"How much does it cost to build custom software?" is the first question almost every company asks, and the honest answer lives in a range, not a single number. That frustrates people who want a sticker price, but the range is knowable, and the reasons it moves are knowable too. A small internal tool and a multi-tenant platform are as different as a garden shed and an apartment block, even though a first conversation can make them sound like the same request.
In 2026 there is a new twist. AI coding assistants have genuinely changed how fast experienced teams ship, which has pulled some prices down and, more importantly, changed where the cost actually sits. The typing was never the expensive part. Here is what custom software really costs this year, what moves the number up or down, and where the money goes once you look past the headline quote.
The honest ranges for 2026
Prices vary by market and team, but as a working guide for a competent European studio in 2026:
A focused internal tool (one workflow, a handful of users, a clean data model): roughly 8,000 to 25,000 euros.
