Multiply the monthly figure by 36. That’s the comparison — and on a subscription, if you stop paying, the site goes offline and you own nothing. Below, the arithmetic at three price points, then the two questions that actually decide it.
The arithmetic
If the plan is ₹299/month
| Subscription | One-time build | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | ₹299 | ₹18,000 |
| Year 1 | ₹3,588 | ₹22,500 (incl. domain + hosting) |
| Year 3 cumulative | ₹10,764 | ₹27,000 |
| Year 5 cumulative | ₹17,940 | ₹31,500 |
| If you stop paying | Site goes offline | Stays up for ~₹4,500/yr |
| Own the files | No | Yes |
At ₹299 the subscription genuinely is cheaper for five years. What you’re buying is access, not an asset.
If the plan is ₹999/month
| Subscription | One-time build | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹11,988 | ₹22,500 |
| Year 3 cumulative | ₹35,964 | ₹27,000 |
| Year 5 cumulative | ₹59,940 | ₹31,500 |
Crossover: roughly month 25. Past two years the build is cheaper and you own it.
If the plan is ₹1,999/month
| Subscription | One-time build + AMC | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹23,988 | ₹22,500 + ₹18,000 = ₹40,500 |
| Year 3 cumulative | ₹71,964 | ₹76,500 |
| Year 5 cumulative | ₹1,19,940 | ₹1,12,500 |
At this level it’s close, because you’re comparing against a build plus a maintenance plan — which is the honest comparison, since maintenance is bundled into the monthly price.
Do it for your own number
- Monthly fee × 36 = three-year subscription total
- Build price + (₹4,500 × 3) = three-year owned total, domain and hosting included
- If the subscription bundles maintenance, add ₹18,000 × 3 to the owned column so you’re comparing like with like
- Find the month where the lines cross
Ask one more thing before you finalise: “What’s the price after year one?” Introductory rates that rise are common, and they move the crossover point substantially.
The two questions that decide it
1. Will you still need this site in three years?
Yes → build it. No → rent it. For an established business the answer is usually yes, which is why the crossover matters.
2. Can you leave with your site?
Ask directly: “If I cancel, do I get the files, and can I move the site elsewhere?”
The answer on a subscription is usually no — content and design don’t transfer, so leaving means rebuilding. Knowing that in advance turns it from a nasty surprise into a priced trade-off.
The honest case for subscriptions
Because there is one, and it isn’t only for people who can’t afford a build.
Cash flow. ₹299 a month is genuinely easier for a new business than ₹20,000 at once. If the alternative is eight months with no website while you save, the subscription is the better business decision.
Maintenance is bundled. Updates, backups, uptime — handled. Against ₹1,000–2,500 a month for a separate plan, the gap narrows a lot.
Somebody has a reason to answer. A subscription vendor has recurring revenue at stake. That’s structurally better than a floor-tier one-time build where post-payment support has no economics at all.
Genuinely right for: a seasonal business, an event, a pop-up, or testing a venture.
The one condition, whichever you choose
Register your own domain separately, in your own account — about ₹700–1,200 a year — and point their site at it.
That single step means leaving costs you a rebuild rather than your business name. It’s the difference between a priced trade-off and a hostage situation arrived at by instalments.
The five questions to ask a subscription vendor
☐ Is the domain registered in my name and account?
☐ If I cancel, what happens to the site — and can I take the files?
☐ What’s the price after year one?
☐ Is there a minimum contract period or exit fee?
☐ What exactly does the maintenance include — backups, updates, how many content edits?
A vendor answering all five plainly is offering a legitimate product. One who deflects on the first two is selling you dependence.
What to do this week
- Multiply the monthly figure by 36 and write it down.
- Add maintenance to the owned column so the comparison is fair.
- Ask what the price is after year one.
- Ask whether you can take the files if you cancel.
- Register your own domain in your own account regardless.
If you want it done the certain way
We sell one-time builds with the domain, hosting and logins in your name, plus an optional plan at ₹1,000–2,500 a month with a written list of what it covers. If your need is genuinely seasonal or cash flow is the constraint, a subscription is the better buy and we’ll say so. WhatsApp us; we reply in about five minutes between 9am and 7pm.
Related reading
- One-time website vs ₹299/month subscription
- Website cost calculator for Delhi NCR
- Is a website “finished forever” once it’s made?
- Year-two renewal shock
- Website maintenance in India: what AMC should cost
FAQ
Is a ₹299/month website cheaper than paying once?
Over five years, yes at that price — roughly ₹18,000 against ₹31,500. But you own nothing and the site goes offline if you stop paying. At ₹999/month the build becomes cheaper at around month 25.
What happens to a subscription website if I cancel?
It goes offline, along with any business email attached to it, and the files usually don’t transfer. Registering your own domain separately means at least your business name stays yours.
How do I compare a monthly website plan fairly?
Multiply the monthly fee by 36, then add a maintenance plan to the one-time column since the subscription bundles it. Also ask what the price becomes after year one.
When is a subscription website the right choice?
For a seasonal business, an event, a pop-up, or when cash flow makes a lump sum impossible and waiting costs you more. Register your own domain separately either way.
