A fractional CTO gives you part-time technical leadership and decisions — but usually doesn’t build the product. A development studio builds and ships it. If you’re non-technical and need both the calls made and the product built, a senior studio that acts as your technical partner is often the better fit — one team, one accountable owner.
| Fractional CTO | Development studio (DappaSol) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Part-time tech leadership & advice | A built, shipped product |
| Writes the code? | Usually no | Yes — senior engineers |
| Cost | $3k–$10k+/mo retainer | Fixed project price, from $7,500 |
| Best when | You have a team that needs direction | You need the product built, not just advised |
| Speed to a product | Depends on your team | ~8 weeks |
| Accountability | Advises; you/your team deliver | One team owns delivery |
DappaSol works as that combined partner: we make the architecture and stack calls and ship the product, with a founder in the room. See MVP development · agency vs freelancer vs in-house.
By the DappaSol team — 100+ products shipped since 2020. Last updated June 2026.
For building and launching a product, often yes — a senior studio makes the technical decisions and delivers. For ongoing leadership of an in-house team, a fractional CTO fits better.
A fractional CTO is typically a $3k–$10k+/month retainer; a studio is a fixed project price (MVPs from $7,500). Pricing.
Yes — many founders do exactly that: ship the product with a studio, then hire a CTO once there’s a team to lead.
By the DappaSol team — 100+ products shipped since 2020. Last updated June 2026.