A subscription spreads the cost of a website over time and includes the upkeep, so you avoid a big upfront bill and a site that slowly goes out of date. Over three years it often costs about the same as paying once and arranging hosting and changes yourself. It pays for itself when the site brings in a few extra customers a month, and it's a good deal when the domain stays yours and the minimum term is short.
More and more web designers offer websites on subscription: a lower price to start, then a monthly fee. That’s also how my Launch plan works. Here’s how to tell whether it’s a good deal for you.
What you pay over three years
Three years is a fair period to compare, because that’s roughly how long a small business site lasts before it needs a refresh. These are example figures, excluding VAT.
| Subscription (my Launch plan) | Pay once, freelancer | Website builder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| To start | €500 | €1,500 | €0 |
| Hosting and domain, 3 years | Included | about €400 | Included |
| Changes, 3 years | 30 minutes a month included | about €450 (6 hours at €75) | Your own time |
| Monthly fee, 3 years | 36 × €59 = €2,124 | about 36 × €30 = €1,080 | |
| Total | €2,624 | about €2,350 | about €1,080 + your evenings |
The totals land close together. The difference is how the money and the work are spread. With a subscription you pay little up front, and someone keeps the site up to date for you. With a one-off build you pay more at the start and then arrange, and pay for, every change yourself.
When it pays for itself
A website pays for itself when it brings in more than it costs. A simple rule: take your average spend per customer and multiply it by the number of extra customers the site brings in each month. If that’s more than the monthly fee, you’re ahead every month.
For example, a barber with an average spend of €28 and four extra customers a month earns €112 extra a month against €59. The €500 to start is earned back in month 10. Try your own numbers in the calculator on the homepage.
What to check before you sign
- The domain is in your name. If it isn’t, leaving becomes hard.
- The minimum term. Twelve months is normal. Longer ties you in.
- What’s included each month. Hosting, backups, updates and a set amount of changes.
- What extra work costs. Ask for the hourly rate up front. Mine is €80 an hour excluding VAT, always quoted first.
- What happens when you leave. You should be able to take your text and photos with you.
When paying once is better
If you have a developer you trust for small changes, or you want to own every file and host it yourself, paying once can work out cheaper over time. A subscription suits owners who’d rather run their business than look after a website.
Questions
What should a monthly website fee include?
At least hosting, SSL, backups, security updates and a set amount of changes each month. Check how many minutes or changes are included and what extra work costs.
What happens if I stop paying?
That depends on the contract. With me, the domain is registered in your name, and when you leave you take your text and photos and I help you move the domain.
How long should the minimum term be?
Twelve months is common and fair, because the build is partly paid through the monthly fee. Be careful with 24 or 36 months.
Sources
- Searchlab, "Wat kost een website in 2026?". Dutch market ranges for freelancers, hosting, domains and maintenance (February 2026). Searchlab is itself a web agency.
- La Fabrique du Net, "Prix Wix 2026". Wix Premium plans in euros, incl. VAT, billed yearly.
Prices and figures change over time. Last checked 11 November 2026.