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A $0-upfront website, or one you own?
What rental websites cost, what you actually get, the three-year sum, and the terms to check before you sign.
Short answer: a $0-upfront website is a rental. You pay a monthly fee, typically $49 to $249 a month in Australia, and the provider usually owns the site. Stop paying and the site goes. Buying a site costs more on day one but you own the code, the domain and the accounts, and the monthly cost drops to optional care.
What the rentals cost.
From the published prices of Australian rental-site providers we surveyed on 1 October 2026: the cheapest is about $49 a month for one page, the typical price is $95 to $100 a month, and the dearest is about $249 a month with care included. One Gold Coast provider charges $100 a month for up to 15 pages. Terms range from cancel-anytime to a 24-month minimum.
The three-year sum.
| Option | Day one | Monthly | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical rental | $0 | $100 | $3,600, and you own nothing |
| Our Pro site + Care | $2,990 | $149 | $8,354, and you own the site |
| Our Pro site, no plan | $2,990 | $0 | $2,990, and you own the site |
AUD, excluding GST. Pro at its regular price; the launch price for our first 5 Pro clients is $2,490. Rental figure is the typical published price; hosting for a site you own can be near zero if you look after it yourself.
When a rental makes sense.
If you are testing a new business and need a basic page live this week, a rental is a fair way to start. Check the minimum term, whether the domain is registered in your name, and what happens to the site and the domain if you leave.
When to own it.
If the site is how customers find you, own it. A site you own can be moved, improved, and connected to your ads and CRM without asking permission. Ours start at $1,490 +GST for one page and $2,990 +GST for up to 5 pages, and the code, the domain and every account are yours from day one. See the small business sites.
Before you ask.
Do I own a $0-upfront website?
Usually not. Most rental providers keep ownership of the site, and some hold the domain too. Read the terms for what happens when you stop paying.
How much do rental websites cost in Australia?
Published prices in October 2026 run from about $49 a month for one page to about $249 a month with care included; the typical price is $95 to $100 a month.
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