How much does it cost to build a new website in 2026?

A new website can cost anywhere from a few hundred francs per year to CHF 50,000 or more.

That is a big range, but it makes sense.

Not all websites are built for the same reason. Some businesses just need a clean online presence. Others need a website that helps them get found, build trust, generate leads, and support sales and marketing.

Why website prices vary so much

The cost of a website depends on what needs to be built around it, not just how many pages it has.

A simple website with a few pages and a contact form will cost far less than a website with custom design, advanced integrations, SEO content, analytics, and continuous improvements.

Website pricing usually depends on things like:

• number of pages
• design complexity
• interactive elements
• CMS setup
• ecommerce or database functionality
• copywriting
• SEO work
• hosting
• maintenance
• ongoing updates

A website is not just a design file brought online. For serious businesses, it is part of their marketing system.

Different ways to pay for website development

One time project payment

This is the most common model. You pay a fixed amount to design and build the website. Once the site is delivered, the project is complete unless you also agree on support, maintenance, content marketing or future work.

This model is often a good fit if you already know what you need and want a clear project scope from the start.

Hourly pricing

Some agencies and freelancers charge by the hour.

In Switzerland, agency hourly rates in 2026 can often range between CHF 120 and CHF 250 per hour depending on the level of expertise, the size of the team, and the complexity of the work.

Hourly pricing can work well when the scope is flexible, but it can also make budgeting harder if the project keeps evolving, resulting in over-budgeting.

Subscription

Some agencies offer websites as an ongoing service instead of a one time build.

This model usually includes the website itself, but also ongoing updates, maintenance, performance monitoring and improvements, and sometimes content production or SEO support.

At WeKre8, this is the model we focus on.

That's because we do not see a website as a static page. We see it as a business asset that should keep improving over time and contribute to the company’s growth.

When we build a website, we don't only build pages. We build a full marketing environment around it. We monitor performance, improve the site regularly, create content, publish it, and work to make sure the website is actually visible and converting well.

The goal is not just to have a website.

The goal is to have a website that performs.

Simple Website Builders vs AI Website Builders vs Agencies

Website builders are useful. They are fast, cheap, and accessible. For some businesses, they are the right choice.

But they also come with limitations.

If your goal is simply to have a website, a builder can work very well.

If your goal is to have a high performing website that supports marketing and growth, an agency built website usually offers much more flexibility and much more growth potential.

This is the core difference.

A builder helps you get online.

A custom agency website helps you build a growth marketing pillar for your business.

What about AI website builders?

AI website builders are getting a lot of attention right now. They are exciting because they can generate a website very quickly, sometimes even for free.

But speed is not the same as control or business value.

In many cases, these tools generate and host the website in a way that becomes hard to manage once you want to refine it. After a few prompts, you may hit limitations. If something breaks or the result is not right, you can end up needing to debug code or accept a result that is only "good enough".

For a serious business, that is a risk. A business website should feel like an asset, not a liability.

Another issue is control after launch. Many AI website builders do not give the same level of visual editing, structured control, or analytics depth that businesses need. Features like heatmaps, recordings, funnels, and advanced event tracking are often missing or much harder to set up properly.

That matters a lot if the goal is performance.

A website that looks fine is not always a website that converts well.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a simple website, use a simple website builder. It will cost you a few hundred francs per year and you’ll still have some control.

If you’re looking for a growth engine, a website that brings in leads, WeKre8 can help you define what’s needed and what it would cost.

Overall, we do not recommend AI builders because they give you very little control over the final output and little to no access to meaningful analytics.