Key facts
| Rescue | ₹75k–1.5L, 1–2 weeks. Fix or stabilise an existing app |
|---|---|
| Build | ₹1.5L–3.5L, 3–4 weeks. One tool, portal or automation |
| Platform | ₹3.5L–8L, 5–8 weeks for a first release, then phases |
| Payment | Fixed price in a written scope, paid in milestones |
| Ownership | Code, hosting and accounts are in your name |
How much does custom software cost in India?
Nobody can name one honest price for "custom software", because the phrase covers a three-screen tracker and a multi-module platform. What you can do is match your scope to a package. These are Neyven's own prices for business software, and every project is still priced individually in writing.
| Your scope | Package | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| An AI-built or half-working app that needs fixing | Rescue | ₹75k–1.5L | 1–2 weeks |
| One internal tool, client portal or workflow automation | Build | ₹1.5L–3.5L | 3–4 weeks |
| Several modules, many roles, heavy integrations, or AI that takes actions | Platform | ₹3.5L–8L | 5–8 weeks for a first release, then phases |
By type, with two user roles and one or two integrations: internal tool ₹1.7L–₹2.5L, client portal ₹1.9L–₹2.9L, workflow automation ₹1.7L–₹2.4L, MVP ₹2.2L–₹3.5L. For a range from your own answers, use the cost estimator.
What drives the cost of custom software?
Screens are the cheap part. Cost comes from rules and connections. The estimator adds these amounts on top of the base type:
| Driver | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| 3–4 user roles | +₹20k–₹40k |
| 5 or more user roles | +₹50k–₹90k |
| 1–2 integrations (WhatsApp, payments, email) | +₹20k–₹50k |
| 3–5 integrations | +₹60k–₹1.2L |
| 6 or more integrations | +₹1.2L–₹2L |
| One AI feature | +₹40k–₹1L |
| An AI agent that acts in your systems | +₹1L–₹2.5L |
| Delivery in under 3 weeks | About 25% on top |
Approval chains, reports, data migration from old sheets and compliance needs also add work, and they are written into the scope line by line so you can see them.
Why do custom software quotes differ so much?
Two quotes for "the same software" are rarely the same scope. Before you compare totals, compare these:
- What is in the first version. A narrow first release is cheaper than a full wish list, and later phases can wait.
- Who does the work. A named person accountable for your project is different from a pool of juniors.
- Method. Neyven uses AI agents for implementation and tests under a person's control, which shortens build time. See how we build.
- What is excluded. Design, testing, data migration, hosting set-up and handover are sometimes extras.
- Who owns the result. Some quotes keep the code, or charge licence fees on top.
Ask each agency for a written scope with a fixed price. A range with no scope behind it is a starting question, not a quote. The checklist for choosing a software agency has the questions to ask.
What hidden costs should you plan for?
- GST. Neyven prices are before GST.
- Third-party fees: WhatsApp messages, payment gateway charges, SMS, AI model usage. These go to the provider, not to us.
- Hosting and domain, paid to the cloud provider from an account in your name.
- Change requests. Work outside the written scope is quoted separately, so a new idea mid-build does not silently inflate the bill.
- Ongoing upkeep. Fixes, updates and new features after launch. Plan for it, as covered in app development cost in India.
- Your own time. Someone on your side must review each preview and answer questions within a day or two.
There are no per-seat licence fees, because you own the software. That is the main reason custom can cost less than a product over several years, when many staff need access. It is not true for every business: if a ready-made tool fits your process, buy it.
How do you get an accurate number for your project?
- Write down the three things the software must do and who uses each.
- List the tools it must connect to, such as Tally, WhatsApp or a payment gateway.
- Run the cost estimator for a first range.
- Share sample data or screenshots of your current sheets or app.
- Get a written scope and fixed price. The first three days produce a blueprint you sign before anything is built.
What you get at each Neyven price shows what is in and out of every package, and MVP development cost in India covers new products.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a number before a call?
Yes. The cost estimator gives a range from five questions. The fixed price comes after a written scope.
What is the minimum I can spend?
Our lowest package, Rescue, starts at ₹75k and is for fixing an existing app. A new tool starts at the Build package, from ₹1.5L.
Do you charge by the hour?
No. Each project has a fixed price in a written scope, paid in milestones. Changes outside the scope are quoted separately before any work starts.
Is GST included?
No. Prices are before applicable GST.
Does the cost change if I am in Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru?
No. Our prices come from scope: roles, integrations, AI and timeline. The city of the client does not change the band.
Do I own the code?
Yes. Code, hosting and accounts are in your name, so any developer can continue the work.