Build or buy? Do the sums.
Enter what a subscription costs and what a custom build would cost. See the total over the years and the month they break even.
Fill in the users, subscription price, build cost and running cost.
Subscription, total
Custom build, total
| End of year | Subscription | Custom build |
|---|
How to read the result
A subscription is cheap to start and keeps costing more as your team grows. Custom software is the opposite: a large cost first, then a small monthly one. If the lines cross early, building tends to pay off. If they never cross, or cross after many years, buying is usually the safer choice.
When buying is usually right
- A ready-made product already does what you need.
- Your team is small and not growing fast.
- You need to be running next week, not next quarter.
When building can be right
- Per-user pricing grows faster than your budget as you hire.
- You keep paying for add-ons or workarounds to make a product fit how you work.
- The software is part of what you sell, or holds data you need full control of.
Still unsure? Our SaaS development and CRM integration teams will give you an honest view of both options, including when they would tell you to buy instead.
Questions we hear a lot.
Is custom software cheaper than a subscription?
It depends on how many people use it and for how long. A subscription costs little at the start and grows with every user and every year. Custom software costs more at the start and then mostly costs hosting and maintenance. This calculator shows the month where the two lines cross, if they cross at all.
What should I enter as the running cost of custom software?
Everything you pay each month after launch: hosting, backups, monitoring, bug fixes, small changes and support. A common mistake is entering zero. Software needs looking after.
What does this calculator leave out?
Your team's time, migrating existing data, training, the value of features you could not get from a ready-made product, and the risk of a build running late. Those can matter as much as the price, so treat the result as one input to the decision, not the answer.
Should I enter prices with or without GST?
Either, as long as you use the same for every field. Mixing the two makes the comparison wrong.
Does this tool store my numbers?
No. The sums are done in your browser and nothing is sent to us.