An embedded dev team for a flat monthly rate. Ongoing feature work, fixes, and improvements from engineers who know your codebase - without the hiring or overhead.
Every project is different, but here's what each tier typically looks like. Book a free assessment and we'll scope yours precisely.
Your assigned developer working through your backlog week over week. Ideal for steady maintenance, ongoing improvements, and predictable development capacity.
Expanded capacity with priority response and a private Slack channel. Built for teams that need faster iteration cycles and direct access to their developers.
Need an embedded engineering partner? We'll build a custom plan around your team and roadmap.
Most retainers start within one to two weeks of signing. The first week is codebase onboarding: your assigned engineers read the repo, set up local environments, and ship a small, low-risk fix so you can see how we work before any large feature lands.
Tiers run from $4,995 to $7,995 per month for a defined capacity of senior engineering hours. Higher tiers add a second engineer, faster response on incidents, and on-call coverage. Pause or cancel any month with 30 days notice.
Senior engineers on the Bytewise team. Not freelancers, not offshore subcontractors, not junior devs practicing on your codebase. The same person stays on your project month over month so context compounds instead of resetting.
Yes. Tiers move up or down monthly. We also handle short-term scope spikes (a launch, a migration, a regulatory deadline) without renegotiating the base retainer. You only pay for the capacity you actually use.
Ongoing feature work, bug fixes, performance improvements, incident response, dependency upgrades, and small migrations. If a request grows into a multi-week sprint we flag it and propose a fixed-price scope instead, so your retainer hours stay protected for routine work.
The honest comparison most agencies won't put in writing. Same dimensions, three real options, no marketing math.
| Dimension | Dev on Demand | Hire FTE | Freelance per project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramp-up time | 1–2 weeks to first ship | 3–6 months including hiring | 2–4 weeks per new engagement |
| Monthly cost floor | $4,995, pause or scale anytime | $15k+ loaded for a senior FTE | Variable, often higher per hour |
| Codebase familiarity | Same engineers month over month | Builds gradually, then leaves | Resets every engagement |
| Scope flexibility | Tiers flex monthly | Fixed headcount | Renegotiated each project |
| Scaling speed | Hours, not months | Quarter-long hiring cycles | Depends on availability |
