Outsource App Development: Who Should Consider It and Why?

Mobile app development outsourcing means quickly onboarding experienced developers to meet project deadlines without the struggle of permanent hiring. For someone with a vision for a new app but no team to execute it, outsourcing provides access to a full suite of experts, from UI/UX designers to backend developers, ensuring every aspect of the app development process is covered.

Why should you outsource mobile development?

The biggest myth about outsourcing mobile app development is that outsourcing leads to poor quality and lack of control. Many people believe that by outsourcing, you compromise on the app's quality because the developers are not part of your in-house team, or that communication becomes difficult. However, this is far from the truth.

Here are 5 reasons to help you answer your question "Should I outsource my app development?":

Access to experts regardless of location

Outsourcing allows you to find the perfect developers worldwide for your project. Whether you need iOS, Android, or cross-platform developers, outsourcing ensures you’re not limited by local talent shortages.

Cost-effectiveness

Hiring and maintaining an in-house team can be expensive, especially when paying for salaries and other costs. Outsourcing allows you to pay only for the work done, reducing overhead and making development more budget-friendly.

Focus on your main business activities:

Mobile application development outsourcing frees up time to focus on your core business operations, such as marketing, sales, or other strategic decisions, while professionals handle the technical aspects of app development.

Easy team scaling:

Outsourcing provides the flexibility to scale your development team up or down depending on your project’s needs. This is especially valuable when facing tight deadlines or fluctuating requirements. When in need of more developers, you hire a team until the project is over, there is no need to have ongoing costs to keep a large in-house team.

Reduced Risk:

Professional app development companies follow established processes, including rigorous testing and quality control, ensuring a high standard of delivery. Additionally, they often offer post-launch support and maintenance, reducing risks in the long term.

Is outsourcing mobile app development a good idea?

Some think that by outsourcing, they will lose control over the development process, unable to guide the project or ensure it meets their expectations. While time zones can be a factor, many outsourcing companies adapt to their clients' schedules or offer overlapping working hours, ensuring smooth collaboration. In some cases, a distributed team can even lead to faster progress.

An example of a big company that proved these myths are not true is WhatsApp. In its early stages, WhatsApp outsourced its app development to a team in Eastern Europe. Instead of compromising on quality, the outsourced developers helped WhatsApp build a reliable, scalable, and high-performing app.

By the time Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, the app was running smoothly with a small core team, improved by outsourced developers. This success contradicts the myth that outsourcing leads to poor-quality work or a lack of control. WhatsApp maintained complete control over the product and the developers they worked with delivered world-class results.

This case proves that with the right approach and partner, outsourcing can fuel innovation and growth, making myths about low quality or lack of control look absurd.

Who benefits the most from outsourcing app development?

Outsourcing allows businesses to find developers, often at a lower cost, and provides the flexibility to scale teams based on project needs. If you already have in-house developers and want to expand the in-house team, you will have more direct control and integration with company culture, but it requires higher long-term investment in salaries, infrastructure, and training.

Outsourcing is ideal for companies seeking flexibility and cost savings, while in-house teams may be better for projects requiring alignment with core business goals.

Here are famous examples of companies that have benefited from outsourcing app development:

Small and medium-sized businesses:

Slack – Initially, Slack outsourced the design of its app. This helped them get a clean, intuitive UI without investing heavily in an in-house team. Today, Slack is one of the most popular communication tools for businesses, showing that outsourcing can be a smart choice for businesses aiming for a quick, high-quality product launch.

Startups and entrepreneurs:

WhatsApp – In its early stages, WhatsApp outsourced much of its mobile app development to engineers in Eastern Europe. This allowed the startup to keep costs low while building a highly reliable messaging platform. WhatsApp's success and acquisition by Facebook is a testament to how outsourcing can benefit startups and entrepreneurs.

Large enterprises:

Google – Google outsourced parts of its internal projects to developers in India and Eastern Europe, using outside experts for building its large development teams. This shows that even established enterprises can benefit from outsourcing to optimize resources and time.

CTOs and project managers:

Skype – Like WhatsApp, Skype also outsourced its app development to a team in Estonia. The outsourced team was responsible for developing key parts of Skype’s core architecture, which helped the company grow rapidly. This highlights how CTOs, like those in Skype’s early days, can scale development quickly with the help of outsourcing.

Companies with limited in-house expertise:

Alibaba – When Alibaba was expanding its e-commerce platform, it outsourced significant parts of its development to teams in the U.S. This was crucial in building its global reach as Alibaba lacked the in-house expertise to develop a world-class e-commerce platform early on.

Businesses with tight deadlines:

GitHub - When GitHub was initially being developed, its founders outsourced parts of the project to external developers to accelerate the launch. Due to this, they were able to complete projects on time and concentrate on developing the essential features of what would eventually become the most popular platform for software development cooperation worldwide.

What are the pros and cons of IT outsourcing?

To outsource mobile app development, no matter if iOS, Android, or cross-platform development, has become a popular strategy for businesses seeking to optimize costs and access specialized skills. However, it comes with its own set of advantages and challenges that should be taken into consideration and carefully weighed before making a decision.

On one hand, it offers flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency, making it ideal for businesses that need to adapt quickly to changing demands. On the other hand, it can introduce risks related to communication, quality control, and data security.

We'll list 5 pros and 5 cons of application development outsourcing:

Pros of IT outsourcing app development

Cost savings:

Outsourcing reduces the need for hiring, training, and maintaining full-time developers, leading to significant cost savings on salaries, benefits, and infrastructure.

Access to global talent:

Through outsourcing, you can access a global network of highly qualified developers with specialized knowledge that is often hard to find locally.

The ability to scale:

You can easily scale your team up or down based on project demands, enabling flexibility in managing resources.

Faster development process:

With an outsourced team ready to start immediately, an app development project can be completed faster, and that way, your app will be on the market as soon as possible.

More time for crucial decisions:

Outsourcing an app development team frees up internal resources, allowing your team to focus on core business strategies, innovation, and operations.

Cons of IT Outsourcing:

Time zone differences:

Time zone differences and language barriers can cause delays and misunderstandings during different remote project management practices. On the other hand, one team can hand off tasks at the end of their workday, allowing the next team in a different time zone to continue working.

Less control of app development:

Outsourcing can result in reduced oversight of the development process, making it harder to ensure that the work aligns with your vision.

Data security risks:

Sharing sensitive business information with external teams can cause security risks if proper data protection measures aren’t in place. All in all, it is safer to give your trust to a proven app development outsourcing company than to freelancers you find online.

Quality concerns:

Depending on the outsourcing app development company, if they don't follow your specific requirements or recommended methods, quality control may be difficult.

Third-party dependency:

Relying on an outsourced team can lead to dependency, especially if they manage critical components of your IT infrastructure or project development.

How to outsource mobile app development in 2024?

More and more businesses invest in mobile app development, keeping in mind that there are 3.3 million Android apps on Google Play and the number of iOS apps is 2.2 million on the App Store, according to Bussines of App.

Statista predicts that total mobile app market revenue will show an annual growth rate of 8.83%, resulting in a projected market volume of $673.80 billion by 2027.

Want to know how much does it cost to develop a mobile app in 2024? You can read here.

The decision to outsource app development can be a major shift for your business, as it brings a range of advantages that will help you save both time and costs. However, for this to be successful, you need to plan everything carefully and find the right and reliable development partner for the job.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to outsource mobile app development in 2024:

1. Specify your goals

Before reaching out to development partners, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your project. Ask yourself:

What problem does your app solve?

Which platforms (iOS, Android, cross-platform) will it support?

What are the core features of your MVP?

What’s the app development timeline?

When you know everything in detail, it will be much easier to communicate with your partner and convey your vision, which will lead to better results.

2. Select the most suitable outsourcing model

In 2024, there are several outsourcing models to consider, each with its pros and cons:

Freelancers vs. app development companies:

Freelancers are ideal for urgent projects since they can often start working almost immediately after being hired, as they usually have fewer onboarding processes compared to a company. However, for more complex projects, partnering with a full-cycle mobile app development company can provide more detailed solutions, including design, development, and quality assurance.

Team Extension:

If you already have an in-house team but need additional expertise, consider team extension services to fill in skill gaps without the overhead of hiring full-time staff.

3. Research to find the right development partner

The most important thing when you want to outsource is to choose the right partner, as the success of the entire project depends on it. Many people make decisions based solely on the website's information, but you can often get a better sense of the entire team you'll be working with by looking at their social media profiles. Communication with team members is very important, and it is a good way to build trust with the MVP developers you are working with.

Go through portfolios and case studies

Platforms like Clutch and GoodFirms provide insights into the track record of app development companies. Look for reviews, case studies, and portfolios related to your app idea, maybe they have already been working on a similar one and have more experience with that industry.

Evaluate Technical Expertise:

Whether you need native iOS/Android, or cross-platform solutions like Kotlin Multiplatform development, ensure your partner has experience in the technologies and frameworks essential to your app.

Time Zone Fit:

Communication is key to successful outsourcing. Select a partner who works in a time zone that allows for frequent communication and who complements your working style.

4. Plan your budget

The cost of outsourcing can vary greatly depending on the region and the complexity of your app. For example:

Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America:

Some average prices you can expect for building a mobile app in this region are usually between $30 to $100 per hour. Developing a similar app as in the previous region can cost between $40,000 to $200,000.

North America and Western Europe:

This is the region where developers typically charge between $100 to $250 per hour. Developing a medium-complexity app can range from $100,000 to $500,000 or more.

How long will it take to build a mobile app?

How long it takes to build a mobile app depends, among other factors, on how big your budget is and the scope of the software development required, including determining the amount of work needed and the project timeline for app development.

Mobile app development outsourcing can speed up the whole process by giving you immediate access to experienced developers, reducing the time needed for hiring and onboarding. Outsourced teams can scale quickly, allowing you to handle larger projects or meet tight deadlines more efficiently. Additionally, outsourcing often enables round-the-clock development across different time zones, significantly accelerating project timelines.

Here you can find tips to speed up the app development process.

The timeline for mobile app development is shaped by several factors, including the complexity of the app, platform choice, and required features. Simple apps with basic functionality can typically be built within 2-3 months, while more complex apps that involve advanced features and third-party integrations may take anywhere from 3 to 6 months, or even up to a year, depending on the development company.

Understanding the development process is essential for setting realistic timelines, especially when wanting to outsource mobile app development. By breaking the project into key stages, planning, design, development, testing, and deployment, you can manage time more effectively. Focusing on an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) helps accelerate the launch, allowing you to quickly get the app into users' hands, test your idea, and gather valuable feedback early on. When you outsource mobile, look if project management uses agile practices, since they further boost efficiency by encouraging ongoing improvements throughout the process.

Ultimately, the success of your app and its timely launch depends on choosing the right development partner. A skilled and experienced mobile app development team can navigate challenges and deliver your app within a reasonable timeframe. With the right partner, you can ensure your app meets your requirements and is brought to market quickly and effectively.