Website on free WordPress - how much does it cost?

Using free WordPress templates seems like a great solution for quickly creating a website without significant financial investment. Does this mean the site will be completely free?

The answer is: no. Free software does not automatically mean free website maintenance. When deciding to create a website using WordPress, keep in mind that it will require updates and some interventions, which will generate additional costs. What costs should you be prepared for? You will find out in our article.

Paid WordPress Theme

There is no shortage of free WordPress themes online that you can use to build your website. However, many of these contain errors, receive only occasional updates at best, and can expose your device to malware. Another drawback of free themes is that they are not always editable through visual editors.

A paid theme requires a one-time purchase fee as well as payment for periodic updates. Before signing a license agreement for a theme, make sure the selected theme meets several conditions. First and foremost, ensure it supports Polish characters, as many designs do not accommodate them. Also, consider how much text will be on your site. Many themes allow a limited number of characters, and increasing the space for text often requires an additional fee. If you decide to hire a professional to build your website, the cost will vary depending on its size, number of subpages, and complexity. Basic company websites start at around 3000 PLN, while setting up an online store may exceed 10,000 PLN. Pricing is prepared individually based on the client’s needs.

Regular Website Updates

Owners of simpler websites often perform regular updates themselves. From experience, we know that updates of more complex sites often lead to unexpected issues. The most common problem is having the latest WordPress version that doesn’t cooperate well with your theme and plugins, causing the site to become non-functional. In such cases, you should expect the cost of specialist intervention to restore the site from a backup. Remember, every part of the website requires regular updates to avoid potential problems and costly repairs. In case of a sudden failure, your site stops working and, consequently, stops generating revenue. You will then need to find an available specialist to help immediately, which incurs additional costs. Therefore, one of the costs to consider is ongoing maintenance service for your website.

Server, Domain, SSL Certificate

When choosing the right server, consider the monthly number of visitors and the complexity of your site. A typical site without an online store, visited by several dozen users monthly, costs about 200 PLN net per year. You can also opt for flexible hosting services, which protect your website from overload. If your traffic suddenly increases, you will pay an additional fee, but only for the actual time of increased usage.

The net cost of a domain in Poland should be up to 100 PLN per year, although prices start as low as 15 PLN net for the first registration. Domains must be paid for on a recurring basis. Many providers lure customers with a free domain—usually free for the first year but significantly more expensive in the following years compared to paid domains available on the market. However, you can obtain a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for free. It is just as effective as most commercial certificates, differing only in that it does not come with a warranty. This means that if encryption is broken by a third party, you will not receive compensation from the certificate issuer.

It is clear that many factors influence the final cost of a website created on free WordPress. If you are considering setting up your own professional site, contact us. We will assist you in making the right choices and provide advice at every stage of the project.