WordPress Author Websites: What It Takes — and an Easier Alternative
Should you build your author website on WordPress?
WordPress is a powerful, flexible platform used by many authors — but it can be complicated to set up, requires ongoing maintenance, and the costs (hosting, theme, plugins) add up. If you just need book pages, a mailing list, and buy links, a platform built for authors like Author Websites by BookBub can save you both time and money.
What building an author website on WordPress really takes
WordPress itself is free, open-source software. But running WordPress usually isn't cheap. Here's what a typical self-hosted WordPress author website actually costs — in money and in time.
| WordPress cost or task | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | $5–25/month | WordPress is software you install. You need to rent a server to run it, and bargain plans often mean a slow site |
| Theme | Free–$100 | Author-specific themes are rare; most need customization |
| Plugins (email, forms, security, backups) | $0–30+/month | Free tiers exist, but email marketing at scale is usually paid |
| Domain | ~$15/year | Often free the first year with a hosting plan; ~$15/year to renew after that |
| Setup time | 10–40 hours | Includes theme and page setup, plugin configuration, and testing |
| Ongoing maintenance | Your job, forever | WordPress sites usually require ongoing updates to WordPress itself, themes, and plugins, plus security patches and backups |
Bottom line: a realistic WordPress author site runs $15–60+ per month once email marketing is included — plus the time spent building and maintaining your website instead of writing.
WordPress vs. Author Websites by BookBub
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Author Websites by BookBub | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 10–40 hours | Under 30 minutes |
| Author-specific templates | Generic themes; customization required | Dozens, designed to showcase books and authors |
| Book data import | Manual entry or extra plugins | Built in — and automatically creates pages with covers, descriptions, and retailer links |
| Mailing list + reader magnets | Requires plugins (often paid) | Built in, with unlimited landing pages to collect emails |
| Email sending | Third-party service, typically $10–30/mo | Included, with 10k deliveries per month |
| Hosting, security & updates | Your responsibility | Handled for you |
| Total monthly cost | $15–60+ (hosting + plugins + email) | $9.99/month |
| Support | Community forums | Book-marketing experts at BookBub |
Which should you choose?
When WordPress is the right choice
- You want full design control over every pixel and template
- You're building a complex blog, membership site, or store
- You enjoy tinkering — or have a developer on call
- You need niche functionality only WordPress's plugin ecosystem offers
When a dedicated author website builder is better
A platform like Author Websites by BookBub is the right call if:
- You'd rather spend your time writing than running a website — hosting, security, and updates are handled for you
- You want to be live this week, not next month — pick a template, import your books, done in under 30 minutes
- You want one predictable bill — $9.99/month covers your site, email marketing, and landing pages, vs. $15–60+ for a comparable WordPress stack
- You want the author essentials without assembling plugins — book import with retailer links, reader magnets, sign-up forms, series display, and pre-built Blog and Press Kit pages are all built in
Moving your author site is easier than you think
Looking for WordPress themes for authors?
Consider a simpler route: Author Websites templates include everything you'd expect from an author WordPress theme — book covers, series pages, retailer links, and mailing list forms — without the installation or upkeep.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress good for author websites?
Yes — WordPress is flexible and powers millions of sites. But it wasn't built for authors: expect to assemble hosting, a theme, and plugins yourself, and to maintain them. If your site's job is showing books, collecting emails, and linking to retailers, a dedicated author website builder gets you there faster for less.
How much does a WordPress author website cost?
Typically $15–60+ per month all-in: hosting ($5–25), plugins for email collection and security ($0–30+), and a domain (~$15/year), plus a theme (free–$100). Author Websites by BookBub is $9.99/month flat, with email marketing included and a free domain the first year.
What's the easiest alternative to WordPress for authors?
An author-specific website builder. Author Websites by BookBub imports your books automatically, includes mailing list tools and email sending, and gets a professional site live in under 30 minutes with a 30-day free trial.
Can I move my WordPress author site?
Yes. Keep the domain you own, rebuild your pages in minutes with automatic book import, and point your domain to the new site.
Do I need a website as an author?
A website is the one channel you own: it's where readers, agents, and media expect to find your books, your bio, and a way to join your mailing list, independent of any retailer or social platform.