Managed Apps vs custom build
Two ways to get software built by the same senior team. They differ in who owns the code, who runs it, and how you pay.
Neither is better in general. Here is how they compare, and how to tell which one fits your situation. Managed Apps are branded web and mobile apps we build and run on our platform. A custom build is software made for you and handed over.
Side by side
| Factor | Managed Apps | Custom build |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A published monthly plan based on active users, plus one-time launch services scoped up front. No large build bill. | Fixed price when scope is clear. A dedicated team for ongoing work, if you want one. |
| Time to launch | Live in weeks. | Depends on scope. We size it with a fixed-price proof of concept first. |
| Ownership | We own the software. You own your data, customer relationships, and brand. | You own everything, including the code. |
| Who runs it | We do: hosting, monitoring, patching, scaling. | You, or us through a dedicated team. |
| Control | Your brand and the things that matter to your product, on a proven platform. | Total. If you can describe it, it can be built. |
| Engineering team needed | No. | Not to start. You need one, or us, to keep it evolving. |
| Best when | Your need fits a proven pattern and you want to be live soon. | Your process is unusual, or owning the code matters to you. |
When Managed Apps fit
You are an established business with a working process and you want it in an app your customers or staff can use, without hiring engineers. Your needs look like things many businesses ask for: accounts, content, messaging, bookings, payments. Speed matters more than owning the source. You want a monthly Managed Apps plan plus one-time launch services, scoped before you commit, instead of a full build budget.
Typical verticals are health, wellness and fitness, social, sports and education, and commerce. See solutions for examples of processes people digitize this way.
When a custom build fits
Your workflow is specific enough that a platform would fight you. You need to connect to systems of your own. You want the code and IP to be an asset on your books, or your investors or buyers will ask who owns it. You have, or plan to have, your own engineering team.
A custom build does not mean doing everything yourself. We scope it for a fixed price, build it, and can keep running it as a dedicated team. We write more about this in mobile app code ownership.
Not sure? Start small
You do not have to choose up front. A fixed-price proof of concept builds the part of the project that matters most, so you can use it before deciding. The ownership details for both models are on the pricing and engagement page. Also see white-label vs custom app.
Start with a free assessment
A free call with a senior lead. Tell us what you're working on, and we'll tell you how we'd approach it and what the first step should be.