How Much Does a Website Cost in India?
What a website really costs in India in 2026, from ₹10,000 for a simple site to ₹15 lakh+ for a custom web app, what drives the price, yearly running costs and how to avoid overpaying.
By Innovixus Team ·
In short: A website in India typically costs ₹10,000-50,000 for a simple brochure site from a freelancer, ₹50,000-2 lakh for a small business site built by a studio, ₹1.5-4 lakh for an online store, and ₹2-15 lakh+ for a custom web application. Budget separately for yearly running costs: domain, hosting and maintenance usually add 10-20% of the build price each year.
"How much does a website cost?" is one of the most asked questions in small business, and one of the hardest to answer from a quote. One agency says ₹15,000, another says ₹3 lakh, and both are describing a "website". They are usually describing different things.
This guide gives you realistic 2026 price ranges for India, explains what moves the number, shows the yearly costs people forget, and ends with a checklist for comparing quotes fairly.
The short answer Website type Typical cost (India) Timeline Best for DIY website builder ₹2,000-6,000 a year 1-7 days A simple online presence on a tight budget Freelancer brochure or landing page ₹10,000-50,000 1-3 weeks Personal brands, local services, one-page offers Small business website (5-10 pages, CMS) ₹50,000-2 lakh 3-6 weeks Clinics, consultants, small firms Business website with custom design and integrations ₹2-5 lakh 6-10 weeks Growing companies, lead generation, CRM connection E-commerce store ₹1.5-4 lakh 4-10 weeks Selling products online Custom web application or portal ₹2-15 lakh+ 2-5 months Dashboards, booking systems, marketplaces, SaaS
Prices vary by city, team and scope, and these ranges describe typical market quotes rather than fixed prices. Freelancers can be cheaper, and large agencies are often two to three times higher for the same scope.
What you are actually paying for
A website is more than screens. When a price looks very low, one of these parts is usually missing:
Planning and structure (5-10%): deciding what pages you need and what each visitor should do. Design (20-30%): layout, branding, mobile screens and the look of every page type. Development (30-40%): building the pages, forms, menus and any custom features. Content (10-20%): writing text, preparing images, product descriptions or case studies. SEO and performance setup (5-10%): page titles, speed, mobile checks, analytics and search basics. Testing and launch (5-10%): checking every device, form and link before going live.
Content is the most common surprise. If the quote assumes you will supply all text and photos, you are paying with your own time, and delays often start there.
Six factors that change the price
- Number and type of pages
Five static pages are a very different job from 50 pages with product listings, blog templates and filters. Pages that share a template are cheap to add. Pages that each need their own design are not.
- Custom design or template
A well-chosen template can look professional at a fraction of the cost. Fully custom design suits brands that need to stand out, but it adds design time at every step.
- Features and functionality
Contact forms are cheap. Online booking, payments, user logins, member areas, calculators and dashboards each add real development time. This is the biggest cost driver after page count.
- Integrations
Connecting your site to a CRM, accounting tool, payment gateway, shipping provider or WhatsApp usually adds ₹20,000-1.5 lakh per integration, depending on how good the other system's API is.
- Platform choice
WordPress, Shopify and similar platforms are fast and economical for standard needs. Custom-coded sites cost more up front but give you more control and fewer plugin limits. Pick the platform your feature list needs, not the one that sounds most impressive.
- Who builds it
A freelancer, a small studio and a large agency price the same scope differently. A higher price often buys project management, testing and support, but not always, so ask exactly what is included.
Running costs after launch
Many owners budget for the build and forget the yearly bill. For a typical small business website:
Item Typical cost Domain name ₹500-1,500 a year Hosting ₹2,000-8,000 a year for small sites, more for stores and apps SSL certificate Often free with hosting Maintenance (updates, backups, security) ₹5,000-15,000 a month for basic plans, optional for simple sites Premium plugins or tools ₹0-20,000 a year Content updates and SEO Varies by plan
A useful rule of thumb is to budget 10-20% of your build cost per year to keep a site secure, fast and up to date. An unmaintained site slows down, breaks after software updates and becomes a security risk.
How to keep your website on budget Write down the one job the website must do. Generate enquiries, sell products or book appointments. If you cannot say it in a sentence, the scope is not ready. Start with the pages that earn money. Home, services, about, contact, and add the rest after launch. Prepare your content early. Text, photos and logos ready before design starts save weeks and money. Use a template for secondary pages and custom design only where it matters. Ask for a fixed quote with milestones, not an open-ended hourly estimate. Plan phase two in advance. Knowing what comes next stops "small additions" from creeping into phase one. Red flags in a website quote No breakdown of what is included, such as pages, revisions and integrations. No mention of mobile testing, speed or basic SEO setup. Hosting, domain or plugins bundled with unclear renewal costs. No clarity on who owns the code, design files and domain after launch. No maintenance or support plan after launch. A price far below every other quote, with a very short timeline. Where to go from here
If you are comparing quotes, send the same written brief to each provider so you can judge them like for like. For help turning your idea into a clear scope, see our web application services, check pricing for package starting prices, or talk to our consultancy team for an independent review before you commit.
Planning something more advanced? Read what an AI MVP costs in India or learn how to build an AI chatbot on your own documents if you want to add AI features to your site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a website in India?
A small business website with 5-10 pages typically costs ₹50,000-2 lakh from a professional studio. Simple freelancer sites start near ₹10,000, and custom web applications run from ₹2 lakh to ₹15 lakh or more.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in India?
A standard online store on a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce usually costs ₹1.5-4 lakh to set up. Custom or marketplace-style stores cost more, depending on features and integrations.
How much does it cost to run a website every year?
Domain and hosting for a typical small business site cost ₹3,000-8,000 a year. Add maintenance, backups and small updates, and a realistic yearly budget is about 10-20% of the original build cost.
How long does it take to build a website?
A simple site takes 1-3 weeks and a business site 3-6 weeks. Stores and custom web applications take 6-16 weeks or more, depending on features.
Is a website builder cheaper than hiring a developer?
Yes, in the short term. Builders like Wix or Shopify cost a few thousand rupees a year and work well for simple sites. Custom development costs more but suits businesses that need unique features, integrations or full control.