency usually takes on concept, design, texts and technology together. That costs clearly more as a one-off than a website builder, but leaves you with less work. Many agencies also offer a monthly maintenance contract.
Pay attention to the contract. What matters is the term, the notice period, who owns the source code and what happens if you switch. Between businesses, the strict rules for consumer contracts under § 309 BGB (German Civil Code) do not apply, according to § 310 BGB. Long terms are therefore possible there.
Route 4: free build, you only pay for hosting
Some providers charge nothing for the build and earn from yearly hosting. freeehouse works this way: the build costs €0, and hosting with care costs a fixed yearly price that is below what you pay today for your current plan.
With such models you need to check three things: is there a minimum term, can the price go up, and does the website, source code included, belong to you if you leave. How to assess an offer like this is covered in the guide on free websites.
Running costs at a glance
These items come back every year on every route. Some are in the plan, some are not.
- Hosting: the storage space your website runs on. Included in the plan price with website builders.
- Domain: your address, for example yourbusiness.de. With Wix, one domain is free for 1 year according to the price page, after that you pay for it separately. Jimdo lists a free address for the first contract term.
- SSL certificate: the encryption, recognisable by the padlock in the browser. Let's Encrypt issues certificates for free, and many providers use it.
- Email mailboxes: included in the website builder at IONOS according to the plan page, at Jimdo only connect and forward according to the price page.
- Care: updates, backups, small changes. With a website builder you do it yourself.
How to calculate properly
Use the price after the first term, not the teaser price. At IONOS, the Plus plan costs €12 in the first year and €216 a year from the second year, according to the plan page. At STRATO, the mid-range plan rises from €12 in the first year to €144 a year.
Then calculate three years: build plus three times the running costs plus your own time. Only this total is comparable.
If you want to know what a rebuild without build costs would cost your business per year, you can request a free draft from freeehouse.
If you want your current website rebuilt without paying for the build: freeehouse builds it by hand, and you only pay for hosting with care, cheaper than today. Claim your spot on the waiting list
Frequently asked questions
What does a simple website cost per year?
For the big website builders, plans according to their price pages of 22 October 2026 run from €12 to €20 per month at Jimdo and from €14 per month plus tax at Wix. That is roughly €144 to €240 a year.
Why is the first year often so cheap?
Many providers give an introductory price for the first term. At IONOS and STRATO, the respective plan costs €1 per month for 12 months according to the plan page, after that the normal price applies.
Does the SSL certificate cost extra?
Usually not. Let's Encrypt issues certificates for free, and website builders like Jimdo include HTTPS in all plans.
Is the domain included in the price?
Often only at the start. Wix lists a free domain for 1 year, Jimdo a free address for the first contract term. After that it is billed separately.
How do I compare offers fairly?
Calculate over three years: build costs plus running costs after the introductory price ends plus your own working time.
Sources
- Wix: Premiumpakete und Preise, accessed 22 October 2026
- Jimdo: Preise und Pakete für deine Webseite, accessed 22 October 2026
- IONOS: Homepage-Baukasten, Tarife, accessed 22 October 2026
- STRATO: Homepage-Baukasten, Tarife, accessed 22 October 2026
- Let's Encrypt: Über uns, accessed 22 October 2026
- BGB § 309 Klauselverbote ohne Wertungsmöglichkeit, accessed 22 October 2026
- BGB § 310 Anwendungsbereich, accessed 22 October 2026
Providers' prices and terms change often. What counts is what's in your customer account and your contract. Not legal advice.
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