Software cost is effort (hours) × hourly rate. A landing page takes 20–60 hours, a web or mobile MVP 400–1,200 hours, a custom CRM 600–2,500+ hours. Rates range from about $25–50/hour in Armenia and Eastern Europe to $100–200/hour at US agencies, so the same MVP can cost $15,000 or $150,000.
Typical effort by project type
| Project | Typical effort | At $25–40/h | At $100–150/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page | 20–60 h | $500–2,400 | $2,000–9,000 |
| Corporate website with CMS | 60–200 h | $1,500–8,000 | $6,000–30,000 |
| Automation workflow or bot | 10–80 h | $250–3,200 | $1,000–12,000 |
| AI chatbot / RAG pilot | 40–160 h | $1,000–6,400 | $4,000–24,000 |
| Web app or SaaS MVP | 400–1,200 h | $10,000–48,000 | $40,000–180,000 |
| Mobile app MVP (iOS + Android) | 400–1,000 h | $10,000–40,000 | $40,000–150,000 |
| Custom CRM / ERP | 600–2,500+ h | $15,000–100,000+ | $60,000–375,000+ |
| Marketplace, fintech or iGaming platform | 2,000+ h | $50,000+ | $200,000+ |
These are typical market ranges, not quotes. The real number depends on scope, integrations and quality requirements.
Hourly rates by region (approximate, 2026)
- US agencies: $100–200/hour
- UK and Western Europe: $70–150/hour
- Central and Eastern Europe: $35–70/hour
- Armenia: $25–50/hour
- Freelancers: anything from $15 to $150/hour, with higher delivery risk
What drives the cost
- Number of screens, user roles and business rules
- Integrations: payments, CRM, ERP, third-party APIs
- Platforms: web only, or also iOS and Android
- Security, compliance and audit requirements
- Expected load and real-time features
- Design complexity and content
- Support after launch
How to reduce cost without losing quality
- Start with an MVP: build the 20% of features that deliver 80% of value
- Use one cross-platform codebase (React Native) instead of two native apps
- Use proven open-source components and SaaS where they fit
- Work with a senior nearshore/offshore team: lower rates, same engineering standards
- Agree fixed-price milestones so scope creep is visible
How Amsoft prices projects
Amsoft works from $25/hour with a senior team (10+ years of experience, 50+ delivered projects). Send a short description and you receive a free itemised estimate with options from minimal to extended scope, as fixed price or time & materials.