When to build a custom web app vs buying another SaaS subscription
The tipping point where per-seat licensing, workarounds, and fragmented data make a custom Next.js portal significantly cheaper.
By Oyerinde Alfred · AI Solutions Consultant & RevOps Manager
Buying SaaS feels cheap at $40/seat/month. But as your team grows and your workflow diverges from standard assumptions, the hidden costs explode.
The 3 warning signs it is time to build
- The spreadsheet bridge: When you pay for three tools and employ two people whose primary job is exporting CSVs between them.
- The per-seat penalty: When you restrict team or client access to a tool simply because adding 20 more users doubles your monthly bill.
- The feature limit wall: When your core competitive advantage requires a custom workflow that off-the-shelf software doesn't support.
The modern build stack
With Next.js App Router, TypeScript, Tailwind, and PostgreSQL on managed infrastructure, custom software is no longer a six-month, six-figure project. A production-ready portal or internal operations app can be specified, built, and launched in two to three weeks with full ownership and zero recurring seat taxes.
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New notes, no noise
I publish when there is something worth reading. Usually twice a month.