The Real Cost of Building a Website with Arc XP vs WordPress CMS

Building an online presence for businesses involves numerous decisions. Decisions you make today can significantly impact how your business operates in the future. That’s why making the right choices from the beginning of your business journey is crucial.

At Multidots, we have enjoyed working with top brands and enterprise companies worldwide. Many businesses, regardless of their stage, are still searching for answers. One of the most important financial decisions is the cost analysis of your entire digital presence. This analysis starts with choosing the appropriate CMS and understanding the costs involved at fixed and recurring intervals.

Arc XP is a robust platform designed for large publications. However, due to its focus on this niche, customizing the platform to meet your unique needs can become costly. That is why we recommend WordPress over Arc XP. WordPress’ versatility allows it to cater to the diverse demands of a growing business.

The Need to Build a Lasting Digital Presence 

Creating a website is no longer a luxury but a necessity for any entity seeking to establish a strong online presence. A well-designed website serves as a central hub for information, marketing, and customer engagement.

A business without an online presence misses out on many opportunities to grow and market itself. Today, going online as soon as you register your business is crucial. Additionally, it’s essential to plan—considering how you want your business to be seen and found online 3, 5, and even 10 years from now.

The Choice of a CMS and Budget Considerations

When you search online for "how to build a website" or "Best CMS to build a website," you'll find numerous methods and platforms available. The market is saturated, which is why we recommend seeking expert consultation to help you choose the right CMS and understand the long-term costs as your business grows.

When selecting the right CMS, start by doing your research. Narrow down your options to a few platforms, then consult with experts who specialize in those systems. Ask about the investment required to bring your vision online.

This initial effort will save you from many issues that often arise when businesses make the wrong choices early on.

If you’ve narrowed your options down to Arc XP and WordPress, you’re in luck. We’ll take a closer look at the price breakdowns of both CMS platforms and address some common questions you might have.

Cost Breakdown of Building an Online Business

WordPress Pricing and Website Costs

Several components contribute to the overall cost of building an online business using WordPress. Below is a detailed breakdown to help you plan and budget effectively.

#1 Domain Name: Your domain name is your website's online address—a necessary component that typically needs to be renewed annually.

Cost: $0.99 to $69.99 per year, depending on the registrar and selected domain name TLD. Pre-owned domains can cost thousands of dollars.

#2 WordPress Web Hosting: Web hosting is essential for making your website available on the internet. Costs vary based on the type of hosting and the resources required.

• Shared Hosting: $3 to $50 per month. Traditional hosting is suitable for very small websites with low traffic.
• VPS Hosting: $5 to $300 per month. It offers better performance and uptime and is suitable for small—to medium-sized business sites.
• Dedicated Hosting: $50 to $500 per month. Provides top-notch performance with complete access to server hardware and resources.
• Managed WordPress Hosting: $10 to $1,000 or more per month. Specialized hosting for WordPress websites with enhanced support, security, speed, and scalability.

Cost: $2.99 to $999 or more per month, depending on the hosting provider, server resources, and selected plan.

#3 WordPress CMS: WordPress is free to use as an open-source CMS, with all future updates also available at no cost. It can be downloaded from WordPress.org. Usually, many hosting providers offer a convenient one-click WordPress installation process.

Cost: Free.

#4 WordPress Themes: Themes determine the design and layout of your website. Both free and premium themes are excellent options; choose one with good reviews that meets your needs

• Free/Freemium Themes: Find the perfect theme for your WordPress site among thousands of options in the official WordPress directory.
• Premium Themes: Range from $30 to $200 per year or a one-time cost of nearly $1,000 for unlimited use.
• Custom Themes: Default WordPress themes can be customized using the Gutenberg Block Editor to create any design.
  

Cost: Free to $200 per year or up to $1,000 for a lifetime license.

#5 WordPress Plugins: Plugins add functionality to your website. Premium and custom-coded plugins are necessary investments for businesses with complex needs.

Cost: Free to over $1,000 per year per plugin or one-time cost.

• Free/Freemium Plugins: Customize your WordPress website functionality with thousands of free plugins from the official WordPress directory.
• Premium Plugins: Range from $20 to $1,000 per year or one-time cost.
• Custom-Coded Plugins: WordPress is built with PHP, allowing developers to package their custom codes into plugins.
  

#6 Custom Development: For highly customized websites with complex functionalities, hiring a developer or an agency is often necessary. The cost depends on the developer’s rates and the project's complexity.

Cost: $15 to $200+ per hour or $400 to $10,000+ per project.

#7 Digital Marketing Costs: Digital marketing, including SEO, social media, media buying, and content marketing, is crucial for driving traffic to your website. Costs vary based on the scope and complexity of your marketing strategy.

Cost: $250 to $10,000+ per month. There is no upper limit.

#8 WordPress Security: Ensuring the security of your website is vital. Costs include SSL certificates, security plugins, and solutions.

• SSL Certificates: Free to $1,000 annually, depending on the hosting provider.
• Security Plugins: Free to $300+ per year.

Cost: $0 to over $1,000+ per month or year.

#9 WordPress Maintenance: Regular maintenance, including updates, backups, and performance optimization, is necessary to keep your website running smoothly. Costs depend on whether you handle maintenance yourself or hire a service.

Cost: $0 to $500+ per month.

Total WordPress Pricing and Cost Estimation

The total cost of building and maintaining a WordPress website can vary significantly based on the site's complexity and size. Here is a rough estimate:

• Simple Blog: $19 to $250 per month.
• Small Business Website: $500 to $3,000 per year.
• E-commerce Website: $1,000 to $5,000 per year.
• Custom Website: $3,500 to $80,000 or more per year.

These estimates include the costs of domain names, web hosting, themes, plugins, custom development, front-end designs, digital marketing, security, and maintenance.

Brands Uses WordPress

Arc XP Website Costs

Arc XP CMS pricing plans are not publicly available, and access to the platform begins with a consultation call with their official team. They will provide a custom quotation based on your project needs. 

However, it is estimated that costs start at approximately $10,000+ per month. Arc XP is a closed-source, cloud-based platform that includes all necessary features and web hosting infrastructure within its plans.

#1 Domain Name: You will need to register and buy the domain name that represents your business.

Cost: $0.99 to $69.99 per year, depending on the registrar and selected domain name TLD. Pre-owned domains that are for sale can cost up to thousands of dollars.

#2 Hosting: As a cloud-based CMS, Arc XP includes web hosting in its package, so there’s no need to get hosting separately.

Cost: Included in the plan.

#3 Arc XP CMS Cost: Arc XP is not open-source, meaning you must pay to use it. The total cost is only determined after a consultation call with the official Arc XP team.

Cost: Estimated to start at $10,000 per month. 

#4 Custom Development: For an enterprise-level CMS, the cost of custom development is a significant investment, reflecting the complexity and scale of the projects typically handled by Arc XP.

Cost: $15,000+.

#5 Maintenance and Security: The platform is fully managed, with security and maintenance handled by Arc XP’s engineers. However, if you choose to hire external professionals for maintenance, this will be an additional cost to consider.

Maintenance Services: $5,000+ per month.

Cost: $0.

#6 Online Marketing Costs: The cost varies based on your business’s digital marketing strategy and goals.

Cost: $250 to $10,000+ per month. 

Arc XP Pricing Total Estimate

Arc XP is designed for large publication websites that require a low-maintenance, high-performance CMS. The total estimated cost for running an Arc XP website is a significant financial investment in the long run.

Arc XP CMS Cost: $10,000 to $50,000 per month or more.

Migrating an Arc XP website to WordPress has many advantages; it not only reduces costs but also offers the customization and scalability that WordPress CMS provides.

Brands Uses Arc XP

How to Decide Which CMS to Choose Between Arc XP and WordPress

Choosing the right Content Management System (CMS) for your website is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your online presence, functionality, and overall cost. Here’s a breakdown of key factors to consider:

1. Purpose and Complexity of Your Website

Arc XP: Best suited for content-first, complex organizations. It is particularly useful for large media organizations and enterprises that need advanced content management and user experience features.

WordPress: Highly versatile and can be used for various types of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites. It is ideal for businesses of all sizes due to its extensive customization options and community support.

2. Cost Considerations

Arc XP: Pricing is not publicly available, which suggests it may be more expensive and tailored to enterprise-level clients. Estimates indicate a starting price of $10,000+ per month.

WordPress: Free to use, with costs arising from hosting, themes, plugins, and custom development. This makes it a more cost-effective option for many users, especially for growing businesses.

3. Customization and Flexibility

Arc XP: Offers advanced features for complex digital experiences but may have a steeper learning curve and higher customization costs.

WordPress: Known for its high degree of customization and flexibility. It has a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, making it easier to tailor your website to your specific needs.

4. Community and Support

Arc XP: Developed by The Washington Post, it focuses on content management for large media organizations. However, its community and support resources are less extensive than those of WordPress.

WordPress: Benefits from a large and active community, extensive documentation, and a wide range of resources available for support and development.

5. Scalability

Arc XP: Designed to handle complex content operations and scalable digital experiences, making it suitable for large enterprises.

WordPress: Depending on the hosting and configuration, it can scale from simple blogs to complex e-commerce sites or large publication websites.

6. Learning Curve and Ease of Use

Arc XP: Due to its advanced features and closed nature, it is likely to have a steeper learning curve, which may require more technical expertise.

WordPress: Has a more user-friendly interface, especially for those familiar with CMS platforms. Learning various WordPress features and functionalities is easier due to its unrestricted access and extensive documentation.

7. Security and Maintenance

Arc XP: Given its focus on large media organizations, it likely includes robust security features. However, specific details on security and maintenance costs are not publicly available.

WordPress: Requires regular updates, backups, and security measures, which can be managed through various plugins and hosting services. The cost of security and maintenance can vary widely.

Decision Matrix

Some Questions May Come to Your Mind When Comparing Arc XP vs WordPress

1. Which CMS is more cost-effective?

WordPress is generally more cost-effective due to its free, open-source nature. Costs are primarily associated with hosting, themes, plugins, and custom development. In contrast, Arc XP may involve significant licensing fees, making it more expensive.

2. How scalable are these CMS platforms?

Arc XP is designed to handle complex content operations and scalable digital experiences, making it suitable for large enterprises. WordPress can also scale with a business's growing needs.

3. Which CMS is better for e-commerce websites?

WordPress is highly versatile and can be used for e-commerce websites with plugins like WooCommerce. Arc XP is more focused on content management and may not be as ideal for e-commerce unless it has specific e-commerce features that are not publicly detailed.

4. How do I choose the right CMS for my business?

WordPress can be used to build just about any kind of digital experience. While Arc XP is better suited for media sites.

Making the right choices in the beginning to build your digital presence can save you time, efforts and money in the long run. At Multidots, our team of migration experts and developers help build scalable websites with WordPress. Get in touch with our team today for a free consultation on how we can help you grow.