Custom web development
AraLith, a software house in the province of Rome, active since 2007, builds custom websites and tailored web applications with proprietary code: custom WordPress, Prestashop and Laravel. No templates, no shared platforms — professional web development with a dedicated architecture and full ownership of the code. The quote starts from a free technical call.
Custom website
Custom web development — or bespoke web development — is the creation of a website or web application built from scratch, with proprietary code designed around the specific needs of the business, without ready-made templates or shared SaaS platforms. The result is a digital product built on your use case: design, features, architecture and application logic come from the project requirements.
| Criterion | Custom website | Template / SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Code ownership | Full, Git repository included | Limited or none |
| Initial costs | Higher: hours estimated during discovery, from €50 to €180/hour VAT excluded depending on the type of work | Lower, often by subscription |
| Functional flexibility | Defined by the project, with no platform constraints | Tied to the vendor |
| Enterprise integrations | ERP, CRM, legacy systems | Only the APIs the vendor provides |
| When to choose it | Complex logic, differentiation, on-premise | Brochure websites, blogs, SEO-first projects |
For market figures and the factors that change the price, read the guide on how much a website costs. If you are undecided, the free technical call helps you choose the right solution for your specific case.
You receive the Git repository with all the source code, technical documentation and full transfer of intellectual property. No lock-in, no future contractual ties.
Every project starts from scratch, built around your specific requirements. No ready-made templates: database, APIs, application logic and integrations designed for your use case.
An architecture designed to grow with your business. Add features, users and traffic without rebuilding the website from scratch or changing infrastructure.
Code optimised for performance, security testing included in the process and an architecture designed for environments with specific GDPR, healthcare or enterprise compliance requirements.
Connections with ERPs, CRMs, business management systems, payment gateways, third-party APIs and legacy systems. We develop custom middleware and connectors when no ready-made integration exists.
No sales staff, no intermediaries. A single technical point of contact follows the project from analysis to delivery: requirements, timelines and technical choices are discussed with the person running the project.
Custom code allows direct optimisation of LCP, CLS and INP without depending on third-party plugins or themes. URL structure, structured data and PageSpeed performance are designed from the start, not added later.
When it makes sense
Building a custom website is not right for every project — but when it is, it makes the difference. Custom website development gives you an architecture that can grow with the project, no platform constraints and code that belongs entirely to you. Our experience in professional web development lets us support SMEs, professionals and startups at every stage: from requirements analysis to delivery, with technical documentation and post-launch support included. No hidden costs, no lock-in.
Technical call and requirements definition
An initial meeting to understand goals, functional requirements, target audience and technical constraints. Together we define the technologies best suited to the project.
Wireframes, mockups and information architecture
User interface design, interactive wireframes, visual mockups and definition of the information architecture for a clear user experience.
Proprietary code, database and integrations
Development of the backend (application logic, database, APIs), the frontend (responsive interface, performance) and the integrations with third-party services (CRM, ERP, payment gateways).
Functional, security and performance testing
Functional testing, security testing, performance and load testing. Cross-browser and cross-device compatibility checks. Bug fixing and optimisation.
Deployment, documentation and support
Deployment to the production server, delivery of the Git repository with the source code, complete technical documentation and training for your staff. Post-release support included.
Commented and documented source code, full change history and intellectual property transferred to the client. Inspectable, editable, transferable.
System architecture, deployment guide, API documentation and backup procedures. Your staff (or your next supplier) will be able to understand and modify the project without depending on us.
Functional testing, security testing, performance and load testing. Cross-browser and cross-device compatibility verified before the production release.
Training sessions for your staff, video tutorials for common operations and user documentation in Italian. You are independent from launch day.
A support period included for bug fixing and technical assistance after launch. Evolutionary maintenance available on request at hourly rates by type of work.
Correct semantic structure, optimised Core Web Vitals, compressed images, configured caching and recommended hosting. The website starts out already optimised for search engines.
A premium WordPress template configured with your brand, for brochure websites and company blogs: brand and colour customisation, hosting and basic plugin setup, basic SEO and Google Analytics.
Tailored UX/UI design and a proprietary WordPress theme, with custom plugins and API integrations, blog, portfolio and case studies, advanced SEO and optimised performance.
A professional Prestashop template configured with a product catalogue (up to 500 products), integrated payment gateways, couriers and shipping, basic e-commerce SEO.
Tailored e-commerce design and UX, complex catalogues with over 1,000 SKUs, custom modules and advanced workflows, ERP, CRM and warehouse integrations, multi-language and multi-currency.
A web application developed from scratch with Laravel: tailored application logic, admin dashboard and workflows, documented REST APIs and integrations with third-party services.
Multi-user management systems and portals with legacy ERP and CRM integrations, on-premise hosting and advanced security, scalable architecture and complete technical documentation.
The year we started building websites and software
Websites and e-commerce sites delivered
Custom management systems across 8 domains
Complete CMSs built from scratch
The cost of developing a custom website with AraLith depends on the hours of work estimated during discovery, priced at hourly rates from €50 to €180/hour VAT excluded depending on the type of work. We do not publish fixed-price packages: we publish our hourly rates, valid until 31 December 2027.
Transparent rates by type of work · VAT excluded
The first technical call is free. We estimate the hours together during discovery, before you spend a single euro. Rates valid until 31 December 2027.
After discovery you receive an estimate of the hours broken down by phase. If something comes up during the work that pushes it up, you know before it happens — not when the bill arrives.
A custom website is a website developed from scratch with proprietary code, without ready-made templates or SaaS platforms. Design, features, database structure and application logic are designed solely around the client's needs, with full ownership of the code, features decided by the project and no lock-in to suppliers or subscriptions.
Custom development is the better choice when you have at least one of these needs: features that plugins and templates do not cover, integrations with legacy business systems (ERP, CRM, management systems), on-premise or specific compliance requirements (enterprise GDPR, healthcare), e-commerce with complex catalogue logic, or the need to stand out from competitors with a digital product designed around your case. For brochure websites, blogs and content portals, a SaaS platform or WordPress is often the more efficient choice.
Yes, with custom development you receive full ownership of the source code through a Git repository, complete technical documentation and no lock-in. You can continue development on your own or with other suppliers whenever you want.
The time needed to develop a custom website depends on the complexity of the project: number of pages and features, integrations with other systems, content and data to migrate. Timelines are estimated after discovery, never promised beforehand, and the quote includes a detailed timeline with every milestone.
Yes, the process includes intermediate checkpoints to validate the project. Minor changes are included in the agreed budget; significant scope changes are discussed and quoted separately, so you know in advance how they affect hours and timelines.
Yes, every project includes a post-release support period, defined in the quote, for bug fixing and technical assistance. Ongoing support and evolutionary maintenance are available on request at the hourly rates by type of work.
WordPress is the right choice for websites with editorial content, company blogs and brochure websites with custom plugins: it cuts time and cost while keeping plenty of flexibility. Laravel (or custom development) is suited to complex application logic, proprietary workflows, integrations with legacy business systems or requirements that plugins do not cover. The choice is discussed during the free technical call.
If the website already runs on WordPress, the cost of keeping it in good order also counts: the maintenance checklist and what it costs (in Italian).
The cost of a custom-developed website depends on the hours estimated during discovery, priced at the rates for each type of work: €50–60/hour for execution on defined specifications (front-end, templates, websites, routine maintenance), €65–85/hour for application development (management systems, web apps, standard integrations), €90–120/hour for qualified design and development (multi-tenant SaaS architectures, critical integrations such as Italy's Exchange System (SdI) and ERP, legacy modernisation) and €130–180/hour for advanced technical consulting (enterprise architecture, AI and agents, technical due diligence). VAT excluded, rates valid until 31 December 2027. The hours vary with the number of pages and features, e-commerce and payments, integrations with existing systems, content and data migration, multiple languages, users and roles. The free technical call is there to understand what you need and estimate the real cost of your project.
Yes, we can recommend and configure the hosting infrastructure best suited to the project. Ongoing maintenance is a separate service, priced at the hourly rates by type of work: routine maintenance falls in the €50–60/hour band, VAT excluded. It covers security updates, regular backups and technical support after launch too.
A SaaS platform (such as AraLith COS) is the right choice for company websites, blogs, content portals and SEO-first projects that do not need complex application logic. Custom development makes sense when you need full ownership of the code, integrations with legacy systems, e-commerce with complex catalogues or on-premise requirements. If you are undecided, the comparison page helps you choose the right solution for your specific case.
Custom backend development with Laravel normally falls in the application development band, €65–85/hour VAT excluded; critical integrations with ERPs or with Italy's Exchange System (SdI) fall in the €90–120/hour band. The hours for a web application with authentication, user management and RESTful APIs are estimated during discovery, based on the processes covered, integrations, data migration, users and roles. The advantage over ready-made solutions is that you only pay for the features you actually need.
Yes. Building a custom website is not reserved for large companies: SMEs, professional practices, doctors, lawyers and consultants can also benefit from a website developed around their specific needs. For projects with a limited budget we often work on custom WordPress, which combines flexibility and controlled costs. The free technical call is there precisely to find the solution best suited to your case, without over-engineering or under-sizing the project.
A single technical point of contact, timelines estimated after discovery and hourly rates by type of work. We build your custom WordPress or Prestashop website or Laravel application with a process that runs from analysis to delivery. The initial technical call is free.
Content created with the support of artificial intelligence.
