As a sales manager, I often meet clients driven by their idea and desire to solve a problem for people or businesses in my practice. They have domain expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a willingness to risk. The only thing standing in their way is a lack of tech expertise. But thanks to mobile outsourcing development, that is not a problem anymore.
In this article, I’ll guide you on how to outsource mobile app development, highlight how outsourcing can help your business grow faster, and how much it might cost. So let’s start!
What Is Mobile App Development Outsourcing?
Mobile app development outsourcing is the process of hiring an external team to build or support a mobile application instead of using only an in-house team. Basically, you, as a company, transfer part or all of the mobile app development work to a specialized partner. At the same time, control over product goals, priorities, and decisions rests with you.
This approach helps businesses reduce development costs, access mobile expertise faster, and scale teams without long-term hiring. The outsourcing partner handles execution, while the product owner stays involved in planning, reviews, and approvals.
Mobile app development outsourcing suits businesses of different sizes – from startups to established companies. It applies to iOS apps, Android apps, and cross-platform products.
Types of mobile app development outsourcing
Mobile app outsourcing can take place locally or across borders. Based on location, there are three main types.
- Onshore mobile app outsourcing. Within this approach, you hire a mobile app development team from the same country. This option simplifies communication and legal matters, but often leads to higher costs.
- Nearshore mobile app outsourcing. Here, the cooperation happens with a mobile app team from a nearby country within a similar time zone. This option supports easier communication and moderate cost savings, though prices may remain higher than offshore options.
- Offshore mobile app outsourcing. As for this type, you hire a mobile app development team from a distant country. This model offers strong cost advantages and access to a wide talent pool. It requires clear processes and structured communication.
This is just a general overview. If you want to learn more about the differences and how each type works, read our dedicated article about offshore, onshore, and nearshore software development.
Mobile app development outsourcing models
The outsourcing model defines how your company works with a mobile app development vendor. Below are the most common options for mobile projects.
- Full-cycle mobile app development. The company hires a mobile app development team to deliver a defined scope. This may include an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), a feature set, or a specific product phase. Both sides agree on requirements, timelines, and deliverables in advance.
- Dedicated team model. A mobile app development team works as an extension of the internal team. Both sides define priorities and scope together. The team stays focused on the product over a longer period.
- Outstaffing model. This model fits cases where a company needs extra mobile specialists, such as iOS developers, Android developers, QA engineers, or designers. These specialists join the internal workflow while the outsourcing vendor handles employment and administration.
At Uptech, we cover the full range of mobile product development services and adapt the outsourcing model to match each project’s requirements.
Why You Should Outsource Mobile App Development
The benefits of outsourcing mobile app development were recognized long ago. However, in recent years, outsourcing gained an even bigger momentum among businesses. And that for the following reasons:
- Need to spare budget and find affordable resources.
- Shortage of engineering talent in the regions of business.
- Globalization and the opportunity to enhance the quality of mobile app development.
- Availability of a broad pool of tech specialists in the aspiring niches (automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, generative AI, etc.).
Another change brought about by the pandemic is the timeline of outsourcing cooperation. Some years ago, businesses would seek an outsourcing partner for the project’s timeline only.
Now things have changed, and mobile outsourcing development teams have become a part of businesses for many years. Moreover, mobile app development does not end after the product’s launch. Instead, companies have to iterate and improve their products if they want to keep up with the competitors.
So here, they have two choices:
- make changes by themselves;
- outsource mobile app development.
As practice shows, the second option is simpler and more effective. Here are the benefits that make mobile app development outsourcing a viable option for businesses:
Outsourcing mobile app development is cost-effective
It is hardly news that mobile app developers from the Eastern IT hub (Ukraine, Poland) cost less than programmers from the US and Western Europe.
For example, if you're outsourcing mobile app development to a seasoned developer in the US, you'll be charged $140+ per hour on average. Outsourcing mobile app developers with similar skills in Western Europe will cost you around $135/hour. Meanwhile, if you decide to outsource app development to Eastern Europe, where the main part of the Uptech team is located, you'll pay around $40-$70 per hour.
The number of mobile app development outsourcing companies, agencies, and individual contractors from Eastern regions is fascinating. The labor market is booming with great programmers here (teams and individual contractors) who offer a reasonable quality/cost ratio.
Besides that, as described above, you can choose from several cooperation models. A cooperation model defines how the payment is calculated for the development team.
Outsourcing mobile app development provides flexibility
Businesses now expect more flexibility in many issues of cooperation. They want to adapt, expand, or reduce the development team shortly, according to the business needs.
Additionally, by outsourcing mobile app development, you can work with any team or with individual contractors from all over the world at a schedule convenient for you. So if you need flexibility in your work, outsourcing might be the option to go for.
Outsourcing mobile app development gives access to a wide pool of professionals
Mobile app development is getting more and more demanding with each passing year. The emerging technologies do not go beyond any mobile app. You need excellent programmers on your team. It also takes quantum computing, fintech, AI, and machine learning professionals to give your app a competitive edge on the market. However, it may be challenging to find such specialists in the local labor market.
This is where mobile app outsourcing comes in handy. By outsourcing mobile app development, you have the whole world of specialists open for hire. Moreover, you can choose a team with a comfortable time zone and a reasonable cost policy.
How to Outsource Mobile App Development: 5 Steps
So you decided to go for outsourcing a mobile app development team. Great, but the next question is – where to start? Well, my tip is to take a while and figure out your expectations about the team you want to have in the end. These simple steps will help you understand how to outsource mobile app development:
- Outline your needs and requirements
- Start looking for the app development team
- Check the expertise background
- Book an introduction call
- Prepare questions and meet the team
Step 1. Outline your needs and requirements
Imagine that you’re seeking a bookshelf for your workroom. At first, it may seem that any shelf would fit, because… well, it is just a shelf. But when you start looking, it turns out there are many parameters to be considered, like the size, the color, the style, or the material. But there are some fundamental parameters that cannot be questioned.
The same logic applies to a mobile app development team. You need to understand what kind of specialists your project requires.
For example:
- You may have a new app idea and need mobile developers to build an MVP fast
- You may already have an app and need iOS or Android developers to extend features or improve quality
- You may have an internal team and need extra specialists with specific mobile expertise
At this stage, create a clear list of requirements. Define the type of developers you need, the team size, the current project state, and expected outcomes. This information helps an outsourcing partner propose the right setup for your project.
Step 2. Start looking for the app development team
The next step is to start looking for an app development team. Once you have crystallised the characteristics of your project, it is time to plunge into the search itself. But the question is, “Where to look?”
Luckily, there are many recruiting platforms with lists of outsourcing companies, agencies, or contractors. For example:
- B2B directories. When you need bread, you go to a bakery. When you need an outsourcing team, you go to platforms like Clutch. This is a top-rated B2B directory, where outsourcing companies are listed by location, rating, and expertise. To help you in your lookout, Clutch has search filters, categories, classifications, and even reviews of outsourcing providers.
You can find Uptech on Clutch here.
- Freelance platforms. Sometimes you do not need a whole team, and only one or two specialists are lacking to keep you away from starting the development. In this case, freelance platforms like Upwork are the right resource. There, you can find individual contractors who will work at fixed prices or hourly rates.
Yet, freelance collaboration has many pitfalls. For one, you can never be entirely sure a person is reliable, nor can you validate whether the person has the proper experience. However, for routine tasks or short-term projects, freelancers are pretty reasonable.
- Blogs. It is no secret that outsourcing companies run their blogs, where they share their experience, expertise, and give development-related advice. By exploring a company's blog, you can see where their strengths are, what background they have, and what they can help you with.
At Uptech, we run our blog, where our experts share their insights about startup building, product development, UX/UI design, etc. Check out more articles on our blog, and see if there is anything else useful for you.
Step 3. Check the expertise background
So let’s imagine you’re actively looking for a team, exploring one candidate after another. At this point, it is critical to focus on the outsourcing company’s background. Here are a few things you should check to get a better understanding of what the mobile app development company you want to outsource to can:
- Review case studies
- Check industry expertise
- Review client feedback
Case studies represent the team’s experience and expertise. In these materials, outsourcing companies showcase their knowledge and experience, show the tech stack they used in previous projects, and explain why they used this or that engineering approach.
Here's a sneak peek at some of our cases: Aspiration, GOAT, and Dollar Shave Club.
For more cases, check out our website.
Industry expertise. Regulations, tech requirements, and market competition all of these fall into play in defining the success of your app. So experience in the niche plays an important role. And finding an experienced outsourcing team for your mobile app development is an essential contribution to your success. So please do not fail to make it.
Client feedback. The best way to evaluate your potential outsourcing partner is by hearing what others have to say about them. Checking reviews from previous clients is also a step in exploring your potential outsourcing partner. You can check the company’s reviews on their websites or see external resources like Clutch or Businessofapp.
For example, Uptech has reviews from its clients gathered on its homepage. You can also check a video review from our client, Peter Sisson, CEO of Yaza, a real estate app for recording and sharing video home tours.
Step 4. Book an introduction call
Once background checks are complete, schedule an introduction call with shortlisted companies.
Share a short project overview before the call. Include product goals, current status, and key expectations. This allows both sides to prepare and keeps the conversation focused.
The introduction call serves two purposes:
- The vendor understands your project.
- You understand how the team works.
Pay attention to clarity, structure, and openness during the discussion. After the call, you should have a clear picture of how cooperation may look in practice.
Step 5. Prepare questions and meet the team
Before the call, prepare a list of questions. Focus on process, communication, and expectations.
You may ask about project onboarding, team availability, communication flow, legal setup, payment terms, and next steps. Clear answers at this stage reduce uncertainty later.
After initial discussions, meet the team members who would work on your product. A video call helps assess communication style and team dynamics. Personal interaction often reveals whether collaboration will feel natural and productive.
This final step helps confirm whether the partnership fits both sides.
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How Much Does it Cost to Outsource Mobile App Development?
Well, the most sincere answer here would be, “It depends.” Indeed, a list of factors defines the final cost of outsourcing mobile app development. Among them:
- Geographic location
- App type and complexity
- Purpose of development
- Urgency
- Supported platform
- Development approach
- The complexity of UI/UX design
- Back-end infrastructure
- AI integration
For example, if you are building a simple app with standard templates and no backend, it will usually take you around 400 hours to complete it. At the rate of $40-$70 per hour, the cost will be $16,000 and $28,000, respectively.
But it is a whole different thing if you want to integrate custom features, backend communication, or real-time features. This type of work can take up to 1,500 hours and require more senior talent. Hence, the cost goes up to more than $100,000.
To get a better understanding of how the cost is formed, please check this article on our blog.
We also have an app development cost calculator available, where you can choose the required features and platform and receive a rough estimate for your particular app.
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Conclusion
Mobile app development is a process that goes far beyond launching the product. Instead, this is an everlasting process that happens as long as your business exists. So finding a reliable partner for such a long journey is crucial. In this case, outsourcing mobile app development can be a viable choice, which appears cost-effective, simple, and affordable.
If you plan to build or grow a mobile product, contact us to discuss your goals and choose a collaboration model that fits your project from day one.
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