Two development quotes may both list accounts, reports and an admin area, yet differ greatly in price. That does not automatically make one too expensive. One team may have priced only new features while another included data preparation, testing and release work.
The same feature name can hide different work
Accounts can mean basic email sign-in, or organisations, roles and integration with an existing sign-in system. Reports can mean a fixed export, or combining and reconciling data from several systems. Matching names do not mean matching scope.
Ask each team how far the work goes and what they assume is already in place. That is more useful than negotiating the total before the proposals describe the same job.
Look beyond the screens
Workflows, data migration, permissions, integrations, testing and launch all change the scope. A new 'awaiting documents' status may look like one option on a screen, but it can affect who sends a case back, when notifications go out, how reports are calculated and how old cases appear.
When the system connects to another provider, its interfaces, test environment and permissions matter too. If they have not been checked yet, the estimate should make those assumptions visible.
Read what is and is not included
Check who handles interface design, old data, third-party charges, deployment and fixes after launch. Labels such as 'UI/UX included' or 'maintenance included' need enough detail to avoid different expectations later.
Look at how unknowns are handled. If a new business rule appears during development, is it within scope or estimated separately? A clear change process helps both sides make that decision.
Give both teams the same scenario
Choose an important task and ask both teams to walk through it. For example: a store requests replenishment; how does head office review it, how does the warehouse receive it, and who corrects an error? The answers show whether the teams priced the same workflow and data handling.
Price matters, but first make sure the proposals describe the same system and the same work. Only then can you compare cost, timing and the way the teams will work with you.