How much does it cost to build an MVP in 2026?
What drives the price of a minimum viable product, what an AI-accelerated build changes, and what you get for $15K.
Short answer
At King Tide, an AI MVP starts at $15K for a fixed scope and goes live in 30 to 60 days. The price depends on how many core flows the product needs, which platforms it runs on, and how much AI and integration work sits underneath. Price and timeline are locked on the first call, so the number does not move mid-build. All prices are in US dollars.
What you get for $15K
One focused product in production, not a clickable prototype: a mobile app, web app or AI tool with real users, real data and code you own from day one.
- Scope and roadmap: one product, one price and a fixed timeline, agreed before we start.
- Product design: flows, UI and a lightweight design system built for speed.
- AI integration: LLMs, agents and retrieval wired into the workflows that matter.
- Full-stack build: web and mobile apps, APIs, auth, payments and data.
- Launch: App Store, analytics, onboarding and your first users.
- Handoff: clean repos, docs and a path to your first hires.
What makes an MVP cost more
| Factor | Costs less | Costs more |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | One core flow that proves the idea | Several types of users, each with their own flows |
| Platforms | A web app or one mobile platform | iOS, Android and web at launch |
| AI | An LLM feature on top of the workflow | Agents, retrieval over your own data and evaluation |
| Integrations | Sign-in and analytics | Payments, third-party APIs and existing systems |
| Compliance | Standard privacy basics | Regulated data, such as finance or health |
The fastest way to bring the price down is to cut scope, not quality: launch the one flow that proves people want the product, then add the rest with real usage data.
Studio, agency, freelancers or an in-house team
| Option | Time to real users | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-accelerated studio (King Tide) | 30 to 60 days | A senior crew from design to code, fixed price from $15K | A tight scope: one product at a time |
| Traditional agency | Often six to twelve months | A large team and a long process | Getting a prototype instead of a product |
| Freelancers | Varies | A low hourly rate | Coordinating design, backend and mobile across people |
| In-house team | Months, after hiring | Full control | Hiring a full team before you have proven anything |
If you already have engineers and need design every week, compare a design subscription with hiring a designer.
How AI changes the cost
AI shortens the build in two places. Engineers ship faster with AI-assisted coding, and many features that once needed custom models, such as search, summaries or document processing, now sit on top of existing LLMs. That is what makes a 30 to 60 day launch realistic for a senior crew.
AI does not replace product decisions. The scope call on day zero, where we pick the one product that matters, still decides most of the cost.
Examples
KIIWI went from concept to launch with King Tide on product design and engineering. BuzzStar was incubated from day one: brand, pitch deck, the full app and ongoing maintenance. Smacktok was built from zero, from the brand to the full mobile app.
Paying with equity
Sometimes. King Tide invests $25K to $100K in early-stage startups and trades discounted design and engineering for equity when the fit is right. More on Ventures.
Questions
Is $15K enough to build an app with AI?
It is the starting price for a fixed scope: one focused product with real users, real data and code you own. Larger scopes are quoted on the first call, before any work starts.
Who owns the code?
You do, from day one. At handoff you get clean repos and docs.
How long does it take?
From the first call to a live product in 30 to 60 days, starting with a design sprint in the first week. See how long it takes to build an MVP.
What happens after launch?
You choose: we keep iterating with you, ramp down as you hire your own team, or hand off clean repos and docs.