Quick answer: multiply the hours it would take you to build the feature by what an hour of your time is worth. If that’s more than the plugin’s price, buying is cheaper.
Example: a feature takes you 40 hours. Even at a modest $15 per hour, that’s $600 of your time. A $50 plugin pays for itself many times over.
Then check the hidden costs on both sides (below) before deciding.
Step 1: Estimate the real build time
Most developers underestimate this. Count all of it:
- building the basic version,
- handling the edge cases you’ll only find later,
- making it work in a packaged build, not just in the editor,
- fixing it when you update to a new engine version,
- writing enough notes that future you understands it.
A good rule of thumb: whatever you first estimate, double it.
Step 2: Put a value on your time
Even if you’re not paid by the hour, your time has a cost. Every week spent rebuilding something that already exists is a week not spent on your game’s actual content.
If you’re not sure, use what you’d earn doing paid work, or simply ask: *”Would I rather pay this price or lose these weeks?”*
Step 3: Compare
| Build it | Buy a plugin | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Your time | The price |
| Time to working feature | Days to months | Hours to days |
| Engine updates | You fix it | Usually the seller updates it |
| Bugs and edge cases | You find them | Often already found by other users |
| Fits your game exactly | Yes | Mostly |
| You learn how it works | Yes | Partly, from the source if included |
Hidden costs of buying
- Learning the plugin. Budget a few hours to read the docs and try the examples.
- Engine version support. Check it supports your engine version and the platforms you ship on.
- Abandoned plugins. Look at the update history. A plugin that hasn’t been updated in a long time may block your engine upgrades.
- Licence. Check whether the licence covers your team size and commercial use.
Hidden costs of building
- Maintenance forever. Every engine update can break it.
- Opportunity cost. Time spent on infrastructure isn’t spent on gameplay, art or marketing.
- Motivation. Long technical side quests are where many solo projects stall.
When building still wins
- It’s the heart of your game, the thing that makes it different.
- No plugin fits, and bending one would take longer than building.
- You’re learning, and building it is the point.
Ways to save money on plugins
- Wait for seasonal sales on Fab and on sellers’ own stores.
- Check whether a seller offers bundles of plugins you’d use together.
- Use free monthly content on Fab for assets you don’t need to be unique.
- Ask sellers about upgrade pricing if you already own an older version.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to make my own tools?
Only if your time is free and you’d enjoy it. For most systems that aren’t core to your game, a plugin is cheaper once you count your hours.
What if the plugin doesn’t do exactly what I need?
Check if it includes source code or extension points. Often you can buy the 90% and build the last 10% yourself.
How do I know a plugin is good before buying?
Look at the documentation, update history, supported engine versions, example projects and how the seller answers questions.
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See what’s already built. Our Unreal Engine plugins cover MIDI and music games, VST audio, UMG tools and cinematics, so you don’t have to rebuild them. Check Deals and Upgrades for current offers.