Cost guide
How much does website maintenance cost?
Last reviewed , published by Gjethe
The short answer
Website maintenance cost depends on the platform, the number of plugins and integrations, how much the site changes each month, security and uptime requirements, and whether content edits and improvements are included. A static or headless site needs less upkeep than a WordPress site with many plugins or an online store. Gjethe includes free support after launch, then offers monthly maintenance plans quoted to your site.
A website isn't finished at launch. Software needs updates, security threats evolve, integrations change and content goes out of date. Maintenance keeps the site safe, fast and accurate. This guide explains what maintenance covers, what changes its cost and how to decide what level you need.
What does maintenance cover?
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Core, plugin and dependency updates | Fixes security holes and bugs |
| Backups | Lets you recover from mistakes or attacks |
| Uptime and security monitoring | Catches problems before customers do |
| Performance checks | Keeps pages fast as content grows |
| Content updates | Keeps prices, team and offers current |
| Small improvements | Fixes and enhancements over time |
Which factors change the price most?
Platform
WordPress with many plugins needs more updates than static or headless sites.
Plugins and integrations
Each one can break after updates and must be tested.
E-commerce
Stores need checkout testing, app updates and closer monitoring.
Content changes
Frequent edits add time each month.
Security needs
Sensitive data or compliance raises monitoring requirements.
Response times
Faster guaranteed responses cost more.
What happens without maintenance
Unmaintained websites accumulate outdated software with known vulnerabilities, a common way sites get hacked. Plugins conflict after updates, forms stop sending, SSL certificates or domains lapse and pages slow down.
Fixing a hacked or broken site is usually far more expensive and stressful than regular upkeep, and it can damage search rankings and customer trust.
Choosing a level of care
A simple brochure site on a modern stack may need only periodic updates and monitoring. A busy store or web application benefits from regular checks, quick response to issues and ongoing improvements.
We recommend a plan after reviewing your site's platform, plugins and how often it changes, and you can adjust it as needs change.
Separate running costs
| Cost | Paid to |
|---|---|
| Domain renewal | Domain registrar |
| Hosting | Hosting provider |
| Premium plugin or theme licences | Each vendor |
| Email and tools | Each vendor |
What a good maintenance plan states
- Which updates are included and how they're tested
- Backup frequency and where backups are stored
- What's monitored and how you're alerted
- How many content changes are included
- Response times for problems
- What reports you receive
Example: two maintenance needs
A five-page brochure site built with a modern static framework might need occasional dependency updates, uptime monitoring and a few content edits a year. A WooCommerce store with many plugins needs regular updates tested on staging, checkout checks, backups before every change and quick response when something breaks.
Both deserve care, but the second requires much more attention, which is reflected in the plan.
Maintenance tasks by site type
| Site type | Main maintenance focus |
|---|---|
| Static or headless site | Dependencies, hosting, forms, content |
| WordPress site | Core, theme and plugin updates, security, backups |
| Online store | Apps or plugins, checkout testing, product updates |
| Web application | Security patches, monitoring, bug fixes, features |
Reducing maintenance needs
Fewer plugins, a modern hosting platform, automated backups and monitoring all reduce maintenance work. When redesigning or rebuilding, choosing technology with low upkeep can save money for years.
Ask your developer how each technical choice affects long-term maintenance.
Who should have access
Maintenance requires access to hosting, the CMS, the domain and sometimes analytics. Use individual accounts for each person or provider, with only the permissions they need, and keep ownership of all accounts in your company's name.
This makes it easy to change providers and keeps your site secure if someone leaves.
What a monthly report should tell you
A good maintenance report lists updates applied, backups taken, uptime, any incidents and how they were resolved, performance figures and recommendations. It should be short and readable.
Reports help you see the value of maintenance and spot recurring problems that need a bigger fix.
Signs your site needs more than maintenance
When these appear, a redesign or rebuild may cost less over time.
- Updates regularly break features
- Pages are slow despite optimisation
- The platform is no longer supported
- Simple changes require a developer
- Security problems keep recurring
Security basics that maintenance covers
Strong admin passwords with two-factor authentication, removal of unused plugins and accounts, up-to-date software, regular backups stored off-site and monitoring for suspicious activity cover most common risks.
These steps are inexpensive compared with recovering a hacked site, which can mean downtime, lost data and damaged search rankings.
Frequently asked questions
Is maintenance included after launch?
Gjethe includes free support after launch. After that, maintenance plans are optional but recommended.
Do static sites need maintenance?
Less, but dependencies, hosting, forms and content still need occasional attention.
Can I maintain the site myself?
Yes, if you're comfortable with updates and backups. Many owners prefer a plan to avoid risk and save time.
What if my site gets hacked?
We can clean it, restore from backups, fix the cause and harden security. Maintenance makes this far less likely.
Does maintenance include new features?
Small improvements can be included; larger features are quoted separately.
Do you maintain sites you didn't build?
Yes, after a technical review of the site's condition.
How are maintenance plans priced?
Monthly, based on platform, complexity and how much support you need.
Can I cancel?
Plans can be adjusted or ended; we'll hand over access and documentation.
How often should a WordPress site be updated?
Security updates should be applied promptly after testing, and other updates on a regular schedule rather than letting them pile up.
Is hosting included in maintenance?
Usually not. Hosting is paid to the provider; maintenance covers the work of keeping the site healthy.
Can maintenance include content updates?
Yes. Many plans include a set amount of content changes each month.
What happens if an update breaks something?
Good maintenance tests updates on a staging copy first and keeps backups, so problems can be fixed or rolled back quickly.
Do you monitor site speed?
Yes, as part of maintenance plans, with recommendations if performance drops.
Is maintenance needed for a site that rarely changes?
Yes. Software still needs security updates even if content stays the same.
Can you migrate us to better hosting?
Yes. Moving to faster, more reliable hosting is a common maintenance improvement.
Do you provide emergency support?
Response times for urgent problems are agreed in each maintenance plan, so you know what to expect.
Can we pause maintenance?
Plans can be adjusted, but pausing security updates increases risk, so we recommend keeping at least basic updates and backups.
Related services
Website Maintenance & Support
Updates, backups, monitoring and fixes every month.
Website Security
Hardening, malware clean-up and security reviews.
Website Speed Optimization
Faster pages and better Core Web Vitals.
E-commerce Operations
Listings, catalogue, orders, returns and store admin for Shopify and WooCommerce.
Cloud Deployment
Vercel, AWS, Azure and Google Cloud set up properly.
Talk it through with us.
Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.
- What happens next
- 1You tell us what you need
- 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
- 3You get a written quote for your project