If your company is ready to develop a mobile app, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to hire a freelance app developer or an app development agency. (Assuming you won’t be having an in-house team build your app)
Each option has its advantages and challenges, and the right choice depends on your project’s specific needs, budget and timeline.
In this article, we’ll compare hiring an agency versus hiring a freelance app developer. We hope to help you decide which is the best fit for your app development project.
What to Consider When Hiring a Freelance App Developer
When you hire a freelance app developer, you’re bringing in a single individual with a specialized skill set.
While an individual freelancer can be a cost-effective choice for smaller or less complex projects, there are some trade-offs to consider.
Here are a few things to consider when hiring a freelance app developer:
1. You’ll Need to Build the Rest of the Team
Developing a mobile app involves more than just writing code. You’ll likely need:
- A UI/UX Designer: To create a user-friendly experience that’s branded to your company.
- A Quality Assurance (QA) Tester: To ensure the app functions as expected and is free of bugs. Testing is best handled by someone other than the developer who wrote the code.
- Backend Developers: To handle databases, user accounts, the API and other behind the scenes functionality.
If you don’t already have these roles covered in-house, hiring a freelancer means assembling and coordinating these additional experts.
Or, you can choose to have the freelancer do all of the above.
2. You’ll Be Responsible for Project Management
Every app or software development project needs a project manager to coordinate the workflow, communicate with stakeholders and keep everything on schedule.
If you hire a freelance app developer, this responsibility will fall on you or someone else at your company. And without an experienced project manager, you may face delays or miscommunication.
3. Long-Term Support
If the freelancer is unavailable or has moved on to other commitments, you could have longer wait times for fixes or new features.
Businesses should have a plan for long-term support, which may involve contracting additional freelancers or transitioning the project to an in-house developer.
4. Potential Risks with Quality and Accountability
Freelancers operate independently, meaning there’s no oversight from a larger team of app development experts to ensure quality. If a freelancer underdelivers, struggles with communication, or leaves the project unexpectedly, your business could face significant delays and added costs to find a replacement.
While agencies aren’t immune to issues like delays or vetting missteps, they typically offer more accountability due to their established processes, team structure and contractual obligations.
With freelancers, it’s up to you to thoroughly vet their skills, check references and ensure there’s a clear, enforceable agreement in place to safeguard your project.
What to Expect When Hiring an App Development Agency
Hiring an app development agency means partnering with a team of professionals who specialize in mobile app development.
While this approach may require a higher upfront investment, it can save you time and provide greater expertise.
Here’s what you can expect:
1. You Get a Complete Team
Agencies provide a full team that includes developers, designers, quality assurance testers and project management. This means you won’t need to assemble the team yourself or manage multiple freelancers.
2. Done-for-you Project Management
An agency acts as a single point of contact, managing all aspects of the project for you. They’ll coordinate timelines, handle design and development, and ensure your app is built to meet your requirements.
This is particularly valuable if you don’t have experience managing app development projects.
3. Fractional Access to Expertise
Agencies provide access to specialized skills on an as-needed basis. For instance, you may only need a UI/UX designer for a portion of the project. With an agency, you pay for these services only when required, offering cost-savings and convenience.
4. Higher Upfront Costs
While app development agencies provide significant value, they tend to cost more than freelancers. It’s important to have a realistic budget before hiring an agency.
5. Risk of Overselling
Not all agencies deliver on their promises. Some may overstate their expertise or capacity during the sales process. Interviewing agencies thoroughly and asking for case studies or client references is crucial.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between a Freelancer and an Agency
To help you decide which option is right for you, consider these key factors:
1. What Is Your Budget?
- Freelancers: If your budget is under $20,000, a freelance app developer is often the only choice, unless this is a no-code project. They can handle smaller, simpler projects or prototypes for a lower cost.
- Agencies: If your budget exceeds $20,000, an agency is worth exploring. They offer comprehensive services that deliver long-term value for more complex projects.
2. What Do You Value Most?
- Freelancers: Freelancers are a great option if you value a very hands-on experience and low cost. They excel at tackling small, well-defined tasks or projects where you already have a clear vision and internal team support. If your priority is saving money, and not the additional support/resources of an agency, a freelancer can be an excellent choice.
- Agencies: Agencies are ideal if you value comprehensive expertise and well-organized processes. They bring together a team of specialists across multiple disciplines, ensuring that every aspect of your app – from design to development to testing – is handled by experienced professionals. For businesses seeking a polished, end-to-end solution with minimal oversight required, agencies deliver exceptional value.
3. Do You Already Have an In-House Team?
If you have developers, designers, and project managers on staff, a freelancer may be all you need to round out your team.
However, if your in-house team lacks experience in mobile app development or project management, an agency can provide the expertise you’re missing.
4. How Soon Do You Need to Start?
Agencies: Ready to hit the ground running. Once the contract is signed, they can begin quickly, thanks to available resources and established processes.
Freelancers: It may take weeks or months to find and vet a skilled freelancer, especially if you don’t have a technical expert on staff to evaluate their work.
Decision-Making Framework
Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
| Factor | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | <$20,000 | >$20,000 |
| Project Complexity | Basic or small-scale | Complex or large-scale |
| In-House Resources | When you have an in-house team to support development | When you don’t have an in-house team |
| Timeline | Flexible | Tight deadlines |
| Management Style | Hands-on involvement required | Hands-off with project managed for you |
| Risk | Potential delays or quality concerns; vet carefully | Vetting required; potential risk of overselling |
Final Thoughts on Hiring a Freelancer vs. an Agency
Whether you choose a freelancer or an agency for app development depends on your budget, project scope and the resources you have in-house.
- Freelancers: A great option for small projects or when you already have a team in place to handle other roles.
- Agencies: Perfect for companies looking for a full-service solution with minimal management effort.
If you’re ready to start your app development journey and think an agency might be the right fit, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our team today to discuss your project!
