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Realistic price ranges by website type, what influences the budget and how to compare quotes.
The question of website pricing comes up in almost every first conversation with a client. And that's normal: before committing, you want to know what you're getting into.
96%
of Swiss SMEs have a website in 2025, but only 40% are satisfied with it
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 2024
The problem is that website pricing isn't standardized. There's no single rate. A showcase site for a freelancer and an e-commerce platform for an SME have very little in common, neither in design nor in budget.
What we can do, however, is provide realistic ranges, explain what influences the price, and give some benchmarks to compare offers in an informed way.
Here are the typical ranges observed in Switzerland in 2026, for a website developed by a professional or studio:
A simple showcase website (3 to 6 pages, contact form, responsive) ranges between CHF 3,000 and 8,000. This is the most common format for freelancers, consultants and small businesses.
A corporate or institutional website (10+ pages, multi-section, structured content, SEO-optimized) ranges between CHF 8,000 and 15,000. This is what most SMEs need.
An e-commerce site (product catalog, online payment, order management) starts around CHF 12,000 and can reach CHF 25,000+ depending on the number of products, integrations and features.
A custom web application (SaaS, internal tool, platform) starts at CHF 15,000 and has no real ceiling. It all depends on functional complexity.
Key takeaway
In Switzerland in 2026, a professional showcase website costs CHF 3,000 to 8,000, a corporate site CHF 8,000 to 15,000, and an e-commerce site CHF 12,000 to 25,000+, for custom-coded projects.
These figures are for custom-coded projects. Solutions based on builders (Wix, Squarespace) or WordPress templates cost less upfront, but limitations in performance, SEO and scalability are paid for differently, often over time.
Several factors influence the final budget:
The number of pages and structural complexity. A 5-page site doesn't require the same work as a 30-page site with multiple user journeys.
The level of design. A standard design costs less than a fully custom design with animations, interactions and art direction.
Features. Contact form, client area, online payment, multi-language, CRM integration. Each feature adds design and development time.
Content. If content (texts, photos, videos) is provided and ready, the project moves faster. If content needs to be written, photographed or structured, that's additional work.
SEO. A website optimized for SEO from conception (structure, markup, performance) requires more technical rigor than a site with no visibility ambition.
A template site (WordPress with theme, Wix, Squarespace) can cost between CHF 500 and 2,000 to set up. It's a good choice for testing an idea or for a very simple project with little online ambition.
But limitations appear quickly: average performance, restricted customization, plugin dependency (and their updates), difficulty standing out visually.
A custom site costs more upfront, but it's designed specifically for your business. Performance is optimal, design is unique, and the site can evolve without the constraints of a standardized system.
| Template / WordPress | Custom-built (code) | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | CHF 2,000 – 6,000 | CHF 8,000 – 25,000+ |
| Annual maintenance | CHF 500 – 2,000 | CHF 300 – 1,200 |
| Total cost over 3 years | CHF 3,500 – 12,000 | CHF 9,200 – 28,600 |
| Performance (Lighthouse) | 60 – 80 | 90 – 100 |
| Customisation | Limited to themes | Unlimited |
“Over 3 to 5 years, the total cost of ownership of a custom site is often comparable to, or even lower than, a template site that had to be redone, migrated or patched regularly.”
When you receive multiple quotes, don't just compare the final price. Check what's included: is the design custom or template-based? Is SEO integrated? Is the site responsive? What technology is used? Is there post-launch support?
A CHF 2,000 quote and a CHF 8,000 quote don't cover the same service. The difference shows in the result: in terms of clarity, performance, visibility and durability.
The price of a website is an investment in a tool that works for you, 24/7. The question isn't how much it costs, but how much it brings in.
For a professional custom showcase site (5 to 8 pages, responsive design, integrated SEO), expect CHF 3,000 to 8,000. An e-commerce site starts from CHF 8,000. These prices include design, development and basic optimisation.
The gap comes from the approach: a pre-made template customised in a few hours costs CHF 500 to 1,500. A custom site designed from scratch (architecture, design, code, SEO) requires 80 to 200 hours of work. You are not paying for the same product.
Over 3 to 5 years, the total cost of a custom site is often lower than WordPress (no annual licence, no expensive plugins, less maintenance). And in performance and SEO, the gap is significant from the start.
Yes. Regular maintenance (updates, security fixes, minor content changes, SEO monitoring) costs CHF 1,000 to 3,000 per year. Neglecting maintenance degrades performance and security over time.
A showcase site takes 4 to 8 weeks. An e-commerce site or web application takes 8 to 16 weeks. These timelines include design, development, approvals and optimisations.
A freelancer offers flexibility but limited capacity. An agency or studio like SmartFlow offers a complete team (design, dev, SEO) with consistent project management. For a complete project, a studio is often more efficient.
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