Most authors assume the cheapest website builder will cover everything they need. The data says otherwise: the lowest-priced plans almost always skip the core tools authors actually use, like email marketing, book catalogs, and direct sales, forcing you to pay more later anyway. Here are six of the best options for author website design pricing right now, ranked by who they’re actually built for.
1. Bradley Johnson Productions (Our Top Pick) , All‑in‑One Author Growth Hub
Bradley Johnson Productions is a coaching and education platform built specifically for non-fiction authors who want to grow their readership through organic traffic, paid methods, and a clear author brand. It’s not a generic website builder. It’s a system designed around how authors actually build an audience.
Where most website platforms hand you a template and walk away, Bradley Johnson Productions teaches you the strategy behind the site. You learn how to position your author brand, write content that attracts readers, and build an email list that converts. The platform pairs that education with done-with-you support so your website does more than look good , it works.
For authors who prefer a full-service agency, our comparison of author branding agency costs provides insight into pricing and deliverables.
Pricing at Bradley Johnson Productions starts at a modest rate for a logo and visual assets package, with full branding suites available at higher tiers that include 3‑D mockups, cover reveal banners, and custom social media graphics. These are real deliverables with a 5‑7 day turnaround, not a subscription that bills you forever for tools you barely use.
The honest caveat: this is a coaching and education platform, not a fully done-for-you web design agency. If you want someone to build your site while you sleep, you’ll want to pair it with a developer. But if you want to understand your brand deeply enough to brief any designer, write copy that connects with readers, and build a site that actually grows your audience, this is where to start.
For authors serious about their online presence, the non-fiction author brand building steps covered inside the platform give you a clear path from blank page to a site that earns readers every week.
2. Squarespace , Beautiful, ready‑made author sites
Squarespace starts at $16 per month and is the most design-forward option on this list. If aesthetics matter to you and you want a professional-looking site without touching a single line of code, Squarespace delivers that out of the box.
The platform uses a grid-based editor with templates built for visual storytelling. For authors, that means clean book showcase pages, built-in email tools, and newsletter features that connect directly to your mailing list. You don’t need a third-party tool to start collecting subscribers. All plans include SEO tools and marketing integrations, which matters if you want your author site to rank for your name and book titles.
Squarespace templates for authors come in several configurations: one-page sites for debut authors, multi-book catalog layouts for writers with a growing backlist, and series-specific pages that keep reading order clear for new fans. You can customize fonts, colors, and layouts without a designer, though the grid system does limit how far you can push the design compared to something like WordPress.
The real cost is worth knowing. The base plan is billed annually, and adding external email marketing software or sales tools can increase the overall expense.
3. Wix , Full drag‑and‑drop freedom, free tier
Wix is the most flexible option on this list and the only one with a genuinely usable free tier. You can build a real author website without spending a dollar, though the free plan shows Wix branding and uses a Wix subdomain. When you’re ready to go professional, paid plans start at around $16 per month.
The drag-and-drop editor gives you total control over layout. You’re not locked into a grid, which means you can build something that looks genuinely unique. Wix also integrates with Amazon, so authors can link book listings directly from their site without a workaround. The app marketplace adds hundreds of tools for things like booking, email, and analytics.
The trade-off is that Wix is a generalist platform. It wasn’t designed with authors in mind, so you won’t find purpose-built book catalog pages or ISBN-based import tools. You build those features yourself by combining apps and widgets. That’s fine if you have the time and patience. If you want something that works for authors on day one, you’ll spend a few hours configuring it first.
Wix is best for authors who want design freedom and don’t mind doing a bit of setup work. The free tier makes it a low-risk starting point, and the upgrade path is straightforward when your site starts getting real traffic.
4. WordPress , Unlimited customization via plugins
WordPress powers roughly 43% of all websites on the internet, and for good reason: nothing else comes close to its flexibility. With over 59,000 free plugins, you can add almost any feature an author site needs, from advanced SEO tools to e‑commerce solutions for direct book sales to email list integrations with every major provider.
The catch is the learning curve. WordPress.org (the self-hosted version) requires you to buy hosting separately, install a theme, and configure plugins yourself. The real annual cost varies depending on hosting, a premium theme, and any paid plugins you need. That’s before you pay a developer to help with anything technical.
For authors who are comfortable with technology or who have a small budget for developer help, WordPress is the best long-term investment. Your site is fully yours. You’re not locked into any platform’s pricing or feature decisions. And because WordPress dominates the web, there’s a massive community of tutorials, support forums, and designers who know it well.
Authors who want to understand how their site fits into a broader author branding strategy will find WordPress gives them the most room to grow. For a deeper dive, the author brand storytelling guide PDF offers templates and examples. Just be honest with yourself about how much time you’re willing to spend on the technical side before committing.
If you want a site that can do anything but are willing to put in the work to make it happen, WordPress is your platform. If you want something working in a weekend, look elsewhere on this list.
5. Shopify , Built‑in e‑commerce for books and merch
Shopify is built for selling, full stop. If your primary goal is direct book sales, audiobooks, courses, or author merchandise, Shopify gives you the most complete e-commerce infrastructure of any platform on this list.
You can sell physical books, digital downloads, and merch from a single dashboard. Shopify connects to social media apps and major payment gateways, so readers can buy from your site, your Instagram, and your Facebook page without you managing three separate systems. The checkout experience is polished and trusted by buyers, which reduces cart abandonment.
The pricing structure reflects its e-commerce focus. Basic Shopify starts at $39 per month (billed monthly), which is higher than most website builders on this list. There are also transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. For authors who sell a high volume of books directly, those fees become negligible. For authors who sell occasionally, the monthly cost may not justify the platform.
Thinking about your broader author business model matters here. The decision to sell direct versus through retailers affects everything from pricing to reader relationships. The guide on non-fiction author pricing models breaks down how direct sales, royalty splits, and subscription models compare so you can choose the right structure before you build your store. You can also explore specialized non‑fiction book promotion services to complement your store.
Shopify is the right pick if selling direct is your primary goal and you want a platform that handles the commerce layer without compromise. It’s overkill if you just want a professional author presence with a few retailer links.
6. Tertulia , Author‑focused templates & mailing tools
Tertulia starts at $7.99 per month and is the only platform on this list built exclusively for authors. Enter your ISBN and it automatically pulls in your book cover, description, and reviews. Your site is half-built before you’ve touched a single setting.
The platform bundles a blog, mailing list signup, events calendar, and book showcase into every plan. Tertulia enables direct book sales, allowing authors to retain a larger share of revenue. Tertulia’s official site provides additional details.
The mailing list tools are fully integrated, which means you’re not paying for a separate email platform on top of your website subscription. For authors who’ve been juggling a website, an email tool, and a sales page as three separate subscriptions, Tertulia collapses that into one bill. The Pro plan, which adds e-commerce and advanced email marketing, is priced competitively.
The limitation is customization depth. Tertulia uses pre-designed templates that you can adjust but not fully rebuild. If you have a strong visual brand that doesn’t fit a template, you may hit walls. But for most indie and traditionally published authors who want a clean, functional site without a tech headache, Tertulia is the fastest path from zero to live.
Comparison Table: Pricing & Feature Overview
Pricing across these platforms ranges from free to $39+ per month, but the sticker price rarely tells the full story. The table below maps each option against the features authors actually need, so you can see where each platform earns its cost and where it falls short.
The median starting price across these platforms is modest, but that number hides a wide range of what you actually get. Squarespace at $16 bundles email and book templates. Wix at free gives you a site with no author tools at all. And WordPress at a similar monthly cost requires hours of configuration before it works like an author site.
When thinking about your own author brand identity, the visual and strategic decisions you make before choosing a platform matter as much as the platform itself. A solid understanding of author brand logo design pricing helps you budget for the full picture, not just the monthly subscription. Branding agencies that work with authors, much like those described in this guide to choosing a branding agency without getting burned, often emphasize that a clear visual identity needs to be decided before you build any website, otherwise you end up redesigning six months later.
One pattern worth noting: platforms with the lowest sticker prices tend to have the fewest built-in author tools, which means you end up paying for add‑ons anyway. The counter‑intuitive finding from the research is that authors who start on the lowest‑priced plans often migrate up within a year once they realize the basics are missing. Starting on a mid‑tier platform with the right tools built in often costs less over 24 months.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Author Site
Run through these four questions before you commit to any platform or pricing tier.
- What’s your primary goal? If it’s direct book sales, Shopify or Tertulia. If it’s building an email list and brand presence, Squarespace or Bradley Johnson Productions. If it’s long-term flexibility, WordPress.
- How much time can you spend on setup? Tertulia gets you live in a day. WordPress may take weeks to configure properly.
- Do you need email marketing included? Squarespace and Tertulia include it. Wix and WordPress require separate tools, which adds cost.
- What’s your actual 12-month budget? Add up the platform cost, any required add-ons, domain registration (~$15/year), and any design help you’ll need. That’s your real number, not the headline price.
The author branding kit pricing guide at Bradley Johnson Productions walks through how to budget for the full visual identity alongside your website, so you’re not surprised by costs down the road.
FAQ
How much does an author website typically cost per month?
Most author website platforms start between free and $16 per month, but the real cost is higher once you add email marketing tools, custom domains, and any e-commerce features. Platforms like Tertulia bundle these at $7.99/month. Squarespace starts at $16/month with email included. WordPress can run $200-500 per year when you factor in hosting and plugins. Budget for the full stack, not just the base plan.
Do I need a custom domain for my author website?
Yes, a custom domain (yourname.com) is worth the ~$15/year cost. It looks professional, builds reader trust, and makes your site easier to find. Most platforms, including Squarespace, Wix, and Tertulia, let you connect a custom domain on any paid plan. Free plans typically use a subdomain like yourname.wixsite.com, which undercuts your credibility with readers and media contacts.
Is WordPress good for author websites?
WordPress is excellent for author websites if you’re comfortable with technology or willing to hire a developer. It has the deepest plugin library of any platform, including tools for SEO, email marketing, and direct sales. The trade-off is setup time and ongoing maintenance. Authors who want a site running quickly with minimal configuration are usually better served by Squarespace, Tertulia, or Wix.
Can I sell books directly from my author website?
Yes. Shopify is the strongest option for direct book sales, handling physical books, digital downloads, and merch from one dashboard. Tertulia also supports direct sales and lets you retain the sale price minus credit card processing fees. Squarespace and WordPress support e-commerce through integrations. Selling direct builds a direct reader relationship and removes retailer commission cuts, which compounds over time.
What’s the cheapest way to build a professional author website?
Wix’s free tier is the lowest-cost starting point, but it shows Wix branding and lacks author-specific tools. Tertulia at $7.99/month is the most affordable option that includes built-in email marketing, book showcasing, and direct sales in one plan. For authors who want strategy alongside their site, Bradley Johnson Productions offers branding packages as a one-time investment rather than an ongoing subscription.
Should I build my author website before my book is finished?
Yes. Your website should start building your email list before your book launches. Every day you wait is a potential reader relationship you didn’t start. A simple one-page site with an email opt-in and your author bio is enough to begin. Tertulia and Squarespace both make this easy to set up in a few hours, even without a finished manuscript or published ISBN.
Conclusion
If you’re a non-fiction author who wants more than a template, start with Bradley Johnson Productions to build the strategy and brand foundation first. Then pick the platform that fits your budget and goals: Tertulia if you want an all-in-one author tool at a fair price, Squarespace if design matters most, Shopify if direct selling is your focus, or WordPress if you want full long-term control. If you need help packaging multiple titles, check out our guide to book bundle creation services pricing. The next step is simple: pick one platform, set up a basic page with your bio and an email opt-in, and start building your reader list today.