Are you getting ready to launch an app? Do you need to find someone who can help you build an app and make sure it works properly? If you’re unsure of whether you should work with an app freelancer or an app development agency, keep reading. Explained below are some of the pros and cons of hiring a freelance app development vs an app development agency.
Freelancer Pros and Cons
A freelance app developer is someone who does app development work for themselves, rather than working as an employee for a larger company. They’re also known as independent contractors.
Pros
The following are some of the top benefits that freelance app developers have to offer:
Easy to Find
There are over 57 million freelancers, including millions of freelance app developers, working in the U.S. alone. In general, it’s not too hard to find a freelancer who is willing to assist with your new app, especially if you use a site like Fiverr or Upwork.
Good for Short-Term Projects
Because the industry is growing rapidly, lots of freelancers have limited experience and are just getting started in the app development world. If you just need a little extra assistance with a short-term project, you might be fine hiring a freelancer. For simple, short-term projects, their rates may be more affordable, especially if they’re just starting out, and you’ll be able to get a finished product fairly soon after you connect with them.
Cons
Some benefits come with hiring a freelancer, but there are also some pretty noteworthy drawbacks to consider, including these:
Limited Experience
This isn’t true of all freelancers, of course. However, in many cases, freelance app developers have limited experience. There’s a good chance they’re working in the freelance world because they haven’t found a job with an agency yet. They might also be trying to practice and hone their development skills so they can be more valuable to employers in the future.
Higher Prices
At first, you might assume that it’s cheaper to hire a freelancer than it is to work with an app development agency. That’s not always accurate, though. Freelancer rates can vary quite a bit, and some charge a lot of money for their services. Don’t forget, there are also other costs beyond the freelancer’s quoted hourly rate. For example, let’s say they make a mistake and you have to pay someone else (perhaps someone who works for any agency) to fix it. You’ll end up spending more on your app than you would have if you’d just hired an agency in the first place.
Limited Resources
Often, freelancers can’t offer the same quality of work as an agency not because they’re not talented, but because they don’t have access to the same resources. Freelancers by definition are self-employed, and their budgets usually aren’t as robust as agency budgets. As a result, it’s harder for them to keep up and invest in the latest and greatest equipment.
Less Dependability
When it comes to dependability, not all freelancers are created equal. Because they’re not employed by a larger agency, they might not always be as reliable as you would like. It’s not uncommon for freelancers to turn projects in late or even drop the ball altogether, especially if they’ve already been paid before the project is complete.
Less Security
Finally, freelance app developers can’t always promise a high level of security. If you have a great idea for an app, you want to make sure no one steals it. You also want to make sure you don’t compromise your business’s data or your client’s data, right? When you work with a freelancer. This is especially true if you don’t ask them to sign an NDA or any other confidentiality document first.
App Agency Pros and Cons
An app development agency is a one-stop-shop for all things app development. They consist of a whole team of developers, designers, and other professionals who can assist with all aspects of the app-building process.
Pros
When you hire an app development agency, you get to enjoy the following benefits:
More Experience/Specialties
App development agencies hire a variety of developers with different specialties. When you work with an agency, you get access to tons of professionals who can design and build an app to your exact specifications. You can also feel confident that the people working on your app have been thoroughly vetted and properly trained, too. Agencies typically have rigorous hiring and training processes, which allows you to enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re working with the best.
Affordable Pricing Options
In many cases, app development agencies offer different packages and pricing options to work with your budget. When you work with an app agency, you also get to avoid a lot of the unnecessary expenses that may pop up when working with a freelancer. For example, if there’s a bug or design flaw, you can feel confident that they will fix it before you get ready to launch your app.
More Resources
Because they typically have more funds available, app development agencies also offer more resources. They have access to the best software and equipment, which makes it easier for them to provide you with a high-quality app that helps your business stand out and succeed.
Highly Dependable
App development agencies hold themselves to a high standard when it comes to dependability and professionalism. In most cases, once you set a deadline, you can feel confident that your app will be completed by that deadline. If something does come up that is going to set your end-date back a few days or so, you’ll find out early so you can make adjustments to your marketing and promotional materials accordingly.
Easier Communication
Most of the time, it’s easy to get in touch with a representative from an app development agency if you have questions or concerns. Unlike freelancers, who are usually running the show themselves, agencies will likely have multiple lines of communication available, as well as a dedicated customer service team who keeps track of these channels.
More Security
When you hire an app development agency, you can feel confident that your app idea and your business’s information will remain safe and secure. App development agencies have a variety of protocols in place to maintain their security and protect their clients.
Cons
Some people have complaints about hiring app development agencies. The following are some of the most common ones:
May Have Less Availability
Sometimes, app agencies’ (especially the good ones) schedules fill up pretty fast. If you have a big project and are working on a very tight deadline, you might have a hard time finding an agency that can fit you in. This is why some people end up working with freelancers when they’re crunched for time. Keep in mind, though, that a rush job from a freelancer might include issues that take longer to fix than if you’d just waited for an agency to be able to make time to work with you.
Can Be Hard to Choose the Right Agency
There are lots of different app development agencies out there, and not all of them are created equal. This can make it hard to know which one is a good fit for you and your specific app development needs.
How to Choose the Right App Development Agency
As you can see, for most people, the pros of hiring an app development agency outweigh the cons. If you’re thinking about hiring an agency but aren’t sure which one to choose, here are some questions you can ask (both yourself and the agency) to narrow down your options:
- What is my budget? How much can I afford to spend on app development?
- How soon do I need my project completed? What is the agency’s average turnaround time?
- Does the agency offer all the services we need (backend development, frontend development, quality assurance, etc.) to create a working, high-quality app?
- Do I want to work with a local agency, or am I okay with using an offshore development agency?
- What methods of communication are available? Phone? Email? Live chat?
- What are the agency’s business hours? How quickly will they get back to you if you reach out with a question?
- What do their past clients have to say about their work? Do they have lots of positive reviews?
Consider the answers to these questions as you compare different agencies. This will help you find the best team to support you as you start developing your app.
Get Started on Your App Today
At first, it might be overwhelming trying to decide whether you should work with a freelancer or an app development agency. There are pros and cons to both. In general, though, it’s typically better to work with an agency. The developers at an agency usually have more experience than the average freelancer, have access to more resources, and can offer better prices.Are you interested in working with an experienced, professional app development agency? Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.
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