How To Hire a Mobile App Developer: Tips, Prices & Strategies
For example, if your company is based in North America and you hire a freelancer from Eastern Europe, you have a time difference of seven hours. This means that by the time you get to work at 9am, it’s already 4pm in Europe, which is close to the end of their workday.
Here are some pros and cons you need to consider when hiring a company to develop your mobile apps:
Pros of Outsourcing
More time to concentrate on core activities
Improved efficiency
Cost-effective
Access to expert talent
Cons of Outsourcing
Lack of full control
Higher risk of miscommunication
Less flexibility
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Mobile App Developer?
Mobile app developers earn different wages based on several factors, including their developer type, location, experience, and skills.
Platforms to hire freelancers (Source: Kobra SEO)
Toptal
Guru
Upwork
Freelancer
Fiverr
Youteam
Guru
Behance
Platforms to Hire Outsourced Teams
Slingshot
Clutch
QBurst
GoodFirms
IT Firms
99 Firms
Intellectsoft
The sheer volume of app downloads makes it clear that the app industry is more competitive than ever.
Average pay for software developers
Alternatively, you can go to tech events. Tech events are conferences for businesses in the IT and software industries. These events aim to educate, inform, and train B2B and B2C attendees on the latest discoveries, processes, and tools in the industry.
Hiring a freelancer is typically less expensive, and they can be highly specialized. However, they can also be harder to manage. Here are some top pros and cons to consider when hiring freelance developers:
Pros of Freelancers
Cost-effective
More flexibility
Access to expert talent
Easy to find with numerous hiring platforms
Large pool of developers with various skill sets
No need to supply work equipment
Access to talents worldwide
Cons of Freelancers
Complicated onboarding process
Less control over the freelancer and process
Lack of loyalty and long-term commitment
Only suits small-to-medium businesses
Possible language barrier
Higher chances of project abandonment
3. Hire an Outsourced Team
Some application developers may offer more services that aren’t necessary for your app, such as design, project management, etc.
This way, you’ll be able to hire the candidate or team that can get the job done on time and without breaking the bank.
For example, according to the BLS, the average hourly rate for software developers is around $52.50.
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For example, the IT company you’re planning on outsourcing to may give their developers large amounts of creative leeway while you don’t. Or, a freelancer may be used to handling projects on their own while you want them to work in a team setting.
Though these additional services are nice to have, they can often result in higher costs. Depending on the scope of your project, it might be best to look for someone or a team who offers a package consisting of only the services you need.
5. Consider Company Culture
There are more than plenty of qualified freelancers for you to choose from.
You also need to consider the developer’s views on code ownership. This is especially true when hiring freelance app developers or outsourced teams.
Another thing to consider is the number of hours it takes to develop an app. It can take months to build an app. This is because there are different stages, including scoping, UI/UX design, development, testing, and deployment. This could increase overall development costs.
The best way to determine whether they’re a good fit is to do an in-person or video interview. Ask them about their values, goals, typical work processes, etc.
It’s important to note that if you’ve found someone who looks good on paper, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the right person for the job. There are many other things to consider. Below are the six steps you can follow to find the right person (or team) for the job.
1. Ask Your Business Friends or Colleagues For Referrals
Some companies want partial ownership of the code. However, if you own the code, you’re not required to remain dependent on the IT company or individual developer. So, make sure your mobile app developer understands and agrees that the code belongs to you.
Top Sites to Hire Mobile Apps Developers in 2023
You have several options when it comes to hiring a mobile app developer.
1. Hire In-House
A mobile-powered project takes a lot of work. Aside from building APIs, integrating third-party tools, and automating workflows, you must also maintain high levels of software code.
While this option allows you to have more control over the entire development project, it also comes with more expenses. Here’s a list of some of the pros and cons of hiring an in-house mobile app developer:
Pros of In-House Hiring
Higher employee engagement
More loyal to your business
Integrated into your company culture
A better understanding of your business workflow and processes
Complete control over your team
No communication difficulties
Cons of In-House Hiring
Longer hiring process
Full-time salary
Additional benefits, such as a 401(k) plan
Costs of providing work equipment, hardware, and licenses
Limited to local tech talents (if you require an in-office employee)
2. Hire a Freelancer
For example, let’s say you decide to search for a freelancer on Fiverr. You can simply head to the site and search for a “mobile app developer” in the search bar.
Remember, if you’re looking for a developer with specific technology and work capabilities, consider their technology stack and development approach. Also, look at their portfolios and testimonials to get a good idea of what you can expect from them.
Asking the people you know and trust for referrals is a great way to cut candidate hunting time drastically.
Make sure that their specific technical skills match what your project needs.
4. Look at the Additional Services They Offer
Come up with a list of questions that help you understand their development skills and experience. How long did it take for them to complete the project? How well was the app executed? Were they well organized?
If you want to build a quality mobile app that’s able to compete with others in the market, you need a developer with experience. You can gauge whether a developer has experience by looking at their resume, portfolio, and testimonials.
In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to hire a mobile app developer for your company. We’ll look at how much you can expect to pay, your different hiring options, what skills to consider, and more.
When Should You Hire a Mobile App Developer?
Depending on the type of mobile app programmer you hire — which we’ll cover in the next section — some offer post-launch support services.
You need to look at the technologies the app developer candidates specialize in. This way, you can make sure they have the necessary skills for your project.
You can also choose to hire a freelance mobile app developer.
Lastly, you can outsource the development to a professional IT company. Outsourcing to an IT company means you get access to people who are highly skilled in mobile app development and who have a proven track record.
If you’re looking for a local tech conference, simply type “tech event + [your location]” into Google’s search box and see what comes up. Alternatively, you can use social media platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn to find events.
6 Steps to Hire Mobile App Developers
It’s good to consider those with at least a few years of experience. While it is possible for graduates to be highly skilled, they may not be as equipped to deal with problems when they arise since they haven’t been in the industry for long.
Code Ownership Views
Having a mobile app developer allows your other team members to focus on their respective duties.
The freelance market has grown tremendously over the past few years. There were 70.4 million freelancers in the US in 2022, with this number being projected to grow to over 90 million by 2028.
However, this can also mean you must dedicate additional time to managing the outsourced team. You also heavily rely on an outside company — putting you at their mercy.
Technology is always changing and evolving.
Searching for a mobile app developer on Fiverr
Once you have a list of candidates, you can review their portfolios and testimonials individually. It’s vital to look at what their past clients have to say.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll get to source, hand-pick, and hire a mobile app developer that’ll suit your project and company.
The most common option is hiring an app developer as part of your in-house team. If you already have a development team but need an individual to focus on mobile apps specifically, you can fill the labor gap by sourcing and hiring someone for this specific role.
Hiring a mobile app developer can be tricky — especially if you don’t know where to begin or what to expect.
It’s always best to consider hiring someone on your side of the world. This way, you can easily arrange specific times to meet on a call or to collaborate.
Summary
A mobile app developer’s previous experience, technical expertise, and skills will be extremely useful throughout the lifecycle of your development project.
Android developers who live in certain states, including Oregon, California, and New York, earn 15%–24% more than average. And those who live in Utah, Kentucky, and Arkansas, make 25% less than average.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way let’s dive into how you can hire a mobile apps developer.
Before hiring an app developer, you need to ensure it logically makes sense and that you have the necessary communication tools to make it work.
This makes hiring a mobile app developer a no-brainer. Not only will they save your company time and money, but they’ll also offer several additional benefits.
More Focused Efforts
This will indicate whether they’ll be able to work well with your in-house team and follow the correct processes. It’ll also tell you whether they can finish the project in your desired timeframe so you can set appropriate deadlines and milestones.
Use of Technologies
If you didn’t manage to get referrals from your friends or colleagues, or they simply weren’t a good fit, the next best thing is to research hiring platforms. The platforms mentioned above are great places to source candidates.
The sites you choose to hire the developer through will ultimately depend on whether you choose the in-house, freelance, or outsourced option.
With 255 billion mobile apps downloaded in 2022 (up 80% from 2016), it’s clear that consumers’ need for applications is increasing.
Number of mobile app downloads worldwide from 2016 to 2022 (Source: Statista)
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While the mobile app developer won’t be responsible for all of these stages, they’ll be involved in a big part of the project and may even be needed to troubleshoot some technical difficulties.
What To Consider When Hiring a Mobile App Developer
