Fractional CTO or Engineering Firm?
Compare · Fractional CTO or Engineering Firm · When Each Wins
Fractional CTO or Engineering Firm?
If nobody on your team can judge architecture, someone should own that decision before you build. A fractional CTO is one way to get it. An engineering firm that will also do the work is another. They solve different problems.
Do I need a fractional CTO before hiring a firm?
Can a firm be independent?
A fair comparison
When a Fractional CTO Is the Better Choice
You already have builders
You are choosing between vendors
You want continuity across several vendors and hires
And the other side
When an Engineering Firm Is the Better Choice
You need the thing built as well as directed
You would rather buy a defined outcome
You want the decision and the delivery to come from the same accountable team
How They Compare
| Fractional CTO | Razoyo | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Hours of senior judgment per week | A fixed-price Spec, then a build |
| Typical cost | Published pricing guides commonly quote $5,000 to $15,000 a month for 10 to 20 hours a week | System Spec $2,500 fixed; MVP from $5,000 |
| Delivery | Advice and oversight | Advice and delivery |
| Independence | High, since they build nothing | We are the builder, so use the Spec as a standalone, independent document you can take elsewhere |
| Best for | Directing a team you already have | Getting a defined product built and running |
Cost range from published fractional CTO pricing guides, checked October 2026; rates vary by provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only partly, and we say so. If you want an opinion from someone who will not build it, hire a fractional CTO for the review and use us for the build.
Other Comparisons
- Freelancer or engineering firm
- Offshore team or engineering firm
- In-house developer or engineering firm
- Large consultancy or small senior firm
Every Razoyo price on this page is on our pricing page. Senior judgment and delivery from one team is our fractional CTO service.
Pick your next step
Start With a Conversation. It Costs Nothing.
Every engagement begins the same way, with a free consultation. You will leave it with an honest recommendation, including the recommendation not to build.
Free consultation
A working session with a senior person, not a sales rep. Always the first step.
Fixed-price System Spec
A product brief, a real estimate and a build-or-don't-build recommendation, yours to keep either way.
See every price first
Not ready to talk? Every number, from the free consultation to ongoing support, is on one page.