---
title: "Hire, agency, AI tools or subscription? Compare your options | Fluff Software"
description: "Hiring a developer, a traditional agency, AI coding tools or a flat-fee subscription: cost, speed, risk and senior judgment compared."
url: https://www.fluff.software/compare/
updated: 2026-10-23
publisher: Fluff Software
---

# Compare the options.

Hiring, agencies, AI tools and the subscription, side by side.

[Book a 20-minute call](https://www.fluff.software/contact/) [See pricing](https://www.fluff.software/pricing/)

_Image: Three people reviewing work together on a laptop_

[Hiring a developer vs a subscription Cost, time and risk, with a calculator using 2026 UK figures.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/hiring-a-developer/) [A traditional agency vs a subscription Fixed quotes and change orders against one flat fee.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/agency/) [An AI coding tool vs a product team What Cursor, Claude Code and app builders do well, and what they don’t.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/ai-tools/)

## At a glance.

|  | Hiring a developer | A traditional agency | Fluff, your fractional team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Months of recruiting | Weeks of scoping and quotes | Usually within a week or two of signing |
| How you pay | Salary, recruiter fees, notice periods | A fixed quote, then change orders | One flat monthly fee |
| Changing your mind | Fine, if they have time | Another quote | Add it to the queue |
| Senior judgment | Depends who you find | Billed by the day | Built into every release |
| When you need more | Start hiring again | Start a new project | Add a second track |

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Fluff Software, a senior product team embedded in your business. Book a call: https://www.fluff.software/contact/ or email contact@fluff.software. Agents: see https://www.fluff.software/llms.txt and https://www.fluff.software/AGENTS.md.