Custom software in Mexico costs anywhere from a few tens of thousands of pesos to several million, and almost all of the difference comes down to scope. According to Meeplab's 2026 pricing guide, a basic CRM costs $200,000 to $500,000 MXN, a modular ERP costs $500,000 to $2,000,000 MXN, and agencies charge $500 to $1,500 MXN per hour. At the other end, a well-scoped automation or internal tool costs a fraction of that. Here are the ranges by project type, what moves the price, and how to start without paying for what you don't need yet.
Ranges by project type
| Project type | Range in MXN | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Basic mobile app | $80,000 to $250,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Intermediate mobile app | $250,000 to $400,000 | 10 to 16 weeks |
| Basic CRM | $200,000 to $500,000 | Depends on modules |
| SaaS-style web application | $460,000 to $1,800,000 | Depends on modules |
| Modular ERP | $500,000 to $2,000,000 | Depends on modules |
Source: Meeplab's 2026 guide to software development pricing in Mexico. These are market ranges, not quotes: two projects with the same name can cost very different amounts depending on what they do.
What this table doesn't show is the level below, which is where most small businesses begin: automating one specific process. Connecting your form to your customer spreadsheet, generating quotes automatically, sending reminders by WhatsApp or sorting emails with artificial intelligence doesn't require a full system. These are projects of weeks, not months, and they cost accordingly.
Hourly rates: freelancer, agency or in-house team
| Model | Hourly rate in MXN | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $200 to $800 | Programming; design and testing depend on the person |
| Agency | $500 to $1,500 | Design, development, testing, management and warranty |
| In-house team | $300 to $700 fully loaded cost | Full-time dedication, but a fixed salary even when there is no project |
The hourly rate is misleading if you compare it on its own. A cheap freelancer who takes twice as long, or who leaves the project half-finished, ends up costing more than an agency with a locked scope. What's worth comparing is the total price for a written scope, with delivery dates and what happens if something fails later.
What moves the price the most
- How many screens and processes it has. Every new flow, such as adding a customer, approving an order or generating a report, adds design, programming and testing.
- Integrations. Connecting to your invoicing, your bank, WhatsApp, a marketplace or a system you already use is often the least predictable part. Meeplab estimates one to eight extra weeks per integration.
- Users and permissions. A system only the owner uses is simpler than one where salespeople, warehouse staff and administration each see different things.
- Design. A clean, functional interface costs less than one with detailed brand design.
- Urgency. Compressing the schedule costs money: Meeplab estimates 50% to 100% more on rush projects.
The costs that aren't in the quote
The development price is only one piece. According to the same guide, development represents around 59% of the total cost of software over its first three years; the rest goes to operation and maintenance. Ask about these items before you sign:
- Maintenance: 15% to 25% of the development cost per year, to fix bugs and keep it up to date.
- Server and database: from a few hundred pesos a month on small projects.
- Outside services: artificial intelligence, messaging or payment APIs, which are billed by usage.
- Payment gateway fees, if the system takes payments: around 3% per transaction.
- Changes after delivery: anything that wasn't in the scope is quoted separately.
How to start without overspending
The costliest mistake is wanting the complete system from day one. What works is picking the process that eats the most hours or creates the most errors, automating only that, and measuring. If it truly saves time, the next module pays for itself; if not, you lost little.
- Write down the process the way it's done today, step by step, and who does it.
- Work out how many hours a month it takes and what a mistake in that process costs.
- Check whether a subscription tool already solves it without forcing your operation into a mold.
- If not, ask for a quote with a written scope, deliverables and a definition of done.
- Start with a small first version and expand only what proves its value.
If you're considering automating with artificial intelligence and don't know where to begin, we have a guide at AI automation for businesses: where to start.
Questions to ask any vendor
- Do the code and the access credentials end up in my name when you finish?
- What exactly does the price include, and what is billed separately?
- How much does monthly or annual maintenance cost, and what does it cover?
- What happens if I find a bug a month after delivery?
- Can I see a system you've built for another business?
The first question is the most important. If the code, the server or the database stay in the vendor's name, the system isn't really yours: you depend on them for every change.
At Elevalia
With our custom software service we build automations, integrations, AI agents and web applications for your business operations, starting at $19,990 MXN. We begin with a diagnosis of the process and a viable written scope; a focused automation or agent usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, with testing, documentation and a usage guide.