How Much Does a Website Cost in Australia? 2026 Pricing Guide
How much does a website cost in Australia in 2026? Realistic pricing for business websites ($499–$100K+), e-commerce stores, and custom web apps — plus red flags to avoid.
"How much does a website cost?" is the most common question we hear from Australian business owners. The frustrating answer is: it depends. Online, you'll find quotes ranging from $500 to $500,000 — which isn't exactly helpful.
This guide cuts through the noise with realistic, Australian-specific pricing for 2026 so you can budget confidently for your next website project.
What's in This Guide
- Website Pricing Tiers in Australia
- What Affects the Price?
- DIY Website Builders vs Professional Development
- Ongoing Costs to Budget For
- How to Get an Accurate Quote
- Red Flags in Website Quotes
- GST and Government Grants
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Pricing Summary
| Website Type | Price Range | Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Business Website | $499 – $3,000 | 2-4 weeks | Tradies, local services, new businesses |
| Professional Business Website | $3,000 – $10,000 | 4-8 weeks | Established businesses, agencies |
| E-Commerce Website | $5,000 – $25,000 | 6-12 weeks | Online retailers, product businesses |
| Custom Web Application | $15,000 – $100,000+ | 3-6 months | SaaS, portals, booking systems |
Website Pricing Tiers in Australia
Based on our experience working with Australian businesses, here's what you can expect across four common tiers:
Basic Business Website: $499 – $3,000
A clean, professional online presence for businesses that need to be found online:
- 3-5 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact)
- Mobile-responsive design
- Contact form with email notifications
- Basic on-page SEO
- Google Maps integration
- Social media links
Best for: Tradies, local services, consultants, and new businesses establishing an online presence.
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
IntraCode offers professional websites starting from $499 for businesses that need a polished site without the enterprise price tag.
Professional Business Website: $3,000 – $10,000
A more comprehensive site with custom design and expanded functionality:
- 8-15 pages with custom layouts
- Bespoke design tailored to your brand
- Blog or news section
- Photo galleries and portfolios
- Advanced contact forms and lead capture
- Enhanced SEO setup and site speed optimisation
- Analytics integration
Best for: Established businesses, professional services firms, agencies, and companies with a larger content library.
Timeline: 4-8 weeks
E-Commerce Website: $5,000 – $25,000
A full online store built to handle product sales and payments:
- Product catalogue with categories and filtering
- Shopping cart and secure checkout
- Payment gateway integration (Stripe, Afterpay, PayPal)
- Shipping calculator and tracking
- Inventory management
- Customer accounts and order history
- Product reviews and ratings
Best for: Online retailers, food and beverage businesses, fashion brands, and any business selling products directly to customers.
Timeline: 6-12 weeks
Custom Web Application: $15,000 – $100,000+
Beyond a traditional website — a fully custom application with complex business logic:
- User authentication and role-based access
- Custom dashboards and reporting
- API integrations with third-party systems
- Complex workflows and automation
- Real-time features and notifications
- Database-driven dynamic content
Best for: SaaS MVPs, client portals, booking and reservation systems, membership platforms, and internal business tools. If you're weighing up a web app versus a native mobile app, our guide on web apps vs mobile apps can help you decide.
Timeline: 3-6 months
For a deeper breakdown of custom software pricing, see our guide on how much custom software costs in Australia.
What Affects the Price?
1. Design Complexity
A website using a pre-built template costs a fraction of a fully custom design. Custom animations, micro-interactions, and bespoke illustrations all add to the investment.
Cost impact: Medium to High
2. Features and Functionality
This is the biggest cost driver. A simple contact form is cheap. An e-commerce checkout with Afterpay, real-time inventory, and automated email sequences is not.
Cost impact: High
3. Number of Pages and Content
More pages means more design, development, and testing. If you need a developer to write or source your content (copy, photography, video), that adds cost too.
Cost impact: Medium
4. Third-Party Integrations
Connecting your website to external tools adds complexity:
- Payment processors (Stripe, Square)
- Accounting software (Xero, MYOB)
- Email marketing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo)
- Booking systems (Calendly, Timely)
- CRM platforms (HubSpot, Salesforce)
Cost impact: Medium to High
5. SEO and Performance
Basic on-page SEO (meta titles, headings, alt text) is standard. A comprehensive SEO strategy with keyword research, content planning, technical audits, and ongoing optimisation is a separate investment.
Cost impact: Low to Medium
DIY Website Builders vs Professional Development
It's worth addressing the elephant in the room: why not just use Wix or Squarespace?
DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com):
- $200-600/year in platform fees
- You do all the design, content, and setup work yourself
- Limited customisation and feature options
- Often slower page speeds affecting SEO
- You don't own the platform — your site lives on their terms
Professional development:
- Higher upfront cost, but you own everything
- Custom design that matches your brand exactly
- Full control over features, performance, and SEO
- Scales with your business as requirements grow
- Ongoing support from people who know your site
Here's how the two approaches compare side by side:
| Factor | DIY Builders | Professional Development |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $200–600/year | $499–$100,000+ (one-off) |
| Customisation | Limited templates | Fully custom design and features |
| Performance | Often slower | Optimised for speed and SEO |
| Ownership | Platform-dependent | You own everything |
| Scalability | Constrained by platform | Grows with your business |
| Ongoing Support | Self-service forums | Dedicated developer support |
For a deeper look at the build-vs-buy decision for more complex tools, see our comparison of custom software vs SaaS.
When DIY makes sense: You're a sole trader testing an idea, your budget is under $1,000, and you're comfortable learning the platform yourself.
When professional development makes sense: Your website is a core part of your business, you need custom features, you want to rank well in search, or you simply don't have time to build it yourself.
Ongoing Costs to Budget For
Your website isn't a one-off expense. Budget for these recurring costs:
- Domain name: $15-50/year (.com.au domains are around $15-25/year)
- Hosting: $100-600/year (varies by traffic and performance needs)
- SSL certificate: Usually included with hosting
- Maintenance and updates: $500-2,000/year (security patches, plugin updates, backups)
- Content updates: Varies — some businesses handle this in-house, others outsource
Tip: Ask your developer about maintenance packages upfront. Proactive maintenance is far cheaper than emergency fixes.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
To receive accurate, comparable quotes from web developers:
- Define your goals — What should the website achieve? Lead generation, online sales, brand awareness?
- List required features — Be specific. "E-commerce" is vague; "sell 200 products with Afterpay and flat-rate shipping" is actionable.
- Gather example sites you like — Show developers 3-5 websites with design or functionality you admire. This saves hours of back-and-forth.
- Clarify who provides content — Will you supply all copy, images, and video? Or do you need the developer to help?
- Set a realistic budget range — Sharing your budget helps developers propose solutions that fit, rather than guessing.
Understanding typical project timelines also helps when evaluating quotes — see our guide on how long software development takes.
Red Flags in Website Quotes
Be cautious of proposals that:
- Are drastically cheaper than competitors — If one quote is 40%+ below the rest, corners are being cut somewhere
- Don't mention mobile responsiveness — In 2026, this should be a given, not an afterthought
- Guarantee "#1 on Google" — No one can guarantee specific rankings. SEO is an ongoing effort, not a switch
- Have unclear ownership terms — You should own your domain, code, and content. Full stop
- Don't include any ongoing support — Every website needs maintenance. A developer who walks away at launch is a risk
- Sell template work as "custom design" — Ask to see their process. Custom design involves wireframes, mockups, and revisions — not just picking a theme
For more advice on vetting developers, read our guide on choosing a software development company in Australia.
GST and Government Grants
All website development pricing in Australia is subject to 10% GST. Most reputable developers quote ex-GST, so factor this into your budget — a $10,000 website will cost $11,000 including GST. If you're registered for GST, you can claim the credit on your BAS.
Several state and federal programs can help offset website costs for small businesses:
- Australian Small Business Energy Incentive — while focused on energy, the ATO's instant asset write-off (currently up to $20,000 per asset) applies to business websites and software
- State-based digital grants — Queensland's Business Growth Fund, Victoria's Small Business Digital Adaptation Program, and NSW's Digital Solutions program have historically offered grants between $1,000–$15,000 for websites and e-commerce platforms
- Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) — if your website supports export activities, you may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 50% of eligible costs
Check business.gov.au for current programs in your state.
Key Takeaways
- Basic business websites start from $499-3,000, professional sites from $3,000-10,000, e-commerce from $5,000-25,000, and custom web apps from $15,000+
- Features and functionality are the biggest cost driver — be clear about what you need before requesting quotes
- DIY builders work for simple projects, but professional development delivers better results for businesses that depend on their website
- Budget for ongoing costs including hosting, maintenance, and content updates
- Get multiple quotes and compare scope, not just price — the cheapest option rarely delivers the best value
- Watch for red flags like unrealistic pricing, guaranteed rankings, or unclear ownership terms
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a basic business website cost in Australia?
A basic business website with 3-5 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact) typically costs between $499 and $3,000 in Australia. This includes mobile-responsive design, a contact form, and basic SEO setup. It's ideal for tradies, local services, and new businesses establishing an online presence.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in Australia?
An e-commerce website in Australia typically costs between $5,000 and $25,000, depending on the number of products, payment integrations (Stripe, Afterpay, PayPal), and features like inventory management and customer accounts. More complex stores with custom functionality can exceed $25,000.
What are the ongoing costs of running a website in Australia?
Ongoing costs include domain registration ($15-50/year for .com.au), hosting ($100-600/year), SSL certificates (usually included), and maintenance ($500-2,000/year). Content updates are additional if outsourced. Budget approximately $800-3,000 per year for total ongoing costs.
Should I use a website builder or hire a developer?
Website builders like Wix or Squarespace ($200-600/year) suit sole traders testing ideas with budgets under $1,000. Hire a professional developer if your website is core to your business, you need custom features, want strong SEO performance, or need it to scale as your business grows.
Ready to find out what your website would cost? Contact us for a free consultation — we'll give you an honest assessment and a clear quote. Or explore our website development services starting from $499.