How Much Does an MVP Cost in 2025? Complete Guide with Real Prices
"How much does an MVP cost?" It's the question I hear most on first calls with founders. The honest answer — between €1,500 and €80,000 depending on the case — is rarely what they hoped to hear.
This guide details real price ranges, the factors that drive costs up, and the scoping mistakes that turn a €15,000 MVP into a €60,000 project.
Price ranges by MVP type
| MVP type | Senior freelance | French agency | Average timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing page + form / waitlist | €1,000 – €2,500 | €3,000 – €8,000 | 1 week |
| Simple SaaS (auth, dashboard, 3-5 features) | €6,000 – €15,000 | €15,000 – €40,000 | 4-6 weeks |
| Business app (workflows, roles, reporting) | €12,000 – €30,000 | €30,000 – €80,000 | 6-10 weeks |
| Marketplace (2 user types, payments) | €18,000 – €45,000 | €50,000 – €120,000 | 8-14 weeks |
| Mobile app (iOS + Android, React Native) | €20,000 – €60,000 | €60,000 – €150,000 | 10-16 weeks |
These ranges assume a well-defined scope before kickoff. A vague scope can double or triple the final bill.
What drives MVP pricing
1. Functional complexity
The main factor. A SaaS with authentication, role management, dashboard, email notifications, and Stripe payments is 5-10x more complex than a landing page. Each external integration (Stripe, Twilio, HubSpot) adds 1-3 development days.
2. Technology type
| Stack | Cost impact | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Next.js + Supabase | Low-medium | Backend as a service, fast start |
| Java Spring Boot + React | Medium | Robust, scalable, more verbose |
| React Native (mobile) | High +30-50% | Two platforms, longer build cycle |
| No-code (Bubble) | Very low but limited | Fast to validate, hard to scale |
3. Provider profile
The difference between a junior at €200/day and a senior at €600/day isn't just speed — it's code quality, architecture choices, and problem anticipation. A junior may take 50 days to deliver what a senior delivers in 20 — same final cost, but with technical debt costing €20,000 to pay down later.
5 mistakes that double the bill
- ▸Adding features mid-project. The #1 cause of overruns. Every addition during development costs 3x more than if planned upfront.
- ▸Confusing MVP with finished product. An MVP is a validation tool, not a complete v1.0.
- ▸Choosing the lowest bidder without verifying. A €3,000 quote for a complex SaaS won't deliver a complex SaaS.
- ▸Skipping upfront scoping. A 2-3 day scoping session (€500-€1,500) can save €10,000-€20,000.
- ▸Forgetting infrastructure. CI/CD, monitoring, backups, domain, SSL — rarely included in low-end quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Can you build an MVP for under €5,000?
Yes, for specific cases: a landing page with waitlist, a simple no-code app, or a prototype with tools like Glide or Adalo. But for a SaaS with real features, a sub-€5,000 budget means either no-code, a very junior profile, or a truly minimal scope.
Is pricing higher with a freelance in France vs abroad?
French freelancers typically charge €400-700/day. Eastern Europe: €150-300/day. India or North Africa: €50-150/day. The price is lower, but coordination, code quality, and understanding of the French market are often inferior.
Conclusion
An honest range for a well-scoped SaaS MVP: €8,000 to €25,000 with a senior freelance, delivered in 4 to 8 weeks. Before asking for quotes, scope your project. Before scoping, define your hypothesis.
If you want an honest estimate for your project, tell me about your idea. I'll respond within 48h with a realistic estimate, no strings attached.
Zouhir Echarif El Idrissi El Kandri
Freelance DevOps & Développeur Web
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