Guide · Updated June 2026
What an MVP actually costs.
Most agencies will not publish numbers; we run our estimator on them. The ranges below are the same ones our instant estimator computes, as fixed prices, not day rates that grow in the dark.
Three honest bands.
Fixed prices in USD. Where a project lands depends on scope, which is why we scope before we quote.
A scoped first version
$5,000 – $10,500
One core flow that proves the idea: a marketplace with listings and messaging but manual payouts, a SaaS with the one feature people would pay for. A few screens, real users.
A typical MVP
$10,500 – $26,000
Accounts, the core product loop, payments if the business needs them, an admin view. Several features, one platform, built to take real traffic. Most first products land here.
A shaped product
$26,000 – $57,000
Many flows, multiple user types, integrations, mobile alongside web. Closer to a v1 than an MVP. Scoped per build because the variance is too wide for a published number.
Under five thousand, sometimes, for something tight. We would rather scope smaller than overpromise; the first call is where we tell you which band your idea honestly sits in.
The five real drivers.
Scope, before anything else
The number of distinct things the product does is the cost. Every user type, every flow, every screen that has to work is paid for. Cutting scope is the only discount that does not cut quality.
Payments and money movement
Stripe checkout for one product is cheap. Marketplace splits, escrow, refunds, and payouts are not. If money moves between users, budget for the typical-MVP band at minimum.
Mobile, and how many platforms
A mobile app costs roughly 1.8 times a comparable web build. One codebase for iOS and Android (React Native) keeps that from doubling again. Most MVPs should start as a web app unless the idea is camera, location, or notification shaped.
AI features
A chat interface over your data, document processing, or an automation layer adds roughly half a web build again. The trap is unscoped "make it smart" wishes; a precisely defined AI feature prices like any other feature.
Urgency
Compressed schedules cost about 25 percent more, quoted upfront. Senior people get pulled onto one build; the surcharge is what that focus costs, not a penalty fee.
How to pay less without building junk.
- 01
Cut features, not corners. A two-feature product that works beats a ten-feature product that almost does.
- 02
Start on the web unless the idea genuinely needs a phone. You skip app review, ship fixes in minutes, and halve the build.
- 03
Use boring building blocks: managed auth, Stripe, a hosted database. Custom infrastructure is a post-revenue luxury.
- 04
Pay for scoping. A written plan costs a fraction of the build and stops you paying to discover requirements mid-project.
- 05
Demand a working version weekly. The cheapest bug is the one caught seven days after it was written.
How much does it cost to build an MVP?
Most MVPs we build land between $10,500 and $26,000 as a fixed price. A tightly scoped first version can come in between $5,000 and $10,500. Larger products with many flows, multiple user types, or mobile alongside web run $26,000 to $57,000 and are scoped per build.
How long does an MVP take to build?
Two to three months for a typical MVP, with a working version you can open every week from the first week. A small scoped first version can ship in three to six weeks. Expedited delivery is available for about 25 percent more.
Is it cheaper to hire a freelancer instead of a studio?
For a single well-defined task, usually yes. For a full product, a freelancer quote that looks half the price often excludes design, testing, deployment, and project management, which you then pay for in time or rework. Compare the finished-product price, not the day rate.
Do you charge hourly?
No. A paid scope up front, then one fixed price for the build, billed against milestones, typically 30/30/30/10. Scope changes go through a one-page change order you sign before the work starts.
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Get your number, not the average.
Ten seconds in the estimator for a ballpark, or a free call where we tell you honestly which band your idea sits in.