Gigster isn’t a traditional freelance marketplace where you pick one person and pay an hourly rate. It’s positioned as a managed software delivery partner, offering engagement models like Fully Managed, Dedicated Teams, and Talent On Demand, with an emphasis on predictable pricing and clearly defined outcomes.
That also explains why you won’t find a simple public rate card. Gigster says projects are “carefully and transparently priced out” based on the size, scope, and budget of what you’re building.
Below is the same straight-shooting breakdown: how Gigster pricing works, what can quietly increase your total, and what you’ll realistically pay.
Gigster Pricing Overview
1. Fully Managed (Outcome-based delivery)
This is Gigster taking full ownership “from start to finish” to deliver across scope, time, and budget.
In practice, this is usually priced around a defined plan + milestones (often fixed scope per phase, with change control if scope expands).
2. Dedicated Teams (Team-based delivery capacity)
A team dedicated to your project with the flexibility to scale up/down.
This commonly behaves like a monthly or sprint-based retainer, where cost depends on team size, seniority, and time commitment.
3. Talent On Demand (Staff augmentation)
On-demand talent that blends with your existing team. This tends to look more like hourly/monthly billing by role, still quote-based, but easier to map to headcount.
4. The “Plan → Build Sprints → MVP” structure affects pricing
Gigster describes projects kicking off with a Plan phase, then Build sprints, with an MVP typically completed in 6–12 weeks.
They also describe staffing full project teams of five or more roles (Engagement Manager, PM roles, architect, design, engineers, etc.), part-time or full-time as needed. Translation: even “simple” builds can price higher than marketplaces because you’re buying a managed delivery team, not just dev hours.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Scope changes (the classic budget bloat)
If your requirements evolve after the Plan phase, cost usually rises, either via new milestones, extra sprints, or a change order.
Ongoing “Run” and maintenance expectations
Gigster notes that its Rapid Results offering includes a Run phase for maintenance/support after go-live unless the client opts out, and that standard maintenance includes bug fixes until the next release or when the Statement of Work concludes.
Security/compliance requirements
Gigster references collaborating with a client’s CISO and security requirements; important for enterprise, but it can add process overhead and time.
What You’d Really Pay With Gigster
Because Gigster pricing is quote-based, the best way to estimate is to anchor on typical ranges from independent listings, then adjust for scope and team size.
Here are common third-party benchmarks:
- Arc’s employer guide cites a baseline starting point of $52,000.
- Flexiple similarly says small projects “typically start” around $52,000, and lists average hourly rates around $100–$149/hr.
- Clutch lists an average hourly rate of $100–$149/hr and shows a commonly reported project size band of $50k–$199,999 (from its review dataset).
Quick cost examples (so you can budget)
Example A: Staff augmentation (Talent On Demand)
If you’re effectively paying ~$100–$149/hr (a common third-party range) for a senior engineer for 8 weeks full-time (320 hours), that’s roughly $32k–$47.7k for one seat before adding any additional roles.
Example B: Fully managed MVP build
Gigster describes MVPs typically taking 6–12 weeks, with multi-role delivery teams.
That’s why independent sources often place “entry” projects around the $50k+ mark, and many builds land well into six figures, depending on scope.
Advantages of Hiring Through Gigster
- Multiple engagement models (managed delivery, dedicated teams, or augmentation).
- Emphasis on predictable pricing and outcomes for managed builds.
- Clear delivery structure (Plan → sprints → MVP) and defined roles around delivery management.
Disadvantages of Hiring Through Gigster
- No public rate card; you’ll need a scoped quote to know your real number.
- Team-based delivery can mean higher minimum spend than marketplaces (often starting around ~$50k+ per third-party benchmarks).
- Budget can expand quickly if the scope shifts after planning (common with sprint-based product builds).
Transparent Pricing: South vs. Gigster
Gigster and South solve two different problems, and that’s why the pricing feels so different. Gigster is primarily a managed delivery partner; you’re buying a structured build process (Plan → sprints → MVP), project leadership, and a delivery team that’s assembled around a specific scope and timeline.
That model can be great when you want an outcome and don’t want to manage execution day to day, but it also means your cost is usually tied to scope, team composition, and how much the project evolves once work starts.
South is built for hiring long-term team capacity; full-time (or dedicated) professionals you can integrate into your company, work with in real time, and keep for ongoing execution beyond a single project.
Pricing is designed to be easier to forecast because it’s not “project scoped” every time you need more support. You can interview candidates for free, pay nothing until you make a hire, and build a team with clear expectations around monthly costs without constantly renegotiating a new SOW whenever priorities shift.
In short: if you want a managed project with a delivery wrapper, Gigster fits that lane. If you want to build a stable team that you can scale role-by-role as your roadmap changes, South is the more predictable path.
The Takeaway
If you want a managed team and a structured delivery process (Plan → sprints → MVP), Gigster can be a fit, especially for higher-stakes builds where you’d rather outsource execution management, not just staffing.
Just don’t budget as if you’re hiring a single freelancer: independent listings commonly place Gigster projects starting around $50k+, with many projects extending into six figures depending on scope and team composition.
If what you need is long-term capacity (not a one-off build), schedule a free call with South to get a vetted shortlist; interview for free and pay nothing until you hire!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Gigster publish standard pricing?
Gigster describes pricing as being transparently scoped per project based on size, scope, and budget, rather than a public rate card.
What engagement models does Gigster offer?
Gigster lists Fully Managed, Dedicated Teams, and Talent On Demand.
What’s a realistic minimum budget to plan for with Gigster?
Third-party guides commonly cite a baseline around $52,000 for Gigster-style engagements.
How fast can an MVP be delivered?
Gigster states that an MVP is typically completed in 6–12 weeks (depending on scope).
What hourly rates should I expect if it’s staff augmentation?
Independent listings commonly show $100–$149/hr as an average range.
