Yes, every website costs money, but the amount varies dramatically based on your approach. You're paying for three things: the domain name (your web address), hosting (the server that stores your files), and the design/development work itself. A DIY website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify bundles everything into one monthly fee, usually $16–40 for basic plans and $30–80 for ecommerce. You skip upfront development costs but pay indefinitely and own less control over your site's code and portability. A self-hosted WordPress site splits costs differently. Domain registration runs $15–25/year through Namecheap or Google Domains. Hosting starts around $8–15/month for shared plans (SiteGround, Bluehost) or $25–60/month for managed WordPress hosting that handles updates and security. Then you pay for the site build: a pre-made theme costs $30–80 one-time, a freelancer might charge $800–3,000, and a professional agency typically quotes $2,000–15,000 depending on complexity, custom functionality, and content volume. Ongoing costs matter too. WordPress sites need plugin renewals ($50–300/year), occasional developer fixes ($100–200/hour), and potentially monthly retainers for SEO or content updates. Expect $200–600/year minimum if you handle basic maintenance yourself, or $100–500/month if you outsource everything. At Ottawa SEO Inc., we see clients underestimate post-launch costs. A $5,000 site might need $1,200/year just to stay secure and functional. The real question isn't whether websites cost money—it's whether you're paying for ownership and flexibility or convenience and simplicity. DIY platforms make sense for short-term projects or non-technical owners. Custom WordPress makes sense when you need SEO control, integrations, or plan to scale traffic beyond 10,000 visits/month. Neither approach is free, but one gives you an asset you control and the other rents you a storefront that disappears when you stop paying.