Introduction
"How much does a website cost?" is the most common question we hear from Kenyan businesses. And the honest answer is: it depends. Website pricing in Kenya ranges from KSh 10,000 for a basic template to over KSh 1 million for a complex custom platform. The wide range exists because websites are not commodities; they're built solutions with vastly different levels of complexity, quality, and capability.
This guide provides a transparent, detailed breakdown of what websites actually cost in Kenya in 2026, what drives those costs, and how to make an informed decision about your investment. We'll cover every category from simple brochure sites to enterprise e-commerce platforms.
Basic Business Websites: KSh 15,000 \u{2013} 50,000
A basic business website is a digital brochure that tells visitors who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. It typically includes 3-7 pages: Home, About, Services, and Contact. At this price range, you're looking at a WordPress template or a basic website builder setup.
What you get at this level includes a pre-designed template customized with your branding, basic contact form, mobile-responsive layout, 1-2 rounds of revisions, and basic SEO setup (title tags and meta descriptions). What you typically don't get is custom design, advanced functionality, e-commerce capability, ongoing support, or high performance optimization.
This tier works for freelancers, very small businesses, or those who need a simple online presence quickly and on a tight budget. Just understand that a template website won't differentiate you from competitors using the same or similar templates.
Professional Business Websites: KSh 50,000 \u{2013} 150,000
Professional business websites are custom-designed and built to represent your brand effectively. They include thoughtful UX design, professional copywriting support, SEO optimization, and integration with essential business tools.
At this tier, expect a custom design tailored to your brand identity, 5-15 pages of content, custom contact forms and lead capture, blog or news section for content marketing, Google Analytics and Search Console integration, basic on-page SEO optimization, 2-4 weeks of development time, and post-launch support (typically 1-3 months).
This is the sweet spot for most Kenyan SMEs. You get a unique, professional website that properly represents your brand and is built to attract and convert customers through organic search.
Best Value Option
E-Commerce Websites: KSh 100,000 \u{2013} 500,000
E-commerce websites are significantly more complex than standard business sites. They require product catalogue management, shopping cart functionality, secure payment processing (M-Pesa is essential in Kenya), order management, inventory tracking, and often shipping integrations.
The pricing within this range depends heavily on the number of products (10 products vs 10,000 products require different architectures), payment gateway requirements (M-Pesa, credit cards, PayPal), shipping and delivery integration needs, custom features like product configurators or subscriptions, and whether you need multi-vendor marketplace functionality.
A basic WooCommerce store with M-Pesa integration for a small product catalogue might cost KSh 100,000-150,000. A fully custom e-commerce platform with advanced features, multiple payment gateways, and inventory management will be KSh 300,000-500,000 or more.
Enterprise & Custom Platforms: KSh 500,000+
Enterprise websites and custom web applications go beyond standard websites. These are platforms built for specific business processes: booking systems, client portals, SaaS products, marketplace platforms, or complex integrations with existing business systems.
At this level, you're investing in a custom-coded application built with enterprise-grade frameworks, rigorous security standards, scalable architecture, comprehensive testing, API integrations with other systems, and ongoing development and support. Think of platforms like Kenya's own M-Shwari, Sendy, or Twiga Foods. These are web applications that power entire business models.
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Hidden Costs to Budget For
The development cost is just the beginning. Many Kenyan businesses are caught off guard by the ongoing costs of running a website. Budget for these recurring expenses when planning your investment.
Domain name registration costs KSh 1,000-3,000 per year for .co.ke or .com domains. Web hosting ranges from KSh 3,000-30,000 per year depending on the type and quality. SSL certificate is essential for security and may be included with hosting or cost KSh 5,000-15,000 per year for premium options. Email hosting for professional email addresses costs KSh 500-2,000 per user per year. Content updates and maintenance should be budgeted at KSh 5,000-20,000 per month if you're not managing it yourself. And SEO and marketing are ongoing investments that drive traffic to your new site.
Watch Out For
How to Choose the Right Developer
The cheapest option is rarely the best value. When evaluating web developers in Kenya, look at their portfolio of completed projects, ask for references from previous clients, check if they have experience in your industry, understand their development process and timeline, clarify what's included in the price and what costs extra, and ensure they offer post-launch support.
A good developer will ask you detailed questions about your business goals, target audience, and competitive landscape before quoting a price. If someone quotes you without understanding your business, they're likely using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Conclusion
Your website is an investment in your business's future. Like any investment, the goal isn't to minimize cost but to maximize return. A cheap website that doesn't convert visitors is more expensive than a KSh 120,000 Business website that generates leads every day.
Start by defining your goals, understanding your budget constraints, and finding a developer who can deliver the best results within those parameters. And remember: you can always start with a solid professional website and add features as your business grows and your needs evolve.
