Decision guide
MVP vs Prototype
Founders mix these up and burn runway. A prototype answers 'does this interaction make sense?' An MVP answers 'will someone use (or pay for) this in the real world?' They are different artifacts. Building an MVP when you needed a prototype wastes money. Shipping a prototype to paying users wastes trust.
Prototype: learn the interaction
Clickable Figma, a no-code flow, or a hard-coded demo. No real auth, no production database, no App Store listing you intend to keep. Use it for user interviews, co-founder alignment, or a very early investor conversation when the idea is still visual. Throw it away without guilt.
- →Days, not weeks, if you are honest
- →Fake data is fine
- →Do not collect real payments
- →Do not promise it will 'become' the product without a rebuild
MVP: learn the market with a real product
Users create accounts. Data persists. You can charge. You can see retention. The stack is something a developer can extend. That is what we build: production architecture, scoped features, 15–21 days for a tight loop.
When a prototype is the right spend
You cannot describe the UI. Stakeholders disagree on the flow. Hardware or a novel interaction needs a feel test. In those cases, pay for design and a clickable file. Do not hire an engineering team yet.
When you need an MVP
You have talked to users. You know the job. You need signups, a waitlist converting, or a founder-led sales demo that is the actual product. Investors who have seen 200 Figma decks will ask for a URL.
The expensive middle: 'production-looking prototype'
Bubble apps, AI builders, and weekend Next.js tutorials often look like products and collapse at 100 users, App Store review, or the first contractor handoff. If you might need to keep the thing, start with real code. If you know you will throw it away, stay in Figma.
FAQ
Is an MVP just a prototype with better design?
No. An MVP has production auth, data, and deploy. A prototype is a learning prop. Conflating them is how founders end up with something they cannot hand to a new engineer.
Can you turn our Figma into an MVP?
Yes, if the flow is the actual v1. We still re-scope — design files often hide 30 extra screens.
How much does each cost?
A serious prototype can be a design sprint. Our production MVP starts at $3,460. Hourly 'just make the Figma real' with no scope ceiling is usually the worst of both.
Related
Ready for an MVP — not another prototype?
If you already know the user and the job, book a call. We will tell you if you still need a prototype instead.
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