Build vs buy, answered honestly

Can I code this?

Before you pay for another SaaS, find out if you can just build it — with a buildability score, the hidden complexity, and a straight verdict.

BUILD — a great AI coding project MAYBE — depends on the features you need JUST PAY — the honest answer is no

Recent verdicts

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Linktree

BUILD

Link-in-bio landing page

15–30 minprototype 1/10difficulty 1/10hidden cx

Calendly

BUILD

Booking pages and calendar scheduling

1–2 hoursprototype 4/10difficulty 6/10hidden cx

Typeform

BUILD

Conversational forms and surveys

2–3 hoursprototype 5/10difficulty 5/10hidden cx

Loom

MAYBE

Screen recording with shareable links

3–5 hoursprototype 7/10difficulty 8/10hidden cx

Airtable

JUST PAY

Spreadsheet-database hybrid

1–2 days (a toy grid)prototype 9/10difficulty 10/10hidden cx

Hidden complexity

Most SaaS looks easy to rebuild — and the demo usually is. Hidden complexity is everything that turns a two-hour prototype into a two-month slog. Every product we score gets a Hidden Complexity rating so you know what you're walking into.

OAuthTime zonesPaymentsPermissionsFile handlingVideo processingReal-time collaborationBackground jobsWebhooksRate limitsSecurityRace conditionsBackupsCompliance

How it works

01

Pick a SaaS

Search the directory or ask about something you're paying for.

02

Read the assessment

Buildability score, prototype vs production time, feature-by-feature difficulty, and what's hiding under the surface.

03

Get the verdict

BUILD, MAYBE, or JUST PAY. We'd rather tell you not to build than waste your weekend.

04

Copy the build prompt

A ready-to-paste prompt for Claude Code, Cursor, Bolt, or whatever agent you use.

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FormsInternal toolsMarketingSchedulingVideo