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$1,500 Website vs. Monthly Website Subscriptions
"$0 down, $99 a month" sounds easy. Here's what those website plans really cost, and who owns the site at the end.
The short answer
Monthly website plans trade a low upfront price for a payment that never ends, and you usually don't own the site. A $1,500 website you own typically pays for itself in about 15 months compared to a $99-per-month plan.
| 1500DollarSite.com | Monthly website subscriptions | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $1,500 ($750 to start, $750 at launch) | Often $0 to a few hundred dollars |
| Ongoing cost | No required monthly fees | Commonly $50–$300+ per month, indefinitely |
| Contract | None after launch | Often 12-month or longer commitments |
| Ownership | You own the code, content, and domain | Usually the provider owns the site, and sometimes the domain |
| If you cancel | Nothing changes. It's yours. | Site is taken down; you start over |
| Edits | Optional, pay only when you need them | Often included, which is the main benefit |
Competitor details are general and based on publicly listed pricing models at the time of writing. Always check current pricing before you decide.
How monthly website plans work
Many companies offer a small business website for little or nothing upfront, then charge a monthly fee for hosting, maintenance, and support. It’s an appealing pitch, especially for a new business watching its cash.
The catch is in the fine print. In many of these arrangements:
- You don’t own the website. The design and code belong to the provider.
- The domain may be in their name, which makes leaving even harder.
- The payment never ends. Stop paying, and your site disappears.
- Contracts lock you in, often for a year or more.
The real cost
| Monthly plan | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $99/month | $1,188 | $3,564 | $5,940 |
| $149/month | $1,788 | $5,364 | $8,940 |
| $1,500 website you own | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
Plus the cost of a domain in every case, usually $10–$20 per year.
Ownership is the point
We built 1500DollarSite.com around a simple idea: your website is a business asset, and you should own it. When your project is done, everything is in your name. Want our help later? Great, it’s available. Don’t need it? You’ll never hear about a monthly bill from us. Learn more about why ownership matters.
Common questions
If you need frequent changes every month, that can be a real benefit. Most small businesses only change their site a few times a year. Paying $75 for an occasional update is usually far cheaper than $99 every month.
Yes. We’ll build your new site, help make sure your domain is in your name, and time the launch so there’s no downtime. Check your contract for cancellation terms first.
You can choose our optional Website Care plan at $49 per month and cancel any time, and you keep full ownership of your site either way.
More comparisons
Ready for a website you actually own?
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