Agency, Freelancer or In-House?
What each model actually costs and when it is the wrong choice
You need technical capacity. Which model fits depends on your situation, not on a checklist. Every model has strengths and blind spots that don't show up in the proposal. Here are the real numbers.
The four models
Freelancer
Works when scope and skill are clear before you start. Briefing and review falls on you. Budget 20 to 30 percent of your own time on top. Senior rate DACH 2026: 90 to 150 euros per hour.
Agency
You're buying coordination. Sometimes that's worth it. Effective rates DACH 2026: 90 to 200 euros per hour. Typical MVP: 15,000 to 80,000 euros. Scope creep happens on almost every project. Agencies rarely budget for it in their proposal.
In-House
Full context, direct communication. True cost Year 1 for a senior developer in DACH runs 100,000 to 130,000 euros once you add employer contributions, equipment, and onboarding. Recruiting takes 3 to 6 months.
Dedicated IT Partner
No account manager, no freelancer switching out every few months. You talk to the person who builds. Responsible for the whole path, from the first requirement until the thing runs. GDPR-compliant because the architecture is built that way.
Four questions before you decide
- How long do you need the capacity?: One-off, clearly scoped: freelancer. Ongoing and business-critical: in-house, but only once you're running the role at 60 to 70 percent or more. Anything in between fits an agency or IT partner better.
- How much time do you have for coordination?: Not much: agency or IT partner. Technical background and bandwidth for reviews: freelancer works.
- How fast do you need results?: Under four weeks: freelancer or an experienced IT partner. One to three months: agency, if the briefing is solid. Building long-term: in-house.
- What happens at the next handoff?: Every person who leaves a project takes something with them. Why decision X was made, which dependency becomes a problem in three months, what went wrong with the last client. You don't pay that cost once. You pay it every time.
- Red flag with agencies: No technical contact from day one. Proposal arrives within a day of the first briefing. No questions about your existing stack.
- Red flag with freelancers: No handoff process, no IP clause in the contract. Only responds when prompted. References only from ongoing projects.
Still not sure what fits?
Call or send a message. We'll work out together whether 0xFeed is the right fit for your startup.