Build vs buy

Build vs buy — in-app subscription billing

You need server-side purchase verification, entitlement management, token security, paywall configuration, and subscription lifecycle sync. You can build it in-house — or buy Tierux and have your AI agent set it up in minutes.

FactorTierux (buy)In-house build
Time to launchMinutes via AI agent over MCP4–8 weeks per platform
Setup costFree to start, then $39/mo flat$20k–$60k+ in engineering time per platform
Token securityEncrypted vault — tokens never stored rawBuild and audit your own token handling
Server-side verificationStore-verified on our servers, zero-trust clientBuild, maintain, and audit your own
Cross-platform supportAndroid + iOS unified entitlement modelSeparate implementations per platform
Ongoing maintenanceZero — managed platformOngoing — store API changes, security patches
Paywall configurationRemote config — change without app releaseHardcoded — requires app release to change
Subscription lifecycle syncPlay RTDN fully handled; App Store notifications wired, hardening in progressBuild your own webhook handlers
Win-back / cancellation offersBuilt-in for Google Play; App Store — not yetRequires custom implementation
Risk of missing edge casesHandled by platformYour team owns all edge cases

Building in-house gives you full control and zero external dependencies beyond the stores. The trade-off is engineering time, ongoing maintenance, and the risk of missing edge cases that a managed platform has already solved.

Tierux is pre-launch — we're honest about our stage. But the infrastructure we provide (server-side verification, encrypted token vault, entitlement management) replaces what would otherwise take weeks to build yourself.

When to choose which

Buy Tierux if…

You want to ship fast — your AI agent sets up billing in minutes. You need cross-platform support — Google Play today, App Store in progress. You value predictable flat pricing and don't want to maintain billing infrastructure. Your team should focus on your product, not purchase verification code.

Build in-house if…

You have dedicated engineering capacity for billing infrastructure, your app is single-platform, you have specific security or compliance requirements that require full control, and you're willing to absorb the ongoing maintenance burden as store APIs evolve.

The math

Engineering cost to build

4–8 weeks per platform × senior engineer = $20,000–$60,000+ upfront, plus ongoing maintenance for store API changes, token security patches, and subscription lifecycle updates. Cross-platform doubles this.

Tierux cost to buy

Free to start. $39/mo Pro for up to 1,000 subscribers. At 10,000 subscribers: $309/mo — $3,708/year. Even at larger scale, a fraction of one engineer's time. And your agent sets it up in minutes.

Frequently asked questions
Should I build or buy subscription billing infrastructure?
Building in-house gives you full control but requires weeks to months of engineering for server-side verification, token security, entitlement management, paywall UI, and cross-platform support — plus ongoing maintenance. Buying Tierux gives you all of that in minutes via AI-agent setup at a flat $39/mo. For most teams, buying is faster, cheaper, and lower risk.
How much does it cost to build subscription billing in-house?
Building a production-ready subscription billing system typically requires 4–8 weeks of engineering time per platform (Android + iOS), plus ongoing maintenance for store API changes, token security, and subscription lifecycle handling. At a typical engineering rate, this represents $20,000–$60,000+ in upfront cost per platform — far more than Tierux's $39/mo.
What are the risks of building billing infrastructure in-house?
The main risks include: token security vulnerabilities (raw tokens stored without encryption), missed subscription lifecycle events (users losing access or getting free access), cross-platform inconsistencies (different entitlement models on Android vs iOS), and ongoing maintenance burden as store APIs evolve. Tierux handles these risks as a managed platform.
How long does Tierux take to set up vs building?
Tierux: minutes via AI agent over MCP — store configuration, products, entitlements, and paywalls in one prompt. Building in-house: 4–8 weeks per platform for server-side verification, token handling, entitlement state management, paywall UI, lifecycle sync, and cross-platform support. Plus ongoing maintenance.

Ship faster. Let your agent handle billing.

Free tier — unlimited apps, 1 paywall. No credit card.

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