---
title: "Build vs buy break-even"
description: "Build a small tool or keep paying for one: the cost of each over your horizon and the month the build breaks even."
canonical: "https://lopifi.com/tools/build-vs-buy"
---

# Build vs buy break-even

> Build a small tool or keep paying for one: the cost of each over your horizon and the month the build breaks even.

Source: https://lopifi.com/tools/build-vs-buy
Part of: Lopifi — US GAAP books on autopilot, checked by a CPA (https://lopifi.com)

---

- **Group:** Software

## Inputs

- `build` — Hours to build
- `hourly` — Cost of an hour of build time
- `upkeep` — Upkeep hours per month
- `run` — Hosting and services per year
- `buy` — What buying costs per year
- `years` — Horizon, years
- `currency` — Currency (ISO 4217 code — sets the decimals: JPY 0, USD 2, KWD 3.)

Runs entirely in the browser: no network call, no data leaves the page. The same definition powers the Lopifi Tools Chrome extension.