Website cost in Switzerland, 2026
How Much Does a Website Cost in Switzerland? Quotes, Running Costs and the 5-Year Total
A ten-page business website costs CHF 6,000 to 12,000 at a Swiss agency. That’s the number on the quote. The number that matters is what you’ve paid after five years, and you can work it out for your own project below.
- Prices excl. VAT
- Assumptions disclosed
- Updated October 2026
A professional business website in Switzerland costs CHF 1,500 to 3,000 for a one-pager, CHF 4,000 to 8,000 for five pages and CHF 6,000 to 12,000 for ten pages at an agency. Freelancers come in at roughly half. A second language adds 50 to 80 per cent. After launch, hosting, updates and changes add about CHF 1,500 to 2,600 a year.
Over five years a CHF 9,600 agency website costs around CHF 22,600. Our subscription covers the build, hosting and maintenance for CHF 49 a month (CHF 588 a year), or CHF 69 a month (CHF 828 a year) in two languages. Content changes cost CHF 50 per request.
Why website quotes are so hard to compare
Three offers, three different things
One includes copy, one hosting, one neither. The cheapest offer is often just the least complete.
The invoices nobody mentioned
Hosting, the care plan and an hourly rate for every text change arrive after the site is paid for.
A redesign, paid twice
A site that nobody maintained is replaced after four to six years, and the whole budget starts again.
This page gives you the numbers to compare honestly: price bands by project type, the running costs quotes leave out, and a calculator for your own five-year total.
Website prices in Switzerland by project type
The bands below come from the quotes Swiss businesses bring to our first call when they want a second opinion. They are 2026 figures, excluding VAT, and they only cover the build. What happens after launch comes further down, because that’s where most budgets go wrong.
| Project | Agency quote | Freelancer | Our subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-pager | CHF 1,500–3,000 | CHF 800–1,500 | CHF 588 a year |
| Business website, 5 pages | CHF 4,000–8,000 | CHF 2,000–4,500 | CHF 588 a year |
| Business website, 10 pages | CHF 6,000–12,000 | CHF 3,000–7,000 | CHF 588 a year |
| 10 pages, two languages | CHF 9,000–18,000 | CHF 5,000–10,000 | CHF 828 a year |
| Online shop | from CHF 10,000 | from CHF 6,000 | Quoted separately |
Build cost only, excl. VAT. Subscription includes hosting and updates; content changes are CHF 50 per request and the domain (about CHF 10–20 a year) is extra.
Two things surprise people when they see the table. The step from five to ten pages is smaller than expected, because the first page carries the design work and the tenth mostly reuses it. And the second language costs almost as much as the first at a classic agency, since it gets priced as a second project. Neither has to be that way, but both are normal in quotes.
Why Swiss websites cost what they cost: the hourly rate
Every quote you get in Switzerland is an hourly rate with a project name on top. Once you know the rate and roughly how many hours a site takes, you can check any offer in a minute.
| Who does the work | Hourly rate | What you get for it |
|---|---|---|
| Junior freelancer | CHF 60–90 | Template adaptation, small changes, little strategic input |
| Experienced freelancer | CHF 90–130 | Independent build, good judgement, one person as the single point of failure |
| Small Swiss agency | CHF 120–160 | A team, a process, someone covering when a person is on holiday |
| Larger agency | CHF 160–220 | Strategy, research and project management billed next to the build |
Swiss market rates for web work, 2026, excl. VAT.
A properly built ten-page site takes 40 to 80 hours once design, development, content work and coordination are counted. At CHF 140 an hour that’s CHF 5,600 to 11,200, which is exactly where Swiss quotes cluster. It isn’t greed. It’s hours times a Swiss salary.
So the useful question is which of those hours you actually need to pay for. On a ten-page site, six to ten hours are often internal project management. They exist because the agency has a structure, and your website would be the same without them.
Four things that move a quote more than page count
Who writes the copy. “Client supplies all text” is the biggest quiet assumption in Swiss quotes. Most businesses can’t deliver it on time, and copywriting is then billed at CHF 120 to 180 an hour. That adds 20 to 30 per cent, often after the contract is signed.
Languages. A second language usually adds 50 to 80 per cent. If you serve German and English speakers, or German and French, look at how the second version is built. A proper setup with hreflang and translated metadata is described in our guide to multilingual SEO in Switzerland.
Functions. A contact form is standard. Booking systems, member areas, shops and CRM connections are not. Each one is a four-figure line in the quote and something that needs maintaining for as long as the site exists.
Design depth. “Custom design” can mean an adapted template or a design system built from nothing. Both are legitimate. Ask which one the quote means, because the price difference can be CHF 5,000.
What each budget actually buys
| CHF 1,500–4,000 | CHF 4,000–12,000 | CHF 12,000+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Adapted template | Custom layout on a proven framework | Design system built from scratch |
| Copy | You write everything | Editing and structure included | Research, interviews, professional copy |
| Who builds it | One freelancer | Small team or senior freelancer | Team with defined roles |
| SEO | Basic tags | Technical foundation, local setup | Ongoing strategy and content plan |
| After launch | Usually nothing | Maintenance offered separately | Retainer, often required |
| Makes sense for | Sole traders with one service | Most Swiss SMEs | Sites that are the product |
Most SMEs need the middle column and get offered the right one. The left column is fine too. A physiotherapist with one practice and one service is better served by a well-kept CHF 2,500 site than by a CHF 12,000 site nobody has touched since launch.
The costs that appear in no quote
The quote is the visible half. The other half arrives as separate invoices over the following years. A WordPress site gets somewhere between 120 and 200 core and plugin updates a year, and outdated plugins remain the most common way small business sites get broken into.
| After launch | Typical Swiss price | If you skip it |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and SSL | CHF 30–80 a month | Fine until the cheap host is slow or down |
| Updates and security | CHF 600–1,500 a year | The site gets more vulnerable every month |
| Content changes | CHF 120–180 an hour | Prices, team and opening hours go out of date |
| Redesign after 4–6 years | The full build price again | The site starts to look like 2021 |
Running costs of a Swiss business website, excl. VAT. Hosting providers compared in our Swiss WordPress hosting test.
Add it up over five years and a CHF 8,000 website turns into CHF 15,000 to 20,000. That total is the number to compare between offers. A quote that leaves out the second half will always look cheaper than one that includes it.
Calculate your own 5-year cost
Pick your project and see what each way of buying costs you in total. The figures use the mid-points of the tables above. The assumptions are listed under the calculator, so you can redo the maths with your own quote.
Total paid after 5 years
CHF, excl. VAT
Website builder: fees only. Add 25 to 40 hours of your own time for setup and every later change.
| Assumption | One-pager | 5 pages | 10 pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency build | CHF 2,250 | CHF 6,000 | CHF 9,600 |
| Agency, per year after launch | CHF 1,400 | CHF 2,600 | CHF 2,600 |
| Freelancer build | CHF 1,200 | CHF 3,200 | CHF 5,000 |
| Freelancer, per year | CHF 800 | CHF 1,600 | CHF 1,600 |
| Website builder plan, per year | CHF 360, or CHF 480 with a second language | ||
| Our subscription, per year | CHF 588, or CHF 828 bilingual, plus six change requests at CHF 50 (CHF 300) | ||
Agency per year for 5–10 pages: hosting CHF 60 a month, maintenance CHF 1,000, six hours of changes at CHF 150. Second language: build × 1.65, running costs × 1.2. External copy: build × 1.25. No row includes a redesign.
One thing the calculator shows that we’d rather say plainly: in cash, a website builder is the cheapest option. What it costs you is time. The free weekend becomes six, the result looks like a template because it is one, and you remain the webmaster for good. If your time is cheap and your offer is simple, that can still be the right call.
WordPress, website builder or custom code?
The platform moves the budget by thousands. WordPress runs a bit over 40 per cent of all websites, according to W3Techs, and for Swiss SMEs it hits the useful middle: no licence fees, any developer can take over, and it grows from a brochure site into a shop without a rebuild.
Builders like Wix or Squarespace cost CHF 20 to 40 a month and work for hobby projects and very simple offers. Custom-coded sites start around CHF 25,000 and make sense when the website itself is the product, for example a platform or a configurator. Almost every SME sits in between, which is why we build on WordPress.
Website prices in Zurich, Geneva and the rest of Switzerland
Zurich runs 10 to 20 per cent above the national bands, for the same reason everything there does: salaries and rent. A ten-page site from a Zurich agency usually lands at CHF 7,500 to 14,000 instead of CHF 6,000 to 12,000. Geneva is similar or a little higher. Smaller cities and rural cantons tend to sit at or slightly below the average.
| Project | Zurich agency | Swiss average | Our subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 pages | CHF 5,000–9,500 | CHF 4,000–8,000 | CHF 588 a year |
| 10 pages | CHF 7,500–14,000 | CHF 6,000–12,000 | CHF 588 a year |
| 10 pages, two languages | CHF 11,000–20,000 | CHF 9,000–18,000 | CHF 828 a year |
Build cost, 2026, excl. VAT.
The Zurich premium can be money well spent if it buys you short paths to the person who decides. It shouldn’t simply buy a longer invoice. More on the local market on web design in Zurich and web design prices in Geneva.
And what does SEO cost on top?
Swiss SEO retainers run CHF 800 to 3,000 a month at smaller agencies, CHF 1,500 to 5,000 at established Zurich agencies and CHF 400 to 1,200 with freelancers. Ours starts at CHF 500. A one-off technical audit costs CHF 1,500 to 4,000. Before paying for any of that, make sure the build already includes the basics: clean structure, fast loading, meta data, a sitemap, Search Console and a Google Business Profile. Those are part of both our plans. Whether a retainer is worth it afterwards is covered on SEO agency Zurich.
Five questions that show whether a quote is complete
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who writes the copy, and how many hours are planned for it? | The most common reason a quote grows by 20 to 30 per cent. |
| What does the first year after launch cost? | Hosting, updates and changes. If the answer is “we’ll see”, it isn’t in the price. |
| How much does a text change cost? | At CHF 150 an hour, small edits add up to four figures a year. |
| Who owns the domain, the content and the site? | The domain should be registered in your name. Always. |
| How is the second language built and priced? | Separate project or part of the system? The difference is often 50 per cent. |
If a quote can’t answer these five, it isn’t finished. That’s true whoever it comes from, including us.
Our prices: three plans, hosting and updates included
Essential
CHF 49 /month excl. VAT
Billed annually (CHF 588/year)
Introductory price 2026
A complete business website in one language — perfect for local Swiss businesses with a clearly defined audience.
- Custom design tailored to your brand
- Up to 10 pages (blog posts unlimited)
- Copywriting for every page: written from a 30-minute interview, two rounds of corrections
- Shared hosting with Cyon AG, SSL certificate, daily backups
- WordPress, plugin & security updates
- Content changes: CHF 50 per request
- Yearly design refresh: update your site’s look once a year
- SEO foundations: structure, speed, meta data, sitemap
- Google Search Console & Business Profile setup
- Cookie banner & Swiss nFADP/GDPR-aware setup
- Contact forms delivered to your inbox
Bilingual
CHF 69 /month excl. VAT
Billed annually (CHF 828/year)
Introductory price 2026
Reach both language markets — German and English, or any two languages your customers speak.
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Complete second language version, up to 10 pages each
- Professional translation of all website content
- Multilingual SEO done right: hreflang, translated meta data, per-language sitemaps
- Language switcher in the navigation
- Localised contact forms and confirmation emails
Growth
CHF 199 /month excl. VAT
Billed annually (CHF 2,388/year)
Introductory price 2026
Like having your own web designer and copywriter: a professional bilingual website, a new post every week in each language and automatic internal links.
- Everything in Bilingual, plus:
- 8 SEO blog posts a month: 4 in each language
- Topics researched around the searches your customers make
- Researched and written with AI, in a natural, insightful, human voice
- Formatted with images and published for you
- Every post linked to your service pages
Blog writing add-on for Essential and Bilingual: one post per week (4–5 a month), researched and written with AI in a natural, human voice, for CHF 199/month. Prices are guaranteed for each paid period; if we raise them for the next period, you can cancel at the end of the period you have paid for. Introductory prices for 2026. We onboard a maximum of 8 new websites a month.
Website only — from CHF 299 one-time
Just need a website, without hosting or ongoing care? We design and build it once at a fixed price. It belongs to you, and hosting and domain run in your name.
- One-pager with up to 5 sections, contact form, responsive design, SEO basics and 1 round of corrections: CHF 299
- Privacy policy and imprint included: CHF 0
- Each extra page: CHF 100
- Each extra language: CHF 50 setup, plus CHF 100 per page in that language
- Online shop (WooCommerce): CHF 500 flat, plus CHF 100 per product
- Texts, translations, images and all other media supplied by you
- Changes after final approval: CHF 150 per page
- Hosting and domain in your name with a Swiss provider, about CHF 9–20 a month
Your price: CHF 699 one-time, excl. VAT
Prefer hosting, updates and changes handled for you? Essential starts at CHF 49 a month.
Growth replaces an in-house web specialist for CHF 199 a month. You get an impressive, professional website in two languages, a new post every week in each language and automatic internal links to your services, all handled for you. One in-house web developer and copywriter costs at least CHF 5,700 a month in salary alone. With Growth you save CHF 5,501 a month, CHF 66,012 a year and over CHF 660,000 in 10 years.
CHF per month, excl. VAT. In-house figure: salary only for one web developer and copywriter, before employer contributions. Growth is billed annually (CHF 2,388/year).
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us — if your customers speak more than one language, Bilingual usually pays for itself with the first extra enquiry.
Where we’re biased. We sell one of the options on this page, so weigh our view accordingly. A classic agency project is the right choice for complex sites, shops and large budgets. A good freelancer can be excellent value, as long as they’re still around when something breaks in year two. The subscription suits businesses whose website has one job: be found, explain the offer, bring enquiries. How it works is described on website subscription and getting your website built.
Why our prices are published
No pitch, no surprise
CHF 49 a month for one language, CHF 69 for two, no setup fee. The number on this page is the number on the invoice.
Hosting and updates included
Swiss hosting with Cyon AG, daily backups, updates and repairs after updates are part of the fee. Changes cost a flat CHF 50 per request.
We say when buying is cheaper
A one-page site that never changes is cheaper bought once. Shops and booking systems get a written individual quote.
Websites we built recently
MET Zug AG
A bilingual company website with a clear structure, so visitors in German and English find the same information and the right contact.
Alea AG
A fast, modern site that presents Alea’s services professionally and is built around the searches their clients actually use.
Noon Wood Work
A visual portfolio for a craft business. The work sells itself; the website makes sure people see it.
Asel Mamytova
Founder of Clear Design Experts. Before web design she worked in banking, where every number needs a source and an assumption next to it. She reviews the quotes clients send for a second opinion and leads every project herself.
Updated October 2026. Market bands from quotes reviewed in 2025 and 2026; hourly rates from Swiss agency and freelancer offers; WordPress share from W3Techs. Our own prices as published on this page.
Website cost questions
How much does a website cost in Switzerland?
At an agency: CHF 1,500–3,000 for a one-pager, CHF 4,000–8,000 for five pages, CHF 6,000–12,000 for ten pages, excl. VAT. Freelancers charge roughly half. Hosting, updates and changes add CHF 1,500–2,600 a year.
How much does a simple website cost?
A professional one-pager costs CHF 1,500–3,000 at an agency and CHF 800–1,500 with a freelancer. A website builder costs CHF 20–40 a month plus your own time.
What does a website cost per month?
Running a purchased website costs CHF 30–80 a month for hosting, plus updates and changes. Our subscription costs CHF 49 a month (CHF 588 a year) including the build, or CHF 69 a month (CHF 828 a year) for two languages. Content changes cost CHF 50 per request.
How much does a second language add?
At classic agencies, 50 to 80 per cent of the build. In our Bilingual plan it’s CHF 20 a month more than Essential.
Is the domain included?
Not in our plans. A .ch domain costs about CHF 10–20 a year and is registered in your name, so it stays yours.
Why are websites in Zurich more expensive?
Higher salaries and rent. Zurich agencies charge about 10 to 20 per cent more than the Swiss average.
Send us your quote. We’ll tell you if it’s fair.
A 30-minute call, free, including a second opinion on any offer you already have. Or email directly: order@cleardesign.ch
