{"head":{"title":"MVP Cost Calculator: What to Build and Cut | OceanLab","description":"See what a minimum viable product costs with a lean feature set, and how much each feature you drop would save. Editable rates and hours, free.","canonical":"https://oceanlab.in/tools/mvp-cost"},"tool":{"slug":"mvp-cost","path":"/tools/mvp-cost","name":"MVP cost","h1":"MVP cost calculator","lede":"Start from a lean MVP feature set, then see what each feature adds and what cutting it would save.","category":"costs","categoryTitle":"Cost calculators","method":["Same engine as the software development cost calculator, starting from a lean preset: sign-up, profiles, one core record type, a dashboard, notifications and an admin panel, on the web, with template design and a team of two.","The cut-scope list re-runs the estimate without each selected feature and shows what dropping it saves, biggest saving first.","Feature hours are OceanLab planning assumptions and every rate is editable."],"sources":[{"label":"ECB euro reference exchange rates (22 Oct 2026)","url":"https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html","checkedAt":"2026-10-23"}],"faq":[{"question":"What should an MVP include?","answer":"Only what you need to test your riskiest assumption with real users. Use the cut-scope list to see which features cost the most and could wait for version two."},{"question":"How is this different from the software development cost calculator?","answer":"It uses the same engine and assumptions, with a lean preset and a list showing what removing each feature saves."},{"question":"Which hourly rates does it use?","answer":"Default rates are OceanLab's own: $50 an hour for engineering, $45 for design, $40 for project management and $30 for QA. Change any of them to the rates you have been quoted."},{"question":"Is anything I enter sent anywhere?","answer":"No. The tool runs in your browser and there is no sign-up. Nothing leaves the page unless you choose to email your result to OceanLab."}],"updatedAt":"2026-10-25"},"related":[{"href":"/tools/software-development-cost","label":"Software development cost","detail":"Pick the features and platform, check the rates, and get a cost and timeline range you can take to any vendor."},{"href":"/tools/build-vs-buy","label":"Build vs buy","detail":"Compare SaaS seats with a custom build year by year, find the break-even point, and check the reasons that are not about cost."},{"href":"/tools/software-rfp-template","label":"Software RFP template","detail":"Answer a short guided form and copy or download a requirements document you can send to any vendor."}],"studies":[{"meta":{"slug":"pylon","industry":"insurance","projectType":"Insurance operations console","featured":true,"country":"us","tags":["insurtech","ai","saas","enterprise"],"compliances":["SOC 2 Type II","HIPAA-aligned","GDPR","ISO 27001"],"cover":{"src":"/pylon-1.png","width":1440,"height":1207}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Building Pylon - AI-Native Insurance Operations from Prototype to Production","description":"Replaced fragmented policy spreadsheets and disconnected claims tools with a unified AI-driven workspace, designed and shipped in 8 weeks via clickable AI prototype.","category":"InsurTech","client":"Pylon"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"helio","industry":"energy","projectType":"Solar, battery & smart-home app","featured":true,"country":"ch","tags":["energy","iot","mobile","ai"],"compliances":["GDPR","Swiss FADP","IEC 62443","ISO 27001"],"cover":{"src":"/helio-1.png","width":2400,"height":1797}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Helio - Smart Solar & Storage App with IoT Sensor Network from Prototype to Production","description":"Built a consumer iOS and Android app for solar generation, battery storage, EV charging and smart-home device control - backed by an IoT sensor network and AI optimisation engine. Shipped from clickable AI prototype to App Store in 16 weeks.","category":"Energy / IoT","client":"Helio"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"clinica","industry":"clinics","projectType":"Clinic operations platform","featured":true,"country":"sg","tags":["healthcare","ai","saas","enterprise"],"compliances":["PDPA Singapore","MOH-IM8","HIPAA-aligned","ISO 27001"],"cover":{"src":"/clinica-1.png","width":1440,"height":1524}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Clinica - Multi-Department Clinic Operations Console with AI Assistant","description":"Built a multi-department clinic operations console with appointment management, department load tracking, staff performance, resource utilisation and an AI assistant for staff queries - shipped from clickable AI prototype to production in 14 weeks.","category":"Healthcare / Clinic Operations","client":"Clinica"}}},{"meta":{"slug":"lendwell","industry":"banking","projectType":"SME loan origination","country":"gb","tags":["fintech","saas","enterprise"],"compliances":["Consumer Credit Act","MLR 2017","UK sanctions (OFSI)","UK GDPR"],"cover":{"src":"/case-studies/lendwell/01-home.png","width":1440,"height":1000}},"text":{"en":{"title":"Lendwell - SME Loan Origination from Application to Funded","description":"A loan origination platform for Harbour Capital, a UK digital lender offering £25,000 to £500,000 term loans to small businesses - one workspace for applications, KYB and KYC, open banking and bureau data, underwriting, credit committee, offers and funding.","category":"Banking / SME Lending","client":"Harbour Capital"}}}],"more":[{"href":"/case-studies","label":"All case studies","detail":"Every OceanLab product build."},{"href":"/embedded-engineers","label":"Embedded engineers","detail":"OceanLab engineers inside your team on a monthly retainer."}],"today":"2026-10-25"}