What does each option really cost?
Prices below are typical ranges in Canadian dollars as of 2026. Exact figures vary by provider, so treat them as a map, not a quote.
| Option | Upfront | Ongoing | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY on Squarespace or Wix | $0 plus your hours | Roughly $20 to $50 a month | Tight budgets and a taste for tinkering | Your evenings. Templates still need copy, images, SEO, and upkeep. |
| A pre-made template | Roughly $50 to $300 | Platform fees, plus your time to fill it | Getting something live fast | Looks like every other therapist site using it, and the writing is still on you. |
| Subscription website companies | Often low setup | Roughly $59 to $349 a month | Fully hands-off, larger budgets | You rent the site. Cancel and it is gone, and costs keep compounding. |
| Freelancer or agency custom build | Roughly $1,000 to $5,000+ | Hosting and maintenance vary | A site that is actually yours, in your voice | Quality varies widely. Check who writes the copy and who handles SEO. |
Sources: published pricing from major platforms and providers, current as of August 2026. Always confirm current prices directly.
Why do therapist websites vary so much in price?
The visible design is the small part. The price differences come from what surrounds it: who writes the copy, whether SEO and structured data are built in, whether the site meets your College's advertising standards, who moves your domain without breaking email, who hosts it, and who makes the small changes you will inevitably need. A $50 template and a $3,000 build can look similar in a screenshot and behave completely differently in search results and in upkeep.
What is the total cost over three years?
The honest comparison is total cost of ownership. A subscription site at $99 a month is roughly $3,600 over three years, and you own nothing at the end. A custom build at $1,299 to $1,999 with a modest care plan lands in a similar range or lower, and the site, files, and domain are yours. If there is any chance you will still be practising in three years, ownership math favours building over renting.
What questions should you ask any provider?
- Do I own the site, the domain, and the files, and can I take them elsewhere?
- Who writes the copy, and will it sound like me?
- Is SEO included, and what does that actually mean in practice?
- Does the site follow my College's advertising rules?
- What happens when I need a small change: who does it, how fast, and at what cost?
- What is the all-in cost over three years?