Monthly website or one-off build? Compare the whole commitment.
A smaller first payment does not automatically mean a lower total cost. Compare the term, ongoing support, ownership and exit arrangements alongside the design price. Use the same scope on both sides before deciding.
By Alex Player · Nexus Websites · 10 September 2026
Put both offers on the same basis.
A monthly website plan can spread the cost of a build and combine hosting, updates and support. A one-off project can separate the initial build from later running costs. Either model can work, but the label alone does not tell you what is included or what happens when you leave.
Compare the same page count, content work, design approach, forms and integrations. A five-page brochure site and a forty-page site with custom functionality are different purchases, even if both proposals say “business website”.
Nexus currently publishes plans at £99, £199 and £399 per month. The proposal confirms the scope, term, ownership and exit arrangements. This comparison tool uses editable figures: its one-off example is an illustration, not a market average or a competing provider’s quote.
Ask what you own and what you can take with you.
Domain and access
Who is the domain registrant, and who controls renewal and DNS? Confirm that business-critical accounts remain accessible to the business.
Design and content
Check the rights to text, photography, design and code. Licensed fonts, plugins and stock assets may have separate transfer rules.
Exit and migration
Ask about minimum terms, notice periods, buyout fees and the format of any export. Clarify who handles moving the website and redirects.
Ongoing responsibility
List hosting, backups, security updates, content changes and support. Agree what counts as an extra project and how it is priced.
Choose the model that suits how you will run the site.
A monthly plan may suit a business that values a predictable bill and an ongoing point of contact. A one-off build may suit a team with an established maintenance arrangement and the budget to pay for the project upfront. The detail of the agreement matters more than the payment label.
Before signing, write down who supplies content, how revisions are handled, what support includes and what happens at the end of the term. Ask for a worked example of the cost of leaving or changing the scope. If the answer is unclear, resolve it before starting.
Browse Nexus project examples to assess the work, read the published packages, and talk through your brief for a proposal suited to your business.
Compare total website costs.
Example figures only. Enter both quotes on the same VAT basis and include any setup, running or exit costs.
Over 24 months, the monthly example totals £984 less.
Monthly total = monthly payment × months + plan extras. One-off total = build price + running costs × months + other extras. This compares cost only; scope, ownership and service quality still matter.
For the example above: £99 × 24 = £2,376. £2,400 + (£40 × 24) = £3,360. Enable JavaScript to adjust the figures.
Useful answers before you start.
Is a monthly website cheaper than a one-off website?
It depends on the term and what is included. Compare initial costs, monthly payments, hosting, maintenance and any exit fee over the same period.
What does £99 per month add up to?
Without additional fees, £99 per month totals £1,188 over 12 months, £2,376 over 24 months and £3,564 over 36 months. Check the agreed term and scope.
Are the one-off figures in this tool market prices?
No. They are editable examples. Replace them with a real quote and include the actual hosting, support and exit costs on the same tax basis.
Will the comparison tell me which website is better?
No. It compares the figures you enter. You still need to assess design quality, scope, ownership, reliability and the support arrangement.
Make the brief more useful.
Tell us what the website needs to do, what you already have and where the current journey falls short. We will use that to discuss scope and practical next steps.