How should I hire an app developer?

Hiring an app developer can be a pivotal decision that impacts the success of your project. The process begins with determining whether to hire remotely or onsite, depending on your specific needs. Remote hiring grants access to a global talent pool and offers cost-effectiveness, while onsite hiring ensures close collaboration and hands-on management. To make the right choice, it is essential to define the scope of work, technical requirements, and budget upfront.

In this blog, we will guide you through the essential aspects of finding and hiring the right application developers, from understanding their roles and responsibilities to exploring different hiring models. We will also highlight the pros and cons of working with freelance and full-time app developers, as well as the best countries to hire mobile application developers for remote teams. Next, we will look at the challenges you may face when you hire an app developer and look at how Global Squirrels provides solutions to overcome remote hiring obstacles.

What are the roles and responsibilities of an app developer?

App developers serve as essential participants throughout the software development lifecycle when they create mobile applications. Their responsibilities encompass various stages, from initial requirement analysis to deployment and maintenance. Whether you need to hire an app developer for a full-time role or collaborate with freelance app developers, understanding their responsibilities is essential to ensure your project’s success.

• Requirement analysis

When you hire an app developer, the process typically starts with understanding the project’s requirements. Application development teams work alongside clients or project managers to match application features with budget constraints while meeting project deadlines, which ensures the application supports business targets and user expectations.

• Application design

Developers who work with designers alongside stakeholders produce wireframes and user interfaces that improve user experience. This stage is critical in ensuring that the app meets both functional and aesthetic standards, especially when working with freelance app developers who may specialize in UX design.

• Development & coding

The core responsibility of application developers is writing clean, efficient code using programming languages and frameworks. Whether you are sourcing talent locally or exploring countries to hire mobile application developers, coding expertise ensures your app is functional across platforms like iOS and Android.

• Testing & debugging

Testing at a high level is performed to discover and resolve application bugs, ensuring proper functionality. Freelance app developers and in-house teams perform various tests, such as unit and integration testing, to deliver a seamless user experience.

• Deployment & maintenance

Application deployment requires developers to verify that every component gets properly configured before reaching end-users. Post-deployment application developers handle maintenance tasks, such as releasing updates, adding new features, and fixing issues to keep the app running smoothly.

• Documentation

A complete set of documentation emerges during development and contains technical specifications alongside user manuals. This is especially useful when you hire application developers or partner with freelance app developers for future updates or support.

Why hire an App developer?

Hiring an app developer offers numerous advantages that can significantly enhance your business’s digital presence and operational efficiency.

• Access to advanced tools and technologies

When you hire an app developer, you gain access to cutting-edge tools and technologies for efficient app development. Professional application developers use their expertise to build innovative features that fulfill industrial requirements.

• Seamless integration with existing systems

Professional application developers can seamlessly integrate new apps with existing systems, enhancing data flow and operational efficiency. Whether it is an in-house or freelance app developer working on it, they ensure smooth platform connectivity.

• Better project management

Experienced developers bring structured work methods to project management, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and deadlines are met. By hiring skilled application developers, you can delegate technical responsibilities.

• The growth of app development

With the increasing reliance on mobile technology, businesses are now focusing on creating applications that not only meet user expectations but also drive engagement and encourage brand loyalty. Hiring skilled application developers is critical to ensure your app stands out in a competitive digital landscape, offering seamless functionality and exceptional user experience. Robust applications are no longer optional; they are essential tools for sustained growth.

Different ways of hiring an App developer remotely

Hiring App developers as full-time employees

Definition: Full-time remote application developers are employed as permanent staff members and work exclusively for your company.

Pros

• Commitment: When you hire an app developer full-time, they provide ongoing dedication to your projects, ensuring continuity and alignment with your organizational culture.
• Collaboration: Easier communication and collaboration within a stable team environment, which is beneficial for long-term projects.
• Resource management: This hiring model is perfect for businesses that require continuous development, maintenance, and support from skilled application developers.

Cons

• Higher costs: Full-time employees often come with higher salaries and benefits, increasing overall costs.
• Longer hiring process: Finding the right talent from top countries to hire mobile application developers can be time-intensive due to screening and onboarding requirements.
• Less flexibility: Quick adjustment of employee numbers proves difficult because full-time hiring requires enduring long-term obligations.

Hiring App developers as freelancers

Definition: Freelancers are independent application developers who work on specific projects or tasks on a temporary basis.

Pros

• Cost-effective: Freelance app developers are often more affordable, making them ideal for short-term projects or specialized tasks.
• Flexibility: This format enables organizations to increase workforce capacity flexibly by employing temporary freelancers who offer specific execution expertise for project requirements.
• Access to global talent: Platforms provide access to skilled developers from various countries to hire mobile application developers, ensuring you find the right expertise.

Cons

• Less control: Managing freelance app developers can be difficult as they often juggle multiple clients, leading to potential availability issues.
• Variable quality: Before employing new applicants, businesses must perform complete assessments because work quality can differ.
• Limited engagement: The variable project commitment of freelancers affects the investment they make toward long-term goals and will ultimately affect the outcome of the complete project.

Related Read: Still deciding between hiring freelance vs. full-time app developers? Check out our in-depth comparison on Freelancers vs. Full-Time: What is the Best Model for Hiring Remote App Developers? to explore the key pros, cons, and cost differences before making your decision.

Here are some reasons to hire full-time developers over freelancers

Hiring full-time application developers can significantly enhance business efficiency by providing consistency, deep integration, and long-term commitment. Full-time developers deliver ongoing availability through dedicated project focus, thus improving team agility and decreasing operational interruptions. By fully understanding your company’s culture and branding principles, developers can develop solutions that match your brand identity and produce high-quality work that reaches your target audience.

Unlike freelance app developers, full-time employees ensure long-term project continuity, minimizing disruptions and building upon previous work for improved project outcomes. While hiring full-time developers may initially seem more expensive when compared to outsourcing freelance app developers, it is more cost-effective to hire an app developer full-time in the long run due to reduced turnover, improved productivity, and better alignment with company goals.

Top countries to hire mobile app developers

• India

India is a top destination to hire mobile app developers and is known for its cost-effective and skilled talent pool. Globally, the developer population was projected to reach 28.7 million in 2024, growing by 3.2 million from 2020. Indian application developers are proficient in advanced technologies such as app development. With monthly salaries of approximately $2,349.09, Indian developers offer high-quality services at competitive prices.

• The Philippines

The Philippines is recognized for its highly skilled mobile application developers who excel in creativity and technical proficiency. With competitive compensation packages and a strong emphasis on compliance with local labor laws, the Philippines offers a favorable environment for hiring developers. The average salary for an app developer is $1,711.51, making it an appealing option for companies looking for cost-effective solutions.

• Mexico

Mexico experiences fast-moving growth in its app development sector because it maintains both skilled professionals and inexpensive development rates. U.S.-based businesses find the country appealing because of its proximity to the U.S. combined with bilingual developers who provide smooth communication channels during collaboration. Mexican app developers earn an average of $3,866.49 monthly, which provides decent value for the quality of work produced.

• USA

The USA is renowned for its high-quality app developers, who help businesses innovate using cutting-edge technology. While these professionals sound like the perfect candidates, their average monthly salary is $10,784.25. The USA offers top-tier talent, but it is often less favorable for companies seeking cost-effective solutions compared to countries like India, the Philippines, or Mexico.

Challenges you face when you hire an App developer remotely

• Setting up an entity

Creating a legal entity in the developer’s home country becomes both complicated and expensive to implement. The hiring procedure can be delayed by requirements that all foreign entities must follow, which include registration procedures, additional documentation, and local representation obligations under local regulations.

• Compliance challenges

The process of understanding local labor law regulations and tax requirements faces substantial difficulties because countries maintain separate rules concerning employee contracts along with benefits and termination processes. Failure to follow these regulations will result in financial penalties and legal consequences that make remote hiring more complicated.

• Tracking productivity

Remote work monitoring proves difficult because supervision is limited and traditional performance measurements are unavailable. The inability to clearly define project timelines and expectations between team members leads to unclear project results, which complicates remote team assessment.

Global Squirrels: Explore the solutions our platform offers when you hire remote application developers 

Our platform allows your business to find and hire an app developer while allowing you to manage them efficiently. Our platform handles all HR functions, including payroll setup, benefits administration, task and performance management, timesheet setup, automation of offer letters, and adhering to local and international labor and tax laws. Our platform ensures you hire an app developer in the most cost-effective manner by allowing you to save up to 20% on hiring costs.

Let us look at how our platform helps you solve all the challenges you may face.

• You do not need to worry about setting up an entity in the country you wish to hire an app developer. This is because our platform acts as your legal entity in the country where your application developers reside.
• Global Squirrels ensures compliance with all local and international labor laws and tax regulations. Our platform handles all HR functions, such as generating offer letters, managing payroll, administering benefits, and terminating processes, to prevent risks, including legal or financial penalties. Our platform also prioritizes complex laws and provides compliance analytics.
• When you partner with Global Squirrels, you get numerous remote worker management tools, such as country-specific timesheet management, leave management, and task allocation. The customized task and performance function maintains local regulatory compliance while enabling adaptable approval workflows and simple examination and authorizing features. Multiple one-time and recurring tasks can link directly to timesheets for effective tracking purposes.

Orange plan

The Orange plan helps you find and hire an app developer who meets your business requirements. Sign up and select the Orange Plan. Fill in details like job title, job description, budget, expected start date, educational background, skills, and the preferred hiring location. Submit your request, and within 2 to 5 business days, our platform provides curated profiles. Choose candidates to interview, provide feedback, and select the ones who best fit your needs. Once onboarding begins, our platform will manage all the HR functions, including payroll, timesheets, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with local and international labor and tax laws.

Purple plan

The Purple plan streamlines onboarding for your current freelancer or an already-sourced candidate. Log in and select the Purple Plan. Enter the candidate’s first and last name, email, phone number, work location, job title, and job description, and upload any onboarding documents. Once onboarding starts, we handle all HR tasks, including payroll, timesheets, benefits administration, performance management, and compliance with labor and tax laws.

Are you ready to hire an App developer? Request a demo today!