Reading Time: 4 min ( Word Count: 1169 )
Is WordPress the cheapest option for building a website? Not necessarily! It depends on your specific website needs and the special features you choose. But here at Lifedge, we think WordPress is one of the best web builders out there.
In this article, we’ll compare the process of building a website with WordPress to other popular website builders like GoDaddy, Shopify, Squarespace, and Wix. And, we’ll show you why we still choose WordPress over all the others.
Read below to find out what the cheapest option for building a website is for you!
Cost of Building a Website with WordPress
While some sources may tell you that WordPress is free to use, that’s not exactly the case. It turns out, there are some inescapable costs to building a website, no matter which website builder you choose.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to pay for in order to build a website with WordPress:
1. Domain name
Every website needs a domain name. This is going to be your web address, so you want to pick something simple that is easy to remember. Otherwise, how will guests find your website?
The cost of a domain name varies depending on which domain registrar you purchase it from. In any case, you’ll pay an annual fee to retain the name you choose.
Need help picking a good domain registrar? Here’s a list of the best domain registrars in 2023.
2. Web hosting
When you build a site with WordPress, you’re required to use a web host. A web host is what makes your website accessible on the internet, so it’s a non-negotiable!
At Lifedge, WP Engine is our chosen host. WordPress is their expertise, and we’ve found they do an excellent job!
To learn more, check out our article on all things web hosting.
3. Themes, plugins, and extensions
Now that you have a domain name and a web host, all you still need to make your website great is a theme, plugins, and extensions.
A website theme is essentially the design of your site. It’s what makes your website user-friendly and appealing. WordPress offers free themes that will work just fine, but if you want a premium theme that will set you apart, you’ll need to purchase one.
Plugins and extensions increase the functionality of your website. Some offer cool features, while others are more essential security safeguards. See our list of the top 5 plugins that should be installed on every WordPress website to make sure your website has what it needs
WordPress Compared with Other Popular Website Builders
Now that we’ve covered the basic costs of building a WordPress website, let’s compare WordPress with a few other website builders!
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a user-friendly web builder for people who need a website with basic functionality. Best for individuals and small businesses, it allows you to create a simple online presence. No coding necessary.
Pros: Easy-to-use website builder with a range of web hosting plans and domain registration services.
Cons: Not suitable for large or complex websites and doesn’t offer much customization.
Shopify
Shopify is almost exclusively suited for e-commerce websites. If you need a website that will function as an online store but don’t have coding expertise, this is a good platform to consider.
Pros: Top choice for e-commerce websites. Shopify is easily scalable for both large and small businesses and puts a strong emphasis on security by providing SSL certificates and data-protecting features.
Cons: Shopify is one of the most expensive website builders, and its scope is limited to e-commerce websites.
Squarespace
This platform is known for creating beautiful, modern, and professional websites. If you’re a creative, Squarespace is a good option to look into as it is best suited for portfolios and blogs.
Pros: Squarespace offers all-in-one hosting that manages the technical side of your website like updates and security. It has strong e-commerce capabilities and provides mobile-friendly templates for phones and tablets.
Cons: Pricey, less customizable than other web builders, and not a great option for complex websites that need advanced functionality.
Wix
Best for small businesses, individuals, and start-ups, Wix is an easy-to-use website builder that offers visually appealing designs.
Pros: Drag-and-drop website builder is great for beginners and those with limited technical skills. Wix offers a wide range of templates to meet various website needs, and all Wix templates are mobile-friendly.
Cons: Wix websites tend to have a slower loading speed than other web builders. Wix also has more limited blogging features, so it’s not the best choice for blog-heavy websites.
So, What is the Cheapest Option for Building a Website?
The cheapest option for building a website for you will depend on what your website needs are. But maybe a better question to ask is, “What is the best option for building a website?”
When you’re making a website, there is a lot more to consider than just cost. For instance, the quality of your website can have a huge effect on sales. Many potential customers will give up if your website is clunky and difficult to use. However, the better your website is, the more traffic and interaction you’ll get, which leads to long-term success.
With website building, you often get what you pay for. That’s why you shouldn’t sacrifice great quality just to save some cash.
Why Lifedge chooses WordPress
Even though WordPress isn’t always the cheapest option for building a website, here at Lifedge, we’ve chosen it anyway. Why?
Here are the top three reasons why we use WordPress over other web builders:
1. Versatility
WordPress is highly customizable and suitable for just about any type of website there is. Whether you have a blog, portfolio, e-commerce site, or something else, WordPress can make it happen. There are also thousands of plugins, extensions, and themes that you can use to create a website as simple or complex as you need it to be.
2. User-friendliness
Another reason why we use WordPress even though it’s not necessarily the cheapest option for building a website is how easy it is to use. Even those with no coding experience and limited technical skills can navigate it. However, with those with advanced technical knowledge have the ability to customize almost every aspect of a WordPress site.
3. Quality
The top reason why we choose WordPress over other web builders is overall quality. WordPress is the trusted website builder for over 40% of all websites in existence. There’s a reason for the popularity! WordPress has high-quality web-building tools, security, themes, plugins, and comprehensive functionality.
Need Help with Your Website?
Are you feeling overwhelmed about creating a website?
At Lifedge, we know what it’s like to not feel like you have the time or brain space to do it all. That’s why we offer website development services to meet your needs, whether it’s custom website creation, maintenance, content creation, SEO optimization, and more.
So, book a meeting with us today! And let us handle the behind-the-scenes stuff, so you can focus on running your business.
About the Author
Oscar Quesada
Oscar Quesada is the founder of Lifedge, a digital marketing agency that helps growing businesses and Christian organizations turn marketing into measurable results. He specializes in building clear, conversion focused websites, SEO systems, and automated email campaigns that attract the right people and turn them into real leads and customers.
Over the past decade, Oscar has helped contractors, local service businesses, and ministries move from hoping their marketing works to knowing exactly what is driving calls, bookings, and revenue. His approach blends StoryBrand messaging, data driven strategy, and practical execution so marketing stays simple, focused, and profitable.
Oscar is a StoryBrand Certified Guide and a trusted advisor to organizations across West Michigan and beyond, including Christian camps, nonprofits, and service based businesses. Through Lifedge, he builds marketing systems that do not just look good but actually create growth you can track.
When he is not working with clients, Oscar is usually coaching youth soccer, building new tech tools for Lifedge, or helping leaders think more clearly about how to steward their business for long term impact.
0 Comments
Submit a CommentCancel reply
Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Submit Comment
Δ
Current ye@r *
Leave this field empty
Are you on our email list?
Sign up today to receive free digital marketing advice, productivity tips, discount alerts, and more!
Name(Required)
FirstLast
Email(Required)
Company/Organization
CAPTCHA
reCAPTCHA
Recaptcha requires verification.
I'm not a robot
reCAPTCHA is changing its terms of service. Take action.
reCAPTCHA
Δ
Search
Search for:
Categories
- AI
- All Posts
- Blog
- Blogging
- Christian Camp Marketing
- Clients
- Company Culture
- Design
- Emails
- Hosting
- Marketing
- Plugins
- Podcasts
- Productivity
- Sales Funnel
- Search Engine Optimization
- Security
- Social Media
- StoryBrand
- Web Development
- Web Optimization
- WordPress
Related Blog Posts
Stop Chasing New Customers Until You Fix These Three Quiet Holes in Your Funnel
Jul 15, 2026 | Blog, Clients, Web Optimization
Every business owner I talk to wants the same thing. More customers. The instinct is almost always the same too. Run more ads. Try a new platform. Hire a new agency. Build a new funnel. Chase more leads. But after fifteen years of doing this work, I have noticed...
5 Reasons Photography Pays Off for Your Business
Jun 19, 2026 | Blog, Clients, Marketing
When business owners think about marketing, photography is often one of the last things on the list. Websites, social media, advertising, and email campaigns tend to get most of the attention. Yet the images used throughout those efforts often determine the first...
If Your Website Speaks to Everyone, It’s Speaking to No One
Jun 8, 2026 | Blog, Marketing, Web Optimization
Imagine you are hosting a dinner party. A close friend walks in, and you greet them with a hug and an inside joke. Your boss arrives next, and you shake their hand and offer them a drink. Then your kid’s teacher shows up, and you make introductions, mention how the...
The Night the Underdog Got Called Up — And What 9 Years of Quiet Work Actually Looks Like
Jun 1, 2026 | Blog, Company Culture
A few nights ago, I sat at a round table in a hotel ballroom in Grand Rapids with my wife and my team, looking at a program with five names listed under "Hispanic Business of the Year." Ours was one of them. This is the story of the work that got us there. I think it...
Storytelling in Marketing: The Cure for Content Overload in an AI-Driven World
May 18, 2026 | AI, Blog, Marketing
AI is changing how content is created in a very real way. It’s faster, more efficient, and more accessible than anything we’ve seen before. Anyone can generate blog posts, captions, emails, or ideas in seconds. But as content becomes easier to produce, something else...
Why Your Business Isn’t Showing Up in AI Search (And What to Do About It)
May 4, 2026 | AI, Blog, Web Optimization
A simple moment that reveals a bigger problem I always like to start with a simple illustration. Think about your potential customer sitting at their kitchen table, with their kids running around and one quick problem on their mind. Is it time to change the roof? I...
AI for Business Owners: A Practical Guide to Getting Real Value From AI
Apr 20, 2026 | All Posts, Blog
Artificial Intelligence is everywhere right now. For many business owners, it seems like a new AI tool appears every week. ChatGPT Claude Gemini Perplexity Copilot The biggest question is not whether AI is powerful. The real question is: How do I actually use it in my...
AI for Christian Camps and Nonprofits: Using AI Without Losing the Human Mission
If you are a camp director, ministry leader, or nonprofit operations director, you have probably heard the buzz about AI. Leaders across camps and nonprofits are beginning to ask how this technology might fit into their work. But the real question many leaders are...
Why a Strong Social Media Presence Still Matters for Businesses
Mar 2, 2026 | All Posts, Marketing, Social Media
Many business owners quietly wonder if social media is still worth the effort. Algorithms change. Trends come and go. And for busy business leaders, posting on social media can feel like just another thing competing for attention. But here’s the truth: social media...
SEO Is Content: Why Investing in Content Is the Smartest Way to Rank Higher
Feb 2, 2026 | Blog, Marketing, Search Engine Optimization
SEO is Content When we talk about SEO, we talk about content. Do you want to be highlighted in AI Overviews, in ChatGPT, or rank higher in search results? There is only one way to do it. You need to provide content for these search engines to find and understand your...
Notifications
reCAPTCHA
Recaptcha requires verification.
protected by reCAPTCHA
reCAPTCHA is changing its terms of service. Take action.
Trusted Business
Verified by Trustindex
lifedge.online
This site has obtained the following certificates:
Excellent rating\
\
5.0\
\
\
\
45 Google reviews
Trusted Business
Verified by Trustindex
Reviews credibility
Certified
Customer reviews showcase the level and quality of service a website provides.
Trustindex collaborates with 137 review platforms to provide website visitors easy access to all real and verified reviews in one place.
Reviews from other platforms are displayed and added to the ratings only if they are proven spam-free and meet Trustindex's guidelines.
100% issue-free services
Certified
Trustindex continuously measures the satisfaction of your customers based on evaluations. Less than 1% of the customers surveyed indicated a problem.
Verified business
Certified
The website's contact information and business information has been independently verified by Trustindex.
Contact details
Phone:
+1 616-730-3065
Verified
E-mail:
Verified
Business data
Company name:
Lifedge LLC
Domain:
lifedge.online
Company founded:
2017
Number of employees:
1-10
Start of Trustindex verification:
2025-02-27
Data protection
Certified
The website is constantly checked for security issues by Trustindex.
Safe Browsing: no problems detected
Valid SSL certificate
About Trustindex certificate
Websites that continuously maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and comply with a high level of security protocol can obtain a Trustindex certificate. When shopping, look for Trustindex certificates and buy with confidence.
For businesses
Build trust and increase sales with Trustindex certification.
© Copyright 2026 trustindex.io
reCAPTCHA