Guide · Updated October 2026

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Website?

What website repairs cost and why: common faults, how developers price fixes, hacked site cleanups, and when rebuilding is cheaper than repairing.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Broken Website?

Short answer: Fixing a broken website can be a quick, low-cost job, like renewing an expired SSL or domain, or a bigger project, like cleaning up malware or repairing a site broken by failed updates. Developers usually charge hourly or a fixed fee per issue. If the site is old and repeatedly breaking, rebuilding can be cheaper than patching it again.

First, what does "broken" mean?

The cost depends almost entirely on the cause. Here are the usual suspects, roughly from cheapest to most expensive to fix.

Quick fixes

  • Expired domain: renewing usually restores the site, though DNS may take time to update.
  • Expired SSL certificate: browsers show security warnings. Reinstalling or switching to a free certificate is typically fast.
  • Hosting account suspended: often an unpaid bill or resource limit.
  • Contact form not sending: commonly a mail configuration issue.

Medium jobs

  • White screen or errors after an update: a plugin or theme conflict, usually on WordPress.
  • Layout broken on mobile: CSS issues or an outdated theme.
  • Very slow loading: oversized images, too many plugins or poor hosting. Check with our free speed test.

Bigger jobs

  • Hacked site: malware removal, finding the entry point, cleaning the database, requesting removal from blocklists.
  • Lost files or no backups: rebuilding content from archives.
  • Abandoned site: the old developer vanished and nobody has logins.

How fixes are priced

Most developers charge an hourly rate or a fixed price per issue. Emergency or same-day work often costs more. Hacked site cleanups are commonly priced as a package because the work is unpredictable. Always ask for a diagnosis and quote before work begins.

Site down, hacked or crawling? Website Rescue fixes it fast.

SiteDrum builds fast, mobile-first websites from $99 setup and $15 a month, with hosting, security, Google setup and support included. Already have a site that is slow or broken? Try Website Rescue or run our free speed test.

Repair or rebuild?

Sometimes the honest answer is not to fix it. Consider rebuilding if:

  • The site runs on very old software that cannot be safely updated.
  • It has been hacked more than once.
  • It is not mobile-friendly and looks dated.
  • Every fix seems to break something else.
  • The total repair quote approaches the cost of a new site.

A modern, lightweight rebuild with hosting and maintenance included can end the cycle of paid emergency fixes.

What to do right now if your site is down

  1. Check your domain and hosting accounts for expiry or unpaid invoices.
  2. Try the site on mobile data to rule out your own network.
  3. Note any error messages exactly.
  4. Find your logins for hosting, domain and the website admin.
  5. Do not keep reinstalling plugins at random. You can make things worse.
  6. Get a professional diagnosis.

How SiteDrum helps

Our Website Rescue service diagnoses and fixes slow, broken and hacked sites. If the site is beyond sensible repair, we can rebuild it on a fast, secure platform with hosting and support included, so you are not paying for the same emergency twice.

Preventing future breakages

  • Keep domain and hosting on auto-renew.
  • Keep software updated, or use a platform that does it for you.
  • Run automatic off-site backups.
  • Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
  • Keep a record of all logins in a safe place.

The bottom line

Repair costs depend on the cause. Simple expiries are cheap, hacks and messy old sites are not. Get a diagnosis, ask for a fixed quote, and seriously consider rebuilding if the site keeps breaking.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my website suddenly stop working?

Common causes are an expired domain or SSL, a hosting problem, a failed update or a hack.

How long does it take to fix a hacked website?

Simple cleanups can be quick, but complex infections take longer. Get a diagnosis first.

Is it cheaper to rebuild than repair?

Sometimes, especially for old sites that break repeatedly or have been hacked more than once.

What do I need before calling a developer?

Your domain, hosting and website admin logins, plus any error messages you have seen.

Want a website that brings you customers?

Tell us what you do on WhatsApp and we will send a fixed quote and a free mockup.

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