An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a simplified version of a product designed for easy customer use. It allows users to help themselves, discover the product on their own, and start using it with minimal guidance.
If you’re building a new product, launching a startup, or testing a fresh idea, you’ve probably heard the term MVP (Minimum Viable Product). It’s a smart way to launch fast, learn what works, and avoid wasting time or money.
Turning your idea into a real product feels amazing, and making money from it is even better.
Building an MVP is the smartest way to turn your startup idea into a real product without wasting time or money. This guide explains how much it costs to build an MVP, what factors affect the budget, and how Ontik Technology helps founders launch fast with clarity and confidence.
At Ontik Technology, we work with startups across every stage of the MVP journey. Whether you’re just validating an idea, upgrading a rough prototype, or preparing to scale your product, this guide shows exactly how we help you get there.
Why is Budget Planning Essential for MVP Development?
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) a is the first step for startup founders, and businesses to test a new idea. It allows them to build a lean, workable version of their digital product to check if it works without spending too much time or money.
This approach is ideal for new businesses still shaping their core idea or for teams looking to add new features but unsure how users will respond.
With an MVP startups, founders, and businesses can get real feedback early, fix issues before they grow, and avoid wasting money and time on something people don’t want. Before you build your digital product or MVP, you need to plan or calculate how much it costs to build an MVP.
Many people ask, "How much does an MVP cost?" The answer depends on your idea, features, design, and the team you choose. If you are building a software business, understanding the SaaS MVP development cost is important. Even if you use low code tools, you still need to know the low code MVP development cost. Planning your budget helps you pick only the most needed features. This way, you can reduce MVP development costs and launch your product faster. It also helps you understand the MVP app development cost, MVP prototype cost, and the full cost of MVP development.
Knowing the cost of developing an MVP is an indication that you're serious and well prepared when speaking with investors. That's why you should have a well defined plan in place, whether you are discussing how much does MVP cost or how much does MVP software development cost.
Ontik Technology focuses on helping visionary founders, early stage teams, and startup builders bring their ideas to life through meaningful MVP solutions. Our services are ideal for:
Startup Type
Description
Goal
Idea-Stage Founder
Just getting started, still validating the core concept
Clarify your direction, test user interest, and prepare a prototype or lean MVP
MVP Builder / Upgrader
You have a clear product roadmap or an early version
Build a robust MVP or improve what you already have
Launch-Ready Startup
Your MVP is stable, and you're ready to launch or scale
Improve tech readiness, infrastructure, and prepare for growth
How Much Does It Cost To Build An MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
Here’s a simple breakdown of the cost to build an MVP based on real startup situations. From idea research to support after launch, every step has its own cost and matters a lot. If you know the early stages, that can help you plan and avoid burning money.
Various elements or factors can affect MVP development cost as in how complex your app is, how skilled your developers and team members are, and how much time it takes to launch your MVP product. There are lots of parts involved here, like frontend design, backend work, third party tools, and product testing costs, which can increase your MVP cost. If you want something quicker and more affordable, low code MVP development cost options are available, but they may not scale well in the future.
If you're wondering how much does it cost to develop an MVP, the usual cost is between $15,000 and $50,000, based on how advanced your idea is. But it’s not just about the price, it’s about smart planning. Startups should try to reduce MVP development costs by choosing the right team.
🟢 Note: Ontik Technology is one of the top choices for MVP product development. They offer clear pricing, fast delivery, and trusted MVP development services for startup companies. Whether you’re building a mobile app or an SaaS MVP, Ontik helps you build an MVP quickly and efficiently.
Core Cost Component of MVP products Development
Pre-MVP Development Phase
Description
Estimated Cost Range (USD)
Importance Level
Tips to Reduce Cost
Research and development phase
Research, planning, and product requirement setup
$1,000 – $5,000
High
Use the lean canvas model
Development Cost of MVP
Complete coding and development process
$8,000 – $20,000
Very High
Use an experienced offshore team
Front-End Development
User interface and experience design
$3,000 – $7,000
High
Start with basic UI components
Backend Development
Business logic and server setup
$4,000 – $10,000
Very High
Use scalable backend frameworks
Database Setup
Data storage, schema design, and security
$1,000 – $3,000
Medium
Use cloud based DB solutions
Third Party Integrations
Integrating APIs and external tools
$1,500 – $5,000
Medium
Choose only essential integrations
Testing and Quality Assurance
Bug fixes, QA, and usability testing
$2,000 – $5,000
High
Use automation tools for testing
Post-MVP Development Phase
Description
Average Cost Estimate (USD)
Startup Tip
Maintenance & Updates
Regular updates to ensure smooth performance and compatibility with the latest OS
$1,000 – $5,000/year
Use automated testing to reduce update costs
Bug Fixes
Fixing bugs reported by users post launch
$500 – $2,000/month
Prioritize critical bugs to save time
Customer Support
Ongoing support to respond to user queries and technical issues
$500 – $1,500/month
Use chatbot based support initially
Server & Hosting Costs
Costs for keeping the app live, including cloud hosting and server usage
$1,000 – $3,000/year
Choose scalable, pay as you go hosting
Performance Monitoring
Tools and services to monitor real-time app performance and user activity
$500 – $1,000/year
Start with free tools like Google Analytics
User Feedback Analysis
Collecting and analyzing user feedback to plan future features or changes
$200 – $500/month
Run surveys using free platforms
Marketing & Launch Campaigns
Marketing efforts to promote the app through launch emails, social media ads, etc.
$2,000 – $10,000
Use low budget social media ads first
Analytics & Reporting Tools
Using tools like Mixpanel or Firebase for a better understanding of user behavior
$500 – $2,000/year
Start with free tiers of analytics tools
App Store Optimization (ASO)
Improving app visibility in app stores through keyword targeting and better descriptions
$200 – $1,000
Use keyword tools like Ubersuggest
Scalability
Enhancing system capacity to handle more users and requests efficiently
$1,000 – $5,000
Use modular code
Improvements
Handle more users and requests efficiently
$5,000
For easier scaling
Workflow Breakdown of MVP Development
Here is the workflow breakdown of MVP product development:
Step 1: Discovery Kickoff
Stakeholder session to understand the vision
Define product goals and user needs
Finalize scope and roadmap
Step 2: Design Start
Deliver Figma flows and user stories
Set up task board in Jira or ClickUp
Begin user experience design
Step 3: UX Alignment
Review feedback on designs
Refine UI and UX scope
Lock core user journeys
Step 4: Dev Setup
Start with user management module
Prepare base architecture
Deliver first internal demo
Step 5: Dev Phase 1
Build core product features
Create 2nd demo with flows working
Track progress with weekly updates
Step 6: QA Prep
Reach 50% code completion
Start writing test cases
Prepare for functional testing
Steps 7–8: QA Phase
Run regression testing
Fix bugs and improve usability
Handle minor scope additions
Step 9: Final QA
Freeze the code
Polish the product experience
Prepare for deployment
Step 10: Release Ready
MVP is now deployable
Complete all documentation
Handoff for internal review
Step 11: Final QA + UAT
User Acceptance Testing with 90–100% test case coverage
Create a user guide and support docs
Step 12: Launch Support
Sign off from team or client
Final code handoff
Internal training and post-launch prep
Hour and Time Cost Breakdown of MVP
Ontik follows a structured timeline approach for MVP delivery based on your startup stage.
For idea stage founders, the process takes around 4 to 6 weeks
For startups building or upgrading an MVP, it takes 8 to 12 weeks
For launch ready startups needing scale or polish, it takes 6 to 16 weeks
There's also a sample 12-week breakdown showing each weekly activity like discovery kickoff, design, development, testing, QA, and launch support. This makes it easier to track time spent across different phases and align resources at each step.
People and Developer Cost Breakdown of MVP
Each stage of MVP development involves different experts to keep quality high and delivery fast. Ontik assigns dedicated professionals depending on your MVP type:
Idea Stage MVP
Product Strategist
UI UX Designer
No Code Developer (if needed)
Business Analyst
MVP Builder or Upgrader
Product Manager
UI UX Designer
Frontend and Backend Developers
QA Engineer
DevOps (if needed)
Launch Ready MVP
Senior Developer or Architect
DevOps Engineer
QA Lead
Automation Specialist
Technical Project Manager
This team setup shows the human cost involved in combining strategy, design, development, and QA to deliver a complete MVP.
Cloud Hosting Options for MVPs
Choosing the right cloud hosting is very important when building an MVP. It helps your product run well, grow easily, and stay within budget. Cloud hosting gives you flexibility, saves money, and lets you launch faster without spending too much. Here in this table, we can show the three most renowned cloud provider and their overviews, processes, pricing rates, and key features:
Cloud Provider
Overview and Process
Pricing Rates
Key Features
AWS
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is widely adopted for startups and MVPs. It offers on demand cloud resources, elastic scalability, and easy setup using services like EC2, S3, and Elastic Beanstalk. The process involves selecting services, setting up an instance, and scaling as needed.
Free tier available (EC2 750 hours/month for 12 months). After free tier: $8–$12/month for t2.micro instances. S3 storage starts at $0.023 per GB. Lambda offers 1M free requests then $0.20 per million.
Global reach, strong documentation, 200+ services, flexible pricing, mature ecosystem, secure and scalable infrastructure.
Azure
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform, integrated deeply with Windows and Office tools. Ideal for teams already using Microsoft products. MVP hosting starts with services like App Service, Azure DevOps, and Azure SQL. Easy to deploy using Visual Studio or GitHub workflows.
Free tier includes 12 months of BIS VM (750 hours/month). Basic Linux VM from $13/month. Azure Blob Storage starts at $0.0184/GB. App Service starts at $0.013/hour.
Best for Windows environments, seamless Office integration, enterprise grade compliance, hybrid cloud capabilities, strong analytics tools.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud is known for simplicity, speed, and strong AI integrations. Developers often use Firebase for MVPs. Setup includes using Google Compute Engine, Firebase Hosting, or App Engine. It works well for mobile apps and real time features.
Always Free tier includes Firebase Hosting, 5GB storage, and 1GB bandwidth. Compute Engine micro VM starts at $6/month. Cloud Functions: 2M invocations free, then $0.40/million.
Fast setup, cost effective, built in AI and ML tools, Firebase integration, excellent for mobile apps and real time use cases.
Factors Influencing the MVP Development Cost
If you're a startup founder planning to build your first minimum viable product (MVP), one big question is: How much does it cost to build an MVP? The answer depends on many things from your product idea to your team setup. Here’s a detailed look at the real factors that influence the MVP development cost, especially for startups.
Project Complexity & Features
The more features you want in your minimum viable product, the higher the MVP development cost. A simple MVP with core functions is cheaper, while advanced AI or SaaS features increase the cost of MVP development.
Team Location & Hiring Model
Team location matters for building MVP products. The cost to develop MVP can vary based on which country the developers are in, how skilled they are, and where your development team is located. There are 3 hiring models: offshore, nearshore, and onshore. Hiring offshore developers from Asian countries helps reduce MVP development cost while still delivering high quality products and services at a much lower price than U.S. based options.
Three Development Approaches: No-code, Low-code, or Custom
There are three approaches available. If you're wondering how much does it cost to develop an MVP, it can vary based on your approach. No-code tools like Retool and Bubble can lower costs, rather than preparing custom coded MVP products. Low-code MVP development costs are usually lower, but they may not be scalable. Custom software development costs more but allows more control and growth.
Different Platform Types: Web, iOS, Android
MVP cost can vary based on different factors, and it depends on your requirements, like whether you’re building for a single platform or multiple ones. A web app is more budget friendly, whereas developing for iOS and Android increases your MVP app cost.
Design Needs: UI/UX Simplicity vs. Detail
Sleek and modern UI/UX design can improve user retention, but it adds to the cost to build MVP. Custom visuals, animations, and prototypes raise the MVP prototype cost.
Technology Stack
Your chosen tools and frameworks affect the development cost of MVP. Some tech stacks take more time to consume, which increases both development time and the overall MVP cost.
Team Structure: In-house vs. Outsourced
Having an in-house development team gives full control but raises the MVP development budget due to salaries and overheads. Outsourcing to MVP development services or agencies offers flexibility and a lower average cost.
Post Launch Support
The cost of MVP software development isn’t just about building it. It includes support, updates, and improvements. Make sure your MVP development process includes post Launch maintenance in the cost estimate.
Convert Your Business Idea into Reality with Ontik Technology’s MVP Development Services
1. From Idea to Impact Start with an MVP
Building a complete app at once takes time and money. Ontik helps you start small with a clear MVP that lets you test real users early. This lowers your mvp development cost while proving your idea fast.
2. Clear and Honest Pricing
Not sure how much does it cost to develop an MVP? We offer fixed pricing and transparent scope, so you get clarity from day one from mvp prototype cost to a full launch plan.
3. Fast Delivery Without Quality Loss
Our team focuses on fast delivery. You get your MVP within 9 to 12 weeks so you can move forward quickly without sacrificing quality.
4. Full MVP App Development Support
From planning to launch, we handle the entire process. Whether it's a mobile app, SaaS MVP, or low-code MVP, our roadmap shows you exactly what to do and when to do it.
5. Scalable and Future Ready Solutions
We help you build an MVP that grows with your users. Our post MVP support and scaling lets you improve and expand without starting over keeping your long term costs low.
6. Skilled In-House and Offshore Teams
You choose how to work with our dedicated product and tech team or a flexible offshore setup. Either way, we give you quality, control, and cost balance.
7. Trusted SaaS MVP Development Cost Models
For SaaS founders, our SaaS MVP development cost plans are built to match your product roadmap and business goals.
8. Maximize Efficiency, Minimize MVP Costs
Our strong UX and dev execution means we use smart tools, reusable code, and automation to build fast and reduce waste keeping your MVP development costs down.
9. Industry Trusted MVP Development Services
We are trusted by real startups who choose us for MVP development services. From design to launch, we give you solid results with a clear timeline and proven delivery.
10. Partner with a Proven MVP Expert
Ontik is not just a builder we are your partner. We help you design, budget, and deliver your MVP with confidence and support your growth from day one.
Why Founders Choose Ontik To Build an MVP
Why Founders Choose Ontik To Build an MVP Product
Experience with startup ecosystems
Transparent pricing and timelines
Lean, startup-friendly delivery process
Fast turnarounds and feedback cycles
Support beyond launch: scale, automate, or hand off
Final Thoughts
Building an MVP product or digital solution is one of the smartest first steps for any startup. It allows founders to test their ideas, scale their business, and achieve a high return on investment (ROI). In today’s world, building an MVP quickly is possible. You just need to choose the right and experienced team that specializes in MVP or SaaS product development.
This article covers everything you need to know: a full MVP cost breakdown, key factors that influence development costs, and how to plan your MVP development budget wisely. An MVP lets you launch smarter, test early, and grow faster. With the right team like Ontik, you can keep costs low, build what users need, and move from idea to success in your business.
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14 Min
Outsource App Development Cost (2025)
If you’ve been searching online for “how much does it cost to outsource app development?” or “outsource mobile application development”, chances are you've seen a lot of numbers but not enough clear answers.
As a startup, you don’t just want a price you want to understand why it costs that much, what affects the cost, and how to make the smartest decision for your business. That’s where this guide comes in.
We won’t just throw random figures at you. Instead, we’ll break down the real costs of application development outsourcing, show you how application outsourcing works for startups, and explain the difference between hiring a full outsourcing application development team vs. adding a few developers to your team through outstaffing.
If you’re a startup with a big idea, mobile application development outsourcing can help you build it fast without spending too much. And if your goal is to grow quickly, software application outsourcing lets you do more without hiring a full inhouse team. In this article, we’ll help you make smart and budget friendly decisions. No more confusion we’ll show you what works best for your startup.
This guide explains everything in simple terms. You’ll learn what affects the cost of outsourcing application development, how prices change in different countries, and the types of outsourcing models you can choose. We’ll also explain why Ontik Technology is a great partner in 2025, offering the right mix of low cost, fast work, and great quality.
How IT Companies Handle Outsourced App Development.
Before jumping into the details, first, you should understand what application development outsourcing means. In short, it’s when anyone can hire or work with another company or tech service provider to manage and handle their specific tasks and build different types of apps instead of doing it in house.
In 2025, many industries will try to save money or time by outsourcing to other companies. They rely on application outsourcing to some extent. From startups to mid and large companies, many founders prefer or suggest outsourcing application development because it saves money. Without burning too much cost, any startup or company can scale very quickly. At a low cost, they can hire expert resources through outsourcing.
For example, a startup or mid level company may outsource mobile application development teams to fulfill their tasks based on their requirements. They can handle everything from design to deployment. This is the ordinary framework in mobile application development outsourcing startups or mid level companies move faster without hiring a full tech team.
There are lots of companies that do not have the capability to build high quality apps due to lack of skilled team members and funding. That’s why they choose software application outsourcing or application software outsourcing to solve complex app problems and build high quality apps, especially when they need more advanced tech or AI features. The whole service from design to build time is overseen step by step when more advanced tech or AI features are required.
Choosing the right pricing model helps avoid surprises in your app development cost estimator. Whether you’re building for Android or iOS, your cost of Android app development or iOS app development cost will depend on the model you pick.
Startup companies may benefit from application outsourcing solutions because they can build high quality mobile applications at a low cost and receive high quality service from the outsourced team. This happens when you choose the right application outsourcing services provider, which makes it easier to scale with less risk.
What are the Factors That Influence App Development Outsourcing Costs
Factors
Influence App Development Outsourcing Costs
Project Complexity
More complex apps cost more due to extra features and integration
App Type (iOS, Android, Web)
iOS, Android, or Web apps have different pricing based on the platform
Outsourcing Location
Rates vary by country, and offshore teams are often more affordable
Team Size
Bigger teams may speed up delivery, but increase total cost
Experience Level
Senior developers or experts charge higher hourly rates
Development Model
Fixed price, T&M, or dedicated team models affect the budget
Tech Stack
Modern or uncommon tech stacks may cost more to implement
Design Requirements
Custom UI/UX designs raise costs more than simple templates
Testing & QA Needs
In-depth testing adds cost but improves app quality
Post Launch Support
Ongoing support & updates are additional budget items
Cost to Outsource App Development by Regions
Cost to Outsource App Development by Regions
Which Regions Why Best
North America (USA & Canada)
Top quality and experience, but very expensive ($100–$250/hour). Good for funded startups.
Western Europe (UK, Germany, France)
Skilled developers and good communication, but costly ($70–$150/hour).
Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Poland, Romania)
Affordable and reliable ($35–$70/hour). Many developers with good skills.
South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan)
Very budget-friendly ($20–$50/hour). Great for MVPs and fast growth for startups.
Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia)
Low cost ($20–$45/hour) and good English. Suitable for mobile-first apps.
Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico)
Moderate prices ($30–$70/hour) and similar time zones to North America.
Middle East & Africa
Rates differ a lot ($20–$60/hour). Still growing in global software outsourcing.
Australia & New Zealand
Great quality but expensive ($80–$150/hour). Best for local companies or funded startups.
Outsource App Development Cost by Industry
Industry
Outsource App Development
Estimated Cost Range (USD)
Popular App Trends
E-commerce
For online stores, cost depends on cart, payment gateways, analytics. Many go for low cost or Flutter MVP development.
$30,000 – $40,000
AI powered shopping, personalized offers, quick checkout
EdTech
Cost varies on content types, live classes, LMS, and AI tools.
$40,000 – $50,000
Live classes, gamified learning, progress tracking
HealthTech
Apps for clinics or hospitals have high cost due to compliance and security.
$50,000 – $60,000
Virtual visits, symptom checkers, health records
Real Estate
Cost rising with 3D viewing and map integrations. Simple apps are cheaper.
$20,000 – $30,000
3D views, calculators, chat with agents
Hospitality
Focus on UX and dynamic pricing. Helps reduce Android/iOS app costs.
$25,000 – $35,000
Dynamic booking, loyalty rewards
Fintech
High cost due to security, compliance, KYC, and system integration.
$60,000 – $70,000
Peer lending, investment tracking, e-wallets
Manufacturing
Need IoT integration, dashboards, tracking. Web apps are cheaper.
Heavy on UX and speed. Cost depends on servers, delivery, real-time features.
$70,000 – $80,000
Live streaming, social features, microtransactions
Fitness
Growing market. Lower cost with freelance MVP builds.
$15,000 – $25,000
Workout plans, habit tracking, virtual coaching
Grocery
Cost affected by delivery integration and inventory sync.
$15,000 – $20,000
Live tracking, smart delivery, reorder tools
Education
Portals, assessments, virtual classrooms. Cost rises with AI use.
$40,000 – $50,000
Class participation, grading, AI tools
Restaurants
Delivery integration and menus. Varies by delivery model.
$20,000 – $30,000
Table booking, payments, delivery routing
Note: Ontik developers use the best technology to build mobile applications, and they have very hard skills to build any type of complex app within a few months. They build various types of mobile applications that show their credibility, so startups to large organizations can easily trust Ontik technology.
How to Choose an App Development Outsourcing Company
Experience with MVPs Many startups start small. Pick a company skilled in MVP development to launch fast and scale later. Before choosing an outsourcing MVP development company, find out how many skilled developers they have and Is they fulfill your requirements or not.
Low-Code/No-Code Familiarity Look for partners who can handle low-code tools—they speed up development and cut early costs. Find out the partner who has to capability to build your mobile app first without doing any coding. And having knowledge of Low-Code/No-Code approaches and familiarity with retools and Bubble to build MVP products or MVP mobile apps quickly.
Proven Remote Collaboration Companies with good remote work culture and tools like Slack, Notion, and Jira are now preferred.
Mobile First Development Focus on agencies with strong mobile application development outsourcing experience mobile is still king.
Transparent Pricing Models Choose providers who clearly explain cost breakdowns many now use cost estimators or calculators on their websites.
Security & Data Compliance As apps handle more sensitive data, pick teams that follow strict security and GDPR compliance rules.
Skills in Building Cross Platform Apps Teams that offer iOS, Android, and web app support under one roof are trending high.
Bangladesh & Eastern Europe on the Rise Offshore app development hubs like Bangladesh are booming for quality work at low cost.
Outsourcing App Developers vs. In-House Teams: What’s Best for Building a Mobile App?
When any small company or startup founders who do not have a big team or skilled developers, they think that there is a big question startups and companies face: Should they hire in house developers or outsource the mobile application developers from another company? Both models have their advantages and disadvantages depending on their business goals and other elements of the business.
Aspect
Outsourcing App Developers
In-House Teams
Development Cost
Lower cost due to global talent
Higher due to salaries, benefits, tools
Hiring Speed
Faster hiring via agencies or platforms
Slower process requires recruitment and onboarding
Flexibility
Highly flexible for short-term or feature-specific needs
Less flexible, fixed team size and contracts
Expertise Level
Access to experienced professionals across domains
Varies based on internal hiring quality
Overhead Costs
No office space or salary overheads
High due to facilities, equipment, and perks
Time Zone Advantage
Work continues 24/7 due to global zones
Limited to working hours of one location
Best For
Short-term projects, MVPs, startups
Long-term projects or core product development
Technology Access
Access to latest tools and tech instantly
Needs internal training or procurement
Project Control
Less control, relies on vendor communication
Full control over the team and workflow
Team Collaboration
Can be affected by gaps or time zones
Stronger collaboration and teamwork culture
Scalability
Easily scalable based on project size
Scaling needs more full-time staff
Maintenance & Support
Available via contract or as-needed
Dedicated support for long-term projects
Average Costs of Outsourcing Mobile App Development
To give you an idea of the typical costs involved, here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect when outsourcing mobile app development and Affordable Solutions: We know startups need to be careful with money. That's why we offer cost effective options without compromising quality. You can start by building a mobile application to test your idea without spending too much. Plus, we save your time by assembling a development team, so you can focus on other important tasks.
Why Outsource App Development to Ontik Technology?
Ontik Technology is a top choice when you want to hire offshore remote mobile app developers. With years of experience in mobile application development and a strong portfolio of successful offshore mobile app development projects, Ontik ensures that your app is built with the best quality. Whether you're looking for offshore iOS mobile app development services or offshore mobile app development services, Ontik is your trusted partner for creating high quality mobile apps.
1. Smart Development for Fast Results
Ontik Technology specializes in delivering high-quality applications quickly and efficiently. We follow agile methods and use the latest tech to build results driven apps tailored to your business goals.
2. MVP First Approach for Startups
We help businesses launch faster by focusing on Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). This lean approach saves cost, reduces risk, and validates your idea early, perfect for startups and scaling teams.
3. Flexible Team, Scalable Solutions
Outsource confidently with our flexible team structure offering both dedicated developers and full project teams. You can scale up or down based on your project needs.
4. Built In Efficiency with Modern Tools
We use modern frameworks and cloud technologies to build apps that are secure, scalable, and future ready. Our toolset ensures faster delivery with optimized performance.
5. AI Enhanced Workflows Where It Matters
While not all apps need AI, we integrate smart features like automation, personalization, or chatbots when it adds real value to your product. Our team can guide you on where AI fits best.
6. End-to-End Support From Concept to Launch
From idea validation and design to full-stack development and launch, Ontik offers full cycle development support. We act as your extended team throughout the journey.
7. Proven Results Across Multiple Industries
We’ve worked with clients in e-commerce, healthcare, logistics, SaaS, and more. Our apps are designed to meet industry specific challenges while maintaining speed, quality, and flexibility.
Final Thought
The outsourcing model is not just about saving money it’s a smarter and more effective move for any business to reach its goals. Startups and many companies solve their problems and tackle difficult challenges through outsourcing, allowing them to launch apps quickly, work with expert developers, and reduce hiring costs.
Whether you need a simple app or a full featured product, outsourcing app development helps you focus on your business while expert developers handle the tech work for you. Ontik Technology is a great choice for this. They have experience, skilled developers, and they understand what startups need. They can build your app fast and at a good price.
Education
15 Min
Staff Augmentation Vs Managed Services: Find the Best Staffing Solution
Today, businesses don’t need to hire people to get their work done. Businesses don’t need to go through the hassle of hiring, onboarding, and retaining resources, which can be done by experienced, talented resources from other parts of the world, while also saving on your expenses. Thanks to technology and remote work, they can find skilled workers from anywhere in the world.
Employees are one of the most valuable parts of any company. With technology and remote work, businesses now have more hiring options. They don’t have to stick to one location—they can find skilled people from anywhere in the world. Many companies are now choosing to outsource important tasks and projects. The global outsourcing market is already worth over $260 billion and could double by 2030.
Aspect
Staff Augmentation
Managed Services
Use Case
Quickly scaling teams; skill-specific needs; short-term project support
Long-term strategic partnership; ongoing operations; defined outcomes
Engagement Type
Individuals integrated into client’s existing teams
Dedicated team provided by vendor with clearly defined deliverables
Cost-Effectiveness
Cost-effective for temporary skill gaps and short-term roles
Economical for long-term, consistent support due to efficiency and predefined scope
Flexibility
High flexibility; easy adjustments in skill and team size
Moderate flexibility; changes usually require contractual adjustments
Responsibility
Client maintains full control over management and outcomes
Vendor responsible for project delivery, management, and outcomes
Billing Method
Hourly or monthly billing per resource
Fixed price, monthly retainer, or milestone-based payments
Risk Ownership
Client bears operational and project risk
Vendor assumes significant delivery, operational, and performance risk
Scalability
Rapid scaling up/down as per immediate needs
Scalable but requires planning and contractual arrangements
Onboarding Speed
Faster individual onboarding; minimal setup time
Longer onboarding due to setting up entire processes and infrastructure
Project Control
High client-side control and direct oversight
Lower direct oversight; management handled by vendor
Knowledge Transfer
Easier, direct knowledge transfer to the client’s team
A formalized process is required to ensure the client receives the necessary knowledge
Best Suited For
Companies needing quick, specialized resources or a temporary capacity boost
Businesses seeking stable, predictable outcomes without daily management burdens
This article will explain two popular IT staff hiring models that help businesses grow: staff augmentation and managed services. While these two approaches might look alike at first, they function differently. Understanding how each one works can help you make the right decision and create a smarter plan for your business growth.
Global Market of Staff Augmentation Vs Managed Services
In 2022, IT services around the world were worth about $821.58 billion. In the near 2030, many Experts say and predict that the market will grow at a 9.1% rate. Also, in 2020, the IT outsourcing market was around $318.5 billion, and by 2026, it could reach $425.19 billion, growing about 4.5% each year.
These numbers indicate that startup founders and mid-level business owners do hire people from outside of the country, and it also helps to save their money and hire skilled people at a low cost, and save their time as well. These numbers show that companies today are not just depending on their teams. Instead, they are hiring skilled experts from outside to help with new ideas and better solutions. Staff augmentation and managed services are two popular ways businesses engage with offshore staffing teams.
Both offer benefits like saving money, gaining expert help, working more efficiently, and being able to scale easily. But these two methods apply to totally different use cases. If a company needs full project help for a long time, managed services might be a better choice. But if a business needs short-term support or help with a specific task, staff augmentation is a smart option.
Let’s talk about the main differences between managed services and staff augmentation. This will help you choose the right option for your current work. Let’s begin:
What is Staff Augmentation?
Staff augmentation means hiring resources from outside the country or a nearby company to help fill resource gaps for a short period. You don’t need to hire them full-time; instead, they are hired on a project basis. These resources can join when the project starts and leave once the project is completed.
This is a smart option for companies when they need special skills or more people for a short time. It’s also helpful when deadlines are close, but the team isn’t big enough to finish everything on time. Instead of spending a lot to hire permanent staff, companies bring in the right experts only when needed.
This is a smart move for any business owner or founder when they need skilled people for a short period. It can be very helpful when project deadlines are near, but the company doesn’t have enough resources to complete the work. Instead of spending on permanent hires, a company can find the right talent at a lower cost and bring in experts only when needed.
Note: Ontik Technology has the right resources to meet your needs. They have already worked on many staff augmentation projects and successfully fulfilled their clients’ requirements.
Example from Ontik Technology – Staff Augmentation in Action
Instead of hiring someone full-time, they asked Ontik for support. Ontik provided a Flutter expert who joined their team for two months. The expert worked with Chippit’s team, helped build the app smoothly, and left once the project was finished.
Ontik Technology is your go-to partner for smart staff augmentation. When Chippit faced a tight deadline and lacked React Native experts, Ontik stepped in with the perfect solution. Ontik tech-skilled Flutter developer who worked seamlessly with Chippit’s team for two months. No long hiring process. No wasted resources.
The result? The app was launched into the market on time, with high quality, and the client was fully satisfied. This is how Ontik helps businesses scale fast and efficiently. This way, Chippit didn’t waste time or money. The app was done on time, and everyone was happy.
Ontik Technology has done many projects like this. They have the right people to join your team when you need extra hands, just for the time you need them. Simple, fast, and budget-friendly.
Types of Staff Augmentation Models
There are various types of staff augmentation models available. Here, we'll discuss some popular models:
Onshore Staff Augmentation:
In this process, you can hire additional personnel from within the same country or region where your company is based. It provides advantages such as easier communication due to shared time zones. Sometimes, it may come with higher labor costs when you compare it to offshore or nearshore options.
Offshore Staff Augmentation:
This process involves hiring resources from a different country, often located in a different time zone. This model offers cost savings due to lower labor expenses in offshore locations But yes, there are potential challenges in communication and cultural differences. Leveraging time zone differences can provide access to a wider talent pool and round-the-clock productivity.
Nearshore Staff Augmentation:
In Nearshore staff augmentation, you can hire staff or resources from neighboring or nearby countries. This model strikes a balance between cost savings and proximity. It also offers advantages such as similar time zones, cultural affinity, and reduced travel time for collaboration.
Short-Term Support:
Bringing in extra help for a short time to handle urgent or temporary tasks, like seasonal work or a sudden rise in projects.
Long-Term Partnership:
Hiring professionals for a longer period when companies need ongoing help, but don’t want to hire permanent staff.
Blended Model:
Mixing different models by using local staff for one part of the job and remote or offshore staff for another part to balance cost and control.
Skill-Focused Hiring:
Hiring people with specific skills for a project when in-house teams don’t have those skills.
Expert-Level Talent:
Getting top experts who are very experienced or have special knowledge for complex tasks that need high-level talent.
So, it's up to you which one you prefer for your particular projects or business. If you're struggling to decide which one to choose, Ontik Technology's professionals can help. All you have to do is contact our expert team.
What are Managed Services?
What is Managed Service?
Managed service means giving some of your company’s IT work to another company (called a service provider) to handle for you. Businesses often do this through a monthly or yearly contract. You can outsource many types of tasks like software development, keeping your data safe (cybersecurity), moving data (data migration), or managing your databases. Types of IT Managed Services Models
The service provider does the job on their own—they don’t become part of your office team. Once you permit them, they’ll share how much it will cost and how long it will take. Then they work to get the job done as planned. Managed services are a smart choice for companies that want to save money and time. It helps reduce the pressure on your internal team while making sure the work is done well and on time.
Staff Augmentation vs Managed Services: Discover the Strategic Benefits
Why Choose the Staff Augmentation Model?
Staff augmentation means hiring resources from outside the country or a nearby company to help fill resource gaps for a short period. It will help the company to move work faster, easier, and cheaper. Let’s look at how it helps:
1. Add or Remove People Easily In the staff augmentation model, you can quickly hire resources and easily release them after the project ends. But in other models, you can't remove resources as easily. Based on the project requirements, you can hire or release team members without any restrictions
2. Finish Projects Faster When you bring in skilled people quickly, your work gets done sooner. This means you can launch your app, website, or service before others do.
3. Get the Right Skills for the Job Every project is different. Sometimes you need a designer, sometimes a developer. Staff augmentation lets you pick just the right person with the skills you need—no need to train anyone.
4. Grow Your Team Quickly If your company suddenly has a lot of work, you can grow your team fast. You don’t have to wait for interviews and hiring steps. You just bring in ready-to-work people.
5. Save Office and Equipment Costs You don’t need to spend money on a new office or tools. These people already have what they need. This helps your company save money.
6. You’re Still the Boss In the staff augmentation model, even if new resources or team members come from outside the company or organization, you can still manage the project. You can assign tasks to them like a boss and make all the important decisions.
Why choose the IT Managed Services Model?
Managed services mean giving a full project or task to an outside company. They take care of everything—from planning to delivery. You don’t need to guide them every day. This model is perfect if you want to save time and focus on other business tasks. Let’s see how it helps:
1. Let Experts Handle Everything You give the full job to a team that already knows what to do. You don’t have to explain every step. They plan, build, and deliver your project on their own.
2. No Need to Hire or Train People You don’t need to spend time on interviews or training. The service provider already has skilled people who are ready to work from day one.
3. Focus on Business, Not the Tech Work You can spend more time growing your business while the outside team takes care of the technical stuff. No need to worry about day-to-day problems.
4. Save Time on Project Management In this model, you don’t manage the team. The managed service provider handles everything—timelines, quality, and delivery. You just review updates and give feedback.
5. Lower Long-Term Costs Even though it might seem costly at first, managed services save money in the long run. You don’t pay for office space, tools, or full-time staff. You only pay for what you need.
6. Get Ongoing Support Managed service providers often give 24/7 help. If something breaks, they fix it. If you need updates or changes, they handle it quickly without extra hiring.
7. Flexible Plans and Payments
IT Managed Services Model most of the approaches work on a monthly or yearly contract basis, based on your requirements, you may choose. There is no hidden cost here.
8. Better for Long-Term Projects If you have a big or ongoing project, this model is a good choice. The team works like your tech partner and helps your company grow steadily.
9. Fewer Risks, More Peace of Mind IT Managed Services Model the services follows some specific methods, like tested methods and so that there is less chance of mistakes, and they have proper backup and manage high security, and they can make sure the systems run smoothly and accurately.
10. Easy to Scale If your business grows or changes, managed services can adjust quickly. They add more people or reduce the team based on your needs, without delays.
Key Differences Between Staff Augmentation and Managed Services
Staff Augmentation & Managed Services: Which Is Fit with You?
Ontik Technology provides both staff augmentation and managed services to help businesses meet project needs and team demands in the best way possible. Staff augmentation gives more flexibility. You can easily hire skilled people from outside for a short time or just for one project. Once the job is done, they can leave. You’re in full control of who joins and when.
Managed services don’t just mean signing a long-term contract—it fully depends on what the client specifically needs and how clearly those needs are defined. Once the tasks and deliverables are identified, the contract can be structured as mid-term or long-term. Instead of billing by man-hours, the pricing is often based on measurable outputs, such as the number of data migrations completed, issues resolved, or features delivered. In this model, Ontik Technology acts as a vendor managing the entire service delivery, not just providing people.
In short, If you want to control the whole team and manage the project, and you need the power to make changes at any time, then Ontik’s staff augmentation can support you. But if you need ongoing help with less hassle, our managed services are ready for long-term support.
Staff Augmentation & Managed Services: Which Is More Market Worthy?
At Ontik Technology, we enable scalable growth through both models, depending on your business goals. Managed services are usually easier to scale. With a managed team, you can quickly add services, people, or tools as your business grows because they already have the resources and systems to support it. With staff augmentation, scaling takes more effort. As you grow, you need to hire new people, and sometimes it’s hard to find the right talent.
In short, if you want to grow your business quickly, Ontik’s managed services can give you smoother and faster support, while staff augmentation keeps you flexible as you scale.
Staff Augmentation & Managed Services: Level of Control and Oversight
Ontik Technology ensures you get the right level of control depending on how hands-on you want to be. With staff augmentation, you stay in control. You manage the work, choose tasks, and follow up directly. It is helpful to track every step of the project. In a managed service model, you have full power to control everything or the service provider. They handle the work based on the agreement. You trust them to manage it well, but you won’t be involved in daily tasks.
In short: Pick staff augmentation from Ontik if you want to stay fully involved, or choose managed services if you prefer to focus on business while we handle the delivery.
Staff Augmentation & Managed Services: Which Is More Customizable?
Ontik Technology gives you full freedom to customize your project or hiring process based on your unique needs. Staff augmentation is highly customizable. You can bring in people with very specific skills for each task. They can work directly with your team, in your style.
Managed services are more fixed. The provider uses their way of doing things. It’s harder to ask for unique setups or changes outside their regular service.
In short, if you need highly skilled resources or to work with anyone who is an expert based on your requirements, then Ontik’s staff augmentation model is fit for your business.
Staff Augmentation & Managed Services: Which Scales or Uses More Security?
At Ontik Technology, both models are built with a strong focus on performance and protection. Managed services give stronger security. The providers are experts in data safety, threat detection, and system protection. They work 24/7 to keep your data safe.
With staff augmentation, it depends on your systems and rules. The external team might be skilled, but security still depends on your internal setup.
In short, for higher protection and full-time security help, managed services from Ontik are the better choice. But with our staff augmentation, you can still ensure compliance by aligning the team with your internal processes.
Staff Augmentation vs Managed Services: Pros & Cons
Here is a simple table showing the pros and cons of staff augmentation:
Pros
Cons
Full control over hired staff remains with your company.
Managing outside team members can be a bit tricky.
Easily add or remove people as the project changes.
New people may take time to blend in with your team.
Lower long-term costs—you only pay for the work done.
It may take time to find and train the right people.
Learn new skills from outside experts.
When temporary staff leave, their skills go with them.
Get access to rare or hard-to-find talent.
Temporary staff may not stay long, causing team changes.
Good for short-term or urgent projects without hiring permanently.
Extra effort is needed to make sure everyone works well together.
Here is a simple table showing the pros and cons of Managed Services:
Pros
Cons
Easy access to expert skills and knowledge
You have less control over the work management
Smoother operations and better processes
It can be expensive for small businesses
Helps your team focus on bigger goals
It may depend too much on the service provider
Clear pricing helps plan the budget
May not fit tight budgets for small teams
Issues get fixed fast with constant checks
Service quality depends on the provider
Less need to hire full-time IT staff
Hard to switch providers if needed
Can scale up services quickly when needed
May not fully understand your business goals
Keeps systems updated with the latest tech
Communication delays if in different time zones
Great support during emergencies
Some custom tasks may be harder to get done
Saves time by letting experts handle IT tasks
Security depends on the provider's system
How Leading Companies Leverage Staff Augmentation & Managed Services
🟡 Staff Augmentation for Agile Scaling
When Spotify needed to accelerate the development of its AI-powered recommendation engine, it used staff augmentation to quickly onboard machine learning specialists and data engineers for a 6-month project. This approach gave Spotify immediate access to niche expertise without long-term hiring commitments. Interestingly, while Spotify builds its core algorithms in-house through augmented teams, it relies on managed cloud services from Google Cloud to host its massive music catalog, showing how companies blend both models strategically.
🔵 Managed Services for Operational Excellence
Netflix's entire streaming infrastructure runs on AWS managed services, handling everything from global content delivery to autoscaling during peak demand. While Netflix outsources its infrastructure management, it simultaneously uses staff augmentation to bring in specialized video encoding engineers for short-term optimization projects. This dual approach allows Netflix to maintain 99.99% uptime (via managed services) while staying technologically competitive through targeted talent augmentation.
Choosing the Right Model for Scaling Your Business
Picking the right way to handle your IT work is important. Many companies now look at two main choices: staff augmentation vs managed services. Both models help your business in different ways, so choose based on your goals and needs.
Staff augmentation services mean hiring resources from outside the country or a nearby company to help fill resource gaps for a short period. This is helpful when your existing team needs support or you don’t have a certain skill in your company. The best part is, staff augmentation allows you to hire experts just for the time you need them. You stay in control and manage their work directly. That’s why staff augmentation offers more flexibility and quick help.
On the other hand, the managed services model is when you give a full job or task to a third-party provider. You don’t manage them daily—they handle the work for you. Managed services involve outsourcing, which means giving some of your company’s IT work to another company (called a service provider) to handle for you. Businesses often do this through a monthly or yearly contract.
When deciding between staff augmentation and managed services, think about how much control you need, how long you need the help for, and how much budget you have.Staff augmentation services are fit for short-term projects or if you need skilled people for a short time. You can add people quickly, work with them, and release them when the job is done. It also costs less for small tasks. But if you need full support all the time, managed services provide a more stable solution.
Yes, managed services may cost more each month, but they save you time and reduce stress. You don’t need to manage people yourself. You can trust the managed service provider to take care of things. Some companies use both models at the same time. This way, they can enjoy the strengths of both. For example, they use staff augmentation for a short project and managed services for long-term support.
When choosing your outsourcing model, think about your business goals. Do you need help right now for a short time? Go with staff augmentation. Want to stop worrying about IT and get full-time help? Then choose managed services. There are pros and cons to both models. Just make sure to look at what your project needs. If you're still unsure, talk to an expert.
At Ontik Technology, we understand the difference between staff augmentation vs managed services. We’ve helped many businesses choose the right model. If you want to outsource your IT work the right way, we’re here to help. Why Ontik Technology is a perfect fit for both Staff Augmentation and Managed Services models:
Flexible to Your Needs Ontik Technology can provide the right people when you need them and for how long you need them—perfect for short projects or long-term support.
Fast Team Building They can quickly give you expert developers, designers, or testers without you waiting for weeks to hire full-time staff.
Skilled and Trusted Experts Ontik already has skilled people who have worked on many different projects. You get experienced hands without the training hassle.
Stay in Control or Leave It to Them If you want to manage the project yourself, Ontik supports that. If you want them to handle everything, they can do that too. You choose your comfort level.
Cost-Saving Solutions They give you high-quality services at a lower cost than building a big in-house team. You get more value for your money.
Great for Small or Big Projects Whether it’s a small task or a full mobile app, Ontik can support both staff augmentation and managed services with equal success.
Smooth Communication Their team talks, updates regularly, and always listens. So, there’s no confusion—just smooth work.
Proven Track Record Ontik has already worked with different clients worldwide under both models and helped them finish their projects on time.
Final Thoughts
In the end, both staff augmentation and managed services help businesses based on the requirements of the business owner or founders. Both models can save money and help to improve the work quality, provide resources at low cost, and provide expert help when needed. To pick the best software development outsourcing model, first of all, you may decide what your requirements are, what is needed for your services, how long your project is, how much you need to control your business, and your budget. Each model has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose the right model that fits your business goal and which helps you to get high ROI, and pick one model that fits your team, your projects, and your plans.
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Retool vs Bubble: A Strategic Guide
Are you confused about picking the right tool to build your app? Choosing between Retool vs Bubble can be tricky. Each platform is renowned for its features and use cases. Here are the questions about how you can choose and which one is fit for your business.
Don’t stress about choosing between Bubble and Retool—Ontik Technology is here to help you make the right decision. It’s not only about features or pricing; it’s about picking the tool that fits your business goals.
Yes, things like pricing and tools matter. But more important is how well the platform fits what you’re trying to build. Do you want to build simple internal tools that connect with other software you already use? Or are you planning to create a full app for customers with a nice design?
Retool is often used to make internal tools faster. It connects easily with other software and helps teams work better. On the other hand, Bubble is great for building complete web apps without code. You can design how your app looks and works with more control.
Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we’ll break down the Retool vs Bubble comparison for you. You’ll see their key differences, pricing, features, what users say, and even find out if there’s another tool you should consider.
What is a No-Code App Builder?
You don’t need to be a tech expert to build an app anymore. No-code tools help you make apps by clicking, dragging, and dropping. It’s like building with blocks—no coding needed. If you have a new idea for a product, you can turn it into an app quickly using no-code tools. You don’t have to hire a big team or wait for months. You and a small team can build, test, and launch faster. The basics of software development do help in building a robust application, but it is not a mandatory knowledge when starting.
No-code saves time and money. It helps you start your project fast and make changes easily. Whether you're a solo founder or a small team, no-code gives you the power to create your product and grow it, without writing any code.
Which is the Most Suitable Tool Between Retool vs Bubble?
Retool vs Bubble is a common debate for many who want to build apps without much coding. Both are popular in the no-code and low-code platform world. But they serve different people and needs. Let’s break it down simply.
What is Retool?
Retool is a low-code development platform. It’s built for developers who know how to work with code. If your company needs to build internal tools or handle many data sources, Retool makes it easy. It gives you ready-made UI components, and you can connect it with different systems fast. Retool offers easy control, quick setup, and works well with tools like Retool Git and Retool dashboards. It's a good choice if you want your work done fast and safely. That’s why many startups and big companies like using it.
So, what is Retool used for? Mostly for building apps that work behind the scenes, like admin panels, reports, or any app that manages internal data. Retool development is flexible, powerful, and trusted by teams that want more coding freedom.
What is Bubble?
Bubble is a no-code platform, meaning you can make apps without writing code. It is made for people who don’t know how to code but still want to build something useful. With Bubble, you can build full web applications like eCommerce stores, SaaS apps, or even social networks. It includes a built-in database and offers advanced features like API integration, plugins, and AI capabilities. Bubble offers many ready-made templates and design tools. But yes, there is a learning curve, especially for those who are new to app building.
When we compare Bubble vs Retool, the biggest key difference is who they are made for. Bubble is for creators and founders with no technical skills. Retool is for developers who want to move fast using existing tools and data.
Pricing Model and Bubble App Cost
When we look at Bubble.io pricing plans, you’ll see that Bubble is flexible. You pay as your app grows. But it can get expensive depending on storage, users, and plugins.
Retool also has a simple pricing plan, often on a per-user basis. It suits teams working on apps daily.
Use Case: If you need an internal tool that connects to your systems and lets your team work better, go with Retool. But if you want to launch a public web application, Bubble might be better.
Retool is best when speed and data control matter. Bubble is best when you want creative freedom and no coding. If needed, you can also hire remote Bubble and Retool developers.
Tool for Building Apps
Use Bubble to make something new from scratch without code. Use Retool to build internal tools using your current systems and tools.
Bubble includes drag-and-drop UI, a database, and design freedom. Retool makes it easy to plug into your APIs and databases fast.
In the Bubble.io vs Retool debate, your choice depends on what you need:
Want fast, internal apps? Go with Retool.
Want a complete app without coding? Use Bubble.
Bubble might be better for creators and startups. Retool excels in helping IT teams save time and control data.
If you’re thinking about Retool vs code, Retool helps you do more with less code. It's not for full apps but great for internal stuff. Bubble handles both UI and logic without code.
Choosing the Right Platform
Think about your needs. Do you need to build tools for your team? Or launch a full product? That's how you’ll pick between Bubble and Retool. There are many Retool competitors, but few offer the same speed and flexibility. Likewise, tools like Bubble give amazing creative power to non-coders.
In the bubble vs retool debate, both have their place. If you are a business owner, choose the right one that can fulfill your requirements, and both Bubble and Retool offer the best solutions to build powerful and user-friendly apps with or without code.
Quick Comparison - Retool vs Bubble
Here’s a quick and simple look at Retool vs Bubble. This comparison will help you understand the main differences so you can pick the best platform for your project needs. Here are the growing tools in the low-code world to give you a full picture. You’ll see how these platforms compare when it comes to how easy they are to use, how safe they are, how hard they are to learn, their pricing, and the kind of help and community they offer.
Aspect
Retool
Bubble
Number of reviews (G2)
470+ reviews
150+ reviews
Overall G2 rating
4.6 out of 5
4.4 out of 5
Ease of use
Intuitive for developers but less friendly for non-tech users
User-friendly with drag-and-drop UI for non-coders
Learning curve
Steep for non-devs, easier for tech-savvy users
Short and easy, with helpful tutorials
Data integration
Supports APIs, databases, and third-party services
Good integrations via plugins and native tools
UI customization
Functional but limited in design flexibility
Highly customizable with drag-and-drop tools
Pricing
Flexible tiers, may be costly for large teams
Affordable with free/low-cost options
Use cases
Best for admin panels and dashboards
Great for MVPs, mobile apps, SaaS, etc.
Support and community
Strong support and dev community
Large, active user community
Security
SOC 2 compliant with strong security
Good practices, but manual checks may be needed
Performance
Fast performance optimized for internal apps
Good performance with focus on visuals
Version control
Supports native version control
Built-in versioning and backups
Deployment
Easy deployment with CI/CD support
One-click deployment for public apps
To help people pick the right no-code tool, we asked real users what matters most. In our 2024 No-Code Development Survey, over 350 no-code users — including founders, freelancers, and hobbyists — shared what’s important to them when choosing a no-code platform. From their answers, we made 17 key categories.
In late 2024, we gave Bubble and Retool a score from 1 to 5 in each category, with 5 being the best. Each score was based on clear rules, which we’ll explain shortly. We also gave both platforms an overall score, using a weighted average. This means the categories that mattered most to no-code users got more value in the final score. Let’s now see how Bubble and Retool performed.
Retool Features Elements
Individual Users Review Based on Features
Easy-to-use UI for building internal apps
Great for developers and beginners. Makes app building simple.
Has 44+ pre-built components and templates
Speeds up development. No need to start from scratch.
Connects with many data sources easily
Works well with SQL, cloud databases, and SaaS tools.
Flexible to customize code for business needs
Can change the app code to match what your business needs.
The editor can slow down with big apps
Gets slow when your app is too big or complex.
Pricing can get high when scaling
Costs more when you add more users or scale.
Some bugs or errors may happen while building apps
You might see some small bugs, but not always.
Bubble Features Elements
Individual Users Review Based on Features
Simple drag-and-drop builder for web apps
You don’t need coding skills. Great for beginners.
Many ready widgets and plugins to expand features
Makes it easy to add features with plugins.
Helpful support team
Support is fast and friendly.
Runs smoothly with few bugs
Works well, even for big apps.
Takes time to learn well
Takes time to learn how to use fully.
Not made for native mobile apps
Not good if you want a mobile app.
Can be pricey for small teams
It may be too expensive for small businesses.
Pricing Comparison: Retool vs Bubble
Look at this table to understand how much Retool costs. Retool has four plans: Free, Team, Business, and Enterprise. Each plan is for different types of users, like small groups or big companies. Take a look at this table to understand how much Bubble, the no-code platform, costs. Bubble has five plans: Free, Starter, Growth, Team, and Enterprise. Each plan is made for different user needs—from beginners to big teams.
If you want to use Retool, this table helps you see the price for each plan (monthly and yearly) and what you get with it. It will also help you choose the best plan based on how many people are on your team and what tools you need. This table will show you the monthly and yearly prices for each plan. You’ll also see what features and benefits come with each one, so you can pick the best plan that fits your needs.
Retool Vs Bubble: Best Tool For Your Requirements If
Find the Best Tool for Your Requirements. If you're choosing between Bubble and Retool, consider your team's skills, app complexity, and development needs:
🟣 Bubble — Best Tool For Your Requirements If:
You don’t know how to code but want to build web apps
You want to build your app fast, in hours not weeks
You need to build apps that handle complex data tasks
You want to use custom APIs, external databases, or JavaScript plugins
You run a small startup or a large business and need a flexible tool
You want to explore tools similar to Bubble with more features
🔵 Retool — Best Tool For Your Requirements If:
Your team wants to build apps quickly using less code
You need to build admin panels, dashboards, or tools that manage data
You’re a developer and want full control with advanced features
Your team works with JavaScript or SQL and needs a custom setup
You want secure hosting with custom SSO and security features
You’re looking for better alternatives to Retool
Hire Top-Rated Retool & Bubble Developers from Ontik Technology
Why can you hire bubble developers and retool developers to build your digital products and any type of apps? Here are the key notes:
Skilled in Both Platforms Ontik Technology has developers who know Retool and Bubble really well. They can build both simple and complex apps fast.
Work Done Faster Our team starts fast and finishes your work on time. No matter if it's a small update or a big app, they do it easily and without trouble.
No Coding? No Problem We build apps without writing much code. That means less time, less cost, and no need to hire big dev teams.
Strong with Internal Tools Ontik’s Retool and bubble experts are great at making powerful internal tools to help manage your data and workflow better.
Beautiful Web Apps with Bubble Want to build a web app without code? Our Bubble developers can turn your idea into a real working app—fast and budget-friendly.
Custom Solutions for You Every project is different. Our team listens first, then builds exactly what you need using the best parts of Retool or Bubble. So you can hire bubble developers or Retool developers based on your needs and requirements.
Great Support and Communication You’ll always know what’s going on. Our team gives updates, answers questions, and works like they’re part of your company.
Conclusion
Retool and Bubble are both good, but they are made for different jobs. Use Retool if your team knows how to code and you need to build apps that work with lots of data or connect to other tools. Use Bubble if you don’t want to code and want to build apps fast. It’s great for people who are not developers.
To pick the right one, think about:
What your app needs
What your team can do
What do you want to do in the future
Also, think about how big your app might get, what other tools it needs to work with, and how much time it will take to look after it later.