People compare the two prices and assume Fractional CTO is On-Call Tech with more hours. It is not. $249/month is someone to turn to when technical questions, software decisions, or problems come up. Starting at $3,000/month is someone to guide technology decisions and strategy. Different job. Different level of involvement.
| On-Call Tech | Fractional CTO | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $249/month | Starting at $3,000/month |
| Core job | Someone to turn to for technical help | Someone to guide decisions and strategy |
| Typical time | Questions as they come up | Up to 10 dedicated hours / month to start |
| Meetings | As needed, not a standing leadership seat | Monthly strategy meeting |
| Build work | Quoted separately | Quoted separately |
| Unlimited hours | No | No |
Choose On-Call Tech if
- You need someone knowledgeable to email when something breaks or you are choosing software.
- You want a second opinion before you buy, or before you trust a ChatGPT plan.
- You occasionally need a project quoted — not a technology roadmap owned.
Start here: Your On-Call Tech Person.
Choose Fractional CTO if
- Technology decisions are getting expensive and you need a point of view at the leadership level.
- You are working with outside developers or an agency and want independent oversight.
- You need a roadmap, architecture review, and someone to help prioritize investments.
Start here: Fractional CTO. Foundation engagements are scoped before they begin.
