Website Design Prices in South Africa (2026): What It Costs and Our Fixed Packages
Most South African small-business websites cost about R5,000–R20,000 once-off. Online stores start at roughly R7,500–R25,000, and custom web apps typically start around R20,000–R45,000. FriendlyShell's fixed prices (all excl. VAT) are R2,500 for 3 pages, R7,450 for up to 8 pages, and from R15,000 for an online store, web app or mobile app. A domain is included. Maintenance is R350 or R750 a month excl. VAT.
All prices exclude VAT. Fixed quote within 30 minutes during business hours.
What does a website cost in South Africa in 2026?
These are typical ranges published by other South African providers. They are not FriendlyShell's own data.
| Type | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| One-page or landing page | R2,000–R4,000 | Sentaflow |
| Small business site (about 5 pages) | R5,000–R20,000. Survey average for a 5-page site: R6,633 (SME Rocket, cited by Sentaflow) | Innovation by Design; Sentaflow |
| Online store | R7,500–R25,000 for a standard store | Sentaflow; Innovation by Design |
| Custom platform or web app | From about R20,000; complex builds R80,000+ | Innovation by Design; Pixaloom (from R35,000); Rusted Web (from R45,000) |
Ranges published by SA providers, October 2026.
Why two quotes can differ by R10,000 or more
Scope drives price. The main factors are the number of pages, whether copywriting is included, a custom design versus a template, features such as payments or bookings, how much SEO setup is done, and the support you get after launch. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes on each of these points.
- Page count: every extra page needs design, build and testing time, so a 3-page site and an 8-page site are priced differently.
- Copywriting: some quotes include writing your content and some don't. Ours don't: you supply the words, or we quote for copywriting separately.
- Custom design versus a template: a template is quicker to set up, while a custom design takes more time to plan and build around your brand.
- Features: online payments, bookings, user accounts and integrations with other systems add build and testing work, which is why stores and web apps cost more than brochure sites.
- SEO setup: basic on-page setup, Google Business Profile and Maps integration are separate tasks that not every quote includes.
- Support after launch: check whether hosting, backups, security updates and support time are included, or billed monthly on top.
A lower quote is not always cheaper once you add the items it leaves out, such as a domain, hosting or support. Ask each provider for a written list of what is and isn't included before you decide.
FriendlyShell website packages (fixed price, once-off, excl. VAT)
Startup
For freelancers and new ventures.
- 3 high-performance pages (Home, Services, Contact)
- Mobile-first responsive design
- WhatsApp chat integration
- 1 month of free technical support
- Domain included
- Typical timeline: 24–48 hours
Growth
For small businesses that want to win their local market.
- Up to 8 custom pages
- Basic SEO setup
- Google Business Profile and Maps integration
- Easy-to-use CMS
- Domain included
- Typical timeline: 1–2 weeks
Professional
For online stores, web apps and mobile apps.
- Custom web application or online store
- PayFast/SnapScan payment gateway
- User management and advanced databases
- Custom API integrations and automation
- Cross-platform mobile app development
- Domain included
- Typical timeline: 4–8 weeks for an online store or web app; 8–16 weeks for a mobile app
The final price is quoted on scope.
Get a fixed quoteCopywriting and logo design are not included. You supply the words and logo, or we can quote separately.
How our prices compare
Startup (R2,500 excl. VAT) and Growth (R7,450 excl. VAT) sit inside the typical small-business range published by South African providers. Professional, from R15,000 excl. VAT, starts at the lower end of the published ranges for online stores and web apps.
Monthly website maintenance: R350 or R750 (excl. VAT)
| Standard R350/mo excl. VAT | Premium R750/mo excl. VAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and SSL | Included | Included |
| Support time | 30 minutes a month | 2 hours a month |
| Backups | Weekly | Daily, off-site |
| Security | Standard firewall | Pro hardening and priority restore |
| SEO health | – | Monthly SEO audit |
| Reporting | Basic stats | Analytics summary |
| Licences | Client-paid | Agency licences included |
Hosting is already included in both plans, so you don't pay for it separately. For context, 22 of 30 published SA plans sit between R390 and R1,500 a month (SendToSite), and the average maintenance plan is about R399 a month (Sentaflow).
Other costs to budget for
- Domain: included in every FriendlyShell package. For context, a .co.za domain costs about R50–R110 a year elsewhere (Sentaflow).
- Hosting if you don't take a maintenance plan: about R100 a month on average (Sentaflow).
- Payment gateway fees on each sale. PayFast charges no monthly fee on its aggregation solution, only a fee per transaction. See PayFast's fees page for current rates.
- Copywriting and logo design: not included in any package. Clients supply their own words and logo; we can quote for these separately.
- VAT: all FriendlyShell prices exclude VAT (15%).
Which package is right for you?
Start with what the website needs to do for your business. Three common scenarios:
- You're a sole trader who needs credibility and WhatsApp leads: Startup.
- You run a local service business and want Google Maps visibility: Growth.
- You're selling online, or need a portal or app: Professional.
Not sure which fits? Send us a short description of your business and what you need, and we'll recommend a package in your fixed quote.
Recent work
Some of the businesses we've built websites for. Visit their sites to see the kind of work we do:
GasBanq
BatteryBanq
EnergyBanq
Habitation & Co
Thirty6How it works and timelines
- Enquiry (form or WhatsApp)
- Fixed written quote within 30 minutes during business hours
- Build
- Launch
- Maintenance
Typical timelines
Typical timelines run from receiving your content to launch. They depend on you supplying content and feedback on time.
| Project | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Startup (3 pages) | 24–48 hours |
| Growth (up to 8 pages) | 1–2 weeks |
| Professional: online store or web app | 4–8 weeks (more for large catalogues or complex integrations) |
| Professional: cross-platform mobile app | 8–16 weeks |
These are typical timelines, not guaranteed launch dates.
Website pricing FAQs
How much does a website cost in South Africa?
Most small-business websites cost R5,000–R20,000 once-off in 2026, depending on pages, design and features. FriendlyShell's fixed packages start at R2,500 excl. VAT for a 3-page site and R7,450 excl. VAT for up to 8 pages with basic SEO, domain included.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in South Africa?
Published SA ranges for a standard online store are roughly R7,500–R25,000, and bigger catalogues or integrations cost more. FriendlyShell's Professional package starts from R15,000 excl. VAT and includes PayFast/SnapScan payments.
How much does website maintenance cost per month in South Africa?
Most published SA plans cost R390–R1,500 a month. FriendlyShell's plans are R350 a month excl. VAT (hosting, SSL, weekly backups, 30 minutes of support) or R750 a month excl. VAT (daily off-site backups, 2 hours of support, a monthly SEO audit).
What's included in the R2,500 Startup website?
Three pages (Home, Services, Contact), mobile-first design, WhatsApp chat integration, a domain and one month of free technical support. It's a once-off fixed price of R2,500 excl. VAT. Copywriting and logo design are not included.
Are your prices fixed or hourly?
Startup (R2,500) and Growth (R7,450) are fixed once-off prices, excl. VAT. Professional projects start from R15,000 excl. VAT, and you get a fixed quote within 30 minutes during business hours.
Do I need to pay for hosting and a domain separately?
No. A domain is included in every package, and hosting and SSL are included in both maintenance plans (R350 or R750 a month excl. VAT).
Can you build a mobile app too?
Yes. Cross-platform mobile app development is part of the Professional package, which starts from R15,000 excl. VAT and is quoted on scope. A typical app takes about 8–16 weeks.
How long does it take to build a website?
Typically 24–48 hours for a 3-page Startup site, 1–2 weeks for a Growth site, 4–8 weeks for an online store or web app, and 8–16 weeks for a mobile app. These are typical timelines and depend on you supplying content and feedback on time.
Are your prices inclusive of VAT?
No. All FriendlyShell prices exclude VAT, which is added at 15%.
Where is FriendlyShell based?
In Sandton, Johannesburg (21 Sunnyway, Kelvin, Sandton, 2090), working with businesses across South Africa.
Get your fixed quote
Tell us what you need and get a fixed quote within 30 minutes during business hours.
Call +27 76 840 9826 or email info@friendlyshell.co.za.
