Thinking of building a WordPress website in Australia?
Smart move.
WordPress powers over 40% of the internet—for good reason.
It’s flexible. It’s powerful. It’s trusted by small businesses, global corporations, and everyone in between.
But if you’re wondering how much a WordPress website cost Australia, you’re not alone.
Because while WordPress itself is free…
Building, designing, securing, and maintaining a WordPress site?
That’s a different story.
Some people spend next to nothing and end up stuck with a clunky, broken website.
Others invest wisely and build a business machine that generates leads, sales, and trust on autopilot.
The difference?
Knowing exactly where the real costs come from—and how to invest the smart way.
In this guide, we’re going to break it all down for you.
You’ll discover:
- What WordPress actually costs (and where “free” becomes not-so-free)
- The real factors that drive up (or down) your website budget
- Hosting, themes, plugins, page builders—and how they impact your bottom line
- What it costs to go DIY vs. hiring a freelancer vs. partnering with a professional agency
How to build a WordPress website that doesn’t just exist—it performs
By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly how to plan your website—and exactly what kind of investment will get you the results you’re aiming for.
Let’s dive right in.
What is WordPress and how much does it cost?
First, let’s clear something up.
When people say “WordPress”, they could mean two very different things:
- WordPress.com (a hosted platform, kind of like Wix)
- WordPress.org (the free, open-source software you install on your own hosting)
In this article, we’re talking about WordPress.org—the real WordPress that gives you full control, flexibility, and ownership.
Here’s the kicker: WordPress software itself is completely free.
You can download it, install it, and start building a website without paying a cent.
Sounds amazing, right?
It is.
But just because the software is free, doesn’t mean building a working website is free.
You’ll still need a domain, hosting, a theme, plugins, and maybe even professional help if you want it to look and perform at a high level.
If WordPress is free, where does the cost come from?
It’s a fair question.
If WordPress is free, why do people spend hundreds—or thousands—building a WordPress website?
Because while the software costs nothing, the tools, services, and professional help you need to launch and grow a real website are what add up.
Let’s look at exactly where the costs come from.
Domain Name
Your domain is your online address.
Without a domain, people have no way of finding you.
In Australia, a .com.au domain typically costs between $20 and $40 per year.
You’ll pay a registrar like GoDaddy, Crazy Domains, or Namecheap to secure it.
Premium domains—short, memorable, keyword-rich—can cost hundreds or even thousands if you’re aiming for high competition names.
A domain name for a WordPress website in Australia usually costs between $20 and $40 annually for a standard .com.au address, while premium domains can cost significantly more depending on competition and brand value.
Choosing the right domain is crucial because it shapes your brand, SEO performance, and first impressions.
Web Hosting
Once you have a domain, you need a place to store your website files—that’s hosting.
Different hosting types offer different levels of performance, support, and cost.
Here’s a breakdown of your options.
Shared Web Hosting
Shared hosting is the cheapest option.
Your site lives on a server with dozens (or hundreds) of others.
It’s fine for small sites starting out but comes with risks: slower load times and security vulnerabilities.
Shared hosting in Australia usually costs between $5 and $20/month.
Shared web hosting for WordPress websites in Australia typically costs between $5 and $20 per month, offering affordable solutions for basic websites but with limited performance and security.
If you’re serious about business, shared hosting is a short-term solution at best.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting means your own server.
No sharing, no noise from other websites.
It’s the gold standard for speed, security, and reliability—but it’s expensive.
Expect to pay $150 to $500+ per month for Australian-based dedicated servers.
Dedicated hosting for WordPress websites in Australia costs approximately $150 to $500+ per month, offering private servers with maximum performance, security, and control for high-traffic or enterprise websites.
Ideal for large eCommerce stores, corporate sites, and mission-critical projects.
Managed Hosting
Managed hosting is hosting done for you.
The company handles updates, backups, security, and optimisation—so you can focus on your business, not server admin.
Managed WordPress hosting in Australia typically costs $30 to $100/month.
Managed WordPress hosting in Australia usually ranges from $30 to $100 per month, including automatic updates, backups, and optimised support specifically tailored for WordPress websites.
A smart choice if you value your time and website performance.
VPS Hosting
VPS stands for Virtual Private Server.
It’s the middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated servers.
You get guaranteed resources, better speed, and flexibility—without the full cost of dedicated hardware.
VPS hosting in Australia usually costs $30 to $120/month.
VPS hosting for WordPress websites in Australia generally costs between $30 and $120 per month, providing a balance of dedicated resources, scalability, and affordability.
Perfect for growing businesses that need more power without breaking the bank.
Themes
Your theme controls your website’s appearance, layout, and user experience.
You’ve got three options: free, premium, or fully custom.
Free Themes
Free themes are everywhere—straight from WordPress.org or third-party developers.
They’re a good starting point, especially for personal blogs or hobby sites.
But free themes often come with limited customisation, slower updates, and basic support.
Free WordPress themes offer a no-cost option for basic websites but may have limitations in design flexibility, security updates, and long-term support compared to premium or custom themes.
Great if you’re testing an idea—not so great for serious businesses.
Premium Themes
Premium themes offer polished design, better support, and regular updates.
Popular options like Astra, Divi, and Avada usually cost $60 to $150 one-time or per year, with optional ongoing support fees.
Premium themes are a smart investment for professional appearance without the cost of full custom design.
Custom Themes
Custom themes are built from scratch for your brand and your audience.
They’re coded specifically by web design agencies to meet your design and functionality needs—nothing generic.
Custom WordPress themes in Australia typically cost between $3,000 and $15,000+, offering unique, highly optimised designs tailored specifically to a brand’s requirements and user experience goals.
If you want total control and standout branding, custom is king.
Plugins
Plugins add functionality—forms, SEO tools, booking systems, memberships—to your WordPress site.
Free Plugins
There are thousands of free plugins available on WordPress.org.
You can build a fully functional site without spending anything—using tools like Contact Form 7, Rank Math SEO, and WooCommerce.
But beware: free plugins can lack support, updates, and advanced features.
Premium Plugins
Premium plugins give you power features and priority support.
Prices range from $30 to $300+ per plugin, often billed annually.
Examples include WP Rocket (speed optimisation), Elementor Pro (page builder enhancements), and MemberPress (membership sites).
Premium WordPress plugins generally cost between $30 and $300+ annually, offering enhanced features, better support, and improved website functionality compared to free alternatives.
When you need reliability, premium plugins are often worth every cent.
Page Builders
Page builders allow non-coders to create beautiful, dynamic page layouts with drag-and-drop ease.
Gutenberg / Full Site Editor (FSE)
Gutenberg is the default WordPress page builder.
It’s improving fast, now offering full-site editing with themes designed for FSE.
Best of all? It’s free, and getting better with every update.
Elementor
Elementor is the world’s most popular WordPress page builder.
The free version covers basic needs; the Pro version (needed for serious business websites) costs around $70 to $200/year depending on your plan.
Elementor Pro for WordPress websites typically costs between $70 and $200 annually, offering advanced drag-and-drop design capabilities, custom widgets, and professional site-building tools.
Elementor makes world-class design accessible to non-coders.
Divi
Divi, by Elegant Themes, combines a powerful builder with a flexible theme.
One license covers unlimited sites, priced around $89/year or $249 lifetime.
It’s loved for its ease of use, huge template library, and all-in-one structure.
WPBakery
Once the king of builders, WPBakery is still widely used, especially in older themes.
It costs around $64 one-time.
Good for simple layouts but less flexible compared to Elementor or Divi.
Security
Security isn’t optional.
You need:
- SSL certificates
- Malware scanning
- Firewall protection
- Regular backups
Some hosting plans include security; otherwise, premium security plugins (like Wordfence or Sucuri) cost $50 to $300+ per year.
Security for WordPress websites typically costs between $50 and $300 annually, covering essentials like SSL certificates, malware protection, firewalls, and regular backups to safeguard site integrity.
Good security saves you from disasters that could cripple your business overnight.
Maintenance & Updates
WordPress sites constantly evolve.
You’ll need regular updates for themes, plugins, and WordPress core to avoid security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
Expect to spend around $500 to $2,000 per year if you outsource maintenance.
Professional Design & Development
If you want something truly professional—not just functional—you’ll likely need help.
Hiring a freelance designer or agency ensures a polished brand presence, faster load times, SEO-readiness, and better user experience.
Professional WordPress website design in Australia typically costs $3,000 to $30,000+, depending on the scope.
E-Commerce I ntegration
Selling online?
WooCommerce is free—but add-ons like payment gateways, shipping calculators, and premium product filters cost extra.
Expect eCommerce WordPress sites to start around $5,000 and easily push past $20,000 with heavy customisation.
Custom Extensions
Need booking systems? Membership platforms? Customer dashboards?
Custom functionality typically adds $2,000 to $50,000+ to a project depending on complexity.
Building custom extensions is an investment—but it’s how you build something truly irreplaceable in your market.
Custom WordPress extensions typically cost between $2,000 and $50,000+, offering unique business-specific functionality not available through standard plugins or themes.
If you want to scale your business digitally, custom development can become your biggest advantage.
The average cost to design and build a WordPress website
Now that you know where the costs come from, let’s talk about the big picture.
How much will it actually cost to put it all together?
It depends on whether you’re building it yourself, hiring a freelancer, or bringing in an agency to do it for you.
Let’s break it down.
DIY – From $0
Yes, you can technically build a WordPress website yourself for next to nothing.
If you use free themes, free plugins, cheap shared hosting, and do all the work yourself, you might spend as little as $100 to $500 total.
But here’s the reality:
- You’ll invest hours—maybe weeks—learning.
- Your site may look generic.
- You’ll risk performance and security issues if you don’t know best practices.
DIY websites are fine for personal blogs, portfolios, or testing ideas—but not ideal for serious businesses that need to impress and convert visitors.
Building a DIY WordPress website in Australia can cost as little as $100 to $500, using free themes, plugins, and low-cost shared hosting, but requires significant time investment and technical learning.
You’ll save money upfront—but at the cost of time, expertise, and potential business credibility.
Freelancer
Hiring a freelancer is the next step up.
Freelancers give you professional results without the full costs of an agency.
WordPress freelancer prices in Australia typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on:
- Number of pages
- Custom functionality needed
- SEO and performance requirements
A good freelancer will design, build, and launch your website efficiently—especially if you have a clear vision.
But choose carefully. Not all freelancers are equal. Look for a strong portfolio, great reviews, and experience with WordPress specifically.
Hiring a freelancer to build a WordPress website in Australia typically costs between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on project complexity, design requirements, and additional features like SEO or eCommerce integration.
Freelancers are perfect for small businesses and startups who want a solid, custom website without agency pricing.
Web Design Agency
Going with a WordPress web design agency brings serious firepower.
You’re hiring a team—designers, developers, strategists, SEO specialists—all working together to craft a site built for performance and growth.
Website design agency costs in Australia usually start around $5,000 and can easily exceed $30,000+ depending on scope, features, and custom integrations.
You’ll typically get:
- Custom design tailored to your brand
- SEO foundations baked in
- Optimised site speed and security
- Strategic user journeys for maximum conversions
- Ongoing support after launch
Hiring a WordPress web design agency in Australia generally costs between $5,000 and $30,000+, offering full-service solutions including custom design, SEO optimisation, site security, and professional project management.
Agencies are the best choice if you’re serious about creating a business asset, not just a pretty website.
If you’re ready to work with a team that knows how to build WordPress websites that actually drive traffic, leads, and growth, Quazic is here to help.
Conclusion: What’s the real WordPress website cost Australia
By now, you can see that WordPress website cost in Australia isn’t just about downloading free software.
It’s about building a real, working system that looks professional, performs well, and actually supports your business goals.
- If you go DIY, you might spend under $500—but invest hundreds of hours learning and tweaking.
- Hire a freelancer, and expect $1,000 to $10,000 for a professional build tailored to your needs.
- Partner with a serious agency, and you’ll invest $5,000 to $30,000+—but gain a true business asset, not just another website.
The average cost to build a WordPress website in Australia ranges from $500 for basic DIY projects to over $30,000 for professionally designed and fully customised websites, depending on features, hosting, design complexity, and professional services.
The real question isn’t, “How cheap can I build a site?”
It’s, “How much is a high-performing website worth to my business?”
At Quazic, we help you answer that the smart way.
We design WordPress websites that are built to attract, convert, and scale—so your investment keeps paying you back, month after month, year after year.
Ready to build a website that drives real results?
Contact Quazic today for a free, no-pressure consultation and let’s build something powerful together.
