The price of an MVP depends primarily on the number and complexity of features, not the number of screens. The simplest MVP with one key feature sits in the lowest range; cost grows with each integration, payment flow and user role. We give exact ranges after agreeing on scope - below we explain what drives them.
"How much will it cost?" is every founder's first question. The honest answer is "it depends" - but you can break that "it depends" into concrete factors so you know what you're paying for and where you can consciously cut. That's what this post does.
What really drives the price of an MVP
Contrary to intuition, the number of views doesn't drive cost - it's what happens "under the hood". The biggest price drivers are:
- Payments and billing - payment provider integration, invoices, subscriptions.
- Roles and permissions - different views for customers vs. admins.
- External integrations - every API means separate logic and error handling.
- Business logic - the more rules and edge cases, the more work.
- Content and data - where does data come from and who enters it.
The number of screens is usually the cheapest element. That's why we ask about features and processes first, not "how many pages" the app should have.
Typical price ranges
The ranges below are orientation points, not a quote - we price every project individually after a call:
How to cut cost without losing quality
A cheap MVP doesn't come from writing worse code - it comes from narrowing scope. The most effective moves: push "nice to have" features to later, limit the number of roles at launch, and use off-the-shelf solutions where you're not building your edge (payments, login, email sending). The key question is: what one thing must work to validate the idea? Everything beyond that is a candidate for cutting from version one.
How long does building an MVP take
Cost and time go together. Most MVPs we deliver within a few weeks - the exact timeline depends on the same scope that drives the price. We work in iterations with regular previews, so you see progress and can adjust direction before it's too late.
The most common mistake
The biggest cost isn't a bad quote - it's building too much. Founders often want to ship a "complete" product right away - and spend the budget on features users never needed. MVP exists precisely to test assumptions cheaply before investing in growth.
Frequently asked questions
The simplest MVP with one key feature and login sits in the lowest range. We give the exact quote after agreeing on scope in the first call.
No, if you narrow scope, not quality. A cheap MVP comes from cutting unnecessary features, not from worse code - the code should be ready for further development.
Great - we build MVPs with growth in mind. After validation we can add more features in further iterations or hand the clean code to your team.