UniqueSide

Most MVPs cost between $8,000 and $50,000 depending on complexity, features, and tech stack. SaaS MVPs with authentication, a dashboard, and one core feature start around $8,000. Mobile apps range from $10,000 to $50,000 due to platform-specific requirements for iOS and Android. AI-powered products typically range from $12,000 to $60,000 depending on model integration and custom training needs.

Simple MVPs with standard features take 2 to 4 weeks. Medium-complexity MVPs take 4 to 8 weeks. Complex MVPs with real-time features, AI model integration, or multi-platform support take 6 to 12 weeks. UniqueSide ships most MVPs in 15 days by combining experienced engineers with a proven development process.

Agencies provide a full team with established processes, accountability, and backup resources, delivering faster and with higher quality. Freelancers are cheaper per hour but often work solo, lack QA processes, and may take longer due to context switching. For MVPs with a defined scope and a need for reliable delivery, agencies are the more dependable choice.

Yes, at UniqueSide, you will own the full source code upon project completion. You own all code, intellectual property, and infrastructure with no vendor lock-in. The code is deployed to your own cloud accounts such as AWS, GCP, or Vercel, so you control the infrastructure from day one.

The best tech stack depends on your product type. For web SaaS applications, use React or Next.js for the frontend with a Node.js backend and PostgreSQL for the database. For mobile apps, React Native gives you cross-platform coverage, while Swift and Kotlin are better for performance-critical native apps. For AI products, use a Python backend with FastAPI, a React frontend, and integrations with OpenAI, Anthropic, or open-source models.

Four factors make this possible: an experienced team of engineers, a proven development process, a reusable component library for common features, and ruthless feature prioritization during scoping. These 15 days are pure build time, following a 1 to 2 day scoping session to define your core feature set, user flows, and technical architecture.

No, you do not need a technical co-founder. Many successful startups used agencies or contract developers for their initial MVP. What matters is having a clear understanding of the problem you are solving and the users you are serving. You need to define the scope, prioritize features, and make product decisions. The technical execution can be handled by an experienced development team.

Fixed pricing means you know the total cost before writing a single check, avoiding scope creep and surprise invoices. Hourly rates may sound cheaper upfront but can lead to a higher final bill due to scope creep and slow communication. UniqueSide offers fixed-price MVP development with no hourly billing or surprise invoices.