Websites
How much it costs to maintain a website each year
Maintaining a website costs a few dozen euros a year when static, a few hundred for a CMS. The dearest item isn't hosting: it's the time of whoever keeps it current.
Key points
- Static site: domain plus hosting, often under 100 € a year.
- CMS: hosting, theme, plugins, backups and updates; time is the main item.
- The cost grows with integrations, e-commerce and frequent content.
Maintaining a website costs a few dozen euros a year if it is static and a few hundred if it is a CMS with updates, backups and plugins. The variable people miss is time: updates, content and checks don't come with the hosting bill.
The line items, one by one
| Item | Frequency | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Yearly | 10-20 € |
| Static hosting | Yearly | 0-100 € |
| CMS hosting | Yearly | 60-300 € |
| HTTPS certificate | Yearly | 0 € with Let's Encrypt |
| Backups | Yearly | 0-60 € |
| Updates and checks | Monthly | time or fee |
The ranges are market indicators, not quotes: they vary by provider, country and traffic.
What pushes the cost up
- E-commerce: payments, stock, invoices, security.
- Integrations: CRM, newsletter, analytics, bookings.
- Frequent content: someone has to write it and review it.
- Heavy traffic: CDN, images, databases.
- Technical debt: outdated plugins that need fixing.
How much to budget
A static brochure site runs to 50-150 € a year for domain and hosting. A CMS takes 150-500 € a year for hosting and services, plus management time. An e-commerce budget grows with transactions and security.
For the starting cost, read how much a website costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to maintain a website per year?
From a few dozen euros for a static site to a few hundred for a CMS with services. Management time is the main item.
How much does a website cost per month?
Between a few euros and a few dozen, depending on hosting, services and traffic. Integrations are billed separately.
Is a domain mandatory?
For a professional site, yes. The domain is your address and stays yours as long as you renew it.
Can I skip hosting?
With a static site on a free service, within that provider's limits. Control and your own domain still need a paid service.
What happens if I don't update?
The risk of vulnerabilities, errors and incompatibilities grows. Regular checks cost less than a restore.