A guide to hiring Offshore App Developers

More than 90% of internet users access the internet via smartphones, which makes a huge market for both developers and companies. Mobile app development is the process of creating software applications that run on mobile devices. The enduring popularity of smartphones and tablets means there are apps for almost everything, including entertainment, communication, and productivity. 

Mobile app developers use various programming languages, frameworks, and tools to create apps for Android and iOS. The overall development process involves various stages, including ideation, design, development, testing, and deployment. For companies developing an app, it can be tough to find the right tech talent at the right price. That’s why companies are going offshore to find mobile app developers.

Introduction to mobile app development 

Mobile app developers are software developers who specialize in creating applications for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. They work on leading mobile platforms –  iOS and Android – using programming languages such as Flutter, Dart, Java, Kotlin, Swift, and Objective-C to create apps. 

App developers use a range of related technologies such as APIs, cloud services, and databases to develop mobile applications that meet the needs of their clients. They can either operate independently or as part of a development team, often specializing in a specific area such as user interface design, backend development, or quality assurance.

There are two main options for hiring mobile app developers:

Onshore mobile app development

Onshore mobile app development takes place within the same country as your company. This option enables direct communication and collaboration between you and your development team. It can be beneficial when you prefer face-to-face meetings and close communication with your development team.

Offshore mobile app development

Offshore mobile app development involves developing applications outside your home country, typically in countries with lower labor costs. This option can be more cost-effective and gives you access to a larger talent pool. Due to distance and time zone differences, successful communication, and collaboration need careful planning.

> Read our complete guide on offshore mobile app development

How to hire offshore app developers

Hiring offshore app developers can be a cost-effective way to develop mobile applications. However, it’s important to carefully approach the hiring process to ensure that you find a reliable and skilled development team. Here are the main steps involved in hiring app developers:

Step 1 – Define your project requirements

Before you begin your search, define your project requirements in detail, including the features you want, the mobile platforms you want to target (Flutter, java, etc), and the budget you have available. 

Step 2 – Research offshore app developers

Identify offshore app developers with a good reputation and positive reviews. You can find freelancers and companies through online marketplaces, referrals, or industry events.

Step 3 – Evaluate each app developer’s expertise

Evaluate each developer’s expertise by reviewing their portfolio, case studies, and client references. This will give you an idea of their experience with similar projects and their overall skill level.

When evaluating an app developer, ask yourself questions like,

• “Do they match my app’s nature?” Your company could be working in eCommerce, Healthtech, FinTech, On-demand services, EdTech, or Games – if they have experience in a similar field there are high chances that your new hire will fit right in.
• “Does their past experience match your development requirements?” Keep in mind that while the app developer could have worked in the same field their responsibilities may not match with the ones you require.
• “Do their reference match my company values?”   

Step 4 – Evaluate non-technical expertise

Communication is crucial when working with offshore app developers. Make sure you establish clear communication channels and expectations from the start. This includes regular updates, progress reports, and feedback.

Offshore app developers may come from different cultural backgrounds, which can impact communication and work styles. Make an effort to understand and respect cultural differences to build a strong working relationship.

Step 5 – Onboard your app developers

Once you’ve chosen the right developers, onboard your offshore app developers, hand over your requirements, and ensure you have a clear agreement on the deliverables to be monitored. 

Step 6 – Protect your intellectual property

Ensure your offshore app developers have appropriate safeguards in place to protect your intellectual property. This includes signed non-disclosure agreements and secure data storage practices.

Step 7 — Test and deploy

Once the app is developed, test it thoroughly to ensure it meets your requirements. Then, work with your offshore app developers to deploy the app to the app store and make it available to users.

The cost of hiring app developers offshore

The cost of hiring app developers offshore varies depending on the country and region. The overall cost ranges from $10 – $250 per hour.

• North America has the highest rates overall.
• Eastern Europe and Latin America fall just below America.
• Asia seems to have the most affordable rates.

To give you a clearer overview, here’s a comparison of the average hourly rates for mobile app developers in different regions:

Region	Average cost per hour (USD)
North America	$100 – $250
Eastern Europe	$25 – $80
Latin America	$20 – $70
Asia	$10 – $50

Please note: These rates are estimates. The true cost can vary depending on experience level, project complexity, and the specific location within each region.

5 challenges (and tips) for offshore app development 

Hiring offshore app developers is a great way to cut costs whilst gaining access to a larger talent pool. But it’s not without challenges. Here are 5 common challenges and tips for addressing them:

1. Communication barriers: Working with offshore app developers can present communication challenges due to differences in language, time zones, and cultural norms. That’s why it’s important to establish clear communication channels and expectations from the start. This includes regular check-ins, progress reports, and feedback. You may also want to consider hiring a Scrum Master to help facilitate communication.
2. Quality control: Ensuring the quality of work from offshore app developers can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have experience managing remote teams. To address this challenge, establish clear quality standards from the start and provide detailed feedback on deliverables. You may also want to consider hiring a Quality Assurance (QA) specialist to review the work and ensure it meets your standards.
3. Intellectual Property (IP): No matter who you work with, protecting your IP can be a concern. To address this challenge, establish clear legal agreements and data protection policies. This includes non-disclosure agreements, IP assignment agreements, and data security policies.
4. Time zone differences: Working with offshore app developers in different time zones requires adjustment and agreement from both sides. To address this challenge, establish a work schedule that accommodates both time zones and allows for overlap in working hours. You may also want to consider using a project management tool such as Trello or Jira that allows for asynchronous communication and collaboration.
5. Cultural differences: Offshore app developers may come from different cultural backgrounds, which can impact communication and work styles. To address this challenge, make an effort to understand and respect cultural differences. This includes learning about cultural norms and values, communicating clearly and respectfully, and being open to different perspectives and ways of working.

Hire app developers from Proshore

Based in Nepal and the Netherlands, Proshore is an ideal offshore app development partner. With a deep pool of tech talent – including highly experienced and fully trained app developers – our dev teams as a service are ready to code and ready to deploy. 

We have a number of app developers available to work, app development technology that Proshore offers, years of working experience in the same field, number of mobile applications developed.

With Proshore you get professional and cost-effective solutions – especially when compared with onshore alternatives. Depending on where you are in the world, mobile app developers from Proshore can save you up to 50% in hiring costs.

FAQs

What skills should you look for in offshore mobile app developers?

When you hire offshore mobile app developers, look for both technical and non-technical skills:

Technical skills

• Includes expertise in programming languages, app development frameworks, and mobile app development tools.
• Identify developers who have experience with similar projects and can provide examples of their work. That’s because offshore app developers need to solve problems creatively and efficiently.

Non-technical skills

• Look for developers who can communicate clearly and effectively in English (or your preferred language).
• Look for evidence that they can work collaboratively with other team members, including designers, project managers, and quality assurance (QA) specialists.

What are the benefits of hiring app developers offshore?

Hiring app developers offshore provides many business benefits. Here are 4 important ones:

1. Cost savings: Offshore developers often have lower hourly rates than developers in North America or Europe, which can result in significant cost savings for your project.

2. A larger talent pool: Going offshore in the search for app developers opens up a world of tech talent. This is especially useful if you have trouble finding skilled developers in your home country.

3. Faster development times: With a larger team of offshore developers working on your project, development can often be completed more quickly. You can also use developers in different time zones to enable around-the-clock development.

Flexibility: Offshore development teams can often work on a flexible schedule to accommodate time zone differences, which can allow for faster turnaround times and increased productivity.

Where can you find offshore app developers?

There are various places where you can hire offshore app developers: 

• Online marketplaces: You can search and hire individual developers from around the world on websites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal.

• Referrals: Ask colleagues or industry contacts for referrals to offshore development companies or developers they have worked with in the past.

• Industry events: At industry events and conferences, you can network with developers and companies from around the world.

Social media: Use social media platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to connect with offshore app developers and development companies.