Build vs. Buy Cost Calculator

Input your expected user base and pricing to see whether a custom build or a platform makes financial sense over a 36-month period.

This interactive tool requires JavaScript. However, the general rule of thumb is: If your MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) is below $15,000, white-label platforms are almost always cheaper despite revenue shares. Above $30,000 MRR, the fixed costs of a custom build often beat out the percentage-based fees of platforms.

Assumptions

Platform (e.g. Uscreen): $200/month flat fee + $1/subscriber/month + 5% transaction fee.
Custom Build: $100k upfront cap-ex + $2.5k/month ongoing maintenance/servers.
Calculations assume flat growth after month 12 for simplicity.