Buyer's guides
The honest version of the build, buy or hire decision.
Each guide starts with a direct answer, compares the options side by side, and says plainly when you should not hire a custom software firm like ours. Figures are either cited to the original source or labelled as our own estimates.
- 01Custom software vs. off-the-shelf SaaS: how to decideBuy SaaS when a mature product already fits most of your process and that process is not what sets you apart: it is faster and cheaper to start. Build custom software when the workflow is your competitive edge, when no product fits without constant workarounds, or when five years of subscriptions and integration work would cost more than owning the system. Many businesses end up in the middle, buying the standard tools and building a thin custom layer that connects them.Read guide
- 02No-code vs. custom developmentUse no-code when you need to test an idea or automate a simple workflow quickly and cheaply, and you can live within the platform's limits. Choose custom development when the software is core to your business, has to scale, handles sensitive data or complex logic, or must be fully owned and portable. A sensible path for many businesses is to validate with no-code and rebuild only the parts that prove valuable.Read guide
- 03Freelancer vs. agency vs. offshore vs. in-house team: who should build your software?Hire a freelancer for a small, well-defined project you can manage yourself. Hire an agency when you need a complete team (design, engineering, testing and project management) to deliver a defined product without building a department, and consider an offshore team when budget is the main constraint and you have strong technical management in-house. Build an in-house team when software is your core business and you will keep developing it for years.Read guide
Methodology
How we estimate software costs
The exact inputs, multipliers and assumptions behind every price range on this site.
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Software cost calculator
Build cost, yearly maintenance and five-year cost. No email gate.
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Build vs. buy calculator
Five-year cost of buying, building in-house and building with a partner.
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