Jul 31, 2025
12 Min
 read

How Much Does It Cost To Build An MVP

MVP Development Cost

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a simplified version of a product designed for easy customer use. It allows users to help themselves, discover the product on their own, and start using it with minimal guidance.

If you’re building a new product, launching a startup, or testing a fresh idea, you’ve probably heard the term MVP (Minimum Viable Product). It’s a smart way to launch fast, learn what works, and avoid wasting time or money. 

Turning your idea into a real product feels amazing, and making money from it is even better.

Building an MVP is the smartest way to turn your startup idea into a real product without wasting time or money. This guide explains how much it costs to build an MVP, what factors affect the budget, and how Ontik Technology helps founders launch fast with clarity and confidence.

At Ontik Technology, we work with startups across every stage of the MVP journey. Whether you’re just validating an idea, upgrading a rough prototype, or preparing to scale your product, this guide shows exactly how we help you get there.

Why is Budget Planning Essential for MVP Development?

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) a is the first step for startup founders, and businesses to test a new idea. It allows them to build a lean, workable version of their digital product to check if it works without spending too much time or money.

This approach is ideal for new businesses still shaping their core idea or for teams looking to add new features but unsure how users will respond.

With an MVP startups, founders, and businesses can get real feedback early, fix issues before they grow, and avoid wasting money and time on something people don’t want. Before you build your digital product or MVP, you need to plan or calculate how much it costs to build an MVP

Many people ask, "How much does an MVP cost?" The answer depends on your idea, features, design, and the team you choose. If you are building a software business, understanding the SaaS MVP development cost is important. Even if you use low code tools, you still need to know the low code MVP development cost. Planning your budget helps you pick only the most needed features. This way, you can reduce MVP development costs and launch your product faster. It also helps you understand the MVP app development cost, MVP prototype cost, and the full cost of MVP development.

Knowing the cost of developing an MVP is an indication that you're serious and well prepared when speaking with investors. That's why you should have a well defined plan in place, whether you are discussing how much does MVP cost or how much does MVP software development cost.

Ontik Technology focuses on helping visionary founders, early stage teams, and startup builders bring their ideas to life through meaningful MVP solutions. Our services are ideal for:

Startup Type Description Goal
Idea-Stage Founder Just getting started, still validating the core concept Clarify your direction, test user interest, and prepare a prototype or lean MVP
MVP Builder / Upgrader You have a clear product roadmap or an early version Build a robust MVP or improve what you already have
Launch-Ready Startup Your MVP is stable, and you're ready to launch or scale Improve tech readiness, infrastructure, and prepare for growth

How Much Does It Cost To Build An MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Here’s a simple breakdown of the cost to build an MVP based on real startup situations. From idea research to support after launch, every step has its own cost and matters a lot. If you know the early stages, that can help you plan and avoid burning money.

Various elements or factors can affect MVP development cost as in how complex your app is, how skilled your developers and team members are, and how much time it takes to launch your MVP product. There are lots of parts involved here, like frontend design, backend work, third party tools, and product testing costs, which can increase your MVP cost. If you want something quicker and more affordable, low code MVP development cost options are available, but they may not scale well in the future.

If you're wondering how much does it cost to develop an MVP, the usual cost is between $15,000 and $50,000, based on how advanced your idea is. But it’s not just about the price, it’s about smart planning. Startups should try to reduce MVP development costs by choosing the right team.

🟢 Note: Ontik Technology is one of the top choices for MVP product development. They offer clear pricing, fast delivery, and trusted MVP development services for startup companies. Whether you’re building a mobile app or an SaaS MVP, Ontik helps you build an MVP quickly and efficiently.

Core Cost Component of MVP products Development

Pre-MVP Development Phase Description Estimated Cost Range (USD) Importance Level Tips to Reduce Cost
Research and development phase Research, planning, and product requirement setup $1,000 – $5,000 High Use the lean canvas model
Development Cost of MVP Complete coding and development process $8,000 – $20,000 Very High Use an experienced offshore team
Front-End Development User interface and experience design $3,000 – $7,000 High Start with basic UI components
Backend Development Business logic and server setup $4,000 – $10,000 Very High Use scalable backend frameworks
Database Setup Data storage, schema design, and security $1,000 – $3,000 Medium Use cloud based DB solutions
Third Party Integrations Integrating APIs and external tools $1,500 – $5,000 Medium Choose only essential integrations
Testing and Quality Assurance Bug fixes, QA, and usability testing $2,000 – $5,000 High Use automation tools for testing
Post-MVP Development Phase Description Average Cost Estimate (USD) Startup Tip
Maintenance & Updates Regular updates to ensure smooth performance and compatibility with the latest OS $1,000 – $5,000/year Use automated testing to reduce update costs
Bug Fixes Fixing bugs reported by users post launch $500 – $2,000/month Prioritize critical bugs to save time
Customer Support Ongoing support to respond to user queries and technical issues $500 – $1,500/month Use chatbot based support initially
Server & Hosting Costs Costs for keeping the app live, including cloud hosting and server usage $1,000 – $3,000/year Choose scalable, pay as you go hosting
Performance Monitoring Tools and services to monitor real-time app performance and user activity $500 – $1,000/year Start with free tools like Google Analytics
User Feedback Analysis Collecting and analyzing user feedback to plan future features or changes $200 – $500/month Run surveys using free platforms
Marketing & Launch Campaigns Marketing efforts to promote the app through launch emails, social media ads, etc. $2,000 – $10,000 Use low budget social media ads first
Analytics & Reporting Tools Using tools like Mixpanel or Firebase for a better understanding of user behavior $500 – $2,000/year Start with free tiers of analytics tools
App Store Optimization (ASO) Improving app visibility in app stores through keyword targeting and better descriptions $200 – $1,000 Use keyword tools like Ubersuggest
Scalability Enhancing system capacity to handle more users and requests efficiently $1,000 – $5,000 Use modular code
Improvements Handle more users and requests efficiently $5,000 For easier scaling

Workflow Breakdown of MVP Development

Workflow Breakdown of MVP Development

Here is the workflow breakdown of MVP product development:

Step 1: Discovery Kickoff

  • Stakeholder session to understand the vision
  • Define product goals and user needs
  • Finalize scope and roadmap

Step 2: Design Start

  • Deliver Figma flows and user stories
  • Set up task board in Jira or ClickUp
  • Begin user experience design

Step 3: UX Alignment

  • Review feedback on designs
  • Refine UI and UX scope
  • Lock core user journeys

Step 4: Dev Setup

  • Start with user management module
  • Prepare base architecture
  • Deliver first internal demo

Step 5: Dev Phase 1

  • Build core product features
  • Create 2nd demo with flows working
  • Track progress with weekly updates

Step 6: QA Prep

  • Reach 50% code completion
  • Start writing test cases
  • Prepare for functional testing

Steps 7–8: QA Phase

  • Run regression testing
  • Fix bugs and improve usability
  • Handle minor scope additions

Step 9: Final QA

  • Freeze the code
  • Polish the product experience
  • Prepare for deployment

Step 10: Release Ready

  • MVP is now deployable
  • Complete all documentation
  • Handoff for internal review

Step 11: Final QA + UAT

  • User Acceptance Testing with 90–100% test case coverage
  • Create a user guide and support docs

Step 12: Launch Support

  • Sign off from team or client
  • Final code handoff
  • Internal training and post-launch prep

Hour and Time Cost Breakdown of MVP

Ontik follows a structured timeline approach for MVP delivery based on your startup stage.

  • For idea stage founders, the process takes around 4 to 6 weeks
  • For startups building or upgrading an MVP, it takes 8 to 12 weeks
  • For launch ready startups needing scale or polish, it takes 6 to 16 weeks

There's also a sample 12-week breakdown showing each weekly activity like discovery kickoff, design, development, testing, QA, and launch support. This makes it easier to track time spent across different phases and align resources at each step.

People and Developer Cost Breakdown of MVP

Each stage of MVP development involves different experts to keep quality high and delivery fast. Ontik assigns dedicated professionals depending on your MVP type:

Idea Stage MVP

  • Product Strategist
  • UI UX Designer
  • No Code Developer (if needed)
  • Business Analyst

MVP Builder or Upgrader

  • Product Manager
  • UI UX Designer
  • Frontend and Backend Developers
  • QA Engineer
  • DevOps (if needed)

Launch Ready MVP

  • Senior Developer or Architect
  • DevOps Engineer
  • QA Lead
  • Automation Specialist
  • Technical Project Manager

This team setup shows the human cost involved in combining strategy, design, development, and QA to deliver a complete MVP.

Cloud Hosting Options for MVPs

Choosing the right cloud hosting is very important when building an MVP. It helps your product run well, grow easily, and stay within budget. Cloud hosting gives you flexibility, saves money, and lets you launch faster without spending too much. Here in this table, we can show the three most renowned cloud provider and their overviews, processes, pricing rates, and key features: 

Cloud Provider Overview and Process Pricing Rates Key Features
AWS AWS (Amazon Web Services) is widely adopted for startups and MVPs. It offers on demand cloud resources, elastic scalability, and easy setup using services like EC2, S3, and Elastic Beanstalk. The process involves selecting services, setting up an instance, and scaling as needed. Free tier available (EC2 750 hours/month for 12 months). After free tier: $8–$12/month for t2.micro instances. S3 storage starts at $0.023 per GB. Lambda offers 1M free requests then $0.20 per million. Global reach, strong documentation, 200+ services, flexible pricing, mature ecosystem, secure and scalable infrastructure.
Azure Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform, integrated deeply with Windows and Office tools. Ideal for teams already using Microsoft products. MVP hosting starts with services like App Service, Azure DevOps, and Azure SQL. Easy to deploy using Visual Studio or GitHub workflows. Free tier includes 12 months of BIS VM (750 hours/month). Basic Linux VM from $13/month. Azure Blob Storage starts at $0.0184/GB. App Service starts at $0.013/hour. Best for Windows environments, seamless Office integration, enterprise grade compliance, hybrid cloud capabilities, strong analytics tools.
Google Cloud Google Cloud is known for simplicity, speed, and strong AI integrations. Developers often use Firebase for MVPs. Setup includes using Google Compute Engine, Firebase Hosting, or App Engine. It works well for mobile apps and real time features. Always Free tier includes Firebase Hosting, 5GB storage, and 1GB bandwidth. Compute Engine micro VM starts at $6/month. Cloud Functions: 2M invocations free, then $0.40/million. Fast setup, cost effective, built in AI and ML tools, Firebase integration, excellent for mobile apps and real time use cases.

Factors Influencing the MVP Development Cost

If you're a startup founder planning to build your first minimum viable product (MVP), one big question is: How much does it cost to build an MVP? The answer depends on many things from your product idea to your team setup. Here’s a detailed look at the real factors that influence the MVP development cost, especially for startups.

  1. Project Complexity & Features

The more features you want in your minimum viable product, the higher the MVP development cost. A simple MVP with core functions is cheaper, while advanced AI or SaaS features increase the cost of MVP development.

  1. Team Location & Hiring Model

Team location matters for building MVP products. The cost to develop MVP can vary based on which country the developers are in, how skilled they are, and where your development team is located. There are 3 hiring models: offshore, nearshore, and onshore. Hiring offshore developers from Asian countries helps reduce MVP development cost while still delivering high quality products and services at a much lower price than U.S. based options.

  1. Three Development Approaches: No-code, Low-code, or Custom

There are three approaches available. If you're wondering how much does it cost to develop an MVP, it can vary based on your approach. No-code tools like Retool and Bubble can lower costs, rather than preparing custom coded MVP products. Low-code MVP development costs are usually lower, but they may not be scalable. Custom software development costs more but allows more control and growth.

  1. Different Platform Types: Web, iOS, Android

MVP cost can vary based on different factors, and it depends on your requirements, like whether you’re building for a single platform or multiple ones. A web app is more budget friendly, whereas developing for iOS and Android increases your MVP app cost.

  1. Design Needs: UI/UX Simplicity vs. Detail

Sleek and modern UI/UX design can improve user retention, but it adds to the cost to build MVP. Custom visuals, animations, and prototypes raise the MVP prototype cost.

  1. Technology Stack

Your chosen tools and frameworks affect the development cost of MVP. Some tech stacks take more time to consume, which increases both development time and the overall MVP cost.

  1. Team Structure: In-house vs. Outsourced

Having an in-house development team gives full control but raises the MVP development budget due to salaries and overheads. Outsourcing to MVP development services or agencies offers flexibility and a lower average cost.

  1. Post Launch Support

The cost of MVP software development isn’t just about building it. It includes support, updates, and improvements. Make sure your MVP development process includes post Launch maintenance in the cost estimate.

Convert Your Business Idea into Reality with Ontik Technology’s MVP Development Services

1.  From Idea to Impact Start with an MVP

Building a complete app at once takes time and money. Ontik helps you start small with a clear MVP that lets you test real users early. This lowers your mvp development cost while proving your idea fast.

2. Clear and Honest Pricing

Not sure how much does it cost to develop an MVP? We offer fixed pricing and transparent scope, so you get clarity from day one from mvp prototype cost to a full launch plan.

3. Fast Delivery Without Quality Loss

Our team focuses on fast delivery. You get your MVP within 9 to 12 weeks so you can move forward quickly without sacrificing quality.

4. Full MVP App Development Support

From planning to launch, we handle the entire process. Whether it's a mobile app, SaaS MVP, or low-code MVP, our roadmap shows you exactly what to do and when to do it.

5. Scalable and Future Ready Solutions

We help you build an MVP that grows with your users. Our post MVP support and scaling lets you improve and expand without starting over keeping your long term costs low.

6. Skilled In-House and Offshore Teams

You choose how to work with our dedicated product and tech team or a flexible offshore setup. Either way, we give you quality, control, and cost balance.

7. Trusted SaaS MVP Development Cost Models

For SaaS founders, our SaaS MVP development cost plans are built to match your product roadmap and business goals.

8. Maximize Efficiency, Minimize MVP Costs

Our strong UX and dev execution means we use smart tools, reusable code, and automation to build fast and reduce waste keeping your MVP development costs down.

9. Industry Trusted MVP Development Services

We are trusted by real startups who choose us for MVP development services. From design to launch, we give you solid results with a clear timeline and proven delivery.

10. Partner with a Proven MVP Expert

Ontik is not just a builder we are your partner. We help you design, budget, and deliver your MVP with confidence and support your growth from day one.

Why Founders Choose Ontik To Build an MVP

Why Founders Choose Ontik To Build an MVP Product

Why Founders Choose Ontik To Build an MVP Product

  • Experience with startup ecosystems
  • Transparent pricing and timelines
  • Lean, startup-friendly delivery process
  • Fast turnarounds and feedback cycles
  • Support beyond launch: scale, automate, or hand off

Final Thoughts


Building an MVP product or digital solution is one of the smartest first steps for any startup. It allows founders to test their ideas, scale their business, and achieve a high return on investment (ROI). In today’s world, building an MVP quickly is possible. You just need to choose the right and experienced team that specializes in MVP or SaaS product development.

This article covers everything you need to know: a full MVP cost breakdown, key factors that influence development costs, and how to plan your MVP development budget wisely. An MVP lets you launch smarter, test early, and grow faster. With the right team like Ontik, you can keep costs low, build what users need, and move from idea to success in your business.

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Ontik Technology Editorial Team
Ontik Tech Editorial Team

We’re the storytellers behind Ontik Tech crafting clear, insightful, and strategy driven content that connects with our audience and drives real results.

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