MVP vs Prototype: What's the Difference? A Founder's Guide
"We built a prototype with Lovable/v0/Cursor. Now what?" We hear this weekly. The answer depends on understanding what you actually have—and what you actually need.
The One-Line Difference
A prototype proves your idea can work. An MVP proves customers will pay for it. One is a demonstration. The other is a business.
Prototype: What It Is (and Isn't)
A prototype is a working model that demonstrates core functionality. It answers: "Can this be built?" and "Does this feel right?"
What Prototypes Include
- Core user flows (happy path only)
- Basic UI that shows the concept
- Hardcoded data (no real database)
- Works in demo conditions
What Prototypes DON'T Include
- User authentication or accounts
- Payment processing
- Error handling for edge cases
- Security hardening
- Scalable infrastructure
- Real data persistence
- Email/notification systems
- Admin panels or analytics
MVP: The Business-Ready Version
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is production software that real customers can use and pay for. It answers: "Will people actually buy this?"
What MVPs Include
- Secure user authentication
- Payment processing (Stripe, etc.)
- Persistent data storage
- Error handling and recovery
- Security best practices
- Scalable to hundreds/thousands of users
- Analytics and monitoring
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Prototype | MVP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Validate idea/UX | Validate business |
| Users | Demo audience | Paying customers |
| Timeline | Days to 1 week | 4-8 weeks |
| Cost | $0-5K | $15K-75K |
| Auth | None/fake | Full auth system |
| Payments | None | Stripe integration |
| Data | Hardcoded | Real database |
| Scaling | Breaks easily | Handles load |
| Security | None | Production-grade |
| Revenue | $0 | From day 1 |
When to Build Each
Build a Prototype When:
- You're still exploring ideas
- You need investor demos
- You want to test UX with users
- You're unsure about core features
- Budget is under $5K
Build an MVP When:
- You've validated the idea
- You have customers waiting
- You need to charge money
- Investors want traction
- You're ready to launch
The "Prototype Trap": Why Many Founders Get Stuck
AI tools like Lovable, v0, and Cursor have made prototyping incredibly easy. You can have a working demo in hours. But this creates a dangerous illusion:
The Trap:
"My prototype works, so I'm 80% done, right?"
The Reality:
You're maybe 20% done. The remaining 80% is the hard part: auth, payments, security, error handling, edge cases, infrastructure, monitoring, and all the things that turn a demo into a product people can actually use and pay for.
We call this the "20% problem"—AI handles the easy 80% beautifully, but the critical 20% that makes software production-ready requires experienced engineers.
Converting Prototype to MVP: What's Actually Involved
If you have a prototype and want to turn it into an MVP, here's what needs to happen:
Architecture Review
Evaluate what can be salvaged vs. what needs rebuilding. Sometimes it's faster to start fresh.
Database Design
Proper schema, relationships, migrations, and indexing for performance.
Authentication System
Secure login, password reset, session management, OAuth integrations.
Payment Integration
Stripe setup, subscription handling, invoicing, tax compliance.
Error Handling
Graceful failures, retry logic, user-friendly error messages.
Security Hardening
Input validation, CSRF protection, rate limiting, secure headers.
Infrastructure Setup
Production hosting, CDN, monitoring, logging, backups.
Testing & QA
Unit tests, integration tests, cross-browser testing, mobile testing.
The Bottom Line
Prototypes and MVPs serve different purposes. A prototype proves your idea; an MVP proves your business. Understanding the difference saves you from the trap of thinking you're almost done when you've barely started.
If you have customers waiting and need to generate revenue, you need an MVP. If you're still validating the idea, a prototype is fine. Just don't confuse one for the other.
Ready to Go From Prototype to MVP?
We specialize in turning prototypes into production software. 4-week delivery, fixed pricing, 50% back guarantee.