How we price.
Sprint
Fixed price- One production-ready feature, scope locked on day 0.
- Written money-back guarantee if we miss day 14.
- Daily commits, twice-weekly Loom updates, async Slack.
- A senior engineer named in your contract, founder reviewing.
- Full handoff: production deploy, README, 10-minute video.
Best for: a specific feature, integration, or workflow you need shipped now.
Embedded team
Month to month- A senior engineer embedded in your team, tools, and standups.
- Month to month, 30-day notice, no minimum term.
- Weekly cadence, daily Slack, a written monthly review.
- Zero conversion fee if you later hire them full-time.
- Founder review and a second engineer to pair when needed.
Best for: a continuous workload of 2 to 6 months.
There is no third tier. There is no enterprise plan. If your project is bigger than this, we will say so, and point you somewhere built for it.
Pick the shape, see the number.
An estimate, not a quote. The real number is fixed on day 0, after we read your brief. It does not move after that.
Holdfast against the alternatives.
| Dimension | Holdfast | Andela | Toptal | Turing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed price per shipped feature | Hourly or monthly per engineer | Hourly, estimate until done | Monthly per matched engineer |
| Minimum commitment | One sprint, or month to month | Typically multi-month | Set per freelancer | Ongoing engagement |
| Conversion fee to hire | Zero, ever | Can reach five figures | May apply | Set by contract |
| Engineer seniority | Senior only, no juniors on client work | Mixed, varies by match | Screened, senior available | Mixed, varies by match |
| AI tooling transparency | Published, time-saved logged | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Time zone overlap | Chicago and India, overnight build | Varies by engineer | Varies by freelancer | Varies by match |
| Sales motion | Founder runs every call | Sales and account team | Matcher and account team | Sales and account team |
| Refund policy | Full refund if we miss day 14 | None | Trial period only | None |
A check marks the option we would choose on that dimension. See the full, fair write-ups under alternative-to, including when a marketplace genuinely beats us.
Pricing questions.
Fixed. The number in the contract is the number you pay. If the work turns out harder than expected, that is our problem, not a change order. The only thing that changes the price is you changing the scope, and we will tell you before that happens.
One price away from a ship date.
Send a one-page brief. If it fits a sprint, the reply includes a fixed price and a date.