What do one-off and pay monthly websites cost over five years?
Every price below is the entry plan as listed on the provider's own website when I checked it in September 2026. I have multiplied it out and added nothing else. None of these figures allow for a price rise, and none include a domain name unless the provider says so.
| Provider and plan | Listed price | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codoro Starter (pay monthly) | £10 a month, no setup fee | £120 | £240 | £360 | £600 |
| Squarespace Basic (builder, annual billing) | £12 a month billed yearly (£16 on monthly billing) | £144 | £288 | £432 | £720 |
| Yopp Premium (pay monthly) | £40 + VAT a month (£48 with VAT), no setup fee | £576 | £1,152 | £1,728 | £2,880 |
| Pay Monthly Websites Starter | £49.95 a month, £0 upfront | £599.40 | £1,198.80 | £1,798.20 | £2,997 |
| Tradewebsite.uk (one-off) | £299 once, hosting included, domain extra | £299 | £299 | £299 | £299 |
Checked September 2026 on the official pages: Codoro, Squarespace pricing, Yopp, Pay Monthly Websites. Codoro and Pay Monthly Websites do not say on those pages whether VAT is added, so I have used the figure as shown. Yopp includes a domain name and at least one email address in every plan. My £299 does not include the domain, which costs about £8 to £15 a year from any registrar.
The point where each monthly plan overtakes a £299 one-off fee, at today's listed prices:
- Pay Monthly Websites Starter: in month 6 (six payments of £49.95 is £299.70).
- Yopp Premium: in month 7, counting VAT (seven payments of £48 is £336).
- Squarespace Basic on annual billing: at the start of year 3, when the third yearly payment takes it to £432.
- Codoro Starter: in month 30 (thirty payments of £10 is £300).
So the cheapest monthly plan I found costs less than my one-off fee for about two and a half years. I would rather tell you that than have you work it out after paying me.
What happens to a pay monthly website when you stop paying?
This matters more than the price, and it differs completely between companies. Here is what each one says on its own site:
- Pay Monthly Websites calls its service a website rental model. Its terms say the website "remains the property of Pay Monthly Websites unless a separate written ownership agreement is made", that on cancellation "the website will be taken offline at the end of the notice period", and that your text, images and logos are available on request for up to 30 days. Notice is 30 days. A buyout "may be available" for an agreed fee (terms, checked September 2026).
- Yopp says the opposite: "you always own the website, the files and all the images belong to you". There is no contract, and you give 4 weeks' notice by email to leave (Yopp FAQ, checked September 2026). That is a fair deal.
- Codoro says its monthly plans can be cancelled anytime. Its homepage does not say what happens to the site or domain when you cancel, so ask before you sign. Its one-off builds (listed from £70) state "You own the design and the code", but the homepage does not say whether hosting is included after that payment, so ask that too.
With Tradewebsite.uk, once you have paid the £299 the website is yours to keep, any domain you buy is registered in your name, not mine, and you can ask me for a copy of your site files at any time. Nothing goes offline for non-payment, because there is no monthly payment to miss.
When is pay monthly the better choice?
Pay monthly is not a con. It is renting, and renting makes sense in some situations:
- You are testing a new line of work and may drop it within two years. A £10 a month plan costs less than £299 over that time.
- You want someone else to make changes. Codoro's Starter plan lists "Small updates included". On my builder you change the wording yourself for free, but changes I make for you after the site is live are quoted separately.
- You want an email address bundled in. Yopp includes one. I do not provide email.
- You need several pages, a shop, bookings or ongoing SEO work. Higher monthly plans cover that. Mine is one page and nothing more.
If none of those apply, and you plan to be trading in the same area in three years, most of a monthly bill for a single page is paying for something you could have bought once. For what a trade site should cost overall, read how much a trade website costs.
What should I ask before signing up to a pay monthly website?
Get the answers by email before any direct debit starts:
- What is the monthly price including VAT, and can it go up?
- Is there a minimum term, and how much notice do I give to leave?
- Who is the domain name registered to? It should be you. If it is registered to the provider, you can lose the web address printed on your van when you leave.
- When I cancel, does the site go offline, and can I take the site itself or only my text and photos?
- Is there a buyout fee, and how much is it?
- Which changes are included, and how quickly are they done?
If a provider will not answer those plainly, that tells you what leaving will be like. Ask a one-off provider the same questions, plus what hosting costs after year one, because "one-off" is not always the whole bill. More price comparisons are in the cheapest website builder for tradespeople.
How does the Tradewebsite.uk one-off price work?
You build the site yourself at edit.tradewebsite.uk/start by answering a short form about your business, your trade and the places you cover. It takes about 2 minutes and needs no card. You then use the site free for 14 days. If you keep it, Tradewebsite.uk costs £299 once, with hosting included and no monthly fee. If you do not pay, the site is switched off and nothing is charged. Connecting a domain you own is free.
The limits: it is one page, with no shop, no booking system and no email address, and no monthly marketing work is included. It is one person, me, so support is my availability, not a helpdesk. For the same sums against named builders, see Tradewebsite.uk vs Wix and Tradewebsite.uk vs UENI.
Frequently asked questions
Is a one-off website cheaper than a pay monthly website?
Over three years or more, almost always. A £299 one-off fee is overtaken by a £48 a month plan in month 7 and by a £10 a month plan in month 30. If you only need a website for a year or two, the cheapest monthly plans can cost less in total.
What happens to a pay monthly website if I stop paying?
It depends on the company. Some, like Pay Monthly Websites, treat it as rental: the site is taken offline at the end of your notice period and stays their property unless you pay for a buyout. Others, like Yopp, say you own the website, files and images. Ask for the answer in writing before you sign.
When is a pay monthly website the better choice?
When you might stop trading or change business within about two years, when you want someone else to make changes for you, when you want an email address bundled in, or when you need several pages, a shop or ongoing SEO work.
Are there any ongoing costs with a one-off website?
There can be, so ask whether hosting is included after the first year. With Tradewebsite.uk hosting is included in the £299 and there is no monthly fee. The only ongoing cost is a domain name if you want your own, about £8 to £15 a year from a registrar.
Do I own my website if I pay monthly?
Not always. Check two things: who owns the site files, and who the domain name is registered to. Some pay monthly providers keep ownership of the design and code and only return your text and photos. The domain should always be registered in your own name.
How much is Tradewebsite.uk and is there a monthly fee?
Tradewebsite.uk costs £299 once, only if you keep the site, with hosting included and no monthly fee. You build it free in about 2 minutes and use it free for 14 days with no card. If you do not pay, the site is switched off and nothing is charged.
Rather pay once and stop?
Build a one page trade site in about 2 minutes. Free for 14 days, no card. £299 once if you keep it, no monthly fee.
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