Subscriptions or a custom app: five-year cost
Compare what you will pay over five years for the tools you subscribe to with what a custom app would cost.
Short answer. A custom app usually costs more in the first year and less over several years, because subscriptions charge every month and often per user, while a custom app is paid for once plus hosting of about $50 to $200 a month. This calculator shows the year the totals cross for your own numbers.
Calculator
How to read it
Subscriptions cost little up front and more every year, especially per-user pricing as your team grows. A custom app costs more up front and little after, so the totals usually cross at some point. If they do not cross within five years, an off-the-shelf product is probably the better buy.
Price comparison only. Fit matters more: see custom app or off-the-shelf? and the comparisons for Airtable, SignUpGenius, VolunteerHub and Jobber.
Questions
Where do the product prices come from?
Each vendor’s own pricing page, checked on September 30, 2026, billed annually. Prices change, so check before deciding.
Why does the custom app cost anything after it is built?
Hosting is paid to the hosting provider every month, and support is optional. There are no per-user fees from Sarasoris.
What if we need more than one module?
Raise the build cost. What a custom app costs explains how the price grows.
Tell us how the work gets done today.
Use the contact form or write to hello@sarasoris.com. The first conversation is free.
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