Duolingo turned a simple idea — bite-sized language lessons with a streak counter — into a platform used by hundreds of millions of people, backed by a business worth billions. Calm did something similar for meditation, and Strava for tracking runs and rides. None of these started as huge companies. They started as one idea, built into working software, then improved over time as people started paying for it.
If you’ve got an idea for a subscription-based learning app, habit tracker, or skills platform, the question isn’t whether it’s a good idea — plenty of good ideas exist. The question is whether you can get it built without losing your savings, your timeline, or ownership of what you’ve created. That’s where By Design UK comes in.
There are two well-worn paths people try first, and both tend to fall short. Freelancers are cheap and quick to hire, but many disappear mid-project, deliver inconsistent code quality, or leave you without proper ownership of the finished product. Traditional agencies, on the other hand, are reliable but slow — long discovery phases, vague scopes, and pricing that only becomes clear after you’ve signed something. Either way, you end up paying twice: once for the false start, and again for someone to fix it.
By Design UK sits between the two. We’re a UK-based team who scope your project properly, quote a fixed price upfront, and build using AI-accelerated development to move faster than a traditional agency without cutting corners. You get working software, not a pitch deck — and you own every line of code when it’s done.
Pricing depends heavily on scope. A focused first version of a subscription learning app — user accounts, lesson content, progress tracking, and payment handling — typically sits within our platform development range of £18,000 to £650,000+, depending on features, integrations, and how much of the experience needs to be custom-built versus assembled from proven components. If your idea is closer to an online store or a simpler booking-style tool rather than a full learning platform, our Shopify build packages from £499 to £18,999 may be a better starting point. We’ll tell you honestly which category your idea falls into before any money changes hands.
Once your app is live, ongoing hosting, monitoring, and feature updates matter just as much as the initial build. Our support plans start from £797/month for platform-style products, or £299/month for Shopify-based builds, so you’re never left wondering who to call when something needs changing.
Plenty of agencies talk about capability. We’d rather show you. Tackly.co.uk is a live, multi-toolkit platform we built and continue to run ourselves — real users, real subscriptions, real infrastructure running today, not a mockup or a case study slide. It’s the clearest evidence we can offer that we understand how to design, build, and maintain a subscription product end to end, because we do it for our own platform every day.
That experience feeds directly into how we approach client projects: sensible architecture from day one, clean handover documentation, and a build process that doesn’t rely on a single freelancer’s availability or a large agency’s overhead.
Whether your idea is a language-learning app, a fitness habit tracker, or something entirely different that just happens to fit the subscription model, the process is the same: we help you define what the first version actually needs to include, price it clearly, and build it properly. You can read more about how we work on our about page, or get in touch directly via our contact page to talk through your idea.
No. Most of our clients start with just an idea and no coding background. We handle the technical decisions and explain everything in plain terms along the way.
A first version typically takes a few weeks to a few months depending on complexity. AI-accelerated development helps us move faster than a traditional agency, but we’ll give you a realistic timeline once we understand your specific idea.
Yes. Full source code ownership is part of every project. Unlike some agencies or freelancers, we don’t retain rights or lock you into using our hosting to keep your own product running.
Many clients move onto one of our ongoing support plans, starting from £797/month for platform-style products, which covers hosting oversight, monitoring, and continued feature development as your user base grows.
Image via Pixabay
Tell us what you need — we'll come back with a quote within 24 hours.
Thank you for your enquiry. We'll review your requirements and come back to you with a proposal within 24 hours.
Leave your details and we'll call you back at a time that suits you.
We've received your request and will call you back at your preferred time. If it's urgent, email us at info@bydesignuk.co.uk