10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an App Developer

#1. Can I see your portfolio of live apps?

Always verify their past work. Ask for direct links to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Download the apps yourself and test the user experience, performance, and stability.

#2. What is your development process?

Look for teams that use Agile methodologies. They should work in 1-2 week sprints, allowing you to review progress and make adjustments continuously, rather than waiting months for a final product.

#3. Do you build native or cross-platform?

A good agency will explain the pros and cons of both approaches (e.g., Swift/Kotlin vs. React Native/Flutter) and recommend the best solution for your specific budget and performance requirements.

#4. Who will own the intellectual property (IP)?

This is critical. Ensure the contract explicitly states that you own 100% of the source code, design assets, and intellectual property once the project is paid for.

#5. How do you handle project communication?

Determine their communication tools (Slack, Jira, Teams) and the frequency of updates. You should have a dedicated Project Manager who acts as your single point of contact.

#6. What are your security testing practices?

Ask about their approach to data encryption, secure API connections, and vulnerability testing to protect your users' data.

#7. How do you manage scope changes?

Understand their change request process. Agile allows for flexibility, but you need to know how adding a new feature midway through development will impact the timeline and budget.

#8. Will you submit the app to the stores?

The submission process can be complex. Ensure the agency handles the entire deployment process, including creating the developer accounts and passing the review guidelines.

#9. What happens after the app launches?

Inquire about their maintenance and support packages. You will need ongoing support for OS updates, bug fixes, and new feature rollouts.

#10. Can you provide client references?

Speak directly with their past clients. Ask about their reliability, adherence to deadlines, and how they handled unforeseen challenges during development.