Honest comparison
i2launch vs. Build it yourself
If you can comfortably ship a full-stack MVP in a week of part-time work, do it yourself. If not, the math favors paying us.
| Dimension | i2launch | Build it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar time | 5 business days | 4–12 weeks part-time, typical |
| Your time | ~5 hours total | ~80–200 hours total |
| Cost | $2,499–$9,999 | $0 cash + your opportunity cost |
| Stack expertise required | Zero | Strong |
| Risk of not finishing | Zero, we deliver Friday | Real, most DIY MVPs stall |
i2launch
Pros
- Get to market in days while doing your job / talking to customers.
- Skip every infrastructure decision you'd otherwise stress over.
- Avoid the 30%+ of DIY MVPs that quietly never ship.
Cons
- You don't get the deep familiarity with the codebase that comes from writing it yourself.
- Real cash out the door.
Build it yourself
Pros
- Total control and total context, you wrote every line.
- Free in cash terms.
- Forced learning if you're sharpening your skills.
Cons
- Opportunity cost dwarfs the cash savings for most founders.
- Most DIY MVPs slip badly on calendar time.
- Decision fatigue on every stack and design choice.
When to pick each
Pick the right tool for the moment.
Pick i2launch when
Your time is worth more than the price tag, and you'd rather be selling than coding.
Pick Build it yourself when
You're a working engineer who can ship in evenings and weekends without burning out, and the cash is meaningfully tight.