How much does custom software cost for a business? 2026 price ranges

"It depends" — but here are concrete numbers#

Every software house will tell you "it depends on scope" — and they're right. The trouble is that it doesn't help when you're planning a budget. Below are the real ranges we use to price projects at MDS Software, and what actually moves the price up or down.

2026 price ranges (net, PLN)#

| Project type | Range | Timeline | |---|---|---| | E-commerce integration / process automation | 12,000 – 40,000 PLN | 2–6 weeks | | MVP / web app with an integration | 40,000 – 80,000 PLN | 6–8 weeks | | Mobile app (cross-platform) | 64,000 – 144,000 PLN | 2–4 months | | Custom system / platform (CRM, ERP, SaaS) | 120,000 – 240,000+ PLN | 3–6 months | | Support & maintenance (SLA) | from 1,000 PLN net / month | — |

In the Time & Material model our rate is 120 PLN/h net. When the scope is clear (e.g. connecting a store with accounting) we offer Fixed Scope — you know the cost upfront.

What actually drives the price#

• Scope and business logic — a simple form is not the same as a system with rules, roles and reporting.
• Number and type of integrations — each integration (payments, accounting, ERP, couriers) is separate effort: API, error handling, tests.
• Data migration from a legacy system — the most commonly underestimated cost.
• Design and UX — working from a proven design system is cheaper than fully custom from scratch.
• Legal requirements (GDPR, WCAG accessibility) and security.
• Deadline — a very tight deadline usually raises the cost.

Billing models#

Fixed Scope (fixed price) — best when the scope is clear. You know the cost upfront and we take on the estimation risk.

Time & Material (120 PLN/h net) — best for exploratory projects where scope may change. You pay for actual time and we adjust priorities flexibly.

Read more about collaboration models and SLA on our how we work page.

How to lower the cost without losing quality#

• Start with an MVP — build what delivers value first, then iterate.
• Reuse ready components instead of writing everything from scratch.
• Don't skip Discovery — 1–2 weeks of analysis can save tens of thousands on a badly scoped build.

Example scenarios#

• WooCommerce store ↔ wFirma + BaseLinker: syncing orders, invoices and stock — usually 12,000–28,000 PLN.
• An internal app to replace Excel (work orders, roles, reports): 32,000–64,000 PLN.
• A SaaS platform with a dashboard, payments and an API: from 120,000 PLN upwards, delivered in stages.

These are typical ranges, not a ready quote — we prepare an exact estimate after a short needs analysis.

Frequently asked questions#

Will you give a price upfront? Yes. After Discovery we present a range or a fixed price (Fixed Scope) together with a timeline and milestones.

How much does maintenance cost? Support packages start from 1,000 PLN net/month and include 24/7 monitoring, security updates and SLA-based response.

Do I own the code? Yes. We hand over full rights to the code — it's your asset, with no vendor lock-in.

Estimate your budget#

Describe your project and we'll come back within 48 hours with a range and a delivery plan.

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