Is WordPress Free? The Real UK Costs

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So, you’ve got a brilliant idea for a website. Maybe it’s a blog about your passion for classic British motorbikes, a portfolio for your graphic design business in Manchester, or an online shop for the lovely jams you make in your Cotswolds kitchen. You start looking around, and one name keeps popping up: WordPress.

You’ve heard it’s powerful, flexible, and best of all, free. But is it really?

That’s the million-pound question, isn’t it? The short answer is yes… and no. It’s a bit like being given a free puppy. The puppy itself doesn’t cost you a penny, which is fantastic. But then you’ve got to think about the food, the vet bills, the dog bed, the chew toys, and the training classes. Suddenly, that “free” puppy has a running cost.

WordPress is a lot like that. The core software is genuinely free to use, which is an amazing gift to the world from its creators. But building and running a proper, professional-looking website with it almost always involves some costs.

This guide will break it all down for you, with no jargon and no waffle. We’ll explore the two different ‘flavours’ of WordPress, uncover the real costs of running a site in the UK, and give you the confidence to decide if it’s the right choice for your project. Let’s dive in.

First Things First: There Are Two Types of WordPress

Before we talk about money, we need to clear up the biggest point of confusion. When people say “WordPress,” they could mean one of two very different things. This is where most people get tripped up.

Think of it like the difference between renting a flat and buying a house. One gives you simplicity and includes all the bills, but with lots of rules. The other gives you total freedom, but you’re responsible for everything from the boiler to the roof.

1. WordPress.com: The Rented Flat

WordPress.com is a commercial service that uses the WordPress software. It’s owned by a company called Automattic.

This is the all-in-one, “batteries-included” option. You sign up, choose a plan, and you can have a website live in minutes. The company handles all the technical stuff for you: the hosting (where your website lives online), security, backups, and software updates. It’s designed to be as easy as possible.

The Good Bit: It’s incredibly simple to get started. You don’t need to worry about finding a web host or doing any technical maintenance. It’s perfect for beginners who just want to write a blog or create a very simple site without any fuss.
The Catch: This simplicity comes at the cost of freedom. You’re living in their building, so you have to follow their rules. The free plan is very limited—you can’t use your own domain name (you’ll get something like mycoolblog.wordpress.com), they’ll put their own ads on your site, and you can’t install plugins (which are like apps for your website). To unlock more features, you have to upgrade to one of their paid plans, which can get pricey.

2. WordPress.org: Buying the House

WordPress.org is where you can download the WordPress software itself, for free. This is what developers and tech-savvy folks often call “self-hosted WordPress.”

This is the freedom option. You download the software and then you’re in charge. You need to find your own web hosting company, install the software (though most hosts make this a one-click job nowadays), and manage the site yourself.

The Good Bit: You have total control. You can install any theme (the design of your site) or plugin you want. You can customise the code, run any kind of advertising, and build absolutely anything—from a simple blog to a massive online store or a complex membership site. You are the master of your domain.
The Catch: With great power comes great responsibility. You are responsible for everything. You have to arrange and pay for hosting and a domain name. You need to handle your own security, run backups, and keep the software, themes, and plugins updated. It’s more work, and while the software is free, the parts needed to make it work aren’t.

So, when we ask, “Is WordPress free?”, the answer depends on which one you mean.

WordPress.com has a free plan, but it’s very basic. A serious website will require a paid plan.
WordPress.org gives you the software for free, but you must pay for the other essential parts to bring your website to life.

For the rest of this guide, when we talk about the “costs of WordPress,” we’ll mostly be talking about the self-hosted WordPress.org version, as it’s the most popular, powerful, and flexible choice for anyone serious about building a website.

The Real Costs of a Self-Hosted WordPress Website in the UK

Okay, so you’ve decided you want the freedom and power of a self-hosted WordPress.org website. You’ve downloaded the free software. What do you actually need to pay for?

Let’s break down the essential and optional costs.

Essential Costs: The Non-Negotiables

These are the things you absolutely must have to get your WordPress site online. Think of them as the foundations and the front door key to your new digital house.

1. Your Domain Name: Your Website’s Address

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet—like google.com or bbc.co.uk. It’s how people find you. You can’t have a professional website without one.

What it is: A unique name that you register for a yearly fee.
Why you need it: It gives your site a memorable, professional identity. mygreatbakery.co.uk looks a lot better than a long, complicated address given to you by a hosting company.
UK Cost: A .co.uk or .uk domain is usually the cheapest option for a British audience, typically costing around £7 to £12 per year. A .com domain is often a little more, maybe £10 to £15 per year. Sometimes, hosting companies will give you a free domain name for the first year when you sign up for a hosting plan, but you’ll have to pay to renew it after that.
Where to get it: You can buy a domain from registrars like 123 Reg, GoDaddy UK, or Namecheap, or directly from your hosting provider.

2. Web Hosting: The Land Your Website Sits On

If your domain name is the address, web hosting is the plot of land where your digital house (your website) is built. It’s a space on a powerful computer (a server) that’s connected to the internet 24/7. This is where all your website’s files, images, and content are stored.

What it is: A service that stores your website and makes it accessible to visitors around the world.
Why you need it: Without hosting, your website has nowhere to “live” online. It’s the engine that keeps your site running.
UK Cost: This is where the price can vary the most. For a new website, you’ll typically be looking at shared hosting. This is like living in a block of flats—you share the server’s resources with other websites. It’s very affordable.
- Budget Hosts: Companies like Hostinger or Bluehost often have introductory offers for as little as £2 to £4 per month. Be aware that these prices usually shoot up on renewal.
- Mid-Range/UK-Based Hosts: Providers like SiteGround, Krystal Hosting, or Guru are highly recommended for their better performance and support. Expect to pay around £5 to £15 per month. They often have UK-based servers, which can make your site load faster for British visitors.
What to look for: A good UK hosting provider should offer a one-click WordPress installation, a free SSL certificate (we’ll cover that next), and good customer support.

3. SSL Certificate: The Digital Padlock

Have you ever noticed the little padlock icon next to the website address in your browser? That’s what an SSL certificate does. It encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors, keeping their information safe.

What it is: A security feature that ensures data is transmitted securely. It also changes your site’s address from http:// to the more secure https://.
Why you need it: Google flags sites without SSL as “not secure,” which can scare visitors away. It’s essential for trust, especially if you plan to sell anything or have users log in. It also gives you a small boost in Google search rankings.
UK Cost: It used to be expensive, but these days, it’s usually free. Almost all reputable hosting companies, like the ones mentioned above, include a free SSL certificate from an organisation called Let’s Encrypt with their hosting plans. Do not pay for a basic SSL certificate if you don’t have to.

So, for the bare essentials, your first-year cost for a self-hosted WordPress site in the UK could be:

Domain Name: £0 – £12 (often free for the first year with hosting)
Web Hosting: £24 – £180 (depending on the quality of the host)
SSL Certificate: £0
Total Essential Cost for Year 1: Roughly £24 to £192

This gets you a live, functioning WordPress website. But to make it look great and do cool things, you might need to spend a bit more.

Optional (But Often Necessary) Costs

These are the things that turn your basic WordPress site from a functional tool into a beautiful, powerful, and unique online presence.

1. Premium Themes: The Interior Design

A theme controls the entire look and feel of your website—the layout, colours, fonts, and overall design. WordPress comes with a few decent free themes, and there are thousands more available in the official directory.

Free Themes: Many are excellent for simple blogs or portfolios. They are a great starting point.
Premium Themes: These are themes you pay for. They usually offer much more.
- Why go premium? You get more design options, more features (like built-in page builders), better code quality, and, crucially, dedicated customer support. If something goes wrong or you can’t figure something out, having an expert to email is worth its weight in gold.
- UK Cost: A premium theme is typically a one-time purchase, costing between £30 and £70. Some themes operate on a yearly subscription for continued updates and support.
- Where to find them: Popular marketplaces include ThemeForest, or you can buy directly from theme developers like Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence.

2. Premium Plugins: The Special Gadgets and Appliances

Plugins are like apps for your website. They add new features and functionality. Want to add a contact form? There’s a plugin for that. Want to sell products online? There’s a plugin for that. Want to improve your site’s SEO or add a photo gallery? You guessed it—plugins.

Free Plugins: The WordPress plugin directory has over 60,000 free plugins. You can build a very powerful site using only free ones. For example, Contact Form 7 for forms, WooCommerce for e-commerce, and Yoast SEO for search engine optimisation are all free and industry-standard.
Premium Plugins: These are paid plugins that offer more advanced features, slicker designs, and dedicated support.
- Why go premium? Sometimes the free version of a plugin is limited, and you need the “Pro” version to unlock the best features. For example, a premium gallery plugin might give you more layouts, or a premium forms plugin might connect to your email marketing service.
- UK Cost: This varies wildly. A premium plugin might cost £15 to £80 per year for a single site licence.
- Examples of popular premium plugins:
  - Page Builders: Tools like Elementor Pro or Divi give you drag-and-drop control over your site’s design (£40-£80/year).
  - Caching/Performance: Plugins like WP Rocket can dramatically speed up your site (£45/year).
  - Forms: Gravity Forms is a powerful tool for creating complex forms (£50/year).
  - Backups: While some hosts offer backups, a dedicated plugin like UpdraftPlus Premium gives you more control and off-site storage (£55/year).

3. E-commerce Costs: Setting Up Your Online Shop

If you want to sell products or services, you’ll need to turn your WordPress site into an online store.

The Software: The amazing WooCommerce plugin is completely free. It handles products, carts, and checkouts.
The Extra Costs:
- Payment Gateways: To accept credit card payments, you need to use a service like Stripe or PayPal. They don’t charge a monthly fee, but they take a small percentage of each sale. In the UK, this is typically around 1.4% + 20p for European cards with Stripe.
- Premium Extensions: You might need to buy premium extensions for WooCommerce to handle specific things like bookings, subscriptions, or complex shipping rules. These can cost £40 to £150+ per year each.
- Better Hosting: An online shop is busier than a simple blog. It needs more power, so you’ll likely need a better, more expensive hosting plan to keep it running smoothly, probably in the £15 to £30 per month range.

4. Developer or Designer Fees: Hiring the Professionals

Maybe you’re not confident doing everything yourself, or you have a very specific vision for your site. In that case, you might hire a professional.

What they do: A web designer will handle the look and feel, while a developer will handle the code and technical functionality. A freelancer or agency can do both.
UK Cost: This is the biggest variable of all.
- A freelancer in the UK might charge anywhere from £30 to £100+ per hour.
- A simple brochure website could cost £500 to £2,000.
- A more complex site with e-commerce could cost £3,000 to £10,000+.

Let’s Look at Some Real-World Scenarios

To put it all together, let’s imagine a few common types of websites and estimate their yearly cost.

Scenario 1: The Personal Blog or Hobby Site

You want a simple site to share your thoughts, photos, or passion project. You’re happy with a clean, basic design and don’t need fancy features.

Domain Name: £10
Hosting: £60 (a good quality budget plan)
Theme: £0 (using a high-quality free theme like Astra or Kadence)
Plugins: £0 (using free plugins for forms, SEO, etc.)
Total Estimated Yearly Cost: ~£70 per year

Scenario 2: The Small Business or Freelancer Portfolio Site

You need a professional-looking site to showcase your work, describe your services, and attract new clients from across the UK.

Domain Name: £12
Hosting: £120 (a reliable mid-range plan for faster speeds)
Theme: £50 (a one-off purchase for a premium theme with support)
Plugins: £45 (for a premium performance plugin like WP Rocket)
Total Estimated Yearly Cost: ~£177 (plus a one-time £50 for the theme)

Scenario 3: The Small E-commerce Shop

You’re launching an online store to sell your handmade goods. You need it to be secure, fast, and reliable.

Domain Name: £12
Hosting: £240 (a more powerful “business” or “WooCommerce” hosting plan)
Theme: £60 (a one-off purchase for a premium WooCommerce theme)
Plugins: £100 (for a couple of essential premium extensions, e.g., for shipping or subscriptions)
Payment Gateway Fees: Variable (a percentage of every sale)
Total Estimated Yearly Cost: ~£352 (plus a one-time £60 for the theme and transaction fees)

So, Is WordPress Free? The Final Verdict

Let’s go back to our puppy analogy. The WordPress.org software is the free puppy. It’s a wonderful starting point, full of potential. But to give it a good home, you need to provide the food, shelter, and care it needs to thrive.

The software itself costs nothing. You can download it, use it, and modify it without paying a penny.
Running a website with it is not free. You will always have to pay for a domain name and web hosting as an absolute minimum.
The total cost is up to you. You can run a simple site for less than the price of a few cups of coffee a month. Or you can build a powerful, all-singing, all-dancing e-commerce empire that costs thousands per year. The beauty of self-hosted WordPress is that it can grow with you. You can start small and add premium themes and plugins as your budget and needs expand.

Ultimately, WordPress isn’t free in the way a walk in the park is free. It’s free in the way that it gives you the freedom and the tools to build whatever you want. The cost is in putting those tools to work on your own little piece of the internet.

For millions of people in Britain and around the world, from tiny hobby bloggers to huge brands like The Rolling Stones and The Guardian, that freedom is worth every penny.

The Definitive Guide: Is WordPress Really Free in the UK? A No-Nonsense Look at the True Costs