Is my AI feature worth building? (ROI)
Deciding whether to decide whether an AI feature is worth building is a build-vs-buy and ROI question. Built for product leaders justifying AI work, this page compares the AI approach to the alternative and shows when (or whether) it pays for itself.
Results update automatically as you type.
- Monthly value
- $2,000.00
- Monthly cost
- $500.00
- Net / month
- $1,500.00
- ROI
- 300.0%
- Payback
- 2.0 mo
Why this isn't trivial
The part people underestimate: ROI depends on both the running cost and the value created, and teams usually estimate one far better than the other. In practice the biggest savings come from quantifying the value side as rigorously as the cost side, so it is worth modelling before you commit.
How it's calculated
We estimate this by comparing monthly AI cost with the revenue or savings it generates to compute ROI and payback. Every figure uses the current provider prices baked into the site (reviewed daily), and you can override any input to match your own assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
What if I can't quantify the value?+
Estimate a conservative range; even rough value beats comparing cost against nothing.
What ROI is good enough?+
Enough to beat your other uses of the same engineering time and budget.
Are these prices up to date?+
Yes. The model prices behind this calculator are refreshed and reviewed daily, so your estimate reflects current provider rates rather than a stale snapshot.
Related
Estimates for planning. Pricing data last reviewed 28 July 2026.