A studio or a dev shop?
Should a studio or a dev shop build your AI product? It depends on whether you already know what to build. A dev shop builds what you specify, well and at a known cost. A studio decides with you what's worth building first, then designs and ships it. If your spec is one you'd defend line by line, a good dev shop may be the better buy.
Written by us, so read it knowing that. We've tried to say plainly when the other option is the better choice.
Where they differ.
| What differs | A dev shop | A studio like us |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides what gets built | You do, in the spec | We decide it with you, before any code, and write down what gets cut |
| Starting point | A specification | A problem, a buyer and a question to answer |
| How scope is set | From your requirements | From evidence: the first release is what survives the Scope Cut |
| Where AI goes | Where the spec asks for it | Only where a model earns its place; rules everywhere else |
| Proof it works | Varies by shop: ask | An evaluation set, tests and a staged release, designed before the build |
| Design and launch | Usually separate teams | The same team decides, designs and ships |
| Ownership | Varies by contract: ask | Code and data in your accounts from day one; the work transfers on payment |
When each is the better choice.
Choose a dev shop when
- You know exactly what to build, and the spec is based on evidence you trust.
- You need build capacity for a product that's already decided.
- You have product and design leadership in-house to steer the work.
Choose a studio when
- You're not yet sure what's worth building, or what to leave out.
- The product depends on AI, and you need judgement about where a model helps.
- You want the same team to decide, design, build and launch.
Questions to ask either.
- Who decides what gets cut, and how?
- How will we know it works before users see it?
- Where will the code and data live, and who owns them?
- What happens if we want to stop halfway?
Is a studio more expensive than a dev shop?
It depends on what you're buying. A dev shop prices a build; a studio also prices the decisions before it, which often make the build smaller. We don't publish prices: every engagement is scoped and priced in writing before it starts.
Can we use a studio to decide and a dev shop to build?
Yes, and it can work well: a scope decided with evidence makes any build team better. The risk is the handover, where the reasons behind decisions get lost, so ask for them in writing.
In the Journal: AI prototype to production: what breaks first. More comparisons: all comparisons.
Published 28 September 2026. Written by Graylemon; no other company is named, and no prices are given.