Should you build it, or buy it?
Buy off-the-shelf when the thing is not your edge and a tool already fits. Start on no-code to prove demand cheaply. Build custom when the software IS the product, the workflow is yours, or you need to own it. Answer six questions and this tells you which path fits, and why. It runs in your browser, nothing is sent anywhere, and you do not need an email to see your read.
01 / Six questions
02 / How this works
There is no universal answer to build versus buy. The right call depends on whether the software is your edge, how well an existing tool fits, and where you are starting from.
The quiz maps each answer to one of three leanings and counts them up. The path with the most leanings wins, and the result explains the reasoning in plain terms. Here is the short version of what each path means.
- Buy off-the-shelf when the work is not your edge and a product already covers most of it. You save the build entirely and pay for a tool that fits.
- Start on no-code, plan to build when you are still proving the idea or the fit is rough. No-code lets you test demand cheaply and learn what the workflow really needs before you commit to a custom build.
- Build custom when the software is the product, the workflow is genuinely yours, you need to own the code and data, or you have outgrown what a tool can do.
For the longer version, read build vs buy software and custom software vs no-code. If you are already on a no-code tool and feeling the limits, see what to do when you outgrow no-code. And if you do not have a tech team to weigh this with, the cornerstone guide on building software without a tech team covers the whole path.
03 / Common questions
What if it is a tie?
A tie means the path is not obvious from six questions, which is normal. The quiz shows both leaders and leans toward the more cautious of the two, usually no-code or buy, so you spend less before you are sure. If the tie is between no-code and build, start on no-code and plan the move. The Audit settles a real tie with your actual numbers.
Is no-code a real option?
Yes. No-code is the fastest way to prove demand and learn what the workflow really needs before you spend on a custom build. It is the right first step for an idea that is not yet validated. The risk is outgrowing it, so go in knowing the limits. See custom software vs no-code for the trade-offs.
When should I move off no-code?
Move when the tool starts to creak: workflows you cannot model, limits you keep hitting, data you cannot get out, performance or reliability you cannot fix. That is the signal the software has become your product. See what to do when you outgrow no-code for the migration path.
Can you help me decide?
Yes. The Software Audit looks at your workflow, your data, and your goals and gives you a clear build, buy, or no-code recommendation, with a fixed price and a date if a build is the call. The quiz is a fast read; the Audit is the real decision with your numbers in it.
Last updated June 2026 · Talk with Felipe · More tools
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