Full Answer
Total cost matters, not monthly fee. $21/mo + developer = $80K vs $159/mo + $0 = $9.5K.
How do I compare subscription vs developer costs?
Quick Answer
Calculate total: Low subscription + high developer often exceeds high subscription + zero developer. Stape $1,260 + $78K dev = $79K. Transmute $9,540 + $0 dev = $9.5K. Pay for plugin or pay for developer—plugin cheaper.