# What is an MVP? > An MVP, short for minimum viable product, is the smallest version of your product that real people can use to do one valuable thing. Its purpose is to learn quickly whether your idea works, before you spend time and money on everything else. Canonical: https://erdibuilds.app/guides/what-is-an-mvp Last updated: 2026-11-06 (November 6, 2026) ## Minimum, viable, product Each word matters. Minimum means you cut everything that is not needed to test the idea. Viable means the result must actually work and solve a real problem, not be a broken demo. Product means real users can use it, not just you. An MVP is not a bad or unfinished product. It is a focused one. It does a few things well and leaves the rest for later. ## What an MVP is for - Testing whether people want what you are building. - Learning which features matter before paying for all of them. - Getting first users and honest feedback. - Showing a working product to partners or investors. - Keeping early cost and time under control. ## An example Imagine a service that helps dog owners find walkers. A full version has maps, ratings, in-app chat, subscriptions and a mobile app. An MVP might be a simple web page where owners post a walk request and walkers reply by email, with payment handled by hand. That version answers the key question: do owners and walkers actually use this? ## How to decide what goes in 1. Name the user and the one problem you solve for them. 2. Describe the shortest path that solves it, from first click to result. 3. List every feature your idea could have. 4. Keep only those on the shortest path. 5. Ask for each remaining item: can this be done by hand for now? For a software product like a subscription tool, see [SaaS MVP scope and cost](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/saas-mvp-scope-and-cost) for a concrete split. ## Common mistakes - Adding features because competitors have them. - Building for months before showing anyone. - Confusing a prototype with an MVP. A prototype can be a clickable design, while an MVP works for real. - Skipping security and data protection, which cannot be added cheaply later. - Measuring nothing. Decide upfront what result tells you the idea works. ## Building an MVP with a developer Write a short brief with the problem, the user and the must-have features. See [how to write a project brief](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief). Split the work into milestones so that each one ends with something you can try. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. The [milestone planner](https://erdibuilds.app/tools/milestone-planner) helps you shape this. For timing and cost, read [how long does it take to build an app](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-an-app) and [how much does it cost to build an app](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-an-app). An MVP can be apps, SaaS, websites and games. The shape changes, but the idea stays the same: learn first, grow second. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between an MVP and a prototype? A prototype shows how something could look or work, often as clickable screens. An MVP is real software that real users can use. ### How is an MVP different from the final product? The final product grows from what you learn. An MVP has only the core, so it is smaller, cheaper and quicker to release. ### Can I build an MVP with no-code tools? Often yes. No-code tools can be a quick start. If you outgrow them, a developer can help you move on. See [fix my Bubble app](https://erdibuilds.app/help/fix-my-bubble-app). ### How many features should an MVP have? As few as it takes to deliver the one core value. For most ideas that is a small handful. ### What happens after the MVP? You study feedback and usage, then plan the next milestones around what users really need. Add features one step at a time. ## Related - [SaaS MVP Scope and Cost: What to Build First](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/saas-mvp-scope-and-cost): What belongs in the first version of a SaaS product, what can wait, and how scope decisions shape your cost and timeline. - [How to Write a Project Brief for a Developer](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-project-brief): A good project brief fits on one page: goal, users, must-have features, examples and limits. Here is what to include and a free tool to draft it. - [How Long Does It Take to Build an App?](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-long-does-it-take-to-build-an-app): What decides how long an app, SaaS, website or game takes to build, with an example plan in weeks and tips for planning realistic milestones. - [Free milestone planner for your project](https://erdibuilds.app/tools/milestone-planner): Turn your project into an editable plan of milestones with lengths that fit the rules. Runs in your browser, stores nothing and estimates no prices. - [Hire a Developer to Build Something New](https://erdibuilds.app/help/build-new): Turn an idea into a working product. See how to prepare, how milestones structure the work and what to ask developers before you start.