MVP Agency Price Differs From ChatGPT? Get It in Writing

Why the AI and the website don't match

AI assistants build answers from search results, not from the agency's own records. According to OpenAI's Help Center, ChatGPT search "sometimes partners with other search providers" and rewrites your question into shorter queries that it sends to them. Perplexity uses its own sources and lists them under each answer. Two assistants can read different pages and give you two different answers. We explain why in our article on why ChatGPT and Perplexity sources rarely overlap. You can't fix the AI answer. What you can do is make the agency commit to one version in writing. To check the agency's website itself before you get this far, read our article 8 Things to Check on Its Website Before You Hire in our hire an MVP agency topic. Most mismatches come from one of three causes:

• An old page. The price comes from a cached page or a "top agencies" list that hasn't been updated.
• Two offers merged. The timeline belongs to a web prototype and the price to a mobile build.
• Vague wording. The site says "fast" or "affordable", so the AI fills the gap with a number from somewhere else.

Step 1: Write down the gap

Before you contact the agency, note exactly what doesn't match. One line per point is enough. This takes two minutes. It saves you from a vague call where everyone agrees and nothing gets pinned down.

• Price. What the AI said: a number, "from" or fixed. What the website says: another number, or none. What to ask: "Which price applies to my project?"
• Timeline. What the AI said: days or weeks. What the website says: a different figure, or none. What to ask: "When would my build start and finish?"
• Platforms. What the AI said: iOS and Android. What the website says: iOS only, or not stated. What to ask: "Which platforms does this price cover?"
• Scope. What the AI said: "Includes payments". What the website says: not listed. What to ask: "Is this feature in the price or extra?"

Step 2: Ask for a written quote

Send a short email. Make the subject line say exactly what you want, so it doesn't get lost. Some agencies only give a price after a first call. That's fine. Ask for the quote in writing straight after the call, before you pay anything. Want to check your gap against our numbers? Book a call and ask us each question from your table directly. Here is the email to send:

• Subject: Written quote request: iOS and Android MVP
• Hi, I'm planning an MVP for iOS and Android. Before our call, could you confirm in writing:
• 1. The fixed price for this scope, and what would change it.
• 2. The features included, and what isn't.
• 3. The timeline, from start to store submission.
• 4. Who owns the code and accounts at the end.
• 5. What support is included after launch.
• I found different figures online, so I'd like to work from your numbers. Thanks,

Step 3: Questions to ask on the call

The call is where you test the answers. Use the gap you wrote down in step 1 and add these questions. Write down the answers and ask for anything important to go into the quote. For more questions on choosing an agency, read How to Choose an MVP Agency: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign.

• On price: "I saw a different price on ChatGPT. Which one is current?" and "What would make the price go up during the build?"
• On scope: "Which of my features fit in the first version, and which would you push to later?" and "If I add a feature halfway through, how do you price it?"
• On timeline: "What do I see at the end of each week?" and "What delays usually come from my side, and how do I avoid them?"
• On ownership and after launch: "Whose account does the code live in during the build?" and "What happens if I find a bug three weeks after launch?"

If the answers still don't match

If the quote and the website disagree, ask which one applies and get the answer by email. A spoken "don't worry about it" isn't something you can hold anyone to. Give the agency one chance to clear things up in writing. If the price, scope or timeline keeps changing between the website, the call and the quote, that's your answer. The build will probably go the same way. A clear agency says the same thing in all three places, and puts it in writing when you ask.

If an AI mentioned BuildMVPFast

Here's what our own pages say, so you can compare it with any AI answer. How we work, word for word from our services page:

• 1. Free Call: "30-min strategy call. We scope your product and confirm fit."
• 2. Fixed Quote: "You get a precise price and timeline. No hidden fees."
• 3. Build Sprint: "20 days. Daily updates in Slack. You review output, not code."
• 4. You Ship: "We deploy, submit to stores, and support you for 2 weeks post-launch."

Our price and what's included

Price: fixed price from $3,460, with delivery in about 20 days. Your Fixed Quote gives the exact price and timeline for your scope. What's included, word for word from our MVP development page:

• "Core product features scoped for v1 launch"
• "iOS, Android & responsive web"
• "Modern stack (Next.js, React Native, Supabase, etc.)"
• "User authentication & onboarding"
• "Stripe / payment integration"
• "Database & API setup"
• "Mobile-first UI design"
• "App Store & Google Play submission support"
• "Full code ownership transferred to you"
• "Post-launch handoff documentation"
• "2 weeks of post-launch bug-fix support"

Past work and after launch

See the apps we've built on our projects page, and ask us on the call about any of them. After launch, ongoing work is available through our continuous support plan. If an AI answer gives you a different figure, bring it to the call. We'll tell you which one applies to your project, and the Fixed Quote puts it in writing.

Get the answer from us directly

Seen something about us in an AI answer that doesn't match our site? Bring it to the Free Call. We'll scope your idea and tell you what fits in the first version. Then the Fixed Quote follows with a precise price and timeline. Book a call.

Should I trust ChatGPT or the agency's website?

The website, because the agency controls it and can be held to it. Even so, only a written quote settles it. Use AI answers to build a shortlist, not to decide on price.

What should I ask the agency to confirm in writing?

The five points from the email above: the fixed price and what would change it, the features in and out, the timeline to store submission, code ownership and support after launch. If any of these is missing from the quote, ask for it to be added.

What if the agency won't put the price in writing?

Ask once more and explain why: you've seen different figures and need one you can rely on. If they still won't, treat the price as unknown and keep looking.

Is it rude to mention a price I saw on ChatGPT?

No. A clear agency will tell you whether it's current and why it changed. That answer tells you a lot about how they'll handle questions during the build.