.png "How Much Does A Website Cost in Kenya? (Pricing Guide)")
One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is: “How much does a website cost in Kenya?” We’re here to answer that question, and help you put your money where it matters.
Whether you are creating your first website or looking to
redo your existing website in Kenya, you will always encounter confusion over
how much a website should cost. You may find yourself wondering if to spend
thousands of shillings on a website or develop one yourself.
To help you understand the costs to expect when designing
a website in
Kenya, we will explore all the factors considered when building a website.
Website Cost Factors
When building a website, whether, through a website designer
or doing it yourself, it is important to know the cost to expect. A website’s
cost is influenced by things such as its complexity, size, and design
requirements. However, to get your website up and running, you will need to
consider all the website cost factors involved.
1. Domain
A domain is your online identity. It’s the name you give to
people who want to find you online. When creating a website, the first thing to
do is purchase a domain name. This can be a .com, .org. .co.ke, . net and so
on. It depends on your preference.
To purchase a domain, you need to visit hosting companies
in Kenya like HostPoa, DeepAfrica, TrueHost, among others.
To register, you will need to find a name that no one else is using and pay an
annual fee to own it. Follow these steps:
- Choose
a reliable domain company
- Using
a domain availability checker, conduct domain name search
- Choose
the best available option
- Complete
the domain registration by finalizing your order
- Verify
your new domain’s availability
A domain name is your online identity, so it is essential to
do proper research. Make it catchy and easy to remember. If you can’t get what
you are looking for, look for close alternatives.
A domain name costs between Ksh 950 and Ksh 10,000 depending
on your choice.
2. Web Hosting
Web hosting makes your website available for viewing
online. Different hosting companies charge different fees. These domain
registrar companies allow you to choose either the shared hosting option or the
dedicated hosting.
Shared hosting is cheaper, with a cost range of Ksh 2,100 –
Ksh 14,100 per year.
The dedicated hosting is much costly, with a price range of
Ksh 5,100 – Ksh 25,100 per year.
However, there are many options between these options, and
it is up to you to look carefully to choose the plan that best caters to your needs
without breaking the bank.
3. Content
For your website to be discoverable online, you need to
write attractive content. You should ensure that people find value in what
you’ve written on your website. SEO-optimized content will help your website to
rank high in search engines for certain keywords. You can write the content
yourself to keep the costs down. However, a professional content writer can
help you do a better job. You may need to hire a freelance writer or an agency
and expect to pay between Ksh 200 – Ksh 500 per 100 words.
It’s good to know how much a content writer will charge you
to write SEO content for your website. A website writer can charge per word,
per page, per blog, or per project. It is up to you to find the best terms that
will fit into your budget.
What type of website do you need?
Before you begin estimating the website cost in Kenya,
you’ll need to decide what type of website you need for your venture or
business. The common types of websites you can consider include Basic websites
(brochure-type), Small business websites, eCommerce websites, and Corporate
websites.
|
Type of Website |
Features |
Website Cost in Kenya |
|
Landing Page Website |
• 1 – 3 responsive pages |
Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000 |
|
Small Business Website |
• Several pages |
Ksh 20,000 – Ksh 30,000 |
|
Ecommerce Website |
• Ecommerce Tools |
Ksh 35,000 – Ksh 70,000 |
|
Corporate Website |
• Advanced functionality |
Ksh 45,000 – Ksh 90,000 |
Ways of Building a Website in Kenya
To create a website, you can decide to do everything
yourself using web builders or hire a web designer in Kenya. Each option has
its pros and cons, and we will discuss them below:
- Option
1: Do Everything Yourself Using Web Builders
Creating a website using a web builder will help you cut the
cost of hiring a professional
web designer. Web builders provide you with tools that help you build an
attractive website quickly and efficiently. You will have a live website in a
matter of hours. All the technical stuff is taken care of, and you don’t need
to learn how to code. You simply drag and drop elements to create what you
want.
Website builders are low in cost, and most of them have a
free version of their product. These free versions will allow you to create
very basic websites. But to build a professional-looking website, it’s good to
upgrade to a premium plan which offers greater customization and more features.
- Option
2: Hire A Web Designer in Kenya
Professional web designers are experienced and reliable.
They have perfected the art of website creation and will create professional
websites for you with all the functionality you need. Hiring a web designer in
Kenya will be the best option if you need a website but lack skills or the time
to create yourself.
When choosing a web designer in Kenya,
you can decide to work with an agency or an individual freelancer. A freelancer
will give you a more personalized service, but you will need to make a little
research online. An agency will have a broad range of experience and will
provide a quote for the whole project.
Cost of A Landing Page Website in Kenya
A Landing
page website requires very little functionality comprised of 1-3 pages
with ‘brochure style’ look and feel. They should be mobile responsive as well.
You should go for a simple website if you need a simple online presence where
you showcase your business and receive inquiries.
If you want to build a Landing
page Website in Kenya, the website design cost will be between Ksh. 10,000
and Ksh. 20,000. This mainly depends on the complexity of your website.
Here’s an example breakdown of the total cost for a landing
page website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya
|
Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya |
|
|
|
|
|
Design |
Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000 |
|
Domain |
Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year |
|
Total Upfront Cost |
Ksh 11,000 – Ksh 22,000 |
|
|
|
|
Hosting |
Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 3,500/ year |
|
Content Updates |
Ksh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year |
|
Total Ongoing Costs |
Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year |
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya
Just like the basic websites, small business websites are
brochure-style but have more features. They’re great for businesses that want
to upgrade from their existing basic websites. Their features may include
integrated social media, Google analytics, responsive design, content
management systems, and Google maps. They include more pages and are mobile
responsive.
Small business websites are ideal for businesses that intend
to update their content regularly, like startups and freelancers.
If you want to build a Small Business Website in Kenya, the
website design cost will be between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 30,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for a Small Business
website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya
|
Small Business Website Cost in Kenya |
|
|
|
|
|
Design |
Ksh 20,000 – Ksh 30,000 |
|
Domain |
Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year |
|
Total Upfront Cost |
Ksh 21,000 – Ksh 32,000 |
|
|
|
|
Hosting |
Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 3,500 |
|
Content Updates |
Ksh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year |
|
Total Ongoing Costs |
Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year |
Ecommerce Website Cost in Kenya
Now more than ever, people want to review products online
before making a purchasing decision. When your products are visible online,
there’s a high likelihood for people looking for them to find them and make
orders. This is why you need an ecommerce website for your business.
The price of an ecommerce website varies
greatly, depending on the number of items you want to stock and the varieties
of each item you want to include. It is also greatly influenced by additional
features such as a live chat facility, order management system, and delivery
tracking functionality.
When ordering for the development of your ecommerce website,
think about what you expect from it. Does it make your main brand presence
tool? Do you want to include a blog post? Do you want your readers to engage
with your social media?
To ensure that your ecommerce website is secure, include an SSL certificate. This will make your customers and Google take your website seriously.
If you want to build an eCommerce Website in Kenya, the
website design cost will be between Ksh 40,000 and Ksh
70,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for an eCommerce
Website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
eCommerce Website cost in Kenya
|
eCommerce Website cost in Kenya |
|
|
|
|
|
Design |
Ksh 40,000 – Ksh 70,000 |
|
Domain |
Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year |
|
Total Upfront Cost |
Ksh 41,000 – Ksh 72,000 |
|
|
|
|
Hosting |
Ksh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500/ year |
|
Content Updates |
Ksh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year |
|
Total Ongoing Costs |
Ksh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year |
Corporate Website Cost in Kenya
Larger companies that require more functionality need to go
for a corporate website. It is also called a bespoke website. These websites
are necessary for large corporations that have a higher number of visitors or a
lot of information to share. It is built from scratch into an original and
unique set of requirements.
Corporate websites are data-driven, have advanced
functionality and unlimited subpages. They are required by businesses in
certain industries like property companies, financial services, architects,
recruitment, health and fitness, and more. These websites have a high level of
mobile responsiveness.
If you want to build a Corporate Website in Kenya, the website
design cost will be between Ksh 90,000 and Ksh 150,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for a Corporate
Website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:
Corporate Website cost in Kenya
|
Corporate Website cost in Kenya |
|
|
|
|
|
Design |
Ksh 90,000 – Ksh 150,000 |
|
Domain |
Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year |
|
Total Upfront Cost |
Ksh 91,000 – Ksh 152,000 |
|
|
|
|
Hosting |
Ksh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500/ year |
|
Content Updates |
Ksh 0 – Ksh 20,000 / year |
|
Total Ongoing Costs |
Ksh 3,500 – Ksh 26,500 / year |
Additional Website Costs to Keep In Mind
- Web
& Email Hosting: Depending on the amount of traffic expected
on your website, web and email hosting costs will vary. You will be
charged monthly or annually.
- SSL
Certificates: An SSL certificate will make your website more
secure, giving your customers the confidence to purchase from you. An SSL
certificate keeps the information between your website and site visitor
private. You can buy or get a free SSL certificate depending on the
company you are working with. Ask about this to factor in the costs.
- Copywriting: Copywriting
should be considered in great detail right from the start of the website
design. You would like your website to rank high on search engines so that
those searching for your services or products can find you easily. If the
designer can provide the website copy, ask them how much they will charge
you. If not, consider hiring a copywriter.
- Training: Running
a website can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the
ecommerce platform used to create it. Most people will find it difficult
to manage their websites properly. This may call for you to undergo some
training and get documentation. These will help you understand how to
manage your website, add new products, edit content, and other daily
tasks.
- Photography: You need great images for your website. If you need to create a strong brand image, consider hiring a photographer to help collect a stock of images. You can also buy stock images from sites like Shutterstock or download free images from sites like Unsplash.
Tips for Getting an Accurate Website Cost in Kenya
Website costs in Kenya vary greatly depending on a wide range
of factors. Getting an accurate cost for your website may seem hard, especially
if you don’t know what to consider. Consider these tips to get an accurate cost
of a website in Kenya.
1. Get Functionality Documents
The web designer you hire to create your website should
produce a detailed document on all the features and functionality that you
want. This will ensure that you don’t leave out or forget anything. Document
everything, then tick them off from the list once the task is complete. These
functionality documents are also important in ensuring that you don’t pay for
things that were never agreed upon.
2. Research Your Options
Once you are ready to build your website, consult 3-4
designers to get an idea of how they would handle your website. Get a feel of
their process, expertise, and detail. You will also get an idea of how they
will handle your inquiries and questions. Request for quotes and compare them.
The Cheapest Option Is Not Always the Best
Different designers will give you different prices for your
website development. Choosing the cheapest option could end up messing you big.
Again, an expensive web designer does not automatically mean high-quality work.
To determine the best
web designer to work with, check their past results and talk to some
of their clients. This will help you decide whether to work with them or not.
Agree on favorable working terms because this is the
beginning of a working partnership that may last long.