Build vs Buy Scorecard
Weigh building in-house against buying off the shelf, or buying and customising, on fit, three-year cost, time to value and the maintenance load on your team.
- Free
- No sign-up to try
- Works as you type
Score each option, 1 to 5
| Criterion | Build in-house | Buy off the shelf | Buy and customise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit with our requirements ×5 | |||
| Total cost over three years ×5 | |||
| Time to value ×4 | |||
| Maintenance load on our team ×4 | |||
| Sets us apart from competitors ×3 | |||
| Vendor and lock-in risk ×3 | |||
| Control over security and compliance ×3 |
Ranking
Score the options to see them ranked by your weights.
Free, no sign-up to try. Your comparison becomes a Room you can edit, publish and share.
How it works
How the Build vs Buy Scorecard works
- 1
Pick what to compare
Choose from the list or add your own, two to six options.
- 2
Weight and score
Weight each criterion, then score each option from 1 to 5. The ranking updates as you go.
- 3
Share and decide
Create a Room with the comparison, a team vote and a checklist for the final decision.
Worked example
What it makes
The starting criteria for a approach comparison, with example scores for three unnamed options to show how the weighting works. Your Room uses your own options and scores.
| Criterion (weight) | Option A | Option B | Option C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit with our requirements (5) | 5/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Total cost over three years (5) | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Time to value (4) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Maintenance load on our team (4) | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Sets us apart from competitors (3) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Vendor and lock-in risk (3) | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Control over security and compliance (3) | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Weighted score | 74.8/100 | 72.6/100 | 67.4/100 |
Weighted score = sum of (weight × score) ÷ sum of (weight × 5), out of 100.
Who it's for
Who uses it
CTOs and engineering leads
Make the build or buy call with the reasons written down.
Product managers
Put the trade-offs in front of leadership.
Ops and IT
Decide whether to replace an internal tool.
Good to know
What to consider
- Count ongoing maintenance and on-call time for building, not just the first version.
- Score buying on a real vendor shortlist, not on buying in general.
Questions
About the Build vs Buy Scorecard
Does WZRD rate these products?
No. You score each option on your own criteria; WZRD only does the weighted maths and lays out the result. Check prices and features on each vendor's own site, because they change often.
When does building usually make sense?
When the capability sets you apart and nothing on the market fits. Weight that criterion honestly and the scores will show it.
Make your comparison now
Free, no sign-up to try. It becomes a Room you can edit, publish and share.
Create my comparisonRelated
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