Mobile applications are becoming increasingly prominent as a means by which companies stay in contact with their customers and make contact with them.
No business can afford to get left behind in the race that is a cell phone market dominated by the enormous expansion of cell phone users. The first step any business needs to take to develop Mobile applications is to determine the application’s requirements in advance.
The final decision is to hire a Mobile app development company or build your in-house development team. Alternatively, you can hire an independent app developer.
Finding the right developer cannot be easy if you are planning to invest significant money into an app. A partner must meet your business and proposal needs, not just be the one with the best resources or most experience. This article will cover everything you need to know to choose between a freelancer and a company.
Here are the tips on hiring an app developer before we get into the freelancers versus companies debate.
What things to consider before hiring a mobile app development company or a freelancer?
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Range of service
You can hire an entire agency capable of handling all your development needs from front to back. Additional services like marketing your product or promoting your brand can also be made available in one place to your clients. However, you can choose to hire a freelancer if you only require one service. Finding a person with expertise across all platforms and technologies is a scarce thing to see. A freelancer cannot be expected to cover all aspects of competence over different platforms and technologies simultaneously.
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Portfolio
Their knowledge and experience in the field will provide an insight into their expertise. One can check the links of the apps they previously developed that are available on the app store. You will be able to get a better understanding of the technology that they use for web design and development by checking out the portfolios that they have. You will learn more about the company’s standard practices when designing scalable and efficient mobile apps.
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Communication
Your project status report should be updated daily to be aware of any changes. You should be able to communicate with a professional service provider on every possible channel. As per your requirements, it is essential to have a project manager dedicated to your project available to take your calls. If there is a lack of communication, it could lead to a lack of ideas or information sharing. You should be able to expect your project manager to interact with you in a way that suits your needs.
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Client’s reviews
If you are unsatisfied with the service or the product quality, the Mobile app development Company will get a reasonable refund.
Based on their feedback, you will be able to determine whether or not the vendor is worth hiring and the quality of the services they offer.
Once you receive the closed details from the client, they will consider the service provider to be the best match for your business as soon as the client is happy and satisfied.
During social media, owners are not looking for expert advice as much as they used to. The best way to determine the quality of the services is to take the opinion of clients who have already used them. The client must understand that the vendor can deliver precisely what they need, his problem-solving abilities, and how seriously he will take the business objectives.
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Ownership
Any entrepreneur will tell you that NDA is the most significant concern they have. If you plan on sharing your business details with a partner firm or an individual, you should ensure they do not slip out. Your partner’s commitment to data confidentiality should be one of your main priorities.
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Accountability
Accountability is the process of open communication between you and your development partner. He only ensures that your project schedule and budget are assessed honestly and based on results. The project manager will give a detailed description of the project workflow and the estimated completion time.
Mobile App development company Vs. Freelancer: Major differences
We’ve discussed the essential things to consider before selecting a developer, so let’s dive into what you’re looking for: freelancers versus companies doing app development.
1. Availability of Resources
There’s no doubt that app development companies have more resources to offer when it comes to helping than other firms. Moreover, their infrastructure and budget will likely mean they have a larger team of developers, designers, and testers, use various tools, and can provide a complete service.
On the other hand, some freelancers may not be the best choice for complex or large-scale projects, even if they are well-trained to tackle various projects. In addition to having fewer resources, they are bound to move slower due to the lack of resources. Moreover, they are usually experts in specific tools or pieces of software when it comes to software development.
2. Reliability
Mobile application development companies prioritize the needs of their clients. It may raise questions about the quality of their service if they disappoint a single client. You can trust them if you want a long-term contract with a company. It is a trust factor essential to the long-term partnership’s success. You can trust an agency if you want a long-term contract with a company. Freelancers are their own companies. Like agencies, they do not have a website. While they are also focused on their clients, they are less reliable than an app development company regarding the market value and brand reputation.
3. Commitment and focus
A key advantage of hiring a Mobile App Development Company instead of an In-House IT department for your Android applications is their commitment to excellence and constant focus on making just suitable mobile applications for your given requirements. To achieve desired quality, you can hire a Mobile application development company specializing in Android to create the app for you at a reasonable cost and in a short period.
In general, freelancers tend to be involved in multiple projects at once. Since they have their priorities, they tend to work on many different tasks simultaneously. The availability of freelancers is a primary concern for stakeholders in many situations. In many cases, they seem less focused and committed to the project.
4. App developing methodology
Apps that display like apps but are not introduced on a gadget can be accessed through a program and incorporate parts from local apps, applications created for a particular stage, for example, Android or iOS development.
With hybrid apps, programming dialects used most often by web developers (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS) can be reused, allowing web developers to utilize their insight. It makes the process of searching for assets for creating hybrid apps that much easier. It is challenging to locate freelancers who can do everything and create a hybrid mobile application with the following features: compose the code, design the UI and UX, test for bugs, assemble and associate components from web apps, etc.
5. On-time delivery
If something goes wrong, the freelancer may have a network of colleagues that they can reach out to assist you with any issues that may arise. Despite this, it is likely that if things go off the rails, your project will be hampered somehow.
It is also important to point out that companies have full-time staff and project managers supervising the work. As a result, our work becomes more efficient, and we feel better equipped to meet deadlines or deal with unexpected challenges.
6. Efficiency & Quality of work
What do you feel is imperative to maintain your apps performance for as long as possible? To maintain a smooth and trouble-free experience, you should keep and update your app in line with changing trends and the users expectations, it is always advisable to update the app with new features and functionality as often as necessary. Here, the company that develops mobile apps is in a better position than freelancers.
Freelancers seldom provide maintenance and modification services, so the likelihood is that you will end up consulting a development company for application maintenance or modification.
7. Non-disclosure agreement
Having been in the business for a long time, reputed app development companies offer a set price for any application development project they undertake. These costs do not change, except when the customer requires additional services. Therefore, the application development company can help lower costs in this manner and also provide a good idea of a budget to be allotted in this manner. Working with an application development company will significantly assist when planning since you will know the cost of developing an application before starting the project.
8. Use of trending technology
App development companies generally offer more comprehensive services and, as a result, have access to an expanded set of tools, technologies, and people with experience across various fields. Furthermore, many of them use much more efficient tools for managing their projects to ensure the smooth progress of the project. As a consequence, they can be adapted to any project you have, from small projects to large ones.
As a rule, freelancers often specialize in a particular technology or tool. But freelancers, on the other hand, are not limited to that. Depending on your project, you may find this is a positive aspect, but it is something to keep in mind when deciding between the two.
9. Support and Maintenance
The more time passes, the more your Mobile application will need to be updated, functionally improved, decorative features added, etc. Having a Mobile app development company by your side at all times throughout the development process is vital for success. With the proper organization by your side, you can build a lasting relationship. Independent developers are unable to provide long-term relationships of this magnitude. The freelancer may make a career change or move to another industry, rendering them unavailable for such support.
10. Pricing
A freelancer may seem more affordable than hiring an app development company. The more considerable investment may be worth it in the long run because freelancers tend to be less experienced and less proficient in certain areas. As an additional consideration, it’s best to do your research before choosing one of these options since the cost of your project will be determined by the size of the company and the services you hire.
Mobile app development Company vs. Freelancer: Quick Summary
| Factors | Mobile App development company | Freelancer |
|---|---|---|
| Availability of Resources | App development companies have more resources to offer. | They may not be the best choice for complex or large-scale projects. |
| Reliability | Mobile application development companies prioritize the needs of their clients. | Freelancers are their own companies. |
| Commitment and focus | They commit to excellence and constant focus on making just good mobile applications. | Freelancers tend to be involved in multiple projects at once. |
| App developing methodology | Things can be more professional. | They will be in an open discussion about the methods. |
| On-time delivery | They will meet deadlines or deal with unexpected challenges. | A freelancer may assist you with any issues that may arise. |
| Efficiency & Quality of work | A company that develops mobile apps is in a better position. | Maintenance and modification services are seldom provided by freelancers. |
| Non-disclosure agreement | App development companies offer a set price for any application development project. | Freelancers work on a contract basis. |
| Use of trending technology | App development companies generally offer more comprehensive services | Freelancers often specialize in a particular technology or tool. |
| Support and Maintenance | Mobile app development companies will help in the development process with absolutely the best vital success in this regard. | Freelancers may make a career change or move to another industry. |
| Pricing | The cost of your project will be determined by the size of the company and the services you hire. | A freelancer may seem more affordable than hiring an app development company. |
Which option should you prefer: Mobile app development Company vs. Freelancer?
It can be challenging to decide on the proper iOS or Android developer for your project. Based on the information we’ve discussed, app development companies are the best choice if you’re working on a complex task that’s likely to grow over time. You want developers who can quickly adapt to your needs. On the other hand, a freelancer is expected to be your best bet if your project is small, with a particular idea and a tight budget. With that information, hopefully, we have helped you make an informed decision about hiring freelancers or hiring a company for app development.
