How much does an MVP cost in the UK?
From £1,500 for a working core to £8,000+ for a full build. Here is what each one gets you, what pushes the price up, and how to avoid spending the big number first.
FIXED PRICING · PRODUCTION CODE, NOT DEMOS · PRICES UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
Four ways to start, four prices
Most founders do not need the biggest number first. These are my fixed prices for MVP development and launch, from smallest to largest.
Onion Sprint
I find the real core of your product and build it as production code. Something live and usable by the end.
MVP Sprint
An ultra-fast basic version with one or two core features, for when you need something in users' hands this month.
MVP Strategy
A prioritisation workshop, NOW vs LATER roadmap, architecture and a detailed spec, for founders who already have developers.
MVP Full Build
Everything in MVP Strategy, plus complete product development, basic UI/UX design, deployment, launch support and 30 days of tweaks.
How that compares with agency quotes
Published UK agency cost guides commonly put a validation prototype at around £5,000-£15,000 and a production-ready MVP at £15,000-£35,000 or more. Those figures usually include a team, design, project management and a longer timeline.
My prices are lower because it is one person, a tightly scoped core and no agency markup. The trade is fewer features, built properly, which is what an MVP should be anyway. If you need a large multi-feature product with a full team, an agency may be the better fit, and I'll tell you if that's the case.
What pushes the cost up
Two MVPs that sound similar can cost very different amounts. These are the things that move the number.
Number of features
Every feature adds build time, testing and things that can break. An MVP with three features costs far less than one with ten, and usually teaches you more.
Payments, accounts and integrations
Logins, roles, payments and third-party connections are where simple ideas get expensive. Build the one you need to test your idea, and leave the rest for later.
Platforms
Web only, or iOS and Android too? Building on cross-platform tools like Flutter and managed back ends like Firebase or Supabase keeps this down.
Design polish
A clean, usable screen is enough to test a core idea. A custom design system is for later, once people are asking for it.
Changing direction mid-build
The most expensive MVPs are rarely the ones with the most features. They are the ones where the idea shifted halfway through. Proving the core first makes that much less likely.
Compliance and data
Anything handling payments, health or sensitive personal data needs more care up front. It's worth knowing early, so it doesn't arrive as a surprise bill.
What the expensive way looks like
BetSquad (the precursor to SquadGames) took two years to build. We had the UI. We had the polish. We built multiple features before we ever knew if the core mechanic actually worked. Some of those features survived. A lot didn't.
We don't think the team failed. We think the order failed. We built the shell first, what it should look like and what it should offer, instead of proving the one thing that actually mattered worked.
That is why I start with the core. The Onion Sprint costs a small fraction of a full build, and by the end you either have working code worth building around, or you've learned cheaply that you need to change direction.
If you're not sure anyone wants it yet, an even cheaper first step is a poster. Rome wasn't built in a day explains how a market stall, a few posters and a trip to Dudley can show you what's worth building.
How long does it take to build an MVP?
It depends on what you mean by MVP. In my experience the useful milestones look like this:
- 2-5 days: the real core, built and live (Onion Sprint)
- 14 days: a basic version with one or two core features in users' hands (MVP Sprint)
- 14-30 days: a first version with real users giving you feedback
- 30-90 days: a full MVP with design, deployment and launch support (MVP Full Build)
If a quote says six months for a first version, ask what is in it and what could wait.
MVP cost FAQ
Can I build an MVP for under £5,000?
Yes. The Onion Sprint is £1,500-2,500 and gets you a working core on production platforms. It is built to be the foundation of the MVP, not thrown away.
Is it a prototype or real code?
Real code. No mockups and no throwaway demos. If you continue, the sprint becomes the foundation of your MVP. If you don't, you still keep working code.
Is the price fixed?
Yes. Pricing is fixed, so you know the number before we start. There's no agency markup, because you work directly with me.
I've already built something with AI tools. What now?
If it has real users, payments or data, you are past this stage. The AI Product Readiness Review checks whether it can support your next milestone.
Not sure which one you need?
Tell me what you're building and I'll tell you honestly which of these fits, including if the answer is "none of them yet".
See the full range on the MVP development and launch page.
Darryll Wolloff is the founder of TechConnex. He advises early-stage founders and still writes and ships production code himself. Prices last updated 13 October 2026.