Renting a website,
or owning one.
Monthly website plans sound small because they're priced by the month. Add them up over three years and the question changes: what did you pay for, and what do you have if you stop paying? Here are both, with the math.
- a $497/mo subscription over 36 months
- $17,892
- Convert, then two years of Keep, over 36 months
- $8,400
- when owning has cost less than renting
- Month 15
Same three years, two contracts.
| Question | Website subscription, $497/mo | Ludic: Convert, then Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Up front | $0 setup shown on the pricing page (list $10,500). | $6,000, or $500/mo for year one. |
| Each year after | $5,964. | $1,200 for Keep, and Keep is optional. |
| 36 months | $17,892. | $8,400. |
| When it costs less than the subscription | Not applicable. | Month 15. |
| If you stop paying | Before month 12, pay out the year or the site goes offline (one Knoxville subscription's service agreement). | Nothing goes offline. The license, code and repo are already yours. |
| Price after year one | Can rise on 30 days' notice. | Keep is $120/mo. Nothing bills before month 13. |
| Who owns the code and domain | Transfers after month 12, on that vendor's terms. | You, from day one. |
| Changes included | Edits included, same-day support (as advertised). | Anything an afternoon or less. A day or more is quoted first. |
Ludic's column doesn't include Design ($4,500). Buy both as Convert + Design ($9,500) and 36 months is $11,900, still crossing under the subscription around month 21.
Where the lines cross.
At 36 months
Subscription$17,892
Ludic$8,400
| Month | Subscription | Ludic |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | $5,964 | $6,000 |
| 15 | $7,455 | $7,200 |
| 24 | $11,928 | $7,200 |
| 36 | $17,892 | $8,400 |
Ludic line: Convert paid once ($6,000), Keep paid yearly ($1,200) from month 13. Paying $500/mo in year one ends at the same $6,000.
When renting wins, and when owning does.
- 01 / Up front$0 setup shownOn the pricing page (list $10,500).
- 02 / Each year$5,964Every year you have the site.
- 03 / 36 months$17,892month 37 → still billing
Fair questions about renting.
Isn't $497 a month less than $6,000?
For the first 12 months, yes. By month 15 the subscription has cost more, and it keeps going.
What do I own with a subscription?
It depends on the contract. Read the cancellation clause before you sign anything.
Can I pay Ludic monthly too?
Yes. $500 a month for 12 months, then it's paid off.
Do I have to buy Keep?
No. It's optional. Take the repo and host it anywhere.
Are "edits included" plans a good deal?
If you use them heavily, maybe. Most owners ask for a handful of changes a year. Keep's rule covers anything an afternoon or less.
Sources: subscription figures from a Knoxville Webflow studio's published pricing page, FAQ and website service agreement, read October 17, 2026. Some national subscription vendors remove the site entirely on cancel (Rebolt's help center). Ludic prices from the pricing page.
Twenty minutes. A price and a date.
Nathan answers. Lark is the scanner. Bring your URL and leave with the price, the date and what moves.