How Much Does MVP Development Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide
by Sandlabs Team, Founder, Sandlabs
If you're a founder or business owner considering building an MVP, the first question is always: how much will it cost?
The honest answer: it depends. But we can give you real numbers based on hundreds of projects across the industry and our own experience building MVPs for growing businesses.
The Short Answer
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Sprint (validation) | $5,000 – $15,000 | 1-2 weeks |
| Simple MVP (landing + core feature) | $15,000 – $30,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Standard MVP (multi-feature SaaS) | $30,000 – $60,000 | 4-6 weeks |
| Complex MVP (AI, integrations, mobile) | $50,000 – $100,000+ | 6-10 weeks |
These are fixed-price ranges, not hourly estimates. At Sandlabs, we quote a fixed price after a discovery sprint so there are no surprises.
What Affects MVP Cost?
1. Complexity of Core Features
A landing page with a waitlist is very different from a multi-tenant SaaS platform with billing, dashboards, and AI features. The more moving parts, the higher the cost.
Examples by complexity:
- Low complexity: Calculator widget, landing page, simple booking tool → $5K-$15K
- Medium complexity: Commission tracker (see our mortgage broker software), client portal, document management → $15K-$40K
- High complexity: AI document processor, multi-user SaaS with billing, compliance platform → $40K-$80K
2. AI and Automation
Adding AI features (chatbots, document processing, recommendation engines) typically adds $5K-$20K depending on complexity. We use OpenAI, Anthropic, and Azure AI services to keep costs reasonable.
3. Integrations
Each third-party integration (payment gateways, CRMs, email providers, accounting software) adds $2K-$5K. Common integrations like Stripe or SendGrid are on the lower end.
4. Design Requirements
Using a proven design system (like we do with Tailwind CSS) keeps design costs minimal. Custom design with unique illustrations and animations can add $5K-$15K.
How We Price Projects at Sandlabs
We use a three-tier model:
1. Discovery Sprint ($5K-$15K) — Validate your idea, define scope, create wireframes, and get a fixed-price quote for the full build. This de-risks the project for both sides.
2. MVP Build ($15K-$60K) — Fixed-price development of your production-ready product. Includes auth, deployment, basic analytics, and 30 days of post-launch bug fixes.
3. Growth Retainer ($5K-$15K/month) — Ongoing development capacity for new features, optimizations, and scaling. Perfect after your MVP gains traction.
See our full pricing page for details, and learn about our process for how we deliver.
DIY Tools vs. Custom Development
You might wonder: "Can't I just use Bubble, Webflow, or AI builders?"
These tools work well for simple websites and prototypes. But when you need:
- Custom business logic (e.g., commission calculations)
- AI features beyond basic chatbots
- Integrations with specific APIs
- Scale beyond a few hundred users
- Full ownership and no vendor lock-in
...you'll need custom development. The good news: AI-powered development has brought custom MVP costs down significantly compared to even 2-3 years ago.
How to Budget for Your MVP
- Start with a Discovery Sprint — Spend $5K-$15K to validate and scope before committing to a full build
- Budget for iteration — Your MVP is version 1. Plan for 2-3 months of iteration after launch
- Factor in hosting and services — Typical SaaS infrastructure costs $50-$500/month (Vercel, database, email, etc.)
- Don't over-build — Launch with 3-5 core features, not 15. You can always add more later
Ready to Get a Quote?
Book a free 30-minute intro call and we'll talk through your idea and whether it is worth building. If it is, our A$2,999 AI audit turns it into a recommended approach and a fixed-price quote, credited to your build.
Tell us about your workflow or check our pricing page for more details.