What does a website really cost in Tanzania?

"Gharama za kutengeneza website" is one of the most asked tech questions on Tanzanian forums — and the answers range from 99,000 shillings to several million. Both can be true. Here is how the pricing actually works, so you can compare quotes fairly.

The three costs every website has

• Domain — your name on the internet (e.g. biasharayako.co.tz), from about TZS 25,000–60,000 per year.
• Hosting — the server your site lives on, typically TZS 60,000–300,000 per year depending on size and traffic.
• Design & development — the real variable: from low-cost template sites to fully custom builds of TZS 500,000 to 4,000,000+.

Template vs custom — which do you need?

A template site is fast and cheap, and fine for a simple company profile. A custom build costs more because it is designed around your business: your booking flow, your product catalogue, mobile money payments, Kiswahili + English content, and search engine optimisation done properly. If the website is meant to bring in customers — not just exist — custom pays for itself.

And mobile apps?

Apps cost more than websites because they are built for Android and iOS, pass through app store review, and usually need a backend server. In Tanzania, serious business apps start in the low millions of shillings and rise with complexity — payments, deliveries, chat and offline mode all add work. Many businesses start with a mobile-friendly website, then add an app when the model is proven.

Red flags when comparing quotes

• The domain is registered in the developer\u2019s name, not yours — you must own your domain.
• No mention of who can update content — you should be able to edit prices and photos yourself.
• No maintenance or support plan after launch.
• A price with no written scope — you cannot compare what is not written down.

What Gentech charges

We build professional websites and native mobile apps with mobile money integration, bilingual content and SEO included — with a written scope, fixed price and support after launch. Tell us what you need on the web & mobile page and we will give you a clear quote within a day.