How Much Does an MVP Cost in 2025?

Look, I'm not going to waste your time. You're here because someone quoted you $150K for an MVP and you're wondering if they're taking the piss. Or maybe you've heard MVPs should cost $10K and you're confused why every agency is asking for way more.

Let's cut through the BS and talk real numbers for 2025.

The Short Answer (That Nobody Wants to Hear)

Your MVP will probably cost between $15,000 and $75,000.

I know, I know. That's a huge range. But here's the thing: "MVP" has become one of those meaningless buzzwords that can mean anything from "a landing page with a signup form" to "a fully functioning marketplace with payments, messaging, and AI recommendations."

What Actually Determines MVP Cost in 2025?

1. Complexity (Obviously)

A simple content-based app? Maybe $15K-$25K. A two-sided marketplace? You're looking at $40K-$75K minimum. Anything with real-time features, complex algorithms, or heavy integrations? Add another 30-50%.

2. Who's Building It

• Solo freelancer: $50-$100/hour (but it'll take longer)
• Small agency: $100-$150/hour (balanced approach)
• Big agency: $150-$300/hour (more overhead, fancier offices)
• Offshore team: $25-$75/hour (can work, but requires good management)

3. The "Must-Haves" vs. "Nice-to-Haves"

This is where most founders blow their budget. Your MVP doesn't need:

• A custom admin dashboard (use existing tools)
• Native mobile apps (start with web, use PWA)
• Perfect animations (nobody cares yet)
• Every feature from your 47-page requirements doc

Real Examples from 2025

Simple SaaS Tool: $18K

What it did: One core feature, email auth, Stripe integration, basic dashboard
Timeline: 6 weeks
Tech: Next.js, Supabase, Vercel

Marketplace MVP: $52K

What it did: User profiles, listings, search, messaging, payments
Timeline: 12 weeks
Tech: React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS

AI-Powered App: $68K

What it did: AI content generation, user accounts, credits system, API integrations
Timeline: 14 weeks
Tech: Next.js, Python backend, OpenAI API, MongoDB

How to Actually Budget for Your MVP

Take your initial estimate and multiply by 1.3. I'm serious. There's always something that takes longer than expected. Design revisions, scope creep, that "small feature" that turns into a week of work.

Here's a realistic breakdown:

• Discovery & Planning: 10% of budget
• Design: 20% of budget
• Development: 50% of budget
• Testing & Launch: 10% of budget
• Buffer for Reality: 10% of budget

Red Flags to Watch Out For

• They won't give you a range: If an agency can't ballpark it after a 30-minute call, run.
• The quote is suspiciously low: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• They want to build everything: A good dev partner will push back on unnecessary features.
• No similar projects in portfolio: You don't want to be their learning experience.

The Bottom Line

In 2025, expect to spend $15K-$75K on a proper MVP. Yes, you can do it cheaper (no-code, DIY, offshore), but there are tradeoffs. Yes, it can cost more (complex features, premium agencies), but make sure you're getting value.

The real question isn't "how much does an MVP cost?" It's "how much is it worth to validate my idea before I blow $500K on a full build?"

Spoiler: It's worth whatever it costs to avoid that mistake.