Some work doesn't fit a fixed-price project or a monthly retainer. With Codersarts prepaid developer hours, you buy a block of engineering time in advance and use it on any tasks you choose: bug fixes, small features, server setup, testing, security or AI fixes. Every task starts with an estimate you approve, time is logged per task, and you get a timesheet with every delivery, so you always know exactly where your hours went.
Some work doesn't fit a fixed-price project or a monthly retainer: a bug to fix this week, a server to set up next week, tests to add after that. Prepaid developer hours give you a block of Codersarts engineering time to use whenever you need it, at a lower hourly rate, with an estimate before every task and a timesheet after it.
Packs start at 10 hours for $290. You approve every task before work starts, and you always see exactly where your hours went.
What Are Prepaid Developer Hours?
Prepaid developer hours are a block of engineering time you buy in advance and use on any tasks you choose, over a set period. Each task gets an estimate you approve, time is logged against that task, and the hours used are deducted from your balance, so you get flexible help with a fixed, predictable budget.
It's the simplest way to have an engineering team on call without hiring, committing to a monthly retainer, or scoping every small job as a separate project.
How It Works
Buy a pack. Choose 10, 20 or 40 hours and pay by Stripe or international bank transfer.
Send a task. Describe the bug, feature or setup you need, with access or files.
Get an estimate. An engineer reviews it and sends an estimate in hours, usually within one working day.
Approve. Nothing starts until you approve. Tasks never go over the estimate without your OK.
We do the work. The engineer delivers, with a short note on what changed.
See the timesheet. Every task shows time logged, and your remaining balance updates.
Hour Packs and Pricing
Pack | Price | Effective rate | Valid for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10 hours | $290 | $29 per hour | 3 months | A few fixes or one small setup |
20 hours | $540 | $27 per hour | 6 months | Regular fixes and small features |
40 hours | $1,000 | $25 per hour | 12 months | Ongoing improvements across several areas |
Need more than 40 hours a month? A retainer or dedicated developer usually costs less. Top up any pack at any time at the same rate.
How You Know Exactly What You Paid For
Paying for hours only works if you can see the hours. Every pack includes:
An estimate before every task. You approve the hours before any work starts.
Time logged per task. Engineers log time against your task in 15-minute increments.
A timesheet with every delivery. Who worked on it, for how long, and what was done.
A running balance. You always know how many hours you have left.
No silent overruns. If a task needs more time than estimated, we stop and ask first.
A monthly statement. All tasks, hours and remaining balance in one place.
What You Can Use Hours For
Work | Examples | Related |
|---|---|---|
Bug fixes | Broken features, errors, wrong calculations, timezone issues | |
Small features | New screens, API endpoints, admin tools, integrations | |
Cloud and DevOps | Server setup on Hetzner, AWS or DigitalOcean, CI/CD, domains and SSL | |
Testing | Playwright end-to-end tests, regression checks before release | |
Performance | Slow pages, slow queries, caching, load testing | |
Security | Access control fixes, leaked keys, dependency upgrades | |
Database | Schema changes, moving browser data into the database, migrations | |
AI and LLM | Prompt fixes, RAG issues, model and API integration | |
Code review | Second opinions on pull requests and architecture |
Who Uses Developer Hour Packs
Founders with a live product and a steady trickle of fixes
Startups between funding rounds who need help without hiring
Small teams that need specialist skills for a few hours at a time
Agencies that need extra capacity for client work
Product owners who want predictable spend with full visibility
Colleges and institutions running software they need maintained
Prepaid Hours vs Other Ways to Work With Us
Model | Commitment | How you pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Prepaid developer hours | One pack, used over months | Upfront, deducted per task | Mixed small tasks with a fixed budget |
One task | Fixed price per task | One clearly defined job | |
None | Per task, when needed | Occasional one-off requests | |
Usually monthly | Hours worked, invoiced monthly | Evolving projects with sprints | |
Monthly | Fixed monthly fee for reserved hours | Steady ongoing work every month |
Pack Rules in Plain Terms
Hours can be used for any engineering role: frontend, backend, mobile, DevOps, QA, data or AI
Time is logged in 15-minute increments, with no minimum per task
Hours stay valid for 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on the pack
Top up at any time; new hours join your balance at the same rate
Third-party costs such as cloud, domains or API usage are paid by you directly
Large projects are quoted separately, so packs stay for flexible work
Example: How a 20-Hour Pack Gets Used
An illustrative example of a typical month for a startup with a live web app:
Task | Estimate | Logged |
|---|---|---|
Fix daily streak bonus not triggering | 2 hours | 1.75 hours |
Set up a Hetzner server with SSL and backups | 5 hours | 4.5 hours |
Add Playwright tests for the main user flows | 8 hours | 8 hours |
Move history data from browser storage to the database | 4 hours | 3.75 hours |
Total used: 18 hours. Remaining balance: 2 hours, carried forward for the next fix.
What We Need From You
A short description of each task, with screenshots or error messages where helpful
Access to the repository, server or tools involved
A test environment if you have one
One contact person who approves estimates
Why Codersarts
Delivering software for clients worldwide since 2018
A managed in-house engineering team, not a freelancer marketplace
Engineers across web, mobile, cloud, data, AI and security, so one pack covers many kinds of work
Full transparency: estimates, timesheets and balance on every task
You own all code and work delivered
Frequently Asked Questions
What are prepaid developer hours?
A block of engineering hours you buy in advance and use on any tasks over a set period. Each task gets an approved estimate, and the hours used are deducted from your balance.
How do I know the hours were really worked?
Every task has an estimate you approve, time is logged per task in 15-minute increments, and you get a timesheet with each delivery plus a monthly statement.
What happens if a task takes longer than estimated?
We stop and ask before going over. You can approve more time, change the scope or stop.
Do unused hours expire?
Hours stay valid for 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on the pack. Top-ups add to your balance.
Can I use hours for different kinds of work?
Yes. One pack can cover bug fixes, DevOps, testing, AI fixes, security and more.
How do I pay?
By Stripe or international bank transfer.
Is this cheaper than paying per task?
Usually, yes. Packs have a lower hourly rate, and small tasks don't need separate quotes.
When should I choose a retainer instead?
If you consistently need more than about 40 hours a month, a retainer or dedicated developer usually costs less.
Get an Engineering Team on Call
Buy a pack, send your first task, and get an estimate within one working day.