Comparison
| Fixed price | Time and materials | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | Scope is clear (a website, a defined module) | Scope will change (a new product) |
| Budget certainty | High | Lower; needs control |
| Flexibility | Changes are change requests | Change is easy |
| Main risk | Vendor pads the price or cuts corners | Costs drift without prioritisation |
| How to manage | Detailed scope and acceptance criteria | Weekly demos and a budget cap |
A hybrid that works
- Run a short paid discovery (hours at an hourly rate).
- Fix the price of each defined milestone.
- Handle changes with a simple change-request form and hourly estimate.
- Review progress against budget every week.
Contract clauses to include
- Clear deliverables and acceptance criteria
- Payment tied to milestones
- Code and IP ownership to you
- Bug-fix warranty period
- How scope changes are priced
- Termination and handover terms
Our rates
Full-stack engineering starts at $100 per hour and native core development is $300 per hour; fixed-price packages exist for websites and scoped modules. See rates and engagement models.
Talk to an engineer From $100/h
Describe the product. We recommend the right model and a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is fixed price always cheaper?
Not necessarily; vendors often price in risk. It is cheaper when scope is stable and well written.
How do I stop hourly costs running away?
Set a budget cap, agree weekly priorities and review demos.
Which do you recommend for an MVP?
Often fixed-price milestones after a short discovery.
Get a free quote in 24 hours
Tell us what you need. We reply with scope, timeline and a fixed price.