The Problem
Why teams leave Coda
Doc-maker pricing is expensive for collaborative teams
Packs (integrations) have usage limits
Automation quotas on all plans
Learning curve for formula language
Performance with large documents and tables
What We Build Instead
Your custom knowledge & docs tool
Document-database hybrid with unlimited editors
Custom formulas and calculated fields
Automation workflows with no quotas
Native integrations without pack limitations
Fast performance with large datasets
The Math
Coda vs. custom build
Based on 25 seats at $20/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Coda
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 25 seats
-$22,250
-112% less than Coda
Pricing Breakdown
Coda tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Coda's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $10/mo | $10/mo | Unlimited docs, Automations (200/month), 10 GB storage, Version history |
| Team | $30/mo | $30/mo | Unlimited automations, Cross-doc syncing, Custom packs, Admin controls |
| Enterprise | $60/mo | $60/mo | SSO/SAML, Advanced admin, Audit logs, Priority support |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $20,000–$38,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Coda to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Coda in 5-9 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekMap existing docs, formulas, packs, and automation workflows
Architecture & Design
1 weekDesign document-database hybrid with formula engine and automations
Core Development
2-5 weeksBuild doc editor, table/database engine, formula system, and automations
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate docs, tables, formulas and test automation workflows
Deployment & Training
1 weekLaunch platform and train teams on doc creation and formulas
Total build time
5-9 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Coda features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Coda | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Editor | |||
| Tables & Databases | |||
| Formula Language | |||
| Automation Workflows | |||
| Cross-doc References | |||
| Views & Layouts | |||
| Buttons & Controls | |||
| API Access | |||
| Packs (Integrations) | Direct integrations without pack usage limits | ||
| Unlimited Editors | No doc-maker vs viewer pricing distinction |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Coda offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Coda to ownership in 5-9 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Coda usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom knowledge & docs tool with only the features you need. 5-9 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Coda, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.