Backend development estimate
Pick what your backend needs: APIs, integrations, payments, search, AI, deployment. You get a ballpark in hours with a breakdown right away, no email required. Our rate is $60–110 per hour.
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How the estimate works
Every option has our estimate of typical hours for that kind of work, for an experienced backend team. The calculator takes the middle of each range, adds testing (about 20%) and project management (about 12%), and shows the total as a range around that number. The top of the range is about a third higher than the bottom: that is the honest uncertainty of an estimate made before anyone has seen your requirements.
We show hours, not a price. The final cost depends on details that a form can't capture: existing code, data volumes, reliability requirements. Multiply the hours by our rate to get a rough budget, then let an engineer refine it.
What is included and what is not
- Included: backend development, testing and QA, project management, and deployment if you pick it.
- Not included: third-party fees (hosting, payment processing, paid APIs, LLM usage), UI design, and ongoing support after launch.
- Web interface: we build a frontend only as part of a backend project, so it appears here as an add-on.
Already estimating in story points?
This calculator answers "how much work is it" in hours. If your team already plans in sprints, the free sprint forecast calculator answers "when will it be done": it turns the story points left and your recent velocity into a release date with 50, 85 and 95% confidence.
Thinking about an AI support bot?
Before you estimate a custom bot, check that it pays off. The free AI support ROI calculator runs three scenarios on your volume and costs, with fees, upkeep and handoffs counted, and shows when a ready-made platform is the better choice.
Hire a developer or work with a contractor?
Once you know the hours, the next question is who does the work. The free in-house vs outsourcing cost calculator compares the full cost of hiring an engineer with a contractor's rate: employer costs, time to hire, months to full speed and idle time on one side, onboarding and your management time on the other.
FAQ
How accurate is this estimate?
It is a ballpark for planning and budgeting, not a quote. It assumes a typical project of each kind; an engineer narrows it down after a short call about your requirements and existing systems.
Why do you show hours and not a price?
Because the price is hours times rate, and the rate depends on who works on the project. Our rate is $60–110 per hour, so you can get a rough budget yourself.
What is included in the hours?
Backend development, testing (about 20% on top) and project management (about 12% on top). Third-party fees such as hosting, payment processing, paid APIs or LLM usage are not included.
What counts as a simple, medium or complex integration?
Simple: a REST API with an API key where you send or fetch data. Medium: OAuth, two-way sync and webhooks, typical for CRMs, ERPs and marketplaces. Complex: legacy or SOAP systems, many entities, or strict reliability needs.
Do you build frontends?
We focus on backends, integrations, audits and deployment. We build a web interface only as part of a backend project, which is why it appears in the calculator as an add-on.
Can you audit a backend we already have?
Yes. We review the architecture, code, performance and security of your backend and tell you what to fix first. Pick "Audit" in the calculator to see a typical range.
What happens after I send the estimate?
You get an email asking to confirm your address. Our team receives the scope you picked together with your message, and an engineer gets back to you to discuss it.
Rather talk it through?
ISTRALLEN builds backends, payment and API integrations, and production AI features, and helps teams fix and deploy the systems they already have.