Website costs / 3 October 2026

A free website?
Read the monthly bit first.

By Jason Phillips

“We'll build your website for free.” Lovely. Now ask what happens next month.

I've been looking at these offers while setting up Phillips Digital. Some are perfectly straightforward. The build costs nothing upfront, but you pay monthly for hosting, support or marketing. Others include a website in a longer service agreement.

That can work well. But a £0 build doesn't automatically mean a £0 website, or a website you can take away whenever you like.

Illustration of a laptop with a free price tag beside a calendar showing recurring payments — A free build can still come with ongoing costs. Check the full offer.

Free upfront can still mean a paid commitment.

One provider I checked, Neometa, advertises a free website with an SEO plan from £495 a month and a 12-month minimum. That's £5,940 over the first year. It states those conditions openly, including ownership after month 12.

PageLaunch advertises a free build with £20 monthly hosting and upkeep. Its page says there is no minimum term, but the website comes down when you leave its platform.

These are different arrangements. Compare the full cost, what you receive and what you keep, rather than just the word “free”.

Ask these questions before saying yes.

What will I pay over the first year? Include setup, monthly fees, domain renewals and extras.
Is there a minimum term? Find out what happens if you want to leave early.
Who owns the website and domain? Ask when ownership transfers and whether you can move the site.
What happens when I stop paying? Can the site stay online with another host, or does it disappear?
What is actually included? A website build, hosting, blog writing and social management are different services.

My standalone website option is simple.

With Phillips Digital's website-only service, the build starts at £495 as a one-off project. We agree the scope and price before work begins. Once the agreed build price is paid in full, the website is yours.

You don't have to buy a monthly content package from me. I'll set up the agreed website and connections, hand it over, and explain what's been put in place. If you'd like ongoing help later, you can choose it.

There are still normal running costs. A domain, hosting and any paid booking, form or payment services can carry their own charges. Those are identified separately. “No compulsory management subscription” is the promise, rather than pretending the internet has no bills.

Illustration of a website being handed over with a key representing ownership — The standalone build is yours after full payment, with ongoing management optional.

And what about my website-included package?

I also offer website, blog and social management for £345 a month with a six-month minimum, totalling £2,070. That package includes the standard website build, four blog articles monthly and 12 original social posts shared across three channels.

It has a paid commitment, and I say so beside the price. Website ownership transfers after the initial six months have been paid in full. It is an alternative for people who want ongoing support, not a condition of buying a standalone website.

Be wary of unclear offers.

A free build isn't automatically a bad deal. Some providers even offer a basic site without a compulsory retainer. The question is whether you understand the terms and whether the service fits your business.

Ask for the full price and ownership details in writing. If the answers are vague, keep asking before you sign.

Want a website without a compulsory monthly management package? Tell me what you need and I'll explain the standalone option.