Web Development

Cost Analysis: WordPress Hosting vs Framer Subscription

Looking for the best platform for your website? Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • WordPress: Starts at $500/year but can increase with hosting, plugins, maintenance, and custom development. Costs vary based on your needs and technical skills.

  • Framer: Subscription-based pricing from $360 to $2,400/year. Includes hosting, SSL, CDN, and maintenance with no hidden fees.

Quick Comparison:

Feature

WordPress Hosting

Framer Subscription

Initial Setup

$75 – $2,500

$0 (included)

Annual Cost

$500+

$360 – $2,400

Hosting

$60 – $300/year

Included

SSL Certificate

$0 – $150/year

Included

Maintenance

$300 – $700/year

Included

Technical Skills Required

High

Low

Bottom Line:
Choose WordPress if you’re comfortable with technical management and want flexibility. Go with Framer if you prefer predictable costs and an all-in-one solution.

1. WordPress Hosting Expenses

WordPress

Running a WordPress site comes with several costs to consider.

Hosting Costs

The most basic hosting plans for WordPress start at just $2.99 per month. However, as your site grows, you may need to upgrade to a more powerful hosting option:

Hosting Type

Monthly Cost

Best For

Basic WordPress

$2.99 – $3.99

Small businesses, personal websites

Cloud Hosting

$7.99 – $29.99

Growing businesses, higher traffic

VPS Hosting

$4.99 – $19.99

Advanced users, custom configurations

Domain and Security Costs

A domain name typically costs between $1 and $40 per year, with popular options like .com averaging around $10 annually. SSL certificates, which secure your site, can range from free to $1,000 per year depending on the level of protection you need.

Maintenance and Support Costs

The cost of maintaining a WordPress site depends on its complexity. Here's a quick breakdown:

Website Type

Monthly Maintenance Cost

Personal Website

$5 – $25

Professional Blog

$25 – $75

Business Website

$35 – $300

eCommerce Site

$150 – $1,500

Custom Development Costs

If you need custom features or designs, development costs can add up:

  • Custom theme development: Starts at $1,500

  • Custom plugin development: Starts at $2,000

  • Freelance developer support: Around $20 per hour

When you combine hosting, domain, security, maintenance, and development costs, the total expense of running a WordPress site can grow significantly. This provides a baseline for comparing WordPress costs to Framer's all-in-one subscription model.

2. Framer Subscription Costs

Framer offers subscription plans that include hosting, SSL, CDN integration, and maintenance. Below is a detailed overview of their pricing and features.

Standard Plans

Plan

Monthly Price

Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)

Best For

Mini

$10/month

$5/month ($60/year)

Simple one-page websites

Basic

$20/month

$15/month ($180/year)

Multi-page business sites

Pro

$40/month

$30/month ($360/year)

Content-heavy websites

Business Plans

For larger-scale needs, Framer offers:

  • Startup Plan: $75/month (billed annually at $900)

  • Scaleup Plan: $200/month (billed annually at $2,400)

These plans are designed for businesses requiring advanced features and higher limits.

Key Features by Plan

Feature

Basic Plan

Pro Plan

Startup Plan

Bandwidth

10 GB

100 GB

200 GB

Form Submissions

500

2,500

5,000

CMS Collections

2

10

20

Pages

Up to 1,000

Up to 10,000

Up to 15,000

Included Services

Every subscription includes SSL certificates, CDN integration, image optimization, and technical maintenance. These bundled services save you from purchasing additional tools or services.

Performance and Storage

Framer ensures quick load times and efficient content management with global CDN usage, image optimization, and robust CMS capabilities. Features like integrated form handling further enhance website functionality.

Switching to Framer can simplify budgeting compared to WordPress, as it avoids unpredictable costs like maintenance or hidden fees.

Platform Comparison

For small businesses, every dollar and resource matters. Building on the earlier cost breakdowns, let’s look at how these platforms compare on key factors that directly affect your budget.

Core Platform Expenses

Cost Factor

WordPress Hosting

Framer Subscription

Initial Setup

$75 – $2,500

$0 (included)

Annual Base Cost

Starting at $500+

$360 – $2,400

Hosting

$60 – $300/year

Included

SSL Certificate

$0 – $150/year

Included

CDN Integration

$60 – $200/year

Included

Maintenance

$300 – $700/year

Included

These are typical estimates but may differ depending on specific needs.

Cost Impact Analysis

WordPress often brings extra expenses for themes, plugins, and ongoing support, which can push annual costs higher than the initial estimate. On the other hand, Framer’s subscription model covers everything essential, avoiding surprise add-ons.

For a small business website with moderate traffic, WordPress costs can quickly increase, while Framer’s Pro Plan offers a predictable $360 annual fee that includes all features.

Resource Management

Resource

WordPress

Framer

Technical Expertise

Requires active management

Managed platform

Updates

Manual intervention needed

Automatic

Security

Manual oversight required

Built-in protection

Storage

Additional costs possible

Included in plan

This comparison highlights the decision small businesses face: managing a complex platform like WordPress or opting for a simpler, all-in-one solution like Framer.

Making Your Choice

Now that we've broken down the costs, it's time to match your business needs and budget with the right platform.

Budget Considerations

Framer offers a straightforward subscription model, making it an excellent option for businesses with fixed budgets. At $30/month (billed annually) for the Pro plan, you get a comprehensive package with no surprise expenses. This predictable pricing stands in contrast to WordPress, where costs can vary and often climb higher over time.

Resource Assessment

Take a look at your internal resources:

Resource Factor

Best Choice

Why It Matters

Limited technical skills

Framer

No coding or maintenance required

Business growth focus

Framer

Scales easily with your needs

Time constraints

Framer

Requires no ongoing maintenance

These factors make Framer a great option if you want to avoid dealing with technical complexities.

Cost-Effective Scenarios

Framer is the better choice when:

  • You need a professional website without worrying about technical upkeep.

  • Avoiding ongoing maintenance costs is a priority.

  • You’d rather focus on growing your business than managing a website.

  • You want consistent performance without investing in extra tools.

Long-Term Value

WordPress may appear cost-competitive at first, but ongoing maintenance and hidden expenses can add up significantly over time. Framer, on the other hand, simplifies everything with automatic updates and built-in optimization tools. This means you can spend less time on technical tasks and more on driving your business forward.

For businesses looking for a hassle-free, efficient solution, Framer's subscription model offers a clear financial and operational advantage.

Written by

Colton Collins

Article published:

April 7, 2025

I’m all about storytelling with strategy—turning ideas into words that sell, inspire, and stick.

Written by

Colton Collins

Article published:

April 7, 2025

I’m all about storytelling with strategy—turning ideas into words that sell, inspire, and stick.

Striking Alchemy is a digital marketing & web design studio in Cranberry Township, PA, serving businesses in Pittsburgh and beyond. Our expert team specializes in custom web design, branding, SEO, and digital marketing to help businesses grow online.

© 2009 -

2025

Striking Alchemy LLC /

Striking Alchemy is a digital marketing & web design studio in Cranberry Township, PA, serving businesses in Pittsburgh and beyond. Our expert team specializes in custom web design, branding, SEO, and digital marketing to help businesses grow online.

© 2009 -

2025

Striking Alchemy LLC /

Striking Alchemy Website Design & Digital Marketing Studio

Striking Alchemy is a digital marketing & web design studio in Cranberry Township, PA, serving businesses in Pittsburgh and beyond. Our expert team specializes in custom web design, branding, SEO, and digital marketing to help businesses grow online.

© 2009 -

2025

Striking Alchemy LLC /