The verdict in three sentences
SaaS is perfect to start fast and risk-free, but its cost climbs with every added user — you rent forever and never own. A custom app costs more upfront (EUR 25,000 to 90,000) but becomes an asset you own, with no per-user cost. The tipping point depends mostly on user count: beyond 15 to 40 depending on SaaS price, custom becomes cheaper over 5 years.
SaaS vs custom: what sets them apart
Beyond price, the trade-off is about vendor lock-in, customization and ownership. SaaS imposes its roadmap; custom follows your business.
| Criterion | SaaS (subscription) | Custom app |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low (setup) | EUR 25,000 to 90,000 |
| Recurring cost | EUR 15-90/user/month | Maintenance 12-18 %/year + hosting EUR 80-400/month |
| Customization | Limited to options | Total |
| Code ownership | No | Yes (asset) |
| Vendor lock-in | High | None |
| Time to launch | Immediate | 10 to 20 weeks |
| Price evolution | Imposed | Controlled |
Simple rule: a growing team with specific needs, custom protects your margin. A small team with standard needs, SaaS is unbeatable.
The 5-year TCO, priced
Compare a team of 30 users on a SaaS at EUR 45/user/month versus a custom app at EUR 55,000 (day rate EUR 450-650), with EUR 8,000/year maintenance and EUR 200/month hosting.
| 5-year line item | SaaS (30 users) | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 2,000 | EUR 55,000 |
| Subscriptions / licenses | EUR 81,000 | 0 |
| Maintenance | Included | EUR 40,000 |
| Hosting | Included | EUR 12,000 |
| 5-year total | EUR 83,000 | EUR 107,000 |
At 30 users, SaaS stays cheaper over 5 years. But at 50 users (EUR 135,000 of SaaS over 5 years), custom at EUR 107,000 pulls ahead. The tipping point sits between 15 and 40 users depending on the SaaS per-seat price.
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Mini case study
Elodie, head of a services SME in Dubai (42 staff), pays a business SaaS at EUR 60/user/month for 40 users — EUR 28,800/year — and the vendor announces a +12 % rise. Over 5 years, SaaS will cost roughly EUR 144,000 (increases included). She quotes a custom app at EUR 68,000, plus EUR 10,000/year maintenance and hosting, i.e. EUR 118,000 over 5 years. Net saving: EUR 26,000, plus the end of vendor lock-in and an app fully fitted to her processes.
FAQ
At how many users does custom pay off? The tipping point sits between 15 and 40 users depending on SaaS price (EUR 15-90/user/month); the higher the per-seat price, the faster custom becomes worthwhile.
What does a custom app cost in Dubai in 2026? Budget EUR 25,000 to 90,000 depending on scope, plus 12-18 %/year maintenance and EUR 80-400/month hosting.
How long to build it? Between 10 and 20 weeks depending on business complexity, versus immediate launch for SaaS.
Isn't SaaS safer? It's faster and risk-free at the start, but you're subject to price rises and feature changes; custom makes you the owner and master of the roadmap.
What do maintenance and hosting represent? For custom, budget 12-18 %/year of the build in maintenance and EUR 80-400/month hosting, to include from the start in the 5-year TCO.
Let's scope your project. Give us your user count, current SaaS and its cost: we'll compute your 5-year TCO and frame the build with budget and timeline. 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.
