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Methodology

Plain-language explanation of how this tool works. For quick answers to common questions, see the FAQ.

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What the estimator does

You answer questions about your business, project shape, features, technical comfort, priorities, and rough budget. We combine those answers with static assumption ranges the operator maintains for this tool — not live prices pulled from the internet.

Facts vs assumptions

  • Facts from you are the choices you select in the form (for example: “I need booking” or “medium store”).
  • Assumptions are the dollar ranges and scoring weights we apply to map your answers into costs and recommendations. They are intentionally conservative ranges, not quotes.

How costs are calculated

Each provider has labeled cost components (hosting/plan, domain, themes, apps/plugins, optional booking/email/commerce add-ons, optional setup help). The engine includes or scales components based on your answers, then sums:

  • Monthly includes recurring items plus annual domain cost divided by twelve (smooth monthly view).
  • Setup is one-time items such as themes and optional paid setup help.
  • First year is setup plus twelve times the monthly estimate (simple model; it is not a tax or cash-flow statement).

Processing fees, taxes, ads, and custom development are out of scope unless explicitly noted in assumptions.

How recommendations are scored

We compute a weighted score per provider using the 1–10 comparison dimensions in our model (ease, ecommerce strength, flexibility, content, booking fit, beginner friendliness, scaling) plus your stated priority and detected ecommerce intensity. Shopify is nudged up when commerce and growth matter; Squarespace when ease and speed matter; WordPress hosting options when cost and flexibility matter, with Hostinger weighted slightly toward budget-forward framing vs Bluehost in copy — you should still compare features yourself.

What 10/10 means on each dimension

Scores are ordinal labels for comparing the four options here, not lab benchmarks or guarantees. A 10 is “as strong as it gets in this tool’s lineup” on that axis; a 1 would be “worst in this lineup.” Mid scores mean workable but with clear tradeoffs.

Ease of use 10/10
10/10 means a non-technical owner can run day-to-day site work in one coherent interface—fewer consoles, plugins, and hosting concepts—with clear guardrails and fast wins. Scores drop when routine tasks split across hosting, builder, commerce, and add-ons.
Ecommerce strength 10/10
10/10 means a purpose-built commerce core: strong catalog, checkout, operations, and growth paths without treating the store as a bolt-on. Lower scores reflect lighter retail depth, tighter limits, or more DIY assembly (e.g. plugins) for the same outcome.
Flexibility & integrations 10/10
10/10 means you can extend the site in many directions—integrations, custom features, alternate workflows—without hitting a hard ceiling quickly. Lower scores mean a curated, opinionated stack that trades freedom for speed and simplicity.
Content & blogging 10/10
10/10 means publishing and long-form content are first-class: editorial control, layouts, and SEO-oriented patterns are central to the product. Lower scores mean blogging exists but is not the platform’s main strength versus dedicated publishing stacks.
Booking & appointments 10/10
10/10 means scheduling and appointments are native or tightly integrated for service businesses, with minimal third-party glue. Lower scores mean booking is possible via apps or plugins but not a headline, cohesive experience out of the box.
Beginner-friendly 10/10
10/10 means the gentlest learning curve in this lineup: forgiving defaults, strong guidance, and fewer ways to accidentally strand yourself. Lower scores expect more self-serve learning, maintenance, or technical vocabulary.
Scaling potential 10/10
10/10 means a credible runway from small to high load (traffic, catalog, or orders) with clear upgrade paths before a forced replatform. Lower scores hit practical ceilings sooner or shift scaling burden to you (hosting, tuning, architecture).

Why we use ranges

Real invoices depend on promotions, renewals, app choices, and transaction volume. Ranges avoid false precision and remind you to verify checkout pages before buying.