Build vs. buy in 2026: how a solo dev replaced 6 SaaS tools with ~$100/mo of AI

Short summary

A solo dev replaced six SaaS tools costing $600–800/month with custom code and $100/month in Claude API usage, using MCP servers and agents integrated directly into their ASP.NET Core product database. The post walks through specific implementations for feedback, email automation, and AI-powered logic, arguing that in 2026 AI makes building custom solutions more economical than buying third-party layers for solo founders.

• •Solo founder cut SaaS spending from $600–800/month to $100/month using Claude and custom code
• •MCP servers and OAuth 2.1 allow AI agents to interact directly with product databases, eliminating middleman layers
• •Build-vs-buy economics now favor building for solopreneurs, with AI eliminating the tedium that previously justified renting tools

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.