Interactive Tool
Build vs Buy Calculator
Should you build a custom solution or integrate an existing tool? Get a data-driven recommendation based on your specific needs.
Your Feature
Tell us about what you're considering building or buying.
Will this feature set you apart from competitors?
Ongoing updates, security patches, scaling
Recommendation: Buy/Integrate
Buy an existing solution to reduce development cost and let vendors handle infrastructure. You can always build custom later if needed.
Decision Score
Cost Comparison (3-Year TCO)
Build Custom
$15k - $38k
Initial development only · 4-8 weeks
+ Ongoing maintenance: ~20% annually (~$5k/year)
Buy/Integrate
$200/mo
SaaS subscription · $5.0k integration
💰 Cost Savings
Save ~$30k over 3 years by buying
Key Decision Factors
How each factor weighs into your decision
Competitive Differentiation
low priorityBuild
Build exactly what makes you unique
Buy
Faster time to market, iterate on differentiation later
Time to Market
medium priorityBuild
Full control over timeline and scope
Buy
Deploy in days/weeks vs months
Initial Cost
medium priorityBuild
No recurring fees after launch
Buy
Lower upfront investment
Maintenance Burden
medium priorityBuild
Full control, but ongoing engineering cost
Buy
Vendor handles updates, security, scaling
Customization
medium priorityBuild
Unlimited customization
Buy
Limited to vendor features, but often "good enough"
Need Help Making This Decision?
Our AI/Automation Opportunity Audit includes detailed build vs buy analysis for your specific use cases, with ROI projections and vendor recommendations.