Web3 development cost calculator
Pick what you are building and see a price range, a timeline and the team it takes. Every option updates the estimate. When the numbers look right, send them to us for a fixed quote.
Your ballpark
dApp, estimated build cost:
$28k–$54k
- Timeline
- 5–11 weeks
- Team
- 3–5 engineers
Where the budget goes
- Discovery & spec$2k–$4k
- UI/UX design$3k–$9k
- Smart contracts$7k–$13k
- Frontend & backend$11k–$19k
- Testing & internal review$4k–$7k
- Launch support$2k–$3k
Paid to the auditor, not us. Recommended before mainnet with user funds.
Ballpark for planning. A fixed quote follows a short scoping call.
How we estimate
Each product type starts from the engineering effort we see on comparable builds: contracts, frontend, backend, testing and launch. The stage sets how much of it you need. A proof of concept proves one mechanic on testnet. An MVP is the smallest version real users can put money into. A production launch adds hardening, monitoring, admin tooling and the edge cases that only appear under load.
On top of that we apply what changes the work: extra chains, design, add-ons and how soon you need it. The result is a range because one label covers very different products. A DEX with a single constant-product pool and a DEX with concentrated liquidity and limit orders are both called a DEX.
What drives Web3 development cost
Scope of the contracts
Contracts that hold user funds take the most time per line: invariant tests, fuzzing and internal review. A lending protocol with liquidations costs more than a staking vault with one strategy, even if the frontends look alike.
Chains
Each extra EVM chain adds deployment, configuration and testing, roughly 20% more work. Solana means Rust, a different account model and separate tooling. Supporting EVM and Solana together is close to building two backends behind one interface.
Audits
A third-party audit is its own line item, paid to the audit firm. Price follows lines of code and complexity: a token contract costs a few thousand dollars, a perps DEX can pass $200k. Plan two to four weeks of calendar time for it as well.
Design
If you have Figma files, we build from them. If not, UI/UX design adds 12 to 20% to most products and less to a token launch that only needs a simple claim or mint page.
Integrations
Oracles, fiat on-ramps, KYC providers, account abstraction and cross-chain messaging each bring their own SDKs, edge cases and failure modes. They are the add-ons in the calculator, priced separately so you can see what each one adds.
Timeline
Shipping sooner means more engineers working in parallel, and coordination costs money. Fast mode cuts about a quarter of the calendar time for about 15% more budget.
Typical cost by product type
One EVM chain, UI/UX design included, standard pace, no add-ons. Audit figures are market ranges paid to the audit firm, not to us.
| Product | MVP | Production launch | Third-party audit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Token or smart contract | $6k–$11k2–4 weeks | $10k–$19k3–6 weeks | $5k–$15k |
| dApp | $28k–$54k5–11 weeks | $56k–$102k10–18 weeks | $15k–$40k |
| DEX / AMM | $45k–$78k9–16 weeks | $90k–$156k16–28 weeks | $30k–$100k+ |
| DEX aggregator | $50k–$84k10–17 weeks | $95k–$168k12–22 weeks | $30k–$100k+ |
| Lending protocol | $50k–$90k10–18 weeks | $106k–$192k14–25 weeks | $40k–$100k+ |
| Perps DEX | $90k–$156k18–31 weeks | $168k–$300k22–40 weeks | $80k–$200k+ |
| Staking / yield vaults | $28k–$51k5–10 weeks | $56k–$102k10–18 weeks | $30k–$80k+ |
| NFT marketplace | $34k–$60k7–12 weeks | $62k–$108k11–19 weeks | $15k–$40k |
| Crypto wallet | $39k–$72k8–15 weeks | $78k–$144k14–25 weeks | $20k–$60k |
| DAO / governance | $22k–$42k4–9 weeks | $45k–$78k8–14 weeks | $15k–$40k |
| RWA platform | $50k–$96k10–19 weeks | $101k–$180k13–24 weeks | $25k–$60k |
| Launchpad | $34k–$60k7–12 weeks | $62k–$114k11–20 weeks | $15k–$40k |
| Telegram Mini App | $22k–$42k4–9 weeks | $45k–$78k8–14 weeks | $10k–$30k |
| Prediction market | $45k–$78k9–16 weeks | $90k–$156k16–28 weeks | $30k–$80k+ |
| Indexer / explorer | $22k–$46k4–9 weeks | $50k–$86k9–15 weeks | Usually not needed |
Questions about the estimate
How accurate is the calculator?
Accurate enough to plan a budget or a fundraise, not to sign a contract. The range reflects how much the same product type varies between specs. The final number depends on details the calculator does not ask about: the exact mechanics, how many edge cases you need on day one and what already exists. A scoping call turns the range into a fixed quote.
Does the estimate include the smart contract audit?
No. The audit appears as a separate line because you pay it to an independent firm, not to us. Preparing the code for the audit, answering the auditors and fixing findings is our work and is part of the estimate. We recommend an audit before any mainnet launch that holds user funds.
Why do you show ranges instead of one price?
A single number would be invented. Two MVPs of the same product type can differ by 50% depending on mechanics, integrations and how polished the first release needs to be. The low end assumes a tight spec and few surprises. The high end assumes the usual amount of change during a build.
What is not included in the estimate?
Gas and deployment fees, the third-party audit, hosting and RPC or indexing infrastructure, exchange listing fees, market making and the liquidity you seed into pools. Legal work such as token classification or MiCA filings is also separate. We go through what to budget for each on the scoping call.
How do I get a fixed quote?
Click "Get a fixed quote". Your calculator choices are copied into the contact form, so you only add what is specific to your project. An engineer replies within 24 hours, we hold a short scoping call, and you get a written proposal with scope, phases, timeline and a fixed price.
