True Cost of DIY vs. Cross-Platform App Boilerplate
February 26, 2025
Introduction: The DIY Dream—And Its Hidden Pitfalls
Building your own app infrastructure from scratch sounds like a dream come true. You get full control, the freedom to add any feature you want, and the pride of saying, "I built this myself." But is it really the best path for your business or startup?
Many teams start with big ambitions. They want to create something unique. But soon, they run into problems that slow them down. The hidden costs of building everything yourself can drain your time, money, and energy. In this post, we'll break down what those costs are, why they matter, and how using a cross-platform boilerplate like MoneyMouth can help you launch faster and smarter.
1. The Hidden Costs of DIY Infrastructure
When you build your own app infrastructure, you take on a lot more than just writing code. Here's what you're really signing up for:
Payments: More Than Just a Button
- Integrating payment systems like Stripe (for web), StoreKit (for iOS), and Google Play Billing (for Android) is complex.
- Each platform has its own rules, APIs, and hidden edge cases.
- You must handle taxes, refunds, compliance, and security for every region you serve.
- Example: A team spent weeks fixing a bug where Android subscriptions didn't sync with their backend, causing angry customers and lost revenue.
Notifications: Reaching Users Everywhere
- Setting up notifications means working with FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging), APNs (Apple Push Notification Service), and sometimes third-party tools like trigger.dev.
- You need to manage time zones, delivery reliability, and user preferences.
- Example: One developer forgot to handle daylight saving time, so users got reminders at the wrong hour.
Realtime Sync: Keeping Data Up-to-Date
- Users expect their data to sync instantly across devices.
- Building a reliable, real-time sync system is hard. You need to handle conflicts, offline changes, and network issues.
- Example: A fitness app lost user workouts when the phone went offline, leading to bad reviews.
Local-First & Offline Support: Apps That Work Anywhere
- Users want apps that work even with poor or no internet.
- Local-first design means data is saved on the device first, then synced to the cloud.
- Handling offline scenarios adds a layer of complexity to every feature.
Authentication: Secure and Seamless Sign-In
- Supporting Google, Apple, and email sign-in means learning three different systems.
- You must keep user data safe and comply with privacy laws.
- Example: Rolling your own authentication can leave you open to security risks like account takeovers.
Performance: Fast, Smooth, and Small
- Users expect 60 frames per second (FPS) and quick load times.
- App stores reject apps that are slow or too large.
- Over-the-air (OTA) updates let you fix bugs without waiting for app store approval.
Testing & CI/CD: Quality at Every Step
- Automated tests catch bugs before users do.
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines (like GitHub Actions) help you ship updates safely and quickly.
- Example: Without automated tests, a small change broke payments for all iOS users.
Analytics: Understanding Your Users
- Tracking user behavior and revenue is key to growth.
- Tools like Umami help you see what's working and what's not.
2. Why Most DIY Projects Go Over Budget (and Timeline)
Even experienced teams run into trouble. Here's why:
- Months Lost: Integrating payments, notifications, and authentication for each platform takes much longer than expected.
- Bugs and Edge Cases: Real-time sync and offline support introduce tricky bugs that are hard to find and fix.
- App Store Rejections: Missing native features or poor performance can get your app rejected. (See A Developer's Guide to Passing App Store Review on the First Try)
- Maintenance Headaches: Patching together libraries and custom code makes updates risky and time-consuming.
- Security Risks: DIY authentication or data storage can leave you open to hacks and data leaks.
Real-World Story: The DIY Trap
A startup wanted to launch on iOS, Android, and web. They thought building their own stack would take three months. A year later, they were still fixing bugs and hadn't launched. Their competitors, using a boilerplate, were already in the app stores.
3. The MoneyMouth Boilerplate: Infrastructure Without the Headaches
MoneyMouth is a cross-platform app boilerplate. It's designed to solve the problems above, so you don't have to.
What's Included?
- Unified Tech Stack: One codebase for iOS, Android, and web. Built with TypeScript, Tanstack Start, InstantDB, and Better-Auth.
- Payments Ready: Stripe, StoreKit, and Google Play billing are pre-wired and tested.
- Notifications Everywhere: FCM and trigger.dev for web, iOS, and Android, with timezone-aware scheduling.
- Realtime Database: All users stay in sync, instantly.
- Local-First & Offline (Coming Soon): Designed for robust offline support and local-first data handling.
- Authentication: Pre-configured with Better-Auth, supporting Google, Apple, and email sign-up.
- Performance: 60FPS rendering, 3.5MB initial download, and over-the-air updates.
- Native Extensibility: Add widgets, in-app reviews, or custom native modules as needed.
- Testing & CI/CD: React Testing Library, Playwright, and GitHub Actions pipelines included.
- User Analytics: Built-in Umami tracking.
- Documentation & Support: Full docs and support to help you ship and get approved in the app stores.
How Does This Help You?
- Save Time: Launch in days, not months.
- Reduce Bugs: Pre-tested features mean fewer surprises.
- Focus on Your App: Spend your time building what makes your app unique.
- Peace of Mind: Get support and updates as the tech landscape changes.
4. Save 6+ Months—Focus on Your App, Not the Plumbing
MoneyMouth was built to save you the 6+ months it takes to wire up all these features yourself. You get a production-ready foundation, so you can focus on what makes your app unique—not on reinventing the wheel.
What Could You Build With 6 Extra Months?
- More features your users love
- Better marketing and user onboarding
- Time to gather feedback and improve
5. Real-World Example: ProgressMade.ai
Apps like ProgressMade.ai were launched using this boilerplate, proving it's ready for real products and real users. (See Case Study: How ProgressMade.ai Launched on Three Platforms in Record Time)
What Did They Achieve?
- Launched on iOS, Android, and web in record time
- Handled payments, notifications, and real-time sync from day one
- Focused on their unique features, not infrastructure
6. Build Smarter, Launch Sooner
With MoneyMouth, you can:
- Launch your SaaS on iOS, Android, and web in days, not months. (See From Idea to App Store: How to Launch Your SaaS on iOS, Android, and Web in One Week)
- Monetize with in-app purchases and subscriptions from day one.
- Deliver a seamless, high-performance experience on every platform.
- Get peace of mind with a full refund guarantee if your app isn't accepted by the app stores.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a cross-platform boilerplate?
A cross-platform boilerplate is a ready-made codebase that works on iOS, Android, and web. It includes common features like payments, notifications, and authentication, so you don't have to build them from scratch.
Can I customize the MoneyMouth boilerplate?
Yes! You can add your own features, change the design, and extend it with native modules as needed.
Is it secure?
MoneyMouth uses industry-standard security practices and is updated regularly to keep your app safe.
What if I need help?
Full documentation and support are included. You can get help with setup, customization, and app store approval.
How much time will I really save?
Most teams save at least 6 months of development time. Some launch in just a few weeks.
Conclusion: Build What Matters—Let MoneyMouth Handle the Rest
Building your own app infrastructure is a huge job. The hidden costs can slow you down and drain your resources. With MoneyMouth, you get a production-ready foundation that lets you focus on what matters most: your users and your unique features.
Ready to skip the hidden costs and launch faster? Check out the MoneyMouth boilerplate and get a production-ready foundation for your app—without the DIY headaches.