Guides
The MVP development guide.
An MVP is the smallest working product that real customers can use and pay for. The aim is to learn from usage quickly, not to ship every feature.
These guides cover what an MVP costs, how it differs from a prototype or proof of concept, how to choose between building and buying, and how to scope a first release for common product types.
(01) MVP development
Cost and scope
Pricing
How much does an MVP cost? Fixed-price tiers explained
What an MVP costs when the price is fixed up front, what drives it up or down, and how our MVP Sprint and Product Build tiers work.
29 Oct 2026
Pricing
What does fixed-price software development actually mean?
Fixed-price software development means scope, price and delivery date are agreed in writing before work starts. Here is how it works and when it fits.
29 Oct 2026
Pricing
How much does it cost to build a SaaS product?
What building a SaaS product costs at a fixed price, which parts drive the number, and how to phase an MVP, a Product Build and ongoing development.
21 May 2025
(02) MVP development
Choosing the right approach
Comparisons
MVP vs prototype vs proof of concept: what is the difference?
What a proof of concept, a prototype and an MVP each prove, how they differ in cost and audience, and which one to build first.
7 Aug 2024
Comparisons
Custom software vs off-the-shelf: which is right for you?
How to choose between building custom software and buying a ready-made product: cost over time, fit, control, speed and the questions that decide it.
12 Jan 2026
Comparisons
Software agency vs freelancers vs in-house team
A balanced comparison of hiring an agency, freelancers or an in-house team to build software: cost, control, speed, risk and when each makes sense.
2 Jul 2026
(03) MVP development
MVPs by product type
Guides
How to build a marketplace app
The features, architecture and build order for a two-sided marketplace app, and the early decisions that decide whether it can grow.
10 Feb 2024
Guides
How to build an e-learning platform
The features, architecture and build order for an e-learning platform, from courses and live classes to assessments and learner analytics.
2 Oct 2024
Guides
How to build an invoicing and billing app
The features, tax handling and architecture behind an invoicing and billing app, including the multi-tenant design a SaaS product needs.
12 Sept 2025
Start a project