There is no single price for custom software, but you can reason about it. Cost is driven by scope, complexity and integrations far more than by hourly rates.
Rough ranges (NZD)
- Prototype or MVP: low tens of thousands, to validate an idea and get to first users.
- Mid-sized business app or platform: low-to-mid six figures, with real integrations and multiple user types.
- Large or regulated platforms: higher again, reflecting scale, security and complexity.
Treat these as starting points, not quotes. A short scoping conversation will narrow it quickly.
What drives the number
- Scope: how much the software actually does.
- Integrations: every system it must connect to adds work.
- Design and UX: polish and usability are an investment, not a bolt-on.
- Non-functionals: security, scale, compliance and reliability.
Spend less by scoping well
The most expensive software is the software that should never have been built. Good strategy and a tightly scoped MVP are the best cost controls there are. Tell us what you're trying to achieve and we'll give you an honest range.