The verdict in three sentences
A custom clinic management platform costs 45,000 to 120,000 EUR in Dublin in 2026, whereas a health SaaS licence bills 180 to 450 EUR/month/user and never becomes your asset. Custom pays off once a clinic exceeds 12 to 15 active users or requires workflows the vendor refuses to build. The real decision is not the upfront price but the three-year total cost of ownership, including compliant hosting and ongoing maintenance.
Custom vs SaaS licence: the 2026 comparison
The two models solve different problems. Packaged SaaS suits a standard practice; custom becomes essential when your patient journeys, billing, or interoperability fall outside the template.
| Criterion | Custom build | Health SaaS licence |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 45,000 to 120,000 EUR | 0 to 3,000 EUR (setup) |
| Recurring cost | Maintenance 12 to 18 %/yr of build | 180 to 450 EUR/month/user |
| Time to go live | 14 to 22 weeks | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Code ownership | Yours (source code delivered) | None (vendor lock-in) |
| Business customisation | Unlimited | Limited to options |
| Data exit cost | Zero (your database) | High (proprietary formats) |
| Compliant hosting | Included in quote | Included but shared |
For a 20-seat clinic, SaaS at 300 EUR/month/user is 72,000 EUR/year, or 216,000 EUR over three years — more than an amortised full build.
Development budget breakdown
The price of custom health software depends mainly on the number of modules and interoperability level. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude per line item.
| Line item | Indicative effort | 2026 cost (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping & clinical UX | 8 to 15 days | 5,000 to 11,000 |
| Patient records module | 20 to 35 days | 13,000 to 24,000 |
| Multi-practitioner scheduling | 12 to 20 days | 8,000 to 15,000 |
| Billing & insurance | 15 to 25 days | 10,000 to 18,000 |
| Interoperability (HL7/FHIR) | 10 to 20 days | 7,000 to 15,000 |
| Compliant health hosting | — | 250 to 600 EUR/month |
| Annual maintenance | — | 12 to 18 % of build |
An experienced health-software developer day rate sits between 550 and 750 EUR in 2026, the premium reflecting mastery of GDPR and health-data hosting constraints.
Mini case study
Dr Nadia Byrne, director of a 22-practitioner private clinic in Dublin, pays 320 EUR/month/user for her current SaaS, i.e. 84,480 EUR/year. A custom build at 95,000 EUR, with maintenance at 15 % (14,250 EUR/year) and compliant hosting at 450 EUR/month (5,400 EUR/year), costs 95,000 + 3 × 19,650 = 153,950 EUR over three years, against 253,440 EUR on SaaS. Net three-year saving: 99,490 EUR, and she owns the tool.
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FAQ
How much does custom clinic management software cost in Dublin in 2026?
Expect 45,000 to 120,000 EUR depending on modules and interoperability. A multi-specialty clinic with insurance billing typically lands around 90,000 EUR.
Is certified health-data hosting mandatory?
Yes, any hosting of personal health data requires a certified provider. Budget 250 to 600 EUR/month depending on volume and redundancy level.
What is a realistic delivery timeline?
Between 14 and 22 weeks for a first production release, scoping included. Each HL7 or FHIR connector adds 2 to 4 weeks.
How much is annual maintenance?
Maintenance runs 12 to 18 % of the build cost per year, roughly 11,000 to 21,000 EUR for a 90,000 EUR project. It covers fixes, regulatory updates and security.
From how many users is custom worth it?
Beyond 12 to 15 active users, cumulative SaaS licences usually exceed the amortised cost of a three-year build.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your priority modules (records, scheduling, billing, interoperability), your number of practitioners and an indicative budget, and we will scope a compliant, hosted solution. 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.
