The verdict in three sentences
For a 50-screen web app, an agency costs EUR 60,000 to 120,000 excluding VAT with a warranty and a full team, a freelancer EUR 35,000 to 70,000 with real dependency risk, and an in-house team EUR 130,000 to 160,000 a year fully loaded for 2 developers. Over 3 years, an agency followed by outsourced maintenance remains the cheapest option for an SME whose business model is not built around software. An in-house team becomes worthwhile once the app needs continuous work of more than 250 development days a year.
Cost comparison for the initial build
The CEO of an SME launching a business app (client portal, management tool, booking platform) compares three very different quotes. In Amsterdam, rates sit slightly above the French benchmarks below; here is what each option really covers.
| Criterion | Agency | Freelancer | In-house team (2 devs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of a 50-screen project | EUR 60,000 - 120,000 | EUR 35,000 - 70,000 | EUR 65,000 - 80,000 (6 months of loaded salaries) |
| Reference rate | Team day rate EUR 550 - 750 | Day rate EUR 450 - 650 | Gross salary EUR 45,000 - 55,000 per dev |
| Delivery time | 4 to 6 months | 6 to 9 months | 8 to 12 months (with hiring) |
| Skills covered | PM, UX, front end, back end, QA, DevOps | 1 profile, usually full-stack | 2 profiles, UX and QA missing |
| Warranty | 3 to 12 months contractual | Variable, rarely in writing | None, risk borne by the company |
| Hiring | None | None | 3 to 4 months, 15 to 20% of salary via recruiter |
| Documentation and tests | Included in contract | Must be explicitly required | Depends on management |
The freelancer wins on headline price, but 50 screens means 90 to 120 days of work for one person: a long timeline and no backup if they are unavailable. An agency spreads the load across 3 or 4 people and ships faster.
Full cost over 3 years
The initial quote represents only 40 to 60% of the real cost of an application. Maintenance, enhancements and hosting weigh heavily over time.
| 3-year item | Agency | Freelancer | In-house team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | EUR 90,000 | EUR 55,000 | EUR 75,000 |
| Maintenance and enhancements (years 2 and 3) | EUR 36,000 | EUR 30,000 | EUR 290,000 |
| Hosting and tools | EUR 9,000 | EUR 9,000 | EUR 12,000 |
| Hiring and management | EUR 0 | EUR 5,000 | EUR 30,000 |
| Handover risk (provision) | EUR 0 | EUR 15,000 | EUR 10,000 |
| Estimated 3-year total | EUR 135,000 | EUR 114,000 | EUR 417,000 |
The in-house team costs 3 times more over 3 years, but it also produces far more: about 440 development days a year versus 50 to 60 days of outsourced maintenance. If your roadmap does not contain that volume, you are paying for idle capacity. The freelancer handover provision reflects the average cost for another team to take over poorly documented code.
How to decide: the decision grid
| Your situation | Recommended option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Support app, few changes after launch | Agency + maintenance | Short timeline, warranty, predictable cost |
| Budget under EUR 40,000, scope cut to 20 screens | Senior freelancer | Good value on a small scope |
| Software product at the core, continuous roadmap | In-house team | Domain knowledge, long-term velocity |
| Fast delivery, then insource | Agency, then transfer to 2 hires | Launch in 5 months, skills ramp-up |
| Tight budget but high quality bar | Hybrid team Europe and Dakar | Day rate EUR 300 - 400, local project lead |
The hybrid model deserves attention: an agency delivering with part of the team in Dakar or Tunis brings the 50-screen project down to EUR 45,000 to 75,000, with a project lead in your time zone.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Pieter, CEO of a 60-employee industrial maintenance SME in Amsterdam, wants a client portal with job tracking, quotes and invoicing, about 50 screens. He gets three proposals: an agency at EUR 88,000 delivered in 5 months, a freelancer at EUR 52,000 delivered in 8 months, or hiring 2 developers at EUR 145,000 a year fully loaded. Each month gained lets him invoice faster and saves about EUR 4,000 of admin time. The agency ships 3 months before the freelancer, worth EUR 12,000, which narrows the EUR 36,000 gap to EUR 24,000. Over 3 years, with EUR 12,000 annual maintenance, the agency route costs EUR 112,000 versus EUR 417,000 in-house. Pieter picks the agency and plans an internal hire only if the roadmap exceeds 150 days a year.
FAQ
What is a freelance developer day rate in 2026?
Between EUR 450 and 650 excluding VAT for an experienced full-stack profile, and up to EUR 750 for a specialised senior. In Amsterdam, rates often sit 10 to 15% higher.
How much does a 50-screen web app cost with an agency?
Between EUR 60,000 and 120,000 excluding VAT depending on business complexity, integrations and design level. Average delivery is 4 to 6 months.
When does an in-house team pay off?
When the app requires more than 250 development days a year on a lasting basis. Below that, EUR 130,000 to 160,000 a year for 2 developers exceeds outsourced maintenance.
How do I limit dependency on a freelancer?
Require code in your own repository, technical documentation and automated tests covering at least 60% of the code. Add a reversibility clause with 10 days of handover.
What should an agency warranty include?
Free bug fixing for 3 to 12 months, a committed fix time and assignment of code rights. Also check the annual maintenance rate, usually 15 to 20% of the build.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your app, the number of screens and your 3-year horizon: we compare agency, hybrid and in-house scenarios for you with a costed budget. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
