Interactive cost model / v0.1
Put your assumptions
to work.
Compare total cost over time. This model is intentionally simple, editable, and explicit about what it leaves out.
Visible formula
No hidden score.
- Build total
- (Build hours × hourly cost) + months × ((maintenance hours × hourly cost) + infrastructure)
- Buy total
- Monthly subscription × months
This v0.1 model assumes a constant monthly subscription, maintenance load, infrastructure cost, and hourly cost. It does not include SaaS implementation fees, user-based price growth, inflation, tax, migration, compliance work, downtime, support, or the value of shipping sooner. Treat its output as one input—not a recommendation.
Important
Cost is only one part of the decision.
A cheap build can still be the wrong choice when time-to-value, security, support, integrations, or vendor reliability dominate the economics.
Read the full decision framework →