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How much does website design cost in Kenya 2023?

One of the most common questions we hear from our customers is: “How much does a website cost in Kenya?” We’re here to answer that question, and help you put your money where it matters.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made those visiting physical stores minimize their visits. With fewer customers visiting the shops, it has now become more important than ever to create an online presence for your business to cater to the shift.

Whether you are creating your first website or looking to redo your existing website in Kenya, you will always encounter confusion over how much a website should cost. You may find yourself wondering if to spend thousands of shillings on a website or develop one yourself.

To help you understand the costs to expect when designing a website in Kenya, we will explore all the factors considered when building a website.

Website Cost Factors

When building a website, whether, through a website designer or doing it yourself, it is important to know the cost to expect. A website’s cost is influenced by things such as its complexity, size, and design requirements. However, to get your website up and running, you will need to consider all the website cost factors involved.

1.   Domain

A domain is your online identity. It’s the name you give to people who want to find you online. When creating a website, the first thing to do is purchase a domain name. This can be a .com, .org. .co.ke, . net and so on. It depends on your preference.

To purchase a domain, you need to visit hosting companies in Kenya like Nairobi Digital Hub, DeepAfrica, TrueHost, among others.
To register, you will need to find a name that no one else is using and pay an annual fee to own it. Follow these steps:

  • Choose a reliable domain company
  • Using a domain availability checker, conduct domain name search
  • Choose the best available option
  • Complete the domain registration by finalizing your order
  • Verify your new domain’s availability

A domain name is your online identity, so it is essential to do proper research. Make it catchy and easy to remember. If you can’t get what you are looking for, look for close alternatives.

A domain name costs between Ksh 950 and Ksh 10,000 depending on your choice.

2.   Web Hosting


Web hosting makes your website available for viewing online. Different hosting companies charge different fees. These domain registrar companies allow you to choose either the shared hosting option or the dedicated hosting.

Shared hosting is cheaper, with a cost range of Ksh 2,100 – Ksh 14,100 per year.

The dedicated hosting is much costly, with a price range of Ksh 5,100 – Ksh 25,100 per year.

However, there are many options between these options, and it is up to you to look carefully to choose the plan that best caters to your needs without breaking the bank.

3.   Content

For your website to be discoverable online, you need to write attractive content. You should ensure that people find value in what you’ve written on your website. SEO-optimized content will help your website to rank high in search engines for certain keywords. You can write the content yourself to keep the costs down. However, a professional content writer can help you do a better job. You may need to hire a freelance writer or an agency and expect to pay between Ksh 200 – Ksh 500 per 100 words.

It’s good to know how much a content writer will charge you to write SEO content for your website. A website writer can charge per word, per page, per blog, or per project. It is up to you to find the best terms that will fit into your budget.

What type of website do you need?

Before you begin estimating the website cost in Kenya, you’ll need to decide what type of website you need for your venture or business. The common types of websites you can consider include Basic websites (brochure-type), Small business websites, eCommerce websites, and Corporate websites.

Type of WebsiteFeaturesWebsite Cost in Kenya
Landing Page Website• 1 – 3 responsive pages
• Contact page
• Landing Page
Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000
Small Business Website• Several pages
• Social Media Integration
• Google My Business Page
• Google Analytics
Ksh 20,000 – Ksh 30,000
Ecommerce Website• Ecommerce Tools
• Order Management System
• Live Chat
• Delivery Solutions
• Payment Integration
Ksh 35,000 – Ksh 70,000
Corporate Website• Advanced functionality
• Unlimited Subpages
• Bespoke design
• Database Population
• CRM Integration
Ksh 45,000 – Ksh 90,000


Ways of Building a Website in Kenya

To create a website, you can decide to do everything yourself using web builders or hire a web designer in Kenya. Each option has its pros and cons, and we will discuss them below:

  • Option 1: Do Everything Yourself Using Web Builders

Creating a website using a web builder will help you cut the cost of hiring a professional web designer. Web builders provide you with tools that help you build an attractive website quickly and efficiently. You will have a live website in a matter of hours. All the technical stuff is taken care of, and you don’t need to learn how to code. You simply drag and drop elements to create what you want.

Website builders are low in cost, and most of them have a free version of their product. These free versions will allow you to create very basic websites. But to build a professional-looking website, it’s good to upgrade to a premium plan which offers greater customization and more features.

  • Option 2: Hire A Web Designer in Kenya

Professional web designers are experienced and reliable. They have perfected the art of website creation and will create professional websites for you with all the functionality you need. Hiring a web designer in Kenya will be the best option if you need a website but lack skills or the time to create yourself.

When choosing a web designer in Kenya, you can decide to work with an agency or an individual freelancer. A freelancer will give you a more personalized service, but you will need to make a little research online. An agency will have a broad range of experience and will provide a quote for the whole project.

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Cost of A Landing Page Website in Kenya

A Landing page website requires very little functionality comprised of 1-3 pages with a ‘brochure style’ look and feel. They should be mobile responsive as well. You should go for a simple website if you need a simple online presence where you showcase your business and receive inquiries.

If you want to build a landing page Website in Kenya, the website design cost will be between Ksh. 10,000 and Ksh. 20,000. This mainly depends on the complexity of your website.

Here’s an example breakdown of the total cost for a landing page website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:

  Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya

Cost of a Landing Page Website in Kenya

Upfront Costs
DesignKsh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000
DomainKsh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year
Total Upfront CostKsh 11,000 – Ksh 22,000

Ongoing Costs
HostingKsh 2,000 – Ksh 3,500/ year
Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year
Total Ongoing CostsKsh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year


Small Business Website Cost in Kenya

Just like basic websites, small business websites are brochure-style but have more features. They’re great for businesses that want to upgrade from their existing basic websites. Their features may include integrated social media, Google analytics, responsive design, content management systems, and Google maps. They include more pages and are mobile responsive.

Small business websites are ideal for businesses that intend to update their content regularly, like startups and freelancers.

If you want to build a Small Business Website in Kenya, the website design cost will be between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 30,000.

Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for a Small Business website in Kenya, including any subscriptions or additional costs:

Small Business Website Cost in Kenya

Small Business Website Cost in Kenya

Upfront Costs
DesignKsh 20,000 – Ksh 30,000
DomainKsh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year
Total Upfront CostKsh 21,000 – Ksh 32,000

Ongoing Costs
HostingKsh 2,000 – Ksh 3,500
Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year
Total Ongoing CostsKsh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year

See Also: 5 best web design companies in Kenya

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Ecommerce Website Cost in Kenya

Now more than ever, people want to review products online before making a purchasing decision. When your products are visible online, there’s a high likelihood for people looking for them to find them and make orders. This is why you need an ecommerce website for your business.

The price of an ecommerce website varies greatly, depending on the number of items you want to stock and the varieties of each item you want to include. It is also greatly influenced by additional features such as a live chat facility, order management system, and delivery tracking functionality.

When ordering for the development of your ecommerce website, think about what you expect from it. Does it make your main brand presence tool? Do you want to include a blog post? Do you want your readers to engage with your social media?

See AlsoTop 5 Best web design agencies in Nairobi Kenya

To ensure that your ecommerce website is secure, include an SSL certificate. This will make your customers and Google take your website seriously.

If you want to build an eCommerce Website in Kenya, the website design cost will be between Ksh 40,000 and Ksh 70,000.

Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for an eCommerce Website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:

  eCommerce Website cost in Kenya

eCommerce Website cost in Kenya

Upfront Costs
DesignKsh 40,000 – Ksh 70,000
DomainKsh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year
Total Upfront CostKsh 41,000 – Ksh 72,000

Ongoing Costs
HostingKsh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500/ year
Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 6,000/ year
Total Ongoing CostsKsh 2,000 – Ksh 9,500/ year

Corporate Website Cost in Kenya

Larger companies that require more functionality need to go for a corporate website. It is also called a bespoke website. These websites are necessary for large corporations that have a higher number of visitors or a lot of information to share. It is built from scratch into an original and unique set of requirements.

Corporate websites are data-driven, and have advanced functionality and unlimited subpages. They are required by businesses in certain industries like property companies, financial services, architects, recruitment, health and fitness, and more. These websites have a high level of mobile responsiveness.

If you want to build a Corporate Website in Kenya, the website design cost will be between Ksh 45,000 and Ksh 90,000.

Here’s a breakdown of the total cost for a Corporate Website, including any subscriptions or additional costs:

  Corporate Website cost in Kenya

Corporate Website cost in Kenya

Upfront Costs
DesignKsh 45,000 – Ksh 90,000
DomainKsh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000/ year
Total Upfront CostKsh 46,000 – Ksh 92,000

Ongoing Costs
HostingKsh 3,500 – Ksh 6,500/ year
Content UpdatesKsh 0 – Ksh 20,000 / year
Total Ongoing CostsKsh 3,500 – Ksh 26,500 / year
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Additional Website Costs to Keep In Mind

  • Web & Email Hosting: Depending on the amount of traffic expected on your website, web and email hosting costs will vary. You will be charged monthly or annually.
  • SSL Certificates: An SSL certificate will make your website more secure, giving your customers the confidence to purchase from you. An SSL certificate keeps the information between your website and site visitor private. You can buy or get a free SSL certificate depending on the company you are working with. Ask about this to factor in the costs.
  • Copywriting: Copywriting should be considered in great detail right from the start of the website design. You would like your website to rank high on search engines so that those searching for your services or products can find you easily. If the designer can provide the website copy, ask them how much they will charge you. If not, consider hiring a copywriter.
  • Training: Running a website can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the ecommerce platform used to create it. Most people will find it difficult to manage their websites properly. This may call for you to undergo some training and get documentation. These will help you understand how to manage your website, add new products, edit content, and other daily tasks.
  • Photography: You need great images for your website. If you need to create a strong brand image, consider hiring a photographer to help collect a stock of images. You can also buy stock images from sites like Shutterstock or download free images from sites like Unsplash.

Tips for Getting an Accurate Website Cost in Kenya

Website costs in Kenya vary greatly depending on a wide range of factors. Getting an accurate cost for your website may seem hard, especially if you don’t know what to consider. Consider these tips to get an accurate cost of a website in Kenya.

1.   Get Functionality Documents

The web designer you hire to create your website should produce a detailed document on all the features and functionality that you want. This will ensure that you don’t leave out or forget anything. Document everything, then tick them off from the list once the task is complete. These functionality documents are also important in ensuring that you don’t pay for things that were never agreed upon.

2.   Research Your Options

Once you are ready to build your website, consult 3-4 designers to get an idea of how they would handle your website. Get a feel of their process, expertise, and detail. You will also get an idea of how they will handle your inquiries and questions. Request for quotes and compare them.

The Cheapest Option Is Not Always the Best

Different designers will give you different prices for your website development. Choosing the cheapest option could end up messing you big. Again, an expensive web designer does not automatically mean high-quality work. To determine the best web designer to work with, check their past results and talk to some of their clients. This will help you decide whether to work with them or not.

Agree on favorable working terms because this is the beginning of a working partnership that may last long.

Need help with your next website? 

There are so many little things that can affect a website’s cost in Kenya. If you need more advice or have any questions, we are always ready to help whether you are interested in starting a brand new website or redesigning your existing site. Visit our contact page and get in touch.