Buyer Guide
How Much Does Custom Software Development Cost?
The honest first question isn't 'how much does custom software cost' — it's 'should this be custom at all.' A large share of custom-software requests are cheaper solved by an existing SaaS tool. This guide covers what genuinely drives cost once custom is the right call.
What drives cost up or down
Requirements match no existing SaaS product well↑ Pushes higher
A close-fit SaaS tool exists (should probably be used instead)↓ Pushes lower
New product/database design from scratch↑ Pushes higher
Building on existing infrastructure (e.g. an existing Supabase/Postgres setup)↓ Pushes lower
Complex integrations with legacy or third-party systems↑ Pushes higher
Clear, stable requirements agreed before build starts↓ Pushes lower
Timeline
- —A focused internal tool or MVP can often ship in 4-8 weeks.
- —A multi-feature product with several integrations typically runs 3-6+ months.
- —AI-assisted engineering practices move the mechanical parts of a build faster, but architecture and product decisions still take deliberate time.
FAQs
How do you scope a fixed price before starting?
We map the concrete build in writing first — what it does, what it doesn't, what 'done' means — and quote a fixed price against that written scope. See how-we-work / process page for the exact steps.
Related service
Have a project in mind?
Tell us what you're trying to automate or build — we'll reply with next steps, not a sales pitch.