HIRING AN APP DEVELOPER FOR YOUR PROJECT: HOW TO CHOOSE RIGHT?

When deciding to build an app, how to hire an App Developer is one of the first questions. Whether you are starting a business or want to digitize your current business, you absolutely need to hire an app developer to achieve your business goals.

Key Summary

This article from InApps.net provides a detailed guide on hiring app developers, outlining five hiring options, common mistakes to avoid, cost factors, and a checklist for success. It emphasizes the importance of selecting the right developer to achieve business goals through mobile app development. Key points include:

• Five Options to Hire App Developers:
  • In-House Team: Offers full control and daily collaboration but is costly and time-consuming due to expenses like office space, equipment, and taxes. A typical team includes 5–7 roles (e.g., QA engineers, project managers, iOS/Android developers, back-end developers, UI/UX designers).
  • Local Team: Hiring from a local company saves organizational time but remains expensive, with US developer rates at $100–$150/hour, potentially reaching $100,000 for small projects.
  • Freelance Developers: Affordable via platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, but suitable only for short-term, simple tasks. Risks include communication gaps, lack of turnkey solutions, unreliable project management, and potential security issues (e.g., code misuse or ghosting).
  • Low-Price Companies: Offer cheap services by employing low-wage hobbyists or graduates, often resulting in poor code quality and performance. Caution is advised to avoid unreliable suppliers.
  • Offshore Dedicated Development Company: Provides comprehensive services (concept to maintenance) at competitive rates (e.g., $20,000/project in Vietnam vs. higher US costs). Reputable firms like InApps offer experienced teams, transparency, and long-term support.
• Seven Mistakes to Avoid:
  • Choosing the cheapest option, risking low-quality results.
  • Assuming expensive developers guarantee success.
  • Hiring developers unfamiliar with your business model or market segment.
  • Not verifying developers’ experience with published apps (e.g., App Store presence).
  • Starting coding without a discovery phase (market analysis, functional specs).
  • Lacking a defined budget or timeline, leading to inefficiencies.
  • Ignoring post-launch support for scalability and bug fixes.
• Cost Factors for Hiring App Developers:
  • Variables: Location, technologies used, developer skills/experience, working model, project complexity, and app type.
  • InApps Rates: Offshore developers cost $2,800–$4,000/month, depending on role, offering significant savings compared to US rates.
  • Considerations: Balance cost with quality, ensuring infrastructure and support are included in quotes.
• Checklist for Successful Hiring:
  • Clearly define project needs, requirements, and priorities.
  • Review portfolios, client feedback, and references (e.g., via Clutch, LinkedIn).
  • Evaluate the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), including support/maintenance.
  • Address security concerns during development.
  • Analyze initial proposals for budget, timeline, and terms alignment.
  • Seek reliable, long-term partners like InApps for ongoing collaboration.
• Why Choose InApps?:
  • Over 10 years of experience in mobile app development across industries (healthcare, gaming, payment, etc.).
  • Reduces costs by up to 70% while maintaining high quality.
  • 80% of developers are proficient in English; 90% have over 5 years of experience.
  • Employs Agile methodologies, ensuring transparency and predictability.
  • Proven track record with startups and SMEs, supported by case studies.
  • Offers end-to-end services, from ideation to post-launch support.
• Finding Developers:
  • Use recommendations, social media (LinkedIn, Reddit), or review platforms (Clutch, GoodFirms, Softwareworld, Themanifest).
  • Specify project details to attract suitable candidates.

How to hire an app developer: 5 Options to Find the best one

There are several ways to find the perfect candidate. First, you can search for app developers through recommendations and personal contacts, or you can search for them on social media such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or even Reddit. Take advantage of app developer lists on reputed review platforms such as Clutch, GoodFirms, Softwareworld and Themanifest.

Let us outline the 5 options you can choose to start a new project with a team of the best talented developers.

1. Hiring an in-house team

The first option is to hire your own application developers. Depending on the project requirements, hiring an app developer may not be enough. The application development team structure usually consists of 5-7 professionals such as QA engineers, project managers, iOS and/or Android mobile application developers, back-end developers (back-end), and UX/UI designers to cover the needs of excellent development Appendices to all areas.

The advantage is that you can fully control the app development process and maintain close communication and collaboration every day. On the contrary, it is the most expensive and time-consuming way because of the additional costs of office space, equipment, and taxes, as well as the organization of the personnel process and the development process itself.

How to hire app developers

Read more: Hidden costs of mobile app development

2. Hiring a local team

Another option that can actually save you a lot of time during the organization process is to hire an app developer from a local company. Although this option is less costly, it still requires a high investment. In the United States, the cost of application developers ranges from $100 to $150 per hour. Double the number of application experts, and for a small application project, the final bill may be about $100,000.

3. Hiring a freelance app developer

If you need to hire an app developer, another option you can choose is to join various online platforms and websites, such as Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, etc. These resources are usually the most affordable application development services, which is the only advantage in this category.

It is recommended that you only hire independent application developers for short-term or simple tasks. The biggest problem is the huge communication gap between independent application developers and customers. All management and subsequent processes are the responsibility of the client.

It is generally recommended to always check reviews, technical tests, and completed projects, although many of them may have non-existent portfolios and tests. Don’t always display an image wider than the developer’s ability.

If you are considering hiring application developers from freelance websites, keep in mind that sometimes ghost developers are hidden behind low prices. There are potential risks associated with uncertainty and security because these developers sometimes disappear suddenly without any explanation. Weaknesses of hiring app developers in this way:

• Freelancers are unlikely to provide turnkey application solutions because they are mainly focused on the technical execution of tasks.
• Freelancers do not follow application development methods and are not involved in their applications Use of project management tools in project planning.
• Freelancers should be trusted to ensure that they will not use your application code, distribute materials, or take any other improper behavior.

Finally, if you are not satisfied with the final result, you will have to restart the process and hire an app developer again. In most cases, the code quality may not be high and cannot be reused. Cheap and can be very resource-intensive.

4. Hiring a Low-price company

With the growth of the global IT market, many suspicious development companies have emerged. These teams usually provide low-cost application development services. How can they manage?

How to find the right app developer

Most of these companies pay lower wages to their employees. And use hobbyists or college graduates as cheap application developers for your coding services. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the code quality and performance of your project are poor. Think twice before hiring this kind of service. Identifying a trustworthy and excellent supplier to develop your application is very essential.

5. Hiring an offshore dedicated app development company

Last but not least, you can turn to a dedicated development team like InApps. An offshore software development company provides a full range of services, from finalizing the concept of an application project to launching the application, to further support and maintenance.

Besides, depending on the region, these teams can have a very good correlation between the price and quality. For example, you can save thousands of dollars (only $20000/project) by hiring a developer in Vietnam in comparison to the price of hiring one in the United States.

In addition, these companies typically have 10 years of experience in developers who outsource application development to internal employees. Due to fierce competition, they value your reputation, brand and customers.

How to hire a app developer

Don’t make these 7 Mistakes When Hiring an App Developer

There are many factors that negatively affect the success of the final application. Let us show you how to avoid the common mistakes when hiring application developers who will not bring value to your project.

1. Choosing the cheapest option

Quality does not go hand in hand with a low price. Seasoned and skilled app developers definitely value their work and can’t just ask for $ 5 an hour. You can get in stuck with a bad developer without any launching product.

2. Choosing the most expensive option

Expensive developers cannot guarantee the realization of popular applications.

3. Misunderstanding of your business model

It is better to hire an application developer who has worked on similar application concepts and understands its market segments.

4. The application has not been submitted to the App Store

Verify that the application developer you are trying to hire is actually developing a marketplace app. You can download and test these applications at any time.

5. Start coding without properly evaluating the project

Before starting to develop an application, it is important to complete the discovery phase. Application developers need to understand the overall situation of the project based on concepts, market analysis, and functional specifications. Otherwise, some encryption may be discarded and a waste of money.

6. There is no budget or timetable for the project

After you have discussed the concept of the project, determined its function, and covered all the key details of the project, get a quote before hiring an application developer. The professional team creates quotations and next development steps in the form of project proposals. Please note that the integrity test takes time.

7. It has nothing to do with after app launching

Long-term planning is also important. Think ahead and understand how application developers can help you expand your project further or and fix bugs.

How much is it to hire an app developer?

There are many factors that influence a mobile app developer’s cost.

1. Location
2. Languages and technologies used
3. The developer’s skills
4. Developer’s experience and level
5. Working model
6. The project’s complexity or the sort of app produced

At InApps, our offshore software development rates are from $2,800 to $4,000 per month depending on the position that you need.

Summary

Here is a checklist to help you successfully hire the best developers to start a new project or enhance your current team’s productivity:

• Clearly understand the needs, requirements, and priorities of your application project.
• Carefully check the portfolio and other relevant information about the developer as well as the key customer’s Links and feedback.
• Evaluate the entire SDLC, including support and maintenance phases.
• Identify security issues during the application development project.
• Analyze the developer’s initial proposal with the project budget and timetable as well as the terms and conditions.
• Look for reliable partners who are interested in long-term commitments.

Nowadays, choosing an app developer vendor that meets your unique business goals is quite difficult. Hence, you must remember:

• Hiring a dedicated software development team has more advantages than hiring application developers on a separate platform.
• A company that provides services focusing entirely on business analysis, project management, design, and ongoing support is better.
• Many experienced application development teams are outsourced and are worth the money.

Realize your app idea with InApps

Our experts have already had +10 years of experience in designing, managing software, solved problems for many kinds of mobile apps. Hence, if you need to hire an app developer, we are the right one. By following InApps custom mobile application development process below, you can have a full picture of how your app can be brought to life.

Many start-ups & SMEs used Application Development Outsourcing as the ‘key secret’ to quickly have a successful investment. If you want to find an effective company to be your partner, why not check out our case studies.