What maintenance actually covers
Maintenance is a loose word, and two plans with the same name can cover very different work. Ask which of these are included:
- Domain renewal, with the registrar account kept in your name.
- Hosting, uptime monitoring and backups.
- The HTTPS certificate and its renewal.
- Software updates for the platform, theme and plugins, plus the server's PHP version.
- Security monitoring, and cleanup if something goes wrong.
- Testing forms and phone links after every change.
- Content edits such as new pages, photos, prices and hours.
- Speed checks and fixes.
Costs that come with each platform
On a hosted builder, the subscription covers hosting and the software. When we checked, Wix plans ran from $17 to $159 a month on yearly billing and Squarespace plans from $19 to $99 a month paid annually. Wix says it performs software updates for you, so your remaining costs are your own time for edits and any add-ons.
On WordPress, the software is free but the upkeep is not. Minor and security releases can install on their own, but major releases need someone to run them, and WordPress advises backing up the site before you update. Its hardening guide says to keep plugins updated and delete the ones you do not use. Premium plugins usually renew every year; Elementor Pro started at $60 a year when we checked. The server's PHP version has to stay supported as well, and PHP 8.2 runs out of security support at the end of 2026.
A hand-coded static site has the fewest moving parts: no database, no plugins and no admin login to patch. Its costs are hosting, the domain and whatever content changes you want, which usually means paying a developer for edits.
Two costs apply on every platform. Email on your domain is separate; Google Workspace Business Starter listed at $7 per user a month on an annual plan when we checked. HTTPS certificates can cost nothing, because Let's Encrypt issues them free to anyone who owns a domain.
Why maintenance plan prices vary so much
Plans run from a bare hosting bill to full care with monthly content updates and reporting. Two plans at very different prices may simply cover different lists. Hourly billing for changes can suit a site that rarely changes, while a monthly plan makes sense when you update often or rely on someone else to watch security.
The cheapest option is the one where nothing breaks unnoticed. A form that silently stops sending leads can cost you jobs for weeks before anyone notices, so put testing on the list whatever you choose.
Questions to ask before you sign up
Get the answers in writing. Modern Apex hand codes the sites it builds, which removes the plugin and CMS update cycle, and the client owns the site and domain. If you want ongoing help from us, it appears as its own line in the itemized quote Nick sends after a free 30-minute call.
- Which items on the list above are included, and which are billed separately?
- How often are updates applied, and is the site tested afterward?
- Where are backups stored, how often are they taken, and has one ever been restored?
- How quickly do you respond if the site goes down or a form stops working?
- Who owns the hosting account and the domain, and what happens if I cancel?
| Item | Hosted builder | WordPress | Hand-coded static site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting and software updates | In the subscription | Hosting, plus someone to run updates | Hosting only, little to update |
| Plugins and licenses | Some features need higher plans | Premium plugins often renew yearly | None required |
| Security work | Handled by the platform | Updates, monitoring and cleanup | Few moving parts |
| Content edits | You, in the editor | You or a developer | Usually a developer |
| Domain and email | Domain renews after the free first year; email extra | Separate | Separate |
Related questions
Do I need a website maintenance plan at all?
Not always. A builder site or a static hand-coded site may only need a domain, hosting and occasional edits. A WordPress site with plugins needs someone responsible for updates and backups, whether that is you, an employee or a paid plan.
Is hosting the same as maintenance?
No. Hosting keeps the site online. Maintenance keeps it current, secure and working: updates, backups, form tests and content changes. Some hosts include parts of maintenance, so compare the actual list rather than the label.
How often should my website be updated?
Software updates should go in soon after release, especially security fixes. Content should change whenever your services, prices, hours or service area change, and a quick review of every page once a year catches the rest.
What happens if I skip WordPress updates?
Your site drifts onto versions that no longer receive security fixes. WordPress notes that once a fix is released, the details needed to exploit the old flaw are almost certainly public, which makes outdated sites easier targets.