Community Website Cost Calculator: What Will Your Community Cost?

Calculator

Work out your costs

Pick the answer closest to your plans. The estimate updates as you go.

A hosted community app (Circle, Skool, Mighty Networks)Your own website, set up yourself (WordPress)Your own website, built for youA free group (Facebook group, Discord server)

Hosted apps charge a flat monthly fee for unlimited members, plus a cut of what you sell.

The essentials: community, courses and events$9 to $99 a monthPlus automations, APIs and your own branding$179 to $199 a monthPlus higher limits, AI agents, webhooks and single sign-on$354 to $419 a month

Members can already use Circle's and Mighty Networks' own apps on iOS and Android.

No, the platform's own app is fineYes, an app in the app stores under my namecustom quote

Typical freelancer and agency rates for a community site.

Set-up and configuration on a ready-made theme$1,500 to $4,000 one-offCustom design and a few custom features$5,000 to $15,000 one-offCustom build plus moving an existing community$8,000 to $25,000 one-off

A domain name is about $15 to $30 a year on every option.

Free theme and plugins, and my own time$15 to $30 one-offA premium theme, plus a few hours of paid help$200 to $800 one-off

This sets your hosting plan.

Up to 500$25 to $50 a month500 to 5,000$50 to $150 a monthMore than 5,000, or lots of live chat and video$150 to $500 a month

Profiles, groups and discussion$0 to $25 a monthDiscussion plus courses$15 to $50 a monthDiscussion, courses, events and paid memberships$30 to $80 a month

From the site only (welcome and notification emails)$0 to $15 a monthPlus a newsletter tool$15 to $60 a month

I do: updates, backups and checksA care plan from a developer or agency$50 to $300 a month

No, it is free to joinYes, subscriptions or one-off payments

Monthly -First year -

How to read the estimate

The monthly range

What you pay every month once it is running: the plan, or hosting, licences, email and upkeep.

Set-up

One-off costs before launch: a build, a premium theme, or nothing at all.

Fees on sales

Hosted apps take a share of what you sell. Card processing (about 3%) applies everywhere.

The cost that is not here

Your own time. A community needs a few hours a week from you on any platform.

Questions

Is a hosted app cheaper than my own website?

At the start, often yes: one monthly fee covers everything. As you sell more, transaction fees and plan upgrades add up, and your own site can work out cheaper. Run both options through the calculator with your real numbers.

How accurate are these prices?

Platform prices come from each vendor's official pricing page, checked on 12 November 2026. Hosting, plugin and build costs are typical ranges. Always confirm the price on the vendor's site before you sign up.

What about Facebook groups and Discord?

They are free to run, but you do not own the member list and cannot email members. Many communities start there and move later; our migration checklist covers the move.

Do I have to sign up to use the calculator?

No. The calculator is free and open. The form is only for the printable budget worksheet.

What will your community cost?