If you are going to start a WordPress.org blog, then this question may come to your mind - " How much does it cost to start a WordPress...
If you are going to start a WordPress.org blog, then this question may come to your mind - "How much does it cost to start a WordPress blog?"
It's a good question. Figuring out the cost of building and running a WordPress blog helps you save a lot of money.
WordPress is a free software that helps you to create and manage a blog. But you will need an online server to run it. We call it - Web Hosting. You need to buy it from a web hosting provider.
There are some other costs with web hosting. Let's take a quick look.
However, the final cost depends on your requirements. If you’re going to create a personal blog, then it will cost few bucks. But for a professional blog, you have to pay more for themes, plugins, etc.
Now let's see the details of the costs.
1. WordPress Domain Cost
The first thing you need to do before starting a blog is, choosing a unique domain name. A domain name is the address of your blog. For example, RoadToBlogging.com is my domain name.
You need to register the domain name so that only you can use it. It costs around $10 - $15/year. There are several domain registrars like:
- Namecheap ($10.69)
- GoDaddy ($14.55) [Deal: $0.99 .Com Domain]
I use and recommend Namecheap.
BTW, most of the domain registrars offer web hosting plan. But it's not a good idea to buy hosting from a domain registrar.
2. WordPress Hosting Cost
Web hosting is the online place (server) where you will keep your site's files like texts, images, etc. This way people can access your site via World Wide Web (WWW).
Basically, there are two types of WordPress hosting - Shared WordPress Hosting & Managed WordPress Hosting. Here at RoadToBlogging, I use WPXHosting Managed WordPress Hosting. It's a bit expensive than shared hosting.
If you are a beginner, I would recommend you to go with Shared Hosting. It's affordable and easy to use.
HostGator is the best shared hosting for beginners. I started my blogging journey with HostGator.
If you think HostGator is not suitable for you, try A2 Hosting. It's a good HostGator alternative.
If you think HostGator is not suitable for you, try A2 Hosting. It's a good HostGator alternative.
3. WordPress Installation Cost
Most of the web hosts offer 1-Click WordPress Installation. That means you can install WordPress by just clicking on the Installation button.
However, some service sites charge around $50 for installing WordPress.
I don't recommend these services. You can do it yourself. Even if you can't, you can take help from your hosting provider. They will do it for you for free.
4. WordPress Theme Cost
WordPress has both free and premium themes. Free themes are good just because they are free. If you are serious about your blog, you should consider investing money on a premium theme. It usually costs $40 - $100.
There are several WordPress Themes Providers. Thrive Themes is my personal favorite. I am using Focusblog of Thrive Theme on this blog.
If you are looking for a cheap WordPress Theme, you can buy one from CSSIgniter or Theme Junkie.
5. WordPress Plugins Cost
The best thing about the WordPress is, it has more than 50,000 free plugins on its directory. Plugins help you to add more functionalities to your WordPress blog.
The free plugins are enough to run a blog successfully. Here are 3 essential plugins for every kind of blog.
- Yoast SEO (Setup Guide)
- Jetpack by WordPress.com
- WP Super Cache
If you want to take your blog to the next level, you should consider investing some money on premium plugins. Here are three best places for premium plugins:
- Codecanyon
- WPeka
- Thrive Themes Plugins
6. Other Costs
There are some other expenses like hiring developers, designers, content writers, etc. Most of the basic things can be done by yourself.
But if you are busy and don't want to do these things by yourself, you can consider hiring others. Here are two sites I recommend.
- Fiverr - For hiring developers and designers.
- Contentmart - For hiring content writers.
Now let's see the total cost to start a WordPress blog with several requirements:
- DIY Setup with Free Theme: $70
- DIY Setup with A Premium Theme: $115
- Professional Setup with Premium Stuffs: $300+
However, the final cost depends on your requirements.
If your budget is very small, here's a cheaper way.
Hope this post helps you to understand the cost of starting a WordPress blog. If you have any question regarding this, feel free to ask us via comment.
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