Tool
What does off-the-shelf really cost over five years?
Off-the-shelf software looks cheaper on day one. Its cost scales with every seat you add and every renewal. Enter your numbers — this compares the two paths honestly, shows its working, and tells you when buying is the better call.
Verdict
Off-the-shelf
Custom build
Net over 5 years
Cumulative cost over time
Off-the-shelf
Custom build
Show the year-by-year math
| Year | Off-the-shelf | Cumulative | Custom | Cumulative | Running diff |
|---|
What this doesn't price in
- You own the custom asset — no per-seat ceiling, no vendor price hikes.
- Software shaped to your exact workflow, not the reverse.
- Your data and the codebase stay yours.
- Switching cost and lock-in risk if a SaaS vendor changes terms.
Assumptions it makes
- The build fully replaces the tools above. Only replacing part? Enter just that portion's spend.
- During the build you keep paying for the old tools until cutover.
- SaaS cost scales with both headcount and annual price rises.
- Maintenance is a flat share of the build cost each year.
These are planning numbers. A real quote comes from your actual scope.
Get a fixed quote →Illustrative estimate, not financial advice or a quote. Results depend entirely on the inputs you choose and standard modelling assumptions; they are not a prediction of your actual costs. Every build is scoped and priced individually.