How the two models compare
| Marketplace / talent network | Kortex Labs | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Time from a vetted freelancer | A finished, deployed system |
| Pricing | Hourly or weekly rate | One fixed price, agreed up front |
| Who manages the work | You | We do; you review progress weekly |
| Budget risk | Grows with hours | Fixed; milestones not delivered as agreed aren't paid |
| Ownership | Per your contract | 100% of code and IP, with docs and runbook |
When the marketplace is the better choice
If you already have a technical lead, a clear backlog and need extra hands for months, hiring by the hour is simpler. We will tell you that on the first call.
When a fixed-price studio is the better choice
- You want a specific outcome shipped: an AI assistant on your documents, an AI voice agent, a data pipeline or an MVP.
- You have no one to manage a freelancer day to day.
- You need the budget fixed before you start. See fixed price vs hourly.
What we've shipped
20+ products in production, including a pipeline that turned 2,046 search queries across 27 countries into one queryable dataset and a voice-first platform where clinical notes write themselves. Read the case studies or estimate your project with the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kortex Labs cheaper than hiring a freelancer?
Not always per hour. It is predictable: one fixed price for the finished system, so overruns are our problem, not yours.
How fast can you start?
A fixed-scope quote within 24 hours of the first call; build slots usually open within one to two weeks.
Who owns the code?
You do. 100% of the source and IP transfers on delivery, with documentation and a deployment runbook.
Can I start small?
Yes. A 5-day prototype on your own data costs $1,000 and is credited in full if you go ahead with the build.