How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Mobile App Developer?

Are you looking to hire mobile app developers for your project? Do you want to know how much it costs to hire an app developer?

If yes, read this blog post.

Being an experienced app development company, we know how the mobile app development industry works and what are the average costs of developing mobile applications.

In this blog post, we provide you with a concrete answer on the cost to hire app developers by analyzing various reputed resources like Upwork, Arc, Clutch, Glassdoor, and PayScale.

Read on to get the answer to your question – how much does it cost to hire an app developer for your project?

Let’s get started.

How Much Money Does It Cost to Hire an App Developer? [Quick Answer]

The cost to hire an app developer from the USA and Canada ranges $30 – $120/hr under the following conditions.

• Mobile app developers should have 3 to 5 years of experience in mobile application development.
• A deep understanding and expertise in core mobile app technologies like Swift and Objective-C for iOS, Kotlin for Android, and React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin for cross-platform app development.
• A good understanding of the mobile app design, structure, and UI/UX principles, also should possess a strong portfolio of apps with excellent design.
• Skills to manage the entire project from start to finish which includes accurately, estimating project timelines, coordinating with other team members or stakeholders, and being quick to adapt to changes during project development.

Take a look at the table below to get an idea of what app developers charge per hour on average in the different continents, according to their level of experience.

Note: The above-average hourly rates are taken from various reputed resources like Upwork, Glassdoor, Arc, and Google. These app developer costs are just to give you a reference. The cost may vary depending on multiple factors and company to company.

Why Should You Consider The Data from This Table?

Here are the points that provide information on why this table is reliable for the cost of hiring app developers.

• Analyzed the top and reputed websites like Upwork, Arc, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Clutch and PayScale to get an overall idea of the hourly cost of app developers.
• Checked the Clutch website in the USA and Canada to learn about the average hourly rates of top app development companies.
• Checked the top freelancing websites like Upwork and Arc to understand the range of hourly rates of individual app developers who have reliable experience in mobile app development.

Let’s learn about the major factors that influence the hiring cost of mobile application developers.

5 Factors Influencing the Cost of Hiring an App Developer

When you want to hire an app developer, the first thing you want to know is hourly rates. However, deciding upon hourly rates is not a feasible solution. The reason is different developers have different knowledge, technology, and work experience.

To help you understand this point, here is a comprehensive description of the major factors that influence the cost of hiring app developers which ultimately influence an app development cost. Let’s learn about the first factor which is the location of an app developer you hire.

1. Geographical Location-wise Hourly Rates of App Developers

   We have provided the hourly rates of app developers from the different regions in the following table. Whether you hire an app developer from a top mobile application agency or from freelancing platforms, the app developer rates vary from location to location.

   Check the following table to learn the average hourly rate of top development companies for hiring a team of mobile developers. The hourly rate data is taken as a reference from the Clutch website.

   Countries	Approx. Hourly Rates	Local Economic Factors	Average Developer Experience	Specialization in App Categories
   Canada	$100 – $149	High cost of living High market rates	High (5 years)	Fintech Healthcare Social media eCommerce Gaming
   USA	$100 – $149	High cost of living High market rates	High (5 years)	eCommerce Social media Gaming Healthcare Fintech
   UK	$150 – $199	High cost of living High market rates	High (5 years)	Gaming Fintech Healthcare Social media eCommerce
   India	$25 – $50	Lower cost of living Competitive market rates	Moderate (2 – 4 years)	eCommerce EdTech B2B solutions
   Australia	$100 – $149	High cost of living High market rates	High (5 years)	Fintech Social media eCommerce Gaming Healthcare
   Philippines	$25 – $49	Lower cost of living Competitive market rates	Low (1 – 2 years)	eCommerce EdTech Social media
   Ukraine	$25 – $49	Lower cost of living Competitive market rates	Moderate-high (3 – 5)	eCommerce Gaming B2B solutions Fintech EdTech
   Poland	$50 – $99	Moderate cost of living Competitive market rates	Moderate (2 – 4 years)	Gaming B2B solutions Fintech eCommerce Social media
   Spain	$25 – $49	Lower cost of living Competitive market rates	Low-moderate (1 – 3)	Social media eCommerce EdTech Fintech
   Mexico	$25 – $49	Lower cost of living Competitive market rates	Low-moderate (1 – 3)	Media EdTech Fintech

   By going through the above table, you have learned the hourly rate of an app developer of different regions, average experience, local factors that impact rates, and specialization. Depending upon the local economic factors, experience, specialization, technical skills, and location, app developer rates differ. Let’s now learn about the next factor which is the complexity of a mobile app.

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2. The Complexity of Mobile Applications

   When you want to develop a simple application, the cost might be less compared to a complex application. For developing complex mobile apps, a mobile app developer needs to spend more time coding, testing, and deploying your app on app stores.

   In the following table, we have provided a simple bifurcation of app complexity with examples and a timeline. Check the following table and learn how complexity influences the cost to hire an app developer for your mobile app project.

   App Complexity	Examples	Android Development Time	iOS Development Time	Approximate Development Cost
   Simple App	Note-taking App Weather App Calculator App Basic eCommerce App	300 – 800 hours (1.5 – 4 months)	250 – 700 hours (1.5 – 3.5 months)	$10,000 – $25,000
   Mid-size App	Social Media App Music Streaming App Advanced E-commerce App Fitness App	900 – 1300 hours (4 – 6.5 months)	850 – 1200 hours (4 – 6 months)	$25,000 – $50,000
   Complex App	Ride-sharing App Health & Fitness App Large Scale eCommerce App Video Conferencing App	1400 – 2000 hours (7 – 10 months)	1300 – 2000 hours (6.5 – 10 months)	$50,000 – $100,000+

   Depending on the complexity, the app development costs differ which ultimately results in the total cost to hire an app developer. Check this blog post to learn about mobile app development costs in detail. Let’s now learn about the third factor which is the platform of your mobile app development.

3. The Platform of Your App Development (iOS, Android, or Cross-platform)

   Let’s learn how the mobile platform impacts the cost of hiring an app developer. Depending on the platform you choose for your app, you need to hire experienced developers for a specific platform. Different platforms need different knowledge, technical skills, and expertise to develop apps. Check the following table to learn about the different platforms.

   Type of App	Programming Languages	Platforms	Frameworks & Technologies
   iOS	Swift Objective-C	iOS	Xcode Apple SDK
   Android	Java Kotlin	Android	Android Studio Android SDK
   Cross-platform	JavaScript Dart C#	iOS Android Windows Web	React Native Flutter Xamarin Cordova

   Let’s learn in detail the difference between Android app developer, iOS app developer, and cross-platform developer.

   iOS App Development

   When you get an iOS app built, your iOS developers use Swift or Objective-C. Your iOS developers focus exclusively on the iOS platform which specifically allows them to develop applications for Apple devices. A key advantage here is the standardized nature of iOS.

   This is the reason that helps an iOS developer to code faster and finish work quicker which results in lower app costs. However, every iOS mobile app developer needs to follow App Store guidelines firmly. Meeting the defined standards might require extra time and effort which impacts the development costs.

   Android App Development

   Building Android apps involves Java or Kotlin which is specifically built focusing on Android devices. The Android platform is fragmented with numerous devices, screen sizes, and OS versions.

   This diversity means your Android app developers need to spend more time testing, which can increase your Android app development cost. However, Android offers an open ecosystem that offers more flexibility. Depending on your project, this might cut your costs.

   Cross-platform App Development

   Now, let’s consider cross-platform apps. These are designed to run on several platforms, generally including iOS and Android. Software developers use JavaScript (React Native), Dart (Flutter), or C# (Xamarin). The advantage you get by choosing cross-platform is cost reduction — your developers write one codebase for all platforms.

   However, cross-platform apps might not deliver as smooth a user experience or as comprehensive access to device-specific features as native apps. And if your app needs a high-performance UI, your Android or iOS developers might have to use native code for some parts, which cuts the cost savings.

   The critical thing is to choose the right approach for your app. Consider your specific needs and goals, not just the cost. Investing more in development can pay off in the form of a better product that brings a return on investment through user satisfaction and revenue. If you want to develop an Android app, choose Android developers. Choose iOS developers if you want to develop iOS applications. Next, let’s learn about how experience influences a mobile app developer cost.

4. Experience Level of App Developers

   Generally, app developers are categorized into three experience levels: junior, mid-level, and experienced. Let’s learn about each one in detail.

   Junior Developers (0-2 years experience)

   Cost: $20-$40 per hour

   The junior developers possess foundational knowledge of a programming language like Swift or Java for native apps or JavaScript for cross-platform apps. Their tool kit typically includes basic integrated development environments (IDEs) like Xcode for iOS or Android Studio for Android. As the junior developers have limited skills, the hiring cost of the developers is less.

   In addition, junior developers can handle the development of simple applications which includes from basic note-taking to a weather app. Junior mobile developers are also capable of creating basic UIs, implementing simple features, and integrating APIs for data fetching. However, they may lack experience in dealing with complex architecture or advanced features.

   Mid-level Developers (2-5 years experience)

   Cost: $35-$80 per hour

   A mid-level mobile developer has improved skills. Mid-level experienced developers are not only proficient in various programming languages, but they’ve also gained experience in specific frameworks and libraries like React Native for cross-platform development or Flutter.

   Due to their experience, mid-level developers can build more complex applications like an e-commerce app with payment integration or a simple social media app. Mid-level iOS or Android developers are comfortable setting up complex UI, managing local databases, and working with more sophisticated APIs. As mid-level developers’ problem-solving capabilities are higher, they can independently debug and optimize the app’s performance.

   Senior Developers (5+ years experience)

   Cost: $80-$150 per hour

   Senior developers have command mastery over multiple languages and frameworks, be it native technologies (Swift, Kotlin) or cross-platform (React Native, Flutter). Highly-experienced mobile app developers have better technical expertise including advanced tools and methodologies like CI/CD, automated testing, Docker, or Kubernetes.

   Senior developers have experience developing from social networking apps to real-time applications like ride-hailing services. They can architect the whole application, set up efficient databases, implement advanced features like real-time updates, build complex algorithms, and ensure high performance and security standards. They can also mentor junior developers and lead your development team. This is all above about the different experienced developers.

   The choice to hire an app developer should align with your project requirements and budget constraints. You might not need a senior developer for a simple MVP, whereas complex and large-scale applications will certainly need the expertise of mid-level and senior developers. Remember, the right mix of talent can set your project on the path to success.

5. Cost of Hiring App Developers: Freelancing Platforms, Top App Development Agencies, and In-house Developers

   Freelance Developers: $20-$150 per hour

   When you consider hiring a freelance app developer, you are dealing with individual professionals, each with a unique set of skills and expertise. Freelancer app developers typically charge on an hourly or per-project basis. Freelancers can be a cost-effective choice if you’re working on a small project or need specialized skills for a particular phase of your project.

   However, remember that lower costs often come with more significant responsibilities. Overseeing freelance developers may require more of your time, especially when it comes to communication, project management, and quality control. Additionally, freelancers may be juggling multiple projects simultaneously, which can affect their availability and commitment to your project.

   App Development Agencies: $25-$200 per hour

   If your project is complex or you’re aiming for a high-quality application, hiring an app development agency might be the most sensible option. While they often charge higher hourly rates, this cost is typically inclusive of comprehensive services — from project management and app design to development, testing, and even after-launch support.

   An agency employs a team of experts, each specializing in different aspects of app development. This means they can tackle complex projects head-on and deliver high-quality results. Moreover, you save time and resources on project management, allowing you to focus on other crucial areas of your business.

   In-house Developers: $92,000-$110,000 per year

   For long-term projects or if you intend to continuously innovate and iterate on your app, hiring an in-house developer might be a wise decision. While the costs are notably higher, you gain a team member dedicated solely to your project, leading to deeper understanding and potentially higher-quality output.

   With an in-house developer, you get maximum control over the mobile app development process, and communication becomes much smoother. You also avoid potential contractual issues that can occur with freelancers or agencies. However, bear in mind that you need to cover all employment costs, including recruitment, training, benefits, and equipment.

   In summary, the choice between a freelancer, an agency, or an in-house developer will largely depend on your project’s size, complexity, and duration. Remember that the cheapest option may not always offer the best value. Consider your project needs and the resources you can dedicate to project management when making your decision.

   Let’s now consider the best resources for hiring talented app developers for your project.

Which are the Best Websites to Hire Mobile App Developers?

Here is the table that provides informational answers on why the mentioned websites are best for hiring app developers for your project.

Icon	Website Name	Why Hire?
	Space-O Technologies	Experienced developers have worked for Fortune 500 companies to small-scale startups. Worked with over 100 clients worldwide and completed over 300 projects. Offers different hiring models to help you choose the most suitable hiring model. Over 65% repeat and referral business rates. Hire mobile app developers quickly for your project within 48 hours and ensure your project is protected by signing an NDA.
	Toptal	Experienced individual app developers who have expertise across different technologies. Track record of successful collaboration with leading startups and businesses. Claims to have the top 3% of freelance talent in the world.
	Upwork	Large network of independent professionals around the globe. Provides top 1% talent in their Enterprise Suite for work management. Provides you with the flexibility to hire the top app developers based on individual clients’ reviews, work samples, and identify verification.

Next, let’s now learn about the tips to reduce the cost of hiring app developers. These practical tips help you to reduce your app developer cost whether it be from top companies or software agencies or consulting firms.

11 Tips to Reduce the Cost of Hiring App Developers

Here are the top 11 tips that directly help you reduce your mobile app development cost.

1. Divide your app development project into smaller tasks or features. This way, you can get more accurate quotes from developers and prioritize essential features based on your budget.
2. Ask developers for specific work samples relevant to your app’s requirements. This allows you to assess their expertise in areas crucial to your project and make an informed decision.
3. Before finalizing a developer, consider offering a paid test task to a shortlisted candidate. You get a real-world idea of their skills and work ethic, and if they align with your project vision.
4. Utilize online developer communities, forums, and platforms like GitHub to find talented developers who may not be actively seeking work but are open to new opportunities within your budget.
5. When discussing your project with potential developers, be upfront about your budget constraints. This helps you identify those genuinely interested and capable of working within your financial limits.
6. Hiring part-time or remote developers can be a cost-effective solution, especially if your project doesn’t require a full-time commitment.
7. Ask for recommendations from colleagues, friends, or industry peers who have had successful experiences working with app developers with their app budget.
8. Arrange payment based on project milestones rather than a lump sum. This ensures that you pay for completed work by ensuring minimum financial risks.
9. Looking for developers who have passion for your app idea. Developers who are genuinely interested in your app idea are more likely to go the extra mile and find creative solutions.
10. Pay close attention to contract details, including additional charges, ownership of intellectual property, and confidentiality clauses, to avoid unexpected costs or legal issues.
11. During the interview, focus on the developer’s problem-solving skills, communication style, and ability to work in a team. This ensures developers are not only skilled but also a good fit for your company culture.

By following these actionable tips, you can streamline the process of hiring app developers within your budget while ensuring a successful and efficient development journey.

Do you still have questions regarding an app developer cost? Check our FAQ section that answers the most asked questions of users on Google.

Hire the Best Developers from Space-O Technologies

In this blog, you have learned about the average cost rates of mobile application developers from different locations around the world. Moreover, you get a comprehensive overview of factors that impact the cost of a mobile app developer or software developer. Above all, you have gone through the hourly rates of developers when you hire from top app development companies.

So, if you are looking to hire an app developer or a software developer, let’s get in touch. We are a leading mobile application company in Canada, having experience working with over 100 clients for building custom solutions.