Dev.to
5/11/2026

Cost of Maintaining VB6 vs Migrating to .NET
Short summary
VB6 maintenance in 2026 has become the most expensive 'free' cost for enterprises. Specialized developers charge $180–280/hr versus competitive .NET market rates, Windows 10 EOL adds licensing fees, and security vulnerabilities compound. .NET migration breaks even in 18–24 months while cutting infrastructure costs 30–50%. Modern AI agent integration and advanced analytics become possible only post-migration, unlocking competitive advantages.
- •VB6 talent shortage drives consultant rates to $180–280/hr vs. competitive .NET market
- •Migration breaks even in 18–24 months with 30–50% infrastructure cost reduction
- •Legacy systems block modern integrations like AI agents; modernization enables strategic features
Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.
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