How do you build a website on a tiny budget?

How do I build a website on a tiny budget? How do I get my website completed for cheap, yet also get a high quality site? Find out!

How do I build a website on a tiny budget?

Absolutely! And I’m going to show you exactly how.

First, let’s define what we’re working with here.

What is a tiny budget?

For this guide, we’re talking about less than $20 total lifetime cost. While some services charge $10+ monthly (which adds up to serious money over time), we’re focusing on options that won’t break the bank.

Think about it: $20 a month for 5 years equals $1,200. That’s like a small mortgage payment! Insane, right?

Your real options for building a site on a tiny budget

You’ve got several paths here. Sure, if you’re technically inclined, you could code everything yourself - that’s definitely your cheapest route. But let’s be honest, who actually wants to spend months learning HTML and CSS?

Here are the realistic options that won’t make you want to pull your hair out:

Free tiers from major website builders

Wix (The crowd favorite) Wix consistently ranks as the best free website builder with over 900 templates, drag-and-drop editing, and AI-powered design features. You’ll get a decent website that looks professional, though you’ll have some limitations like Wix branding and reduced storage.

Squarespace (Pretty but pricier) Squarespace has some stunning templates, but their plans start from $16/month, which puts them outside our tiny budget range. Their 14-day free trial is worth checking out if you want to see what’s possible.

WordPress.com (The blogger’s choice) WordPress offers a customizable subdomain and basic features perfect for blogs and simple sites. It’s particularly strong if you’re planning to write content regularly.

SITE123 (The beginner-friendly option) SITE123 offers useful features like event calendars and appointment scheduling, even on their free plan. Great if you need those specific features.

Ultra-budget hosting + domain combos

If you want more control and can spare a few dollars, here are some options that’ll keep you well under $20 for the first year:

IONOS (The cheapest option) IONOS offers hosting for just $1.00/month with their Essential plan. Add a domain name, and you’re still under $15 for the entire first year.

Hostinger (The performance winner) Hostinger starts at $1.99/month and scored an A+ in speed tests. They often include a free domain with annual plans, keeping you right around that $20 mark.

Namecheap domains You can grab a .COM domain for as low as $6.49, leaving you plenty of budget for basic hosting.

The email-based solution: 10dollarsites

Here’s an interesting option: 10dollarsites offers complete websites built through email for a one-time $10 fee. Yes, you literally describe what you want via email, and they build it for you. It’s not fancy, but it works and fits perfectly in our budget.

What you need to know about “free” websites

Let’s be real about the trade-offs:

Beyond the tiny budget

Once you’re ready to invest a bit more (think $50-100/year), you’ll unlock much better options like custom domains, removed ads, more storage, and advanced features. But starting small is totally fine - some of the biggest websites started with nothing!

The key is just getting started. Pick one option, build something, and improve it over time. Your tiny budget website today could be the foundation for something much bigger tomorrow.

So what are you waiting for? Go build that website!