Questions people ask before they trust a cost estimator
These are the short answers. The methodology page explains how the benchmark works. This page explains where it helps, where it fails, and how to use it without fooling yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is Thavage?
It is directionally strong when the scope is concrete and the work fits common product delivery patterns. It is intentionally conservative, but it is still a benchmark, not a signed proposal.
What projects is it best for?
SaaS MVPs, internal dashboards, marketing sites, waitlists, AI-assisted workflows, customer portals, and scoped data products are the best fit. Massive enterprise transformations and vague multi-team programs are a weaker fit.
Why does detail matter so much?
Because integrations, auth states, data work, and non-code tasks materially change the team shape and hours. A short prompt hides the expensive parts, so the estimate falls back to a lower-confidence baseline.
What does the “traditional cost” actually mean?
It is the benchmark invoice for delivering the same work without AI leverage, using a conservative U.S. base rate table and any internal regional labor adjustment Thavage applies from ZIP data when available. It is not saying every agency would charge that exact number.
Why does Thavage ask for ZIP code?
ZIP is used as an internal calibration input for regional labor pricing. Thavage does not expose a public pricing-region selector; it uses ZIP in the background when location data is available and otherwise falls back to the standard U.S. rate model.
Why can AI-assisted spend look so low?
Because the model assumes one highly leveraged operator using AI tools for implementation and acceleration. It does not pretend the work is free; it prices the operator time, AI spend, and supporting services.
Should I use this to replace a proposal?
No. Use it to prepare for a proposal, sanity-check a quote, or explain AI leverage internally. For commitments, budgets, or vendor decisions, you still need human scoping.
What if I only have an idea and no code yet?
Use prospective mode. It reframes the output into a year-one DIY budget, operating cost assumptions, and a traditional-team anchor so you can compare options before you build.
What does the modern-agency benchmark mean?
It is a benchmark for what an AI-native agency or product partner would likely charge to scope, design, build, launch, and stabilize the project. It now appears inside both core estimate modes so you can compare it against DIY or actual AI-assisted delivery and the traditional team anchor in one place.
Are uploads stored?
The live product says files are processed for context and not stored. Project descriptions and anonymous results can be stored for improving the benchmark and reporting aggregate trends.
How should I share the result with my team?
Share the report as a benchmark plus the methodology page. The estimate is more credible when people can see the rate table, exclusions, and the kind of work Thavage is designed to measure.
Use the live estimator once you have enough detail to name the features, integrations, and constraints. Then compare your result with the example reports on this page.
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