How we price.
Discovery Sprint
Scoping- A written spec for the feature you want shipped next.
- A fixed-price Sprint quote and ship date, both in the spec.
- Two 45-minute working sessions with a partner.
- Credited 100% against your next Sprint if you sign within 30 days.
Best for: scoping work where we both want a written spec before committing to a build.
AI Build Sprint
Fixed price- One production-ready feature, scope locked on day 0.
- If we miss day 14, your next Sprint is free.
- 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 Pod
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 enterprise plan. We do not negotiate on price. For productized RAG and agent installs, see AI Feature Build.
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 |
| Missed-deadline policy | Next Sprint free 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.