Sarah Chen@sarahbuilds"Ran the website cost calculator before our seed deck. Finally had a defensible budget range instead of a guess."Custom vs Platform ROI Calculator
See how long a custom build takes to pay back versus staying on Shopify, Webflow, or off-the-shelf SaaS. Free, no signup, no sales call required.
$/mo
Shopify Basic $39 + apps often bring real spend to $300–$1,200/mo. Include everything.
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Not sure? Use the cost calculator to get a planning range first.
Enter your platform costs and build estimate, then click Calculate ROI. Your payback window will appear here.
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Built by Moydus engineers for founders and product teams
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Trusted by product teams
& founders shipping with Moydus
& founders shipping with Moydus
Freeno signup, no sales call
2026platform fee assumptions baked in
12–36motypical payback window for custom builds
[ 01 / 05 ]
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How It Works
How the ROI roi calculator works
1. Enter your current costs
Monthly platform fees, app subscriptions, and developer time spent on workarounds. Include Shopify plan, apps, Webflow team seats, or SaaS monthly fees.
2. Add your custom build estimate
Use the website cost calculator to get a range, or enter your own figure. The ROI model uses the midpoint of your range.
3. See your payback window
The calculator shows when cumulative platform costs exceed the custom build investment — and what you save over three years.
Get a scoped build quote →[ 02 / 05 ]
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Who Is It For
Who is custom vs platform roi calculator for?
The ROI calculator helps teams that already pay recurring platform fees decide whether a custom build is a better long-term investment.
Shopify and ecommerce teams
See when growing app, plan, and transaction costs justify moving to a custom ecommerce platform you own and control.
SaaS and product teams
Compare ongoing platform subscription fees against a one-time custom build investment as your product requirements scale.
Agencies and consultants
Use the ROI output to show clients the build-vs-buy math before recommending a custom development engagement.
[ 03 / 05 ]
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How It Compares
How custom build ROI calculator compares to alternatives
| Factor | Custom build | Shopify / platform | Off-the-shelf SaaS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | One-time build cost | Low or none | Low or none |
| Monthly recurring cost | Hosting + maintenance only | Plan + apps compound | Per-seat or usage fees |
| Code ownership | |||
| Feature roadmap control | App marketplace limits | Vendor roadmap | |
| 3-year total cost (mid-market) | Often lower after payback | Compounds with growth | Scales with seats/usage |
| Exit / migration risk | None — you own the code | Platform lock-in | Data portability varies |
Running approval step...
Compare your platform
Read our side-by-side comparison of Shopify, Webflow, and custom development before committing to a path.
Learn more →Estimate the build cost
Use the website cost calculator to get a planning range for your custom build investment.
Learn more →Book a discovery call
Talk to Moydus engineering to get a scoped proposal with timeline, integrations, and a refined ROI projection.
Learn more →Read 2026 cost research
See how custom software builds are scoped and priced for SaaS, ecommerce, and web applications this year.
Learn more →//
Community
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People love planning with
Moydus
Founders and product teams use Moydus calculators to align on budget before the first discovery call.
Sarah Chen@sarahbuilds"Ran the website cost calculator before our seed deck. Finally had a defensible budget range instead of a guess."
James Okonkwo@jokonkwo"Shared the MVP scope output with our CTO in Slack — cut two weeks of back-and-forth on what v1 should include."
Priya Sharma@priya_pm"We use Moydus tools in every client workshop now. Stakeholders stop arguing about price when the numbers are on screen."
Marcus Webb@marcuswebb"Custom vs platform ROI sheet saved us from another Shopify rebuild we did not need."Sarah Chen@sarahbuilds"Ran the website cost calculator before our seed deck. Finally had a defensible budget range instead of a guess."James Okonkwo@jokonkwo"Shared the MVP scope output with our CTO in Slack — cut two weeks of back-and-forth on what v1 should include."Priya Sharma@priya_pm"We use Moydus tools in every client workshop now. Stakeholders stop arguing about price when the numbers are on screen."Marcus Webb@marcuswebb"Custom vs platform ROI sheet saved us from another Shopify rebuild we did not need."
Elena Rossi@elenarossi"No signup, no sales call — just a clear starting point. Booked Moydus when we were ready to refine."
David Park@davidpark"Engineering lead here: these estimates match what we actually quote on discovery. Rare for a free tool."
Amira Hassan@amirahassan"Used the cost calculator to justify custom build vs off-the-shelf to our board. Worth it for the export alone."
Tomás Rivera@tomasrivera"Moydus planning tools are the fastest way I've found to ballpark a 2026 software budget."Elena Rossi@elenarossi"No signup, no sales call — just a clear starting point. Booked Moydus when we were ready to refine."David Park@davidpark"Engineering lead here: these estimates match what we actually quote on discovery. Rare for a free tool."Amira Hassan@amirahassan"Used the cost calculator to justify custom build vs off-the-shelf to our board. Worth it for the export alone."Tomás Rivera@tomasrivera"Moydus planning tools are the fastest way I've found to ballpark a 2026 software budget."[ 04 / 05 ]
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[ 05 / 05 ]
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the ROI of custom software development?
ROI on a custom build depends on your current monthly platform costs, app subscriptions, and developer workaround time. Most teams see payback in 12–36 months when platform fees compound past $3,000–$8,000/month. The calculator shows the crossover point for your specific numbers.
When does custom development beat Shopify on cost?
Custom ecommerce typically becomes cost-competitive when Shopify plans, apps, and transaction fees exceed roughly $3,000–$5,000/month. For stores at that level, a custom build often pays back in 18–30 months and eliminates the compounding fee structure.
What ongoing costs does a custom build have?
Hosting ($100–$500/month for most applications), optional maintenance retainer, and third-party API fees for integrations you choose. You own the code and there are no platform transaction fees or mandatory app subscriptions.
Does the ROI calculator give exact numbers?
It gives planning ranges based on typical Moydus delivery patterns and current platform pricing. For a precise ROI model tied to your actual costs, book a discovery call and we will build it with your real numbers.
What platform costs should I include?
Include everything: monthly plan fee, all app subscriptions, transaction fees at your volume, developer time spent on workarounds, and any consulting fees for platform customization. Hidden costs like workaround maintenance often account for 30–50% of total platform spend.