How Much Does it Cost to Start a Blog on WordPress? [DIY]
By: Harsh Agrawal
Tags: WordPress, Blogger, Blogging, Website, Wordpress Development

Everyone knows that hosting your blog can become a costly affair, and the question of cost arises in every new blogger’s mind. How much is it going to cost to create a self-hosted WordPress blog?

There is no upper limit when it comes to blog investment, and in this guide, I will share the minimum amount you need to spend to create a professional blog which you can proudly share with the world.

How much does it cost to start a WordPress Blog?

With WordPress, you can start a blog with very little money.

The WordPress software is free. You can download it from the WordPress.org page.

Still, there are some other necessary elements that you will have to pay for (such as a domain name and a hosting space). These extra costs will depend on your specific requirements.

You may also choose to invest in customization, SEO, or other factors along the way. These things may also cost money.

If your intent is simply to start a blog on WordPress, you can start with a minimal cost of $60 for unlimited hosting and a free domain with Bluehost.

You can learn about which hosting service is best for WordPress here.

Domain Cost: $12

The first element you need to shop for is a domain. Having a domain name is like buying property and giving an address for your new website.

You need to make sure that your domain name is brandable or, at least, keyword rich.

You should choose a domain with either .com, .org, or .net. If you purchase through Bluehost, you will get a free domain. In case you need to buy additional domains, GoDaddy is one of the better cheap registrars.

GoDaddy: $11.98 for a .com name

NameCheap: Another popular website like GoDaddy to buy domain name

Here are some guides which will help you in selecting your domain name:

Web-Hosting Cost: $56-$100

This is one major investment that you will be making in the process of starting your WordPress blog.

I would suggest that you do not compromise on the quality of your hosting service. You should try to get reliable (yet affordable) web-hosting. For a new blog, shared hosting is best.

Here are some recommended WordPress hosting services along with prices for one year:

: $79 (with one free domain)

: $66 (with coupon code Shoutmeloud30)

Set-up cost: (Free [DIY] or $99)

There are many tutorials and resources available on the internet that will help you set up a WordPress blog. Here are some of the tutorials I’ve written which you can use to guide you through the process of installing WordPress and setting up your blog:

You can easily follow our DIY guides above to get everything done.

However, if you find that this requires too much technical knowledge for you at this point, or you don’t have the time, you can take advantage of ShoutMeLoud’s WordPress services.

You can also refer to our WordPress guide page for more WordPress resources.

WordPress Theme Cost: (Free to $86)

From my experience, the toughest task is to choose the right theme for your site regarding speed, price, and functionalities. There are many free WordPress themes, but they are missing some of the important aspects of premium WordPress themes.

If you are looking for a low-cost solution, I would suggest Genesis Theme or Elegant Themes.

WordPress Premium Plugins: ($47-$200)

One of the major benefits of WordPress is its great list of free plugins, many of which can be found at the WordPress plugin repo.

There are also many premium plugins that are available at varying costs.

Technically, as a new blogger wanting to start your blog with minimal investment, you may not need any premium services or plugins. But if you don’t have an investment issue, you can grab some of the premium plugins to help you increase your site’s functionality (like boosting your on-page SEO optimization).

Here’s a list of plugins I use at ShoutMeLoud

Now let’s figure out the minimum cost for a self-hosted WordPress blog (where you will be doing everything on your own):

Basic setup with free theme: $70

Basic setup with premium theme: $110

Professional setup with Genesis theme: $399

Professional setup with various premium elements: $499-$1499

As a new blogger, you can also consider using a basic setup with a premium WordPress theme.

Let me know if you have any other questions regarding the setting up of your new self-hosted WordPress blog!

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