Update Why Company is Preferable Over Freelancers for Fitness App Development?

These days, as people become more health-conscious, health and fitness apps have started gaining ground swiftly. As a result, we witness a surge in the number of fitness apps on both Google Play and App Store that further intensifies the competition. Any newcomer needs to deal with such a competitive scenario to make the app successful.

As an entrepreneur, your journey to make your health and fitness app stand out from the crowd starts with taking a big strategic decision- hire professionals to transform your creative idea into an impressive app. Whether Android app developers or iOS app developers- your decision of hiring professionals is crucial in a sense that a customized app can have a significant impact on your business.

While selecting professionals to build a health and fitness app, you can consider two options: Freelancers and mobile application development company. You can get a plethora of information about pros and cons in favor of either freelance developers or a development company, but here we stick to the points beneficial for your business when you decide to come up with a feature-rich app.

Key Summary

• Overview: The article, likely published by InApps Technology in 2022, discusses why businesses should choose app development companies over freelancers for fitness app development, highlighting expertise, scalability, and reliability.

• Key Points:
  • Fitness App Market:
    • In 2022, the fitness app market was valued at ~$1.5 billion, driven by demand for health and wellness solutions post-COVID.
    • Popular features: Workout tracking, nutrition plans, wearables integration, and live coaching.
  • Why Choose an App Development Company?:
    • Expertise and Specialization:
      • Companies like InApps offer multidisciplinary teams (developers, designers, QA, DevOps) with expertise in fitness app tech (e.g., Flutter, React Native, wearables APIs).
      • Freelancers often lack breadth for complex features like AR workouts or AI-driven plans.
    • Scalability:
      • Companies provide flexible team sizes, scaling up/down as needed.
      • Freelancers are limited by individual capacity, risking delays for large projects.
    • Reliability and Support:
      • Companies ensure consistent delivery with project managers, Agile workflows (Scrum), and post-launch maintenance.
      • Freelancers may lack accountability or availability for ongoing support.
    • Quality Assurance:
      • Companies conduct rigorous testing (e.g., Selenium, Appium) across devices and OS (iOS, Android).
      • Freelancers may skip comprehensive QA, leading to bugs or poor UX.
    • Cost-Effectiveness:
      • Companies in tech hubs like Vietnam (e.g., InApps) offer rates ($20-$40/hour) lower than U.S./EU freelancers ($50-$100/hour).
      • Structured workflows reduce rework and hidden costs.
  • Fitness App Features (Likely Highlighted):
    • Workout Tracking: Real-time exercise logging with wearables (e.g., Fitbit, Apple Watch).
    • Nutrition Planning: AI-driven meal suggestions, calorie tracking.
    • Live Streaming: Video workouts or coaching via WebRTC.
    • Gamification: Challenges, badges, and leaderboards to boost engagement.
    • Social Integration: Share progress on Instagram, Strava, or community forums.
    • Security: Encryption and GDPR compliance for health data.
  • Development Process:
    • Tech Stack:
      • Frontend: Flutter, React Native for cross-platform apps.
      • Backend: Node.js, Firebase for real-time APIs; MongoDB for data.
      • Cloud: AWS, Google Cloud for scalability.
    • Process: Agile sprints, prototyping (Figma), CI/CD (GitHub Actions), and testing.
    • Integration: APIs for wearables (HealthKit, Google Fit), payment gateways (Stripe).
  • Why Companies Excel:
    • Team Synergy: Designers, developers, and QA collaborate for cohesive apps.
    • Project Management: Dedicated managers ensure timelines and budgets.
    • Experience: Companies like InApps have portfolios in fitness, e-commerce, and healthtech.
  • Challenges with Freelancers:
    • Limited expertise in complex features (e.g., AR, AI).
    • Risk of abandonment or inconsistent communication.
    • Lack of formal testing or long-term support.
  • 2022 Trends:
    • Surge in fitness apps with AR workouts and wearables integration.
    • Growth of subscription-based models for recurring revenue.
    • Increased focus on mental wellness features (e.g., meditation, mood tracking).
    • Rise of outsourcing to Vietnam for cost-effective, skilled teams.
• Use Cases:
  • Startups building fitness apps with live coaching features.
  • Gym chains developing branded apps for member engagement.
  • Healthtech firms integrating wearables for personalized plans.
• Conclusion: In 2022, as likely outlined by InApps Technology, app development companies are preferable over freelancers for fitness apps due to their expertise, scalability, and reliable workflows, offering cost-effective, high-quality solutions in a competitive market.
  

Let us compare freelancers and development company from a business viewpoint:

Cost

When you decide to come up with an app, the first and foremost factor you should consider is the cost. Here, you may find that the charge of most freelancers is lower as compared to the software development company. Even though professional and experienced freelancers take higher hourly rate, you can still save 20 to 30 percent in the development cost. But then, your project’s confidentiality and the app quality are at stake.

On the other hand, mobile app development companies are a bit costlier than freelancers but they strive to develop high-quality products to get a positive testimonial and strengthen their presence in the market.

Flexibility

Freelancers can set their schedules to offer you more flexibility and rapid development. They can work all the time to get your work done speedily. They do not have any binding of time and place.

The development company can offer you less flexibility as compared to freelancers, but they offer an app development process in a more organized way. They also offer a flexible engagement model to hire the best talent for your project.

Availability

Today, several portals are available to find out the freelancers or independent app developers. All you need to agree to the terms, and they will start work on your project. But here, you cannot expect timely order completion with desired features. The reputed mobile app development services provider ensures timely project completion with extensive testing and integration of customized features.

Development Trends

The app development company remains in touch with app development as well as market trends for various industry sectors. If you want a futuristic fitness app with the inclusion of advanced features, then you should opt for a company. Freelancers seldom stay updated with technological advancements, and at times, they may get failed to read the market requirements for the app.

End-to-end Solutions

Your health and fitness app also requires promotional efforts to get succeed among tens of hundreds of similar apps. Now, freelance app developers have a necessary expertise to develop a customized app. But, the company can offer you end-to-end app solutions ranging from development to deployment and modification to marketing. You can get benefits from dedicated development and marketing professionals when you choose a company as your app development partner.

Real-time Updates and Support

When you hire freelancers for an app project, chances are fairly high that your app will miss the real-time updates and technical assistance. When you hire a company, you can have an agreement for a 24/7 support along with updates and maintenance.

Experience

You know it very well that a company has many hours of collective experience in developing bespoke apps thanks to in-house development teams. Also, the team offers a blend of experienced and enthusiastic developers, which is impossible in the case of freelance developers.

What’s more, the company has developed different apps across various industry verticals, and you may also get a better idea about the features of fitness apps as the company may have worked on the similar app project.

Skill set

The diverse skill set is another strength of an app development company. Either you want a website related to your fitness app, or a software solution for your business, you can get every service under one roof. In other words, all your business needs can be addressed efficiently by the company. If you have opted for a freelancer, you need to find different professionals to serve various objectives, and it is always difficult to manage such freelance professionals.

It is fair to mention that the development company has an upper hand over freelancers when it comes to building a tailored and industry-standard app for your fitness-related business.

Summing Up

If you have short-term objectives without many expectations from your app, you can opt for freelancers. But, if you want to make the most of thriving mobile technology with a feature-rich fitness app, then a mobile app development company can be your best bet.

At Solution Analysts, our expert team of business consultants and experienced app developers can assist you to get an engaging fitness app from scratch. Our mobile app developers have built Kaa-Yaa, a unique personal trainer app. Let us discuss your amazing app idea and make an astonishing app for your business.