A small business website in South Africa costs from about R110 a year to R15,000 or more, depending on who builds it. Doing it yourself on Google Sites or Carrd costs little more than a R110 .co.za domain. Builders from local hosts cost R980 to R1,548 in year one. A designer charges R999 to R3,490 for a one- to three-page site and R5,000 to R15,000 for five pages, plus hosting. Monthly done-for-you plans run R350 to R980 a month. Just1 builds one page for you for R97 once-off, R388 in year one. We sell Just1, so every other price below comes from the provider’s own page.
Key Takeaways
- The cheapest website is one you build yourself. Google Sites with a R110 .co.za, or Carrd Pro Standard at US$19 a year (≈R313) plus the domain. The cost is your time.
- The cheapest built-for-you options are under R1,200 in year one. Just1 is R388 on a just1.co.za address. Dean Goulding’s R999 Launch includes copywriting, with your own domain at about R105 a year.
- A five-page site from a designer is R5,000 to R15,000. That is the range two South African designers publish, and Stratum (R5,000) and New Perspective (R5,590) price inside it. Hosting is usually extra.
- Monthly plans trade upfront cost for a longer bill. Done Digital is R350 a month; CodeLab One R980 plus VAT with a 12-month minimum, R11,760 plus VAT in year one.
- Budget for the extras. A .co.za renews at about R110 a year, hosting starts at R84–R99 a month, intro prices rise, and dollar prices move with the rand.
What you actually pay for (and what you don’t need)
Every website has the same three running parts: a domain (yourbusiness.co.za), hosting that keeps it online, and the work of writing and building the pages. The price differences come from who does that work and how much of it there is.
With a DIY builder you pay a small monthly or yearly fee and do the work yourself. With a host’s plan you get hosting, email and a builder in one bill. A designer charges once-off for the build and then for hosting and changes. A monthly plan bundles the build into the subscription.
Most service businesses don’t need a big site. Customers check that you are real, what you do, where you work and how to call. One clear page does that. Pay for more pages when you sell many different services or need an online shop.
How we worked out these prices
We opened each provider’s own pricing page on 20 October 2026, from a South African internet connection, and used the cheapest plan that gives a business site. For every option we list:
- Year-one cost in rand, build plus 12 months of hosting. Dollar prices are converted at US$1 = R16.48 (ECB reference rate, 20 October 2026), before tax.
- Upfront and monthly amounts, as the provider publishes them.
- Who builds the site: you, an AI draft you finish, or a person.
- Whether your own domain is included.
Where a provider doesn’t publish a price, we say so instead of guessing. The R5,000–R15,000 five-page range is what designers Intellium and Dean Goulding publish for the market.
Website prices in South Africa, cheapest first
Ordered by year-one cost at the cheapest plan. Each entry says who it suits. If a price has changed, tell us on WhatsApp and we’ll fix it.
Google Sites + your own .co.za: R110 (domain only) in year one
Google’s help pages show that anyone with a Google account can build and publish a site in Google Sites and connect a domain bought from another registrar. Google lists no plan or price for it on those pages. Add a .co.za, which xneelo sells at R110 a year to register and R110 a year to renew, and your only bill is the domain. The templates are plain and there is no WhatsApp button or booking built in.
Best suited for: Owners with time and almost no budget who need an information page with their own domain.
Source: support.google.com/sites/answer/9068867, checked 20 October 2026
Just1: R388 (R2,388 with own .co.za) in year one
We sell Just1, so judge it on the numbers. It is R97 once-off, including the first 3 months online at yourbusiness.just1.co.za, then R97 every 3 months: R388 in year one. You send your details and photos on WhatsApp and see a preview within 24 hours of sending everything. For your own .co.za and email, Page Care is R199/month (R2,388 a year) with changes on WhatsApp. It is one page, with no online shop or booking system.
Best suited for: Busy owners who want someone else to build a one-page site this week for the lowest year-one cost.
Source: just1.co.za, checked 20 October 2026
Carrd Pro Standard: ≈R313 + R110 domain in year one
Carrd builds one-page sites. Pro Standard is US$19 a year, ≈R313, and adds custom domains you own, forms and no Carrd branding. The cheaper Pro Lite (US$9 a year) doesn’t take a custom domain. You pay by card or PayPal in dollars, and you still buy the domain separately.
Best suited for: Comfortable DIY builders who want a neat one-page site for the lowest yearly fee.
Source: carrd.com/docs/pro/plans, checked 20 October 2026
HostAfrica AI Builder: R980 in year one
HostAfrica’s AI builder is R29.70 a month for 3 months, then R99 a month, so year one is R980.10. You can attach a domain you own or register one with them. The AI writes a first draft; editing and updates are yours.
Best suited for: DIY owners who want a rand price and an AI head start.
Source: hostafrica.co.za/website-builder, checked 20 October 2026
Afrihost Silver hosting: R1,008 in year one
Afrihost’s cheapest Linux hosting, Silver, is R84 a month with 2 GB, 50 email accounts and a website builder included. A .co.za, .site, .store or .tech domain is free for the first year, setup is free, and it runs month to month. Year one is R1,008. Business email is the strong point here: it is included.
Best suited for: Owners who want business email at their own domain and will build the site themselves.
Source: afrihost.com/shared-hosting, checked 20 October 2026
Dean Goulding Websites, Launch: R1,104 (with ~R105 domain) in year one
A one-person studio. Launch is R999 once-off for one long-scroll page with copywriting and one round of changes. Hosting is free for as long as you stay, and the domain is registered in your name at about R105 a year, paid by you. There is no deposit: you pay once you approve the draft. Extra work is R450 an hour. If you want a designer to write your copy and your own domain from day one, this beats Just1 Page Care on year-one cost.
Best suited for: Owners who want a person to write and build one page, with their own domain, for under R1,200 in year one.
Source: deangouldingwebsites.co.za/pricing, checked 20 October 2026
1-grid Website Builder: R1,548 in year one
1-grid’s builder starts at R129 a month, R1,548 for year one, with a free .co.za, .online or .site domain for a year. Bigger plans are R249 and R349 a month.
Best suited for: DIY owners who want a few pages and a free .co.za in year one.
Source: 1grid.co.za/website-builder, checked 20 October 2026
Wix Light: ≈R3,361 + tax in year one
Wix Light is US$17 a month on a yearly plan paid upfront, US$204 or ≈R3,361 before tax. Wix shows these dollar prices “for reference only”; the final price with tax is on the purchase page. The free plan doesn’t connect your own domain. Accepting payments starts on Core at US$29 a month.
Best suited for: DIY owners who enjoy design and want full drag-and-drop control.
Source: wix.com/plans, checked 20 October 2026
Done Digital: R3,999 (annual) or R4,200 in year one
Done Digital builds, hosts and updates a custom site for R350 a month with no upfront cost and cancel anytime, or R3,999 a year. Its page doesn’t say whether a domain is included.
Best suited for: Owners who want a custom multi-page site and ongoing changes without a big upfront bill.
Source: donedigital.co.za, checked 20 October 2026
New Perspective Design, Landing page: R4,378 in year one
New Perspective publishes its rate card: a landing page is R1,990, 1 to 3 pages R3,490 and a 5 to 9 page small business site R5,590. Hosting is R199 a month and includes the domain, SSL, email and 30 minutes of support. Copywriting is R990 per 1,500 words and extra work R450 an hour. Year one for the landing page with hosting is R4,378.
Best suited for: Businesses that want an agency, SEO setup and Google Business Profile work in the package.
Source: newperspectivestudio.co.za/how-much-do-web-designers-charge-in-south-africa, checked 20 October 2026
LaunchCraft, Starter: R5,188 in year one
LaunchCraft’s Starter is R2,999 once-off for one custom landing page in 2 to 3 days, plus R199 a month hosting from day 30, so R5,188 in year one. Essentials (1 to 5 pages) is R9,850 and Growth (6 to 12 pages) R14,850. It advertises full ownership and cancel anytime.
Best suited for: Owners who want a custom-designed page and to own it outright.
Source: launchcraft.co.za/pricing, checked 20 October 2026
A five-page site from a designer: R5,000–R15,000 + hosting in year one
Intellium and Dean Goulding both put a typical five-page small-business site at R5,000 to R15,000 once-off. Published prices we checked sit inside that range: Stratum Studios R5,000 for 3 to 7 pages and New Perspective R5,590 for 5 to 9. Ask whether the quote includes VAT: 15% applies only if the designer is VAT-registered.
Best suited for: Businesses with several services or areas that need their own pages.
Source: intelliuminc.co.za/blogs/how-much-does-a-5-page-website-cost-in-sa, checked 20 October 2026
GoodGround, Launch Offer: R10,140 in year one
GoodGround’s Launch Offer is R845 a month for 12 months (R10,140) for one page, SEO setup, domain, hosting and email, after which the site and domain are transferred to you. Its custom builds start at R12,000 and its Full Service plan at R1,500 a month.
Best suited for: Businesses that want a custom-coded page, spread over a year, and to own it at the end.
Source: goodground.co.za/pricing, checked 20 October 2026
CodeLab One: R11,760 + VAT in year one
CodeLab One builds the site with no separate build fee for R980 a month excluding VAT, with a 12-month minimum from go-live. That is R11,760 plus VAT in year one, and it includes hosting, backups and up to 30 minutes of small changes a month.
Best suited for: Established businesses that want a custom site and monthly maintenance under one contract.
Source: codelabone.co.za/website-growth-programme, checked 20 October 2026
Side-by-Side Comparison
Year-one cost includes the build and 12 months of hosting at the cheapest plan. Dollar figures are converted at R16.48 and exclude tax.
| Option | Type | Who builds it | Upfront | Monthly | Year-one cost | Own domain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sites + your own .co.za | DIY builder | You | R110 domain | None listed | R110 (domain only) | Yes, you buy it |
| Just1 | Done for you | Built for you over WhatsApp | R97 once-off | R97 every 3 months | R388 (R2,388 with own .co.za) | On R199/month |
| Carrd Pro Standard | DIY builder | You | US$19/year | None | ≈R313 + R110 domain | Yes, you buy it |
| HostAfrica AI Builder | Host’s builder | You (AI draft) | None | R29.70 for 3 months, then R99 | R980 | Connect or buy |
| Afrihost Silver hosting | Host’s builder | You | None | R84 | R1,008 | Yes, first year |
| Dean Goulding Websites, Launch | Freelancer | A web designer | R999 | R0 hosting | R1,104 (with ~R105 domain) | Yes, in your name |
| 1-grid Website Builder | Host’s builder | You | None | R129 | R1,548 | Yes, first year |
| Wix Light | DIY builder | You | US$204 (yearly) | US$17 (billed yearly) | ≈R3,361 + tax | Yes, first year |
| Done Digital | Monthly done for you | An agency | None | R350 | R3,999 (annual) or R4,200 | Not stated |
| New Perspective Design, Landing page | Agency | An agency | R1,990 | R199 hosting | R4,378 | Yes, with hosting |
| LaunchCraft, Starter | Agency | An agency | R2,999 | R199 from day 30 | R5,188 | Not stated |
| A five-page site from a designer | Freelancer or agency | A web designer | R5,000–R15,000 | Hosting extra | R5,000–R15,000 + hosting | Usually |
| GoodGround, Launch Offer | Monthly done for you | An agency | None | R845 for 12 months | R10,140 | Yes |
| CodeLab One | Monthly done for you | An agency | First month | R980 + VAT | R11,760 + VAT | Registered for you |
Hidden costs to budget for
| Cost | What it costs |
|---|---|
| A .co.za domain | R110 to register, R110 a year to renew at xneelo. “Free domain for 1 year” offers (Wix, Afrihost, 1-grid) still renew at the normal price, and Wix says its voucher can’t renew a domain. |
| Hosting | From R84 a month (Afrihost Silver) or R99 a month (xneelo Basic, VAT included). Designers often charge it separately: R199 a month at New Perspective and LaunchCraft. |
| Business email | Included with Afrihost (50 accounts on Silver) and xneelo (100 mailboxes on Basic), and with New Perspective’s and GoodGround’s hosting. On Just1 it comes with Page Care. |
| Price jumps after the intro | HostAfrica goes from R29.70 to R99 a month after 3 months. Wix bills dollars, so the rand cost moves with the exchange rate. |
| VAT | CodeLab One’s R980 excludes VAT. Wix’s prices exclude tax. xneelo’s include VAT. |
| Copy and changes | Copywriting at New Perspective is R990 per 1,500 words. Out-of-scope changes are R450 an hour at New Perspective and Dean Goulding. |
| Lock-in | CodeLab One has a 12-month minimum and GoodGround’s Launch Offer runs 12 months. Done Digital, LaunchCraft’s hosting and Afrihost are cancel anytime or month to month. |
Which option fits your budget
| You want | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Zero budget, plenty of time | Google Sites + a R110 .co.za | You pay only the domain and do all the work. |
| One page, built for you, lowest cost | Just1 (R388 year one) | Built over WhatsApp from your details. Your own .co.za is R199/month. |
| One page, a person writes the copy, own domain | Dean Goulding Launch (R999) | Copywriting included, pay after you approve, hosting free while you stay. |
| Business email first | Afrihost Silver (R84/month) | 50 mailboxes and a free .co.za in year one; you build the site. |
| Several pages, built for you | Done Digital (R350/month) or a R5,000–R15,000 build | Monthly spreads the cost; once-off is cheaper over a few years. |
| Online shop | Wix Core (US$29/month) or a designer’s shop package | One-page and starter plans don’t include checkout. |
Comparing builders rather than prices? Read our guide to the best website builders in South Africa, or, if you want it built for you, our Wix alternatives that build the site for you.
What results look like
A website is only worth what it does for the business. Here is what we can show from our own customers.
- Speed: across 34 paid websites up to 3 October 2026, the median was 4.5 hours from payment to a built site and 43 hours to a live one.
- 88 live customer sites are shown on our industry pages. 93 Just1 sites are live right now.
- 24/7 Auto Electric, Midrand: Google search ads we set up, 16 April to 23 June 2026: R15,097.60 ad spend, 2,163 clicks on the ads, 657 tracked taps on call or WhatsApp, R22.98 per tracked tap. A tracked tap is a tap on the call or WhatsApp button after an ad click, not a booked job.
SphaPower Plumbing
sphapower.just1.co.za
24/7 Auto Electric
247autoelectric.co.za
Lauren Herunga Photography
laurenherungaphotography.just1.co.za
Mmola Makiletse Attorneys Inc.
mmolamattorneys.co.za
See every live site in our portfolio.
Website cost questions
Get your website built for R97 (no credit card needed)
If a R5,000 quote is more than you want to spend and you have no time to build it yourself, Just1 sits in between. You send your details and photos on WhatsApp and see a preview within 24 hours of sending everything. You pay in rand, by card, EFT or cash at Pay@. If it isn’t worth it, the 90-day guarantee refunds the website payment and you keep the site. Order your Just1 website now, or ask us a question on WhatsApp first.