When choosing how to build your software, you have three main options: traditional agencies, freelancers, or AI-powered development. Let's break down the real costs.
The Numbers Don't Lie
| Factor | Traditional Agency | Freelancers | AI-Powered (My Coding Team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP Cost | $50,000 - $150,000 | $15,000 - $40,000 | $8,000 - $20,000 |
| Timeline | 3-6 months | 2-4 months | 1-4 weeks |
| Availability | Business hours | Variable | 24/7 |
| Team Size | 2-5 people | 1-2 people | 8 specialists |
| Code Quality | Variable | Variable | Consistent (97+ best practices) |
| Documentation | Often extra cost | Usually minimal | Always included |
Why AI-Powered is Cheaper
It's not about cutting corners. It's about removing inefficiencies:
- No meetings overhead: Traditional teams spend 20-30% of time in meetings
- No context switching: AI maintains perfect context across the project
- No knowledge gaps: 8 specialists cover all areas simultaneously
- No waiting: Code reviews, testing, documentation happen in parallel
💡 Real Example
We built our entire company infrastructure (site, AI systems, automation, documentation) in under 3 hours. Traditional estimate: 3-4 weeks.
When to Choose Each Option
Choose Traditional Agency if:
- You have unlimited budget and no time pressure
- You need extensive hand-holding and meetings
- Your project requires highly specialized domain expertise
Choose Freelancers if:
- You have a very small, well-defined task
- Budget is extremely limited
- You can manage the project yourself
Choose AI-Powered (My Coding Team) if:
- Speed to market matters
- You want consistent, high-quality code
- You need multiple specialists without hiring them
- You value documentation and maintainability