# Subscription vs. Custom App: 5-Year Cost | Sarasoris

URL: https://sarasoris.com/subscription-vs-custom-cost

## 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?](https://sarasoris.com/compare) and the comparisons for [Airtable](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-vs-airtable), [SignUpGenius](https://sarasoris.com/signupgenius-alternative), [VolunteerHub](https://sarasoris.com/volunteerhub-alternative) and [Jobber](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-vs-jobber).

### Related

- [Custom app or off-the-shelf software?](https://sarasoris.com/compare)
- [How much does a custom app cost?](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-cost)
- [Airtable and no-code vs. a custom app](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-vs-airtable)
- [Jobber and Housecall Pro vs. a custom field-service app](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-vs-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](https://sarasoris.com/custom-app-cost) explains how the price grows.

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Last updated October 18, 2026