Definition
Build vs buy is the decision between developing a capability in-house and licensing it from a vendor, weighed on total cost, time-to-value, and long-term control.
The honest comparison uses total cost of ownership and switching cost on the buy side, and maintenance plus opportunity cost on the build side. Buying trades control for speed; the lock-in you take on is part of the price.
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Benchside turns build vs buy into the exact questions, exclusions, and lock-in math for your specific vendor - your first project is free.