PoC vs. Prototype vs. MVP: What’s the difference?
Last updated: November 30, 2022 Read in fullscreen view
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A proof of concept, prototype, and MVP are different stages in product development. A PoC and a prototype are used at the pre-product stage and require minimal-to-medium investment.
With MVP development, you enter a product stage with core functionalities and features to see how the market receives your idea. Building an MVP requires more time and money than creating a PoC or prototype.
A PoC addresses the question of idea feasibility, tests the technical aspects, and reduces risk in further software development. In most cases, it’s an internal project and isn’t the best option for showcasing your idea to investors. If you want to demonstrate how your product will look or function without developing it, a prototype is your best option.
A prototype lacks the business logic of your product but demonstrates its UI/UX or particular functionality. It can be shipped to a focus group for initial feedback and lets you discover perceptions of the general concept and find gaps in the flow. It’s also a perfect option to gain investor traction and secure funding for further product development.
A minimum viable product is a functional product with primary features that best demonstrate your business concept. It’s not a full-fledged product yet, but you can use it to collect user analytics and add or refine features in subsequent iterations.
Both PoC and MVP involve development and call for solid technical expertise, while building a prototype may simply require good designer skills.
Developing an MVP is a general recommendation for all startups while building a PoC and prototype are optional. For instance, if a project doesn’t require feasibility testing, you don’t need to make a PoC. Creating prototypes is almost always beneficial for a startup, but in some cases, like for very small projects, it may be excessive.
Comparison: MVP vs Prototype vs Proof of Concept
Three considered strategies have not only different purposes, but different parameters. Here is a clear illustration:
| SPECIFICATION | POC | PROTOTYPING | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answers the Question | Is my idea technically feasible? | How will my product look like and be used? | Will my product be viable? |
| User Interaction and Target Audience | Is meant to be used internally | Shows the user how the product will look like. The target audiences are usually the stakeholders | Gives a user an opportunity to test a product. The target audience is a pre-selected group of potential customers |
| Risk Evaluation | Reduces a risk of a technical problem during development | Reduces a risk of user dissatisfaction with the product workflow | Reduces risks of losing more time and resources on development |
| Main Purpose | To identify a technical feasibility of the idea | To visualize a product and show it to stakeholders | To provide a short-form functional version of the product that can be launched on the market |
| Technical Resources Investment | Needs some investment | Needs a minimum investment of technical resources | Needs relatively high technical resources investment |
| Cost-Effectiveness | Allows to get an internal funding with a small budget | Needs a minimum budget | Needs an estimated budget and allows to find an investor |
| Salability | Is not meant to bring revenue | Is not meant to bring revenue | Can bring revenue via the early customers’ purchases |
| Further Use | Can be used for an MVP development | If it includes UI design, can be used in development | Can be extended to the full version of the product |
How to Pick the Best Approach for Your Startup?
Proof of concept, prototyping, and MVP development aren’t interchangeable approaches. As we mentioned, each is applied at a different stage of the product development lifecycle and is appropriate under certain conditions.
But which approach should you start with? Here are quick tips to help you choose the right one.
Start with a PoC when:
- You want to create a unique, revolutionary product
- You need to verify if the idea is technically possible
- You need to decide which technology is more suitable for your product
- You want to share technical knowledge within the team
Start with a prototype when:
- You want to visualize the flow
- You need to secure seed-stage funding
- You want to get preliminary feedback from focus groups
- You have a tight deadline to showcase your idea
Start with an MVP when:
- You want early users to help you assess market reception
- You need to start quickly at a reasonable development cost
- You want to monetize your idea rapidly
- You want to mitigate the risk of failure
Proceeding gradually through all three concepts isn’t a must, but it can help reduce risk and polish your product before it enters the market.
Conclusion
Proof of concept, prototype, and an MVP all serve the same overall aim — to validate your idea. But each does it from a different angle. Choosing the right approach at the outset can help you increase the likelihood that your business will succeed and that you’ll use your resources wisely. In a nutshell:
- You need a PoC to validate the technical capabilities that will realize your idea.
- You need a prototype to showcase your concept with minimum cost and time.
- You need an MVP to check your product's market reception.
If you want to pursue several goals and have a limited time or budget, choosing the right approach may be challenging.
FAQs:
- What is a PoC?
A proof of concept is a small, internal, stand-alone project aimed at validating the feasibility of an idea before diving deep into developing a full-fledged product.
- Is a prototype the same as an MVP?
No, it’s not. A prototype is an early product sample to demonstrate a small part of your idea before it’s fully developed. An MVP is the first version of your product containing core features and released to a limited audience.
- Does a PoC come before an MVP?
A proof of concept usually comes first to prove the feasibility of an idea during project discovery phase. It’s a small, internal project which is rarely reused. If a PoC proves successful, it may be followed by creating a prototype or a minimum viable product.
- How long should it take to develop a PoC?
Developing a PoC usually takes from a few days to a couple of weeks. Since it’s only used for internal purposes, a PoC largely neglects the UI and security and may include hard-coded data, mocked APIs, and basic controls.
- What should you choose: a PoC, a prototype, or an MVP?
Proof of concept, prototyping, and MVP development are different approaches applied at a pre-product or a product stage of software development. Each of them is appropriate under particular conditions. Your choice should depend on your product stage, purpose, and plans.
Via Tech Magic
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