Every author should have a professional website dedicated to his or her work and personal identity. A well-designed author website promotes your work and enables you to engage with readers, improve book sales, and create a community around your writing. Many authors, however, question how much it costs to develop a website for their book.
The good news is that website builders today cater to different needs, budgets, and levels of expertise. Whether you’re a first-time author or an established writer looking for a digital home, there are website builders that offer affordable plans with robust features. In this post, we’ll look at author website builder pricing, comparing different platforms, and what you receive for your money. By the end of this essay, you’ll have a good picture of the costs involved in creating a professional website for your book.
Why Do Authors Need a Website?
Before we go into pricing, let’s look at why authors need a website. Here are some explanations:
🔹️Professionalism:
A well-designed website increases trustworthiness and improves your professional image. It demonstrates that you take your writing seriously and can be a powerful marketing tool.
🔹️Marketing Hub:
Your website is the hub for all of your book information, blog updates, media kits, and promotional materials. It allows you to manage the narrative of your brand.
🔹️Connect with Readers:
A website gives readers a direct way to contact you, access your social media profiles, or join your email list for updates on upcoming books or events.
🔹️Sales:
Using e-commerce systems, you may sell your books directly to readers, eliminating intermediaries and improving profits.
🔹️SEO and Visibility:
Having a website allows you to optimize for search engines, making it easier for potential readers to discover your work.
Author Website Builder Pricing
Now that we’ve proven the importance of having a website, let’s look at the costs of several author website builders.
1. Olitt Author Website Builder Pricing.
Olitt is a basic website builder developed for authors who need to create a professional-looking website quickly. It stands out for its user-friendly UI and affordable cost. Here’s an overview of their price options:
Free plan:
Olitt offers a 7-day trial period for all new users to explore their platform and its features.
Paid Plan:
1. Pro-Plan:
$3.99 per month
Features:
✔Custom domain name (for example, yourname.com).
✔There is no Olitt branding.
✔There is no limit to storage space or bandwidth.
✔Mobile optimization.
✔Basic SEO tools to help your site rank in Google.
Ideal for authors who want a professional appearance without spending a lot of money. You may delete Olitt’s branding and use your domain.
2. Business plans:
Monthly cost: $19.99.
Features:
✔Everything from the Pro Plan, plus advanced SEO tools.
✔E-commerce capabilities allow you to sell books directly from your website.
✔Prioritize client service.
Ideal for: Authors that want to increase their online presence and monetize their website through direct book sales.
Olitt is a good choice for authors searching for a simple, affordable platform. Its plans are reasonably priced, and the Business Plan includes e-commerce facilities for authors who want to sell their works directly through their website.
2. Wix Author Website Builder Pricing
Wix is one of the most popular website builders available, offering flexibility and customization with an easy drag-and-drop interface. Below is a breakdown of Wix’s pricing for authors:
Free Plan:
✔Monthly cost: $0.
Features:
✔Branding with Wix on your website.
✔Wix subdomain (yourname.wixsite.com).
✔Storage space is limited, as are design aspects.
Ideal for: First-time authors with a little budget who don’t mind adverts or a Wix subdomain.
The paid plan.
1. Wix offers several pricing plans tailored to different needs, ranging from personal websites to large businesses. Here’s a breakdown of the plans:
1. Light – £9/month
Ideal for those who need the basics to get started.
Includes:
Custom domain
Reliable web hosting
AI creation tools
24/7 customer care
2. Core – £16/month
Designed to help you engage your audience more effectively.
Includes everything from the Light plan, plus:
Additional marketing and SEO features to grow your online presence.
3. Business – £25/month
Best for those looking to expand their brand and offer eCommerce features.
Includes:
Accept payments
Custom domain (free for 1 year)
100 GB storage
25 lead-capture forms with 75 fields per form
Site Booster and Events Calendar apps
24/7 customer care
Full eCommerce platform
Data and compute platform for optimal performance
Developer tools for advanced customization
Ticket and event management
Restaurant and bookings management tools
4. Business Elite – £119/month
Aimed at businesses looking to scale rapidly with advanced features.
Includes everything from the Business plan, plus additional premium tools for advanced customization, more storage, and better performance for large-scale operations.
Note: These prices are for yearly subscriptions, paid in full, and do not include applicable taxes based on your billing address. You can always start for free and upgrade to any plan as your needs grow.
3. Squarespace Author Website Builder Pricing
Squarespace is known for its stunning templates and clean, modern designs. It is a great option if you want a visually appealing platform. Here’s a breakdown of its prices:
Paid Plan:
1. Personal Plans:
Monthly cost: $16
Features:
✔Custom domain name (for example, yourname.com).
✔Unrestricted bandwidth and storage.
✔Templates have been optimized for mobile use.
Ideal for: Authors who require a sleek, professional website to promote their book, bio, and blog.
2. Business plan:
Cost: $23/month
Features:
✔Everything from the Personal Plan, plus e-commerce features.
✔Sales transactions are subject to 3% fees.
✔Advanced search engine optimization and marketing tools.
Ideal For: Authors that wish to sell books straight from their website and use other marketing techniques such as email campaigns.
3. Basic Commerce Plan:
Cost: $27/month
Features:
✔Everything in the Business Plan, plus:
✔No transaction fees.
✔Advanced e-commerce options for managing your book store.
✔Improved analytics.
Ideal for: Authors that have numerous books and require a fully functional online store with no transaction costs.
Squarespace is ideal for authors who desire visually appealing websites with robust e-commerce possibilities. However, it costs significantly more than some competitors.
4. WordPress Author Website Builder Pricing
WordPress is a highly flexible website platform that offers both WordPress.com (hosted) and WordPress.org (self-hosted) alternatives. WordPress.org is extremely adaptable if you are familiar with more advanced website management techniques.
WordPress.com:
1. Personal Plans:
Cost: $4/month
Features:
✔Custom domain name (for example, yourname.com).
✔Essential storage and design tools.
✔There is minimal customization.
Ideal for: Authors who want a simple website with a blog and don’t need many changes.
2) Premium Plan:
Cost: $8 per month
Features:
✔Additional customizing choices.
✔13GB of storage.
✔Google Analytics.
Ideal for: Authors who wish to develop a dynamic website with more design options.
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted):
Domain and Hosting: Prices typically range from $3 to $10/month for hosting services. Hosting services like Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator are popular choices.
Themes and Plugins: Many themes are free, but premium themes and plugins can cost anywhere from $30 to $100+.
Ideal for: Authors that require complete control over their website, with the ability to add custom functions and expand as their needs change.
WordPress is an excellent choice for authors who are technically competent or eager to learn. The self-hosted WordPress.org option provides the most control and scalability, but it takes more time and effort to set up and maintain.
5. Weebly Author Website Builder Pricing
Weebly is another drag-and-drop website builder that is easy to use and has numerous pricing options. Here’s a breakdown of the Weebly pricing:
Free plan:
Cost: $0 per month
Features:
✔Weebly subdomain (yourname.weebly.com).
✔The storage capacity is limited (500MB).
The site has Weebly branding.
Ideal for: Authors who want to create a website on a tight budget but are willing to accept constraints.
Paid Plans:
1. Personal Planning:
Monthly cost: $6.
Features:
✔Custom domain name (yourname.com).
✔500 MB of storage space.
There’s no Weebly branding.
Ideal for: Authors that desire a basic website and a custom domain but do not need advanced features.
2. Professional Plans:
Cost: $12 per month
Features:
✔Everything from the Personal Plan, plus 2GB of storage, Site Search, and more design possibilities.
This is ideal for authors who want more options for modification and a professional-looking website.
Weebly is a wonderful choice for authors searching for a simple platform that won’t cost them a lot, especially if all they need is basic website capabilities.
6. Jimdo Author Website Builder Pricing.
Jimdo is a simple website builder that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help you develop your site in minutes. It’s an excellent choice for authors that require a quick and simple setup.
Unlimited
€45 per month
Unlimited storage
Professional design analysis
Premium support within an hour
Grow Legal
€26 per month
Legal texts for your personal website
Customized legal content
GDPR-compliant
Updates on legal changes
Bestseller: Grow
€18 per month
For your business website
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Visitor statistics
Personalized support within 4 hours
Start
€11 per month
For your personal website
Domain included
Ad-free experience
Jimdo is an excellent choice for authors searching for a quick, AI-assisted website construction process that also allows them to sell books directly.
7. SiteGround Author Website Builder Pricing
SiteGround is primarily a hosting service that offers great website-building tools, including WordPress integration. It’s perfect for authors who want more control over their site’s performance and features.
Pricing:
Shared Hosting: Starting at $3.99/month (with renewals at $14.99/month).
Features include full WordPress integration.
✔Backups are provided for free each day.
✔ 24-hour assistance and heightened security.
Ideal for: Authors who want high-quality hosting and full control over their site’s configuration and design, especially if they use WordPress.
While SiteGround is essentially a hosting firm, its excellent customer service and fast loading times make it an excellent choice for authors seeking a self-hosted website.
Conclusion
When comparing author website builder rates, there are several variables to consider: your budget, the features you require, and the level of control you desire over your site. Olitt and Wix offer low-cost, user-friendly options for authors. Squarespace, WordPress, and SiteGround are fantastic options for individuals looking for more design flexibility and professional functionality, albeit at a larger price.
If you want a simple website at an affordable price, Olitt’s free plan or Wix’s Combo Plan can be the most suitable choices. However, if you want to sell books directly from your website and need more advanced features, the Squarespace Business Plan or Wix’s Unlimited Plan may be worth paying the extra price.
Ultimately, the best website builder for you will be determined by your requirements, goals, and budget. Take some time to investigate these.