How Much Does It Cost to Hire an App Developer?

One of the most vital decisions you can make about making your app vision a reality is hiring the right app developer. It does not matter if you want a mobile app or a web app; you must know the cost structure. So, let’s discover how much does it cost to hire an app developer.

To be honest, that’s not an easy answer. The cost will depend on some key elements: the developer experience, the region where they are based, and the platform for which you are building your app. These aspects, as well as the app’s complexity, are key factors in what you pay.

In this guide, we’ll analyze these aspects and give you an idea of what you should be ready to expect as you work on hiring an app developer. So, whether you’re considering the development of a relatively simple app or an elaborate, feature-rich platform, this guide will help navigate the pricing terrain and ensure that you’re spending your budget wisely.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an App Developer?

The cost to hire an app developer tends to vary from $10 to $250 per hour based on multiple components. The cost to hire a developer will be influenced by 3 factors:

• Experience level
• Region
• Platform

By determining these three elements, you will be able to evaluate how much does it cost to hire an app developer that meets your requirements. There are a few other things that affect the price, but these three are the main determining factors.

Experience Level

The experience of an app developer is one of the important factors that tells us how much it will cost. Experienced developers have higher rates, but they also have a lot of experience, which makes them solve problems more efficiently and provide better quality apps. Here’s a breakdown:

• Junior Developer (0-2 years of experience) $25 – $40 per hour
• Mid-Level Developer (2-5 years of experience): $40 – $80 per hour
• Senior Developer (5+ years of experience): $80 – $150+ per hour

Region

Where your app developer is based has a major effect on cost. The hourly rate of app developers in different places is another important factor that can influence the cost of app development. Here’s a regional breakdown:

• North America (U.S. and Canada): $100 – $250/hour
• Western Europe (UK, Germany, France) $155 — $200/hour
• Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Romania): $30 – $100/hour
• Asia (India, Philippines, Vietnam): $20 — $75/hour

Platform

The platform you are developing the app for also impacts the cost of getting an app developer. The more specialized the platform, the higher the rate:

Native Apps (iOS or Android): It can be costlier due to in-depth knowledge of the platform’s SDK and APIs when developing a native app.

• iOS Development: $30 – $250+ per hour
• Android Development: $25 – $250+ per hour
• Hybrid Apps: If you are building a hybrid app with React Native or Flutter, you can save a lot of money on the development part as the app runs across platforms with one codebase. Prices vary widely from $30 – $150 per hour.
• Web Apps: The cost of developing web apps is usually lower than mobile apps, costing you between $30 – $150 per hour.

After searching for developer rates, it’s essential to understand how to find an app developer for your project next. Online platforms, portfolios, and reviews can help find candidates that meet your particular needs. If you have the skills to search for an app developer, you can select the best one.

How Do Developers Calculate Their Rates?

There are three common approaches that developers use when it comes to setting their rates. By understanding these methods, both developers and clients can arrive at a pricing of services rendered that is fair and competitive.

Hourly Rates

Freelancer developers rate them hourly for tasks such as designing, coding, and testing. This is great for projects with vague or frequently changing requirements, but it does not allow for early fixed costs.

Project-Based Rates

Developers might give a custom quote for the entire project for more control over your budget. You’ll know how much it will cost upfront, but changes to the project scope once the work starts may require a renegotiation of the price. Great if you have defined, small-scale projects.

Retainer Agreements

A retainer agreement could be the right choice if you require ongoing development assistance. For a predetermined number of hours each month, you pay a flat monthly fee. This provides a level of stability for longer-running projects and control over the availability of the developer.

Factors That Affect Hiring App Developer Costs

Multiple factors can affect the cost of hiring an app developer. These include:

App Complexity

Development cost is directly proportional to the complexity of your app. Apps that have advanced features like developing real-time data, AI, or payment systems need more time and technical skills. This usually results in an increase in development time and, consequently, developer rates as well.

Development Team Size

Larger teams (including developers, project managers, designers, and testers) generally increase the cost of development. A team approach may be necessary for more complex projects, as various skill sets are needed to bring the app to life.

Project Timeline

Developers might have to charge more if you want to rush a project, because they will have to put in more work hours to manage the extra work.

App Maintenance & Updates

Post-launch, the app requires regular maintenance and updates, from bug fixes to security patches and feature improvements. Therefore, it is often costly since maintenance is time-consuming and necessitates effort.

Technical Skills and Areas of Expertise

The developer’s rate will be influenced by the skills and specializations your app requires. Highly specific skills like machine learning, AI, and blockchain development may demand higher rates than general app development skills. The rarer and more in-demand the skill is, the more you can expect to pay.

Type of Application

The cost is also affected by the type of application you are building. Native apps are usually more expensive than Hybrid apps because of the development for multiple platforms, and also for enterprise-level apps that can be complex in features (like security and database integration), the cost can be on the higher side in order to have a more skilled team.

Outsourcing vs. Local Hiring

To cut costs, companies can outsource development in areas of lower labor cost, such as Eastern Europe or Asia. Local hiring has the advantage of developers being nearby and therefore easier to communicate with; however, it comes with a substantially higher cost.

Tips to Reduce the Cost While Hiring App Developers

There are a few approaches to cutting the app developer hiring cost without sacrificing quality. 

• Outsource to Lower-Cost Regions (offshore development): If you are willing to hire from Eastern Europe or Asia, you will be able to save a lot on the development costs. This approach is generally called offshore software outsourcing.
• Choose Hybrid Development: You should choose hybrid app development, so you can save on costs like those of native apps and still be able to reach users on multiple platforms.
• Define your Project Scope: Scope creep, or changes made to a project after the original plan is in place, can result in higher costs. So, always define your project scope clearly.
• Use Pre-built Solutions: Leveraging open-source code or pre-built frameworks can save both time and money.
• Hire Remote Developers: Hiring developers remotely can lead to more cost-effective options than hiring locally, especially in high-demand markets.

Some of the best app development companies in the market, like Soft Suave, provide you with all these benefits. So be sure to do some basic research about your partner before you start working with them.

Why Work with an Offshore Development Company?

If you want to keep the app development quality high and make a significant cost saving, offshore app development is a perfect idea. Here’s why:

Cost Efficiency

Hiring an offshore team will be much cheaper than employing locally, especially if you are working with developers from countries with a lower cost of living.

Global Talent Pool Access

Offshore developers provide you with access to a wide range of specialized developers in various fields, allowing you to choose from the best.

Faster Development Cycles

Offshore teams will usually deliver development time quickly than in-house, simply due to the time difference where development work can continue while one team sleeps.

Scalability

When leveraging offshore development, the team can be quickly scaled if needed without making any long-term investment, such as hiring a permanent employee.

Less Overhead

No need for office or equipment is needed, which makes the Offshore development process more cost-effective.

High-Quality Work

Most of these offshore firms have very talented developers with years of experience, so you also get elite quality at a minimal rate.

Risk Mitigation

Outsourcing to offshore locations also mitigates the risk of over-dependence on the local talent pool in cases where the market is tight.

Conclusion

App development is a long-term investment, and therefore it is much easier for business owners to make an informed decision if they understand how much app developers charge clearly. The cost depends on several things, including the developer’s expertise, geographical area, and the platform you’re developing for.

Though experienced developers coming from high-cost regions will naturally quote more, offshore development and hybrid solutions can yield a very reasonable price for quality talent. By following these techniques discussed previously, you can assemble a development team that will produce results that achieve both quality and value.

Whether your focus is on a straightforward app or a multi-faceted platform, budgeting and managing your expectations from the beginning will help you to achieve success without breaking the bank.