Off-the-shelf tool, my build or an agency?
An honest comparison, using typical 2026 market figures. Your quote depends on your scope.
Off-the-shelf tool
- Cost
- A monthly fee per user
- Time to launch
- Days
- Fits your process
- You adapt to the tool
- Who you talk to
- Support tickets
- Who owns it
- You rent it
My build
- Cost
- From $4,500 once + hosting
- Time to launch
- 3–4 weeks
- Fits your process
- Built around your process
- Who you talk to
- The developer, directly
- Who owns it
- You own the code and data
Agency
- Cost
- $25k–$80k for a first version
- Time to launch
- 8–12 weeks
- Fits your process
- Built around your process
- Who you talk to
- An account manager
- Who owns it
- You own the code and data
| Off-the-shelf tool | My build | Agency |
|---|
| Cost | A monthly fee per user | From $4,500 once + hosting | $25k–$80k for a first version |
|---|
| Time to launch | Days | 3–4 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
|---|
| Fits your process | You adapt to the tool | Built around your process | Built around your process |
|---|
| Who you talk to | Support tickets | The developer, directly | An account manager |
|---|
| Who owns it | You rent it | You own the code and data | You own the code and data |
|---|
If a spreadsheet or an existing tool already does the job, I'll tell you on the call. Custom is worth it when the tool forces you to work around it.