Pricing for software delivery can be hard to compare. Our AI Pod tiers have published starting prices, and this article explains what they cover, what changes the final scope, and how to compare a Pod with other ways of getting engineering work done.
The published tiers
These are starting prices in USD per month. Final scope, capacity, and delivery plan depend on technical complexity, access requirements, and the objective defined during discovery.
- Focused Pod, from USD $6,400 per month: one active delivery workstream for one clear objective or bounded workflow.
- Growth Pod, from USD $8,600 per month: up to two parallel workstreams, expanded agent capacity, and deeper integration for teams balancing delivery, integrations, and technical debt.
- Scale Pod, from USD $11,800 per month: up to three parallel workstreams and the highest agent capacity, with architecture and quality oversight for broader initiatives.
Every tier includes managed AI agent execution and senior engineering review. The full list of inclusions is on the AI Pods page.
What actually differs between tiers
The tiers primarily increase four things: parallel workstreams, agent execution capacity, integration depth, and the frequency of engineering review. Every tier combines managed AI agents with experienced engineering oversight.
What changes the final scope
- Technical complexity. A simple integration and a legacy migration are different amounts of work.
- Access requirements. The systems, environments, and permissions the Pod needs.
- The objective. A clearly bounded objective is easier to scope than an open-ended one.
- Duration and pace. How much needs to be delivered and by when.
This is why we define the objective and scope in a discovery conversation before agreeing a plan.
How to compare a Pod with other options
Comparing hourly rates or monthly prices alone can mislead. Compare the total cost of delivery for the same objective:
- Hiring. Include recruiting time, onboarding, management, benefits, and the time before the person is fully productive. Consider whether the need is permanent or temporary.
- Agencies. Ask what is included, who does the work, how scope changes are handled, and what happens when the contract ends.
- Freelancers. Consider coordination effort, availability, and who reviews quality.
- A Pod. Look at what the monthly price covers, how scope is defined, who reviews the work, and what you keep at the end.
For any option, ask for a written scope, acceptance criteria, and the terms for what happens if the agreed scope is not delivered. We do not make general claims about how much cheaper or faster a Pod is; the right comparison uses your objective and your real alternative.
How to start without a large commitment
The first step is small: one bounded task with a written scope and a two-week trial at no cost. If you do not continue, you owe nothing. Separately, for the engagement that follows, if the agreed scope is not delivered within the one-month window, work continues at no additional cost until it is completed. Terms apply. You can read how this works in Nearshore AI Pods in Mexico, or learn how to run a 2-week trial with any team.
For the full list of tiers, see AI Pods.