Price guide · 2026
Website maintenance cost: what software upkeep should cost
The short answer: a basic website maintenance agreement typically costs DKK 200–600 a month and a professional agreement DKK 1,500–3,000 a month. For apps and larger systems the rule of thumb is 15–20 % of the build cost per year.
8 min read · Updated 29 September 2026
Maintenance is the part of an IT budget most often forgotten, and the part that most often ends up costing the most. Once a website or system is live, it slowly starts to age: libraries develop security holes, operating systems are updated and the integrations you depend on change. This guide shows what maintenance typically costs in Denmark in 2026, and what you should demand for the money.
What does a maintenance agreement cost?
Typical price levels on the Danish market in 2026.
| Level | Typical price | What is typically included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic agreement | DKK 200–600 per month | Updates and backups, rarely support |
| Professional agreement | DKK 1,500–3,000 per month | Monitoring, support, small changes, reporting |
| Apps and larger systems | 15–20 % of the build cost per year | New OS versions, security, bug fixes, integrations |
| Hosting (often separate) | DKK 500–3,000 per year | Server, database, traffic |
| .dk domain (often separate) | DKK 50–150 per year | Registration and renewal |
The wide range exists because the word maintenance covers everything from an automatic plugin-update script to a developer who knows your system and answers the same day. Two agreements at the same price can cover completely different things. Always read what is listed as excluded.
What should a maintenance agreement include?
- Security updates to the framework and libraries, not just the website itself
- An SSL certificate that renews automatically
- Regular backups that have been tested, so they can actually be restored
- Hosting with monitoring, so someone notices when the site is down
- Bug fixes at no extra charge when the fault is the supplier’s
- Support through a clear channel, with a clear answer on when you will hear back
- Updates for new versions of iOS and Android, if you have an app
- A clear line between maintenance and new development, and a price for the latter
- Exit terms: notice period, and that you get the code, data and access with you
How does the 15–20 % rule work for apps and systems?
For apps and larger systems many people use a simple rule: budget 15–20 % of the build cost per year for running and maintenance. An app that cost DKK 200,000 therefore costs DKK 30,000–40,000 a year, or roughly DKK 2,500–3,300 a month. Apps cost more to maintain than websites, because Apple and Google update their operating systems every year, and because an app rarely stands alone: there is almost always a backend and an admin panel behind it. We have covered build prices in how much does an app cost.
Ad hoc on hours
- Cheap in the months when nothing happens
- Expensive and unpredictable when something breaks
- Nobody is responsible for updating proactively
- Response time depends on the supplier’s calendar
Fixed monthly plan
- The same amount every month, easy to budget
- Updates and security happen continuously
- Hosting, SSL and backups are part of the deal
- The supplier has an interest in nothing breaking
What does Ceptiv’s monthly plan cover?
Everything we build runs on a fixed monthly plan covering hosting, maintenance and updates, support, security and SSL, and backups. There is no separate hosting bill and no hours for keeping the solution healthy. New features are priced separately at a fixed price per extra feature, so the line between running and development is clear.
Monthly prices by package. The plan covers the same things whatever the size.
| Package | Website or web app | Mobile app |
|---|---|---|
| Small | DKK 600/month (EUR 85) | DKK 1,200/month (EUR 165) |
| Medium | DKK 900/month (EUR 125) | DKK 1,800/month (EUR 250) |
| Large | DKK 1,200/month (EUR 165) | DKK 2,400/month (EUR 325) |
Ongoing maintenance is not just insurance. It is what makes it possible to keep building. The platform behind Kirppu grew from one store to more than 30, and that takes a system that is looked after all the way. If you want development and running combined in one ongoing agreement, see development subscription.
What happens when you cancel?
Notice
You give 30 days’ notice. The solution keeps running during that period.
One-off fee if early
Within the first 15 months: DKK 9,000, 12,000 or 15,000 by package. After that, nothing.
Handover
You receive the code and the data. They are yours and always have been.
New hosting
You move the solution to another provider or your own server.
All monthly prices are listed on pricing. What the website itself costs to build is covered in how much does a website cost.
Questions about maintenance costs
What does website maintenance cost per month?
Why does software need maintenance at all?
What is the 15–20 % rule?
Are new features included in your monthly price?
What happens if we cancel the agreement?
Can you take over maintenance of a solution someone else built?
Want us to build it for you?
You get a fixed-price proposal within 24 hours.
