---
title: "Prototype vs MVP"
description: "A prototype shows how something could work so people can react to it; a minimum viable product actually works for real users with real data and delivers the core outcome. Use a prototype to learn what to build, and an MVP to learn whether people keep using it."
url: https://lidvizion.ai/answers/prototype-vs-mvp/
site: Lid Vizion
index: https://lidvizion.ai/llms.txt
---

[Direct answers](https://lidvizion.ai/answers/)

# What is the difference between a prototype and a minimum viable product?

A prototype shows how something could work so people can react to it; a minimum viable product actually works for real users with real data and delivers the core outcome. Use a prototype to learn what to build, and an MVP to learn whether people keep using it.

## What this means in practice

- Prototypes can be clickable mock-ups or rough demos and are meant to be thrown away.
- An MVP must be reliable enough for real use, even if it does very little.
- Skipping the prototype often means building the wrong thing well.
- Skipping the MVP and building everything delays the only feedback that matters.

## How Lid Vizion approaches it

We start with the business decision and operating context, define ownership and measurable milestones, then use configuration, integrations, automation, or custom software only where each earns its place.

## See it as a workflow

- [From product idea to first release](https://lidvizion.ai/use-cases/product-idea-to-first-release/): Turn an internal idea or customer request into a scoped first release with decision gates, instead of an open-ended build.

## More on Product & milestone delivery

- [How does a team know when a first product release or MVP is ready to launch?](https://lidvizion.ai/answers/how-to-know-when-a-first-release-is-ready/)
- [How should a small team write a product requirements document?](https://lidvizion.ai/answers/how-to-write-a-product-requirements-document/)
- [How should a company prioritize its product roadmap?](https://lidvizion.ai/answers/how-to-prioritize-a-product-roadmap/)

[Compare services](https://lidvizion.ai/services/) · [Use a planning tool](https://lidvizion.ai/tools/) · [Explore workflow use cases](https://lidvizion.ai/use-cases/) · [More direct answers](https://lidvizion.ai/answers/)

Talk it through

## Have a version of this question inside your company?

Bring the decision, the constraints, and what a good outcome looks like.

[Talk through the decision](https://lidvizion.ai/contact/?need=milestone-delivery&from=%2Fanswers%2Fprototype-vs-mvp%2F#write) · [Book a call](https://calendar.app.google/bB26LdA9e2gmGFp69)