For a modern musician, a website is more than a digital business card. It is the only online space fully under the artist’s control. Meanwhile, social media rules change often. Also, platforms can lose reach or shut down. Because of that, a professional website stays as the main hub for merch, mailing lists, and press kits.
However, website pricing can feel confusing. A quick search may show prices from “free” to over $10,000. As a result, many artists budget the wrong way. Then, extra costs show up later and cause stress. This pricing breakdown explains the real money needed to build a professional musician website. It goes past the “sticker price.” It also shows the hidden costs, like domains, hosting, and content assets.
The Foundation: Essential Costs for Every Tier
No matter which platform gets used, two costs stay the same for almost every professional site. Those costs are a domain name and professional email.
1. Domain Name ($15–$50 per year)
A domain name is the website address, such as yourbandname.com. Many site builders include a “free domain” for the first year. Still, the renewal cost usually starts after that first year.
A standard .com domain often costs around $15–$20 each year. On the other hand, specialized domain endings, like .band or .music, can cost $30–$50 each year. Also, privacy protection may cost extra. It is often around $10 per year. That privacy add-on helps keep personal contact details out of the public WHOIS list.
2. Professional Email ($70–$150 per year)
Using bandname@gmail.com for booking can look less professional. So, a custom email like booking@bandname.com is a common upgrade. In most cases, this needs a service like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Pricing usually lands around $6–$12 per user each month. Because of that, the yearly cost often ends up around $70–$150, depending on how many users are needed.
Tier 1: The All-in-One Builders (Squarespace, Wix, Bandzoogle)
Estimated cost: $150–$400 per year (recurring forever).
This is the most common choice for independent artists. Platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and Bandzoogle work like landlords. In other words, the site gets rented, not owned. These services bundle hosting, templates, and tools into one plan. Therefore, setup can feel easier.
The Sticker Price vs. The Real Price
Most platforms advertise a low starter price, such as “$16 per month.” Still, a working music site often needs a higher plan.
Bandzoogle is built for musicians. Their “Pro” plan is around $20 per month. It includes commission-free merch sales and mailing list tools. Meanwhile, lower plans may limit how many tracks or products can get uploaded. Because of that, many artists upgrade sooner than expected.
Squarespace has a “Personal” plan near $16 per month. Yet, that plan does not include advanced analytics. Also, it charges transaction fees on sales. So, selling merch without high fees often needs the “Business” or “Commerce” plans, which can cost around $23–$27 per month.
Wix works in a similar way. However, lower plans may have storage limits. That can matter a lot for audio and video files. So, a plan upgrade may become required for active musicians.
The Hidden Cost: Platform Lock-in
Moving away from an all-in-one builder can create a real problem. For example, if an artist builds on Wix for three years and later wants WordPress, the design and content often cannot be exported. Therefore, the site may need a full rebuild. In that case, the cost is time, and sometimes lost structure or data.
Tier 2: The Self-Hosted Route (WordPress)
Estimated cost: $300–$800+ upfront, then $150–$300 per year.
WordPress runs a very large part of the internet. Since the WordPress software is free, many people assume it is always the cheapest option. However, WordPress works more like “pay for parts.” So, the full cost depends on hosting, tools, and ongoing maintenance.
1. Hosting ($50–$300 per year)
Unlike all-in-one builders, WordPress needs separate hosting. That means paying for server space.
Budget hosting can cost about $5–$10 per month. Still, it can be slow. Also, it may crash during traffic spikes, such as ticket drops or big announcements. On the other hand, managed hosting often costs around $25–$30 per month. Examples include WPEngine or Flywheel. This type often includes daily backups, better speed, and stronger security. So, it can make more sense for established acts.
2. Premium Themes and Plugins ($100–$300 per year)
A free WordPress theme may not look professional. So, many sites use paid themes and tools.
A premium theme often costs $60–$100, and it is usually a one-time fee. Also, many artists use page builders like Elementor or Divi. Those often cost $50–$90 per year. Then, extra features often need plugins. For example, tour date calendars, stronger contact forms, or better audio players can require paid plugins. These can cost around $30–$100 each year, per plugin.
The “Sweat Equity” Tax
WordPress needs maintenance. Plugins need updates. Also, security needs attention. If updates get ignored, the site can break. Worse, it can get hacked. Because of that, artists either learn basic site maintenance or pay someone to handle it. In many cases, that becomes a retainer cost.
Tier 3: Custom Design and Development
Estimated cost: $2,500–$10,000+ (one-time).
For signed artists, labels, or bands with a strong brand, a template may not be enough. In that case, hiring a professional designer or agency can create a unique look and feel.
A freelance designer may cost around $2,000–$5,000. Often, this includes customizing a WordPress or Squarespace base with custom code and custom graphics. Meanwhile, a creative agency may cost $5,000–$15,000 or more. That type of work can include strategy, user experience (UX) planning, and custom development.
So, why pay this much? The answer is performance and branding. A custom-coded site can load faster. Also, it can handle large traffic spikes better. In addition, it can support complex animations that templates cannot deliver.
The Invisible Budget Killer: Content Assets
Estimated cost: $500–$2,000+.
This is the cost group many musicians forget. Even a $10,000 website can look cheap if it uses low-quality photos and weak writing. Because of that, content assets often decide how “professional” a site feels.
1. Professional Photography ($500–$1,500)
High-resolution press photos are a must. A website usually needs several types of images. Wide landscape images work for hero banners. Portrait shots support the “About” page. Also, live performance photos help the “Tour” section feel real and active.
2. Copywriting and Bio ($200–$500)
Writing a strong bio is hard. Also, the band story needs to sound clear and professional. Hiring a music journalist or copywriter can help create a better bio and Electronic Press Kit (EPK). As a result, the band can match the quality of the website design.
3. Logo and Branding ($300–$1,000)
A blurry JPEG logo can make a site look amateur. Also, it may look bad on modern screens. A professional vector logo, such as SVG or EPS, stays sharp at any size. That matters for websites and merch.
Summary: The “Good, Better, Best” Budget Breakdown
Below is a realistic look at first-year costs for three common setups. Prices can vary. Still, these totals show how the numbers usually add up.
DIY Starter (Bandzoogle/Squarespace)
- Platform/Hosting: $200 per year
- Domain & Email: $80 per year
- Design/Theme: $0 (included)
- Plugins/Apps: $0
- Content Assets: $0 (DIY photos)
- Total Year 1: about $280
Pro Independent (WordPress + Premium Tools)
- Platform/Hosting: $300 per year
- Domain & Email: $80 per year
- Design/Theme: $150 (theme + builder)
- Plugins/Apps: $150 per year
- Content Assets: $800 (pro photos)
- Total Year 1: about $1,480
Label Ready (Custom Design + Agency)
- Platform/Hosting: $600 per year (high performance)
- Domain & Email: $80 per year
- Design/Theme: $4,000+ (custom design)
- Plugins/Apps: $500 per year (advanced licenses)
- Content Assets: $2,000+ (photos + copy)
- Total Year 1: about $7,180+
Final Recommendation
For most musicians, the DIY Starter path works well. Squarespace or Bandzoogle can cover the main needs. Still, money should go into professional photos, because visuals affect trust fast. Data in this breakdown points to one clear idea. High-quality content assets often bring more value than custom code.
However, needs can change as a career grows. Once touring becomes international, or merch sales rise, control matters more. At that point, the benefits of a self-hosted WordPress site can become worth the added work. Also, for large teams and heavy traffic, a custom build can shift from a “nice-to-have” into a business cost.