MVP cost estimator. A number now, no email required.
Choose your product type, features, design and QA level to get an hour range, a cost range at the rate you pick, and a timeline in weeks. The formula is published below. These are market-based estimates, not a RAITHub quote.
Estimated cost at $50/hr
$24,000 – $51,400
- Effort
- 480 – 1,028 hours
- Timeline
- 6 – 13 weeks
| Area | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation (setup, data model, core screens, deploys) | 160 – 260 | $8,000 – $13,000 |
| User roles and permissions (2 roles) | 16 – 32 | $800 – $1,600 |
| Authentication | 24 – 48 | $1,200 – $2,400 |
| Payments | 40 – 80 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Admin panel | 40 – 80 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Notifications | 24 – 48 | $1,200 – $2,400 |
| Third-party integrations (1) | 16 – 40 | $800 – $2,000 |
| UI/UX design (custom) | 64 – 176 | $3,200 – $8,800 |
| QA with an automated test suite | 64 – 176 | $3,200 – $8,800 |
| Project management and launch | 32 – 88 | $1,600 – $4,400 |
| Total | 480 – 1,028 | $24,000 – $51,400 |
Market-based estimate, not a RAITHub quote. RAITHub publishes no rates and quotes a fixed price in writing after a free 15-minute audit.
How this estimate works.
Every number comes from the assumptions below. Hours are ranges because early scope is uncertain: the low end assumes straightforward requirements, the high end allows for edge cases and rework.
- Build hours = foundation for the product type + 16–32 h per user role beyond the first + the hours for each selected feature + 16–40 h per third-party integration.
- Design adds 10–15% of build hours for a template or UI kit, or 20–30% for custom design.
- QA adds 10–15% for basic manual testing, or 20–30% for an automated test suite.
- Project management and launch adds 10–15%.
- Cost = total hours × your hourly rate. Change the rate and the cost scales in a straight line; the hours do not change.
- Timeline = total hours ÷ 80 productive hours a week (about two full-time engineers), rounded up, never under 2 weeks.
| Product type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Web app | 120–200 h |
| SaaS | 160–260 h |
| Marketplace | 220–360 h |
| Internal tool | 80–140 h |
Project setup, CI and deploys, the data model, core screens and create/read/update/delete flows.
| Feature | Assumes | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | Sign-up, login, password reset, sessions | 24–48 h |
| Payments | Checkout or subscriptions, webhooks, receipts | 40–80 h |
| Admin panel | Manage users, content and records | 40–80 h |
| File uploads | Upload, storage, validation, previews | 16–32 h |
| Notifications | Transactional email and in-app alerts | 24–48 h |
| Search | Search with filters and sorting | 16–40 h |
| AI features | An LLM-backed feature with prompts, limits and fallbacks | 40–100 h |
| Multi-tenancy | Organisations, invites, data isolation per tenant | 40–80 h |
Market-based estimates, not a RAITHub quote. The hour figures are typical ranges for a small, experienced team; the rate presets reflect the market (Clutch reports most software development firms on its platform at $25–$49 an hour). RAITHub publishes no rates. After a free 15-minute audit, RAITHub gives a fixed price in writing against a written scope.
Not included: hosting and subscription fees, native mobile apps, compliance audits, data migration, content and post-launch maintenance.
Go deeper: SaaS MVP cost breakdown for 2026 and MVP development for non-technical founders.
MVP cost questions, answered.
How much does an MVP cost to build? +
It depends on scope and on the rate you pay. With the default settings in this estimator (a SaaS product with two roles, authentication, payments, an admin panel, notifications, one integration, custom design and automated tests) the effort comes to 480–1,028 hours, which is $24,000–$51,400 at $50 an hour. A small internal tool with no extra features can come in under 210 hours.
Is this estimate a RAITHub quote? +
No. The numbers are market-based estimates built from the published assumptions on this page. RAITHub does not publish rates. After a free 15-minute audit, RAITHub gives a fixed price in writing against a written scope.
Do I need to give my email to see the result? +
No. The estimate appears as you change the inputs. The calculator runs entirely in your browser: nothing you enter is sent to a server, stored or tracked.
Why is the range so wide? +
Because early scope is uncertain. The low end assumes the features are straightforward and decisions are made quickly; the high end allows for edge cases, rework and slower feedback. A written spec narrows the range more than anything else.
Which hourly rate should I pick? +
Use the rate you have actually been quoted if you have one. Clutch reports that most software development firms on its platform charge $25–$49 an hour, so the $25 and $50 presets sit either side of that band. The $100 preset shows what the same scope costs at a higher-rate team.
What does the estimate leave out? +
Hosting and third-party subscription fees, app-store native mobile apps, compliance audits (such as HIPAA or SOC 2), data migration from an existing system, content writing and ongoing maintenance after launch. Each of those adds to the total.
Want a fixed number? In writing, against a scope.
Book a free 15-minute audit. We scope your MVP and follow up with a fixed written quote and the assumptions behind it.