Your Guide to Outsourcing Mobile App Development: Benefits, Top Companies & Services to Outsource

1. Cost savings

Outsourcing reduces overhead costs like salaries, benefits, office space, and equipment. It allows you to access the expertise you need at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time, in-house development team.

Many outsourcing firms operate in nearshore or offshore regions such as Latin America, Asia, or Eastern Europe, where salaries are lower because of the lower cost of living. 

This can lead to cost savings of up to 70%. For example, while a mobile developer in the US earns between $80,000 and $161,000, a developer with similar experience in Latin America makes between $60,000 and $84,000.

2. Access to global talent & specialized expertise

Whether your app requires advanced security protocols, AI-driven recommendations, or AR features, outsourcing allows you to find the right experts with the exact skills your project demands without being restricted by local shortages.

3. Faster development and time-to-market

A slow development process can mean missed market opportunities, delayed launches, and lost revenue. 

Outsourcing firms are designed to move quickly. They can provide immediate access to the experts needed for mobile app development, like software engineers, UI/UX designers, quality assurance specialists, etc., who can start working on your project right away.

Experienced outsourcing firms estimate project scope and deadlines well and allocate the right resources to keep things on track. Many also follow agile development methodologies, adjusting to deadlines and allowing for continuous progress, iterative testing, and faster feature rollouts without sacrificing quality.‍

4. Scalability and flexibility

Business needs are rarely static, and the ability to scale development resources up or down is essential. A startup building an MVP may need a full development team at the beginning but fewer resources after launch. An enterprise rolling out new features can temporarily require extra developers to speed up production and then scale back once the work is complete. 

Outsourcing offers that flexibility. It allows companies to expand their team during peak development phases and downsize when the workload decreases without the overhead of hiring and downsizing or laying off full-time employees. 

5. Quality assurance & testing

Outsourcing firms provide dedicated quality assurance (QA) teams that follow structured testing processes to identify and fix issues before an app goes live. They simulate real-world conditions, different network environments, device types, and user interactions so you can have a bug-free, high-performing, and ready-to-use app from day one.

Components you can outsource

• Full-cycle development: a full-service mobile app development company handles everything, including market research, UI/UX design, development, testing, and post-launch support. This option is ideal if you don’t have an in-house development team and want an end-to-end service without the need to manage multiple vendors or in-house resources.

• Back-end or front-end development: Maybe you only need to outsource one part of mobile app development because you have the other covered in-house. For projects built with JavaScript frameworks, hiring a MERN stack developer can provide the full-stack flexibility to handle both client- and server-side tasks efficiently.
• UI/UX design: Many companies have developers but lack design expertise. Outsourcing the user interface and experience design ensures your app is both visually appealing and user-friendly, even if you handle the coding in-house.
• Quality assurance and testing: Testing across multiple devices and scenarios is time-consuming but critical. Many businesses outsource this phase to specialized QA teams who can perform thorough testing without tying up internal resources.
• App maintenance and updates: App development doesn’t stop at launch. Outsourcing maintenance services ensures the app remains functional, secure, and up-to-date without overloading or diverting internal resources.

Outsourcing models

• Staff augmentation: Rather than outsourcing a project, you’re essentially renting talent. These developers work exclusively on your projects, integrating with your existing team. This model gives you direct control over the development process while expanding your capacity without the overhead of full-time hires.
• Project-based outsourcing: You pay a fixed price for a specific project with clearly defined requirements and deliverables. This works well when you have a complete vision and detailed specifications for your app. The outsourcing company takes full responsibility for delivering the completed product.
• Hiring offshore app developers: This approach gives you the cost benefits of outsourcing while maintaining direct control over your development team. Instead of working with an agency that assigns developers to your project, you directly hire and manage offshore talent. These developers work exclusively for your company—they’re your team members, just based in a different country.
  You can hire individual developers to fill specific skill gaps or build an entire offshore development team that functions as an extension of your company. This model combines significant cost savings (typically 30-70% compared to US rates) with the accountability and integration of in-house staff. It’s particularly effective for companies looking for long-term development capacity rather than one-off projects.
• Time and materials: Unlike fixed-price models, time and materials billing charges you based on the actual time spent and resources used. This provides flexibility for projects where requirements might evolve or when the scope isn’t entirely clear upfront.
• Development consulting: Sometimes, you need strategic guidance rather than execution. Development consultants help you make technology choices, create architecture plans, or optimize your existing development processes before you begin building.
• Mixed/hybrid models: Many businesses use combinations of these approaches—perhaps outsourcing the initial development as a project, then transitioning to a dedicated team model for ongoing maintenance and updates.

Each model has its place depending on your internal capabilities, project needs, and business goals. The key is matching the right outsourcing approach to your specific situation rather than following a one-size-fits-all template.

Assess in-house expertise

Start by evaluating your internal team’s skills. For example, if your team lacks back-end development and AI integration—outsourcing those components can fill the gaps without the need for long-term hires. If you already have the technical talent but need extra hands to meet deadlines, staff augmentation may be the right choice.

Consider project complexity 

A simple app with basic functionality might be manageable in-house, but if your project needs more advanced features like AI, AR/VR, blockchain, or advanced security protocols, you’ll need specialized expertise. Don’t underestimate technical requirements—what seems straightforward often isn’t.

Evaluate budget constraints 

Run the numbers on three options:

• Hiring US-based developers 
• Building an offshore team 
• Project-based outsourcing (fixed price)

If you need ongoing development, hiring offshore developers often delivers better ROI than project-based outsourcing. For one-off projects, the opposite might be true.

Factor in development timelines 

If you need to launch quickly, consider what bottlenecks you’ll hit with your current team. Outsourcing can dramatically accelerate development—especially when you need to scale up quickly. 

Address specialized needs

Some app components require highly specialized knowledge:

• Security features and compliance (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)
• Performance optimization
• Cross-platform compatibility
• QA and testing across multiple devices

These areas often benefit from dedicated experts who focus exclusively on these specialties.

Plan for post-launch maintenance 

Regular updates, bug fixes, and security patches keep an app functional and competitive. If your team lacks the bandwidth to handle post-launch maintenance, outsourcing this task can keep your app running smoothly while allowing your internal team to focus on new initiatives.

Choose the right type of partner

Your needs should determine whether you:

• Work with a full-service development agency (hands-off, but less control)
• Hire dedicated offshore developers (more integration, direct management)
• Use staff augmentation (seamlessly add resources to your existing team)
• Use specialized freelancers (for specific components only)

1. Near

At Near, we help US companies build their mobile app development teams with top talent from Latin America. Unlike development agencies that manage entire projects, we connect you with pre-vetted developers who work directly as part of your team. This gives you complete control over your app development while benefiting from rates typically 30–70% lower than US-based developers.

We specialize exclusively in LatAm talent, giving us deep networks and strong relationships with top developers across tech hubs in countries like Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. Whether you need Android, iOS, or cross-platform developers, we can help you find the exact skills your project requires.

Key features:

• Rapid hiring: Our extensive screening process means you can interview pre-vetted, highly skilled mobile app developers and make a hire in under 21 days.
• Time zone advantage: Latin American developers share most of their working hours with US business hours, enabling seamless real-time collaboration without communication delays.
• Transparent pricing: No upfront fees—you only pay once you hire; monthly fee per hire with flexible engagement models; transparent contracts (you’ll know exactly what your developer earns).

Client review: “The talent Near provided is incredibly high quality. I worked at Google for 10 years, where the bar for talent is very high, and I would say the people I placed through Near are comparable to the people I worked with at Google.” — Ashley Black, Founder, Candid Consulting

2. Trango Tech

TrangoTech is a mobile app development company with over 20 years of experience. They have offices in Pakistan and throughout the US, including Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, and New York. 

Key features:

• Technical focus: Know their way around iOS, Android, Flutter, React Native, cross platforms, and IoT.
• Engagement options: Staff augmentation and BPO (business process outsourcing services).
• Team composition: Over 100+ certified and trained developers with 15 years of experience. 

Client review: ”We have recently partnered with Trango Tech for mobile app development services, and unexpectedly, the app they delivered was beyond our expectations.” – Alex Bait, Marketing Manager.

3​. OpenXcell

Founded in 2009, OpenXcell is an IT consulting agency with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, India, and Australia. They have helped businesses in industries like healthcare, e-commerce, edtech, sports, and media and entertainment. 

Key features:

• Technical focus: Android, iOS, Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, etc.
• Comprehensive services: Offers end-to-end mobile app development solutions.
• Elite talent pool: Hire mobile app developers who are capable of integrating technologies like AI/ML, VR, and IoT.

Client review: “I will rate OpenXcell 5 on 5 for their exceptional work!” – Eliza Greene, Director, GRNSTR

4. Alliance Recruitment Agency

Alliance Recruitment Agency is a recruitment company that helps businesses find talent for their web development, mobile app development, web design, and marketing both within the US and globally.

Key features:

• Technology focus: Android and iOS app development.
• Global reach: Ability to source talent from over 25 global locations, with a talent pool of over 200,000 pre-vetted professionals.
• Engagement options: Project-based hiring, RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing), and executive search. 

Client review: “We were 100% satisfied with their services.” – Dan Peters, HR Manager via Clutch.

5. AppInventive

AppInventive has been in the software development market since 2015 and provides custom app development, UI/UX design, and cloud integration services. They have over 1600 experts in their arsenal.

Key features:

• Tech focus: AI-driven mobile applications.
• Engagement options: Full-cycle development and dedicated developer hiring.
• Notable clients: Adidas, IKEA, Domino’s, and KFC.

Client review: “They always work in a collaborative manner to adjust and refine the backlog based on the learnings from these tests.” — Chief Product & Technology Officer, Recruitment Platform via Clutch

6. BairesDev

Founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2009, BairesDev is a nearshore software outsourcing company that connects Latin American developers with companies needing software solutions, including Android and iOS app development.

Key features:

• Technical focus: Mobile applications for enterprises in frameworks like React, Flutters, Java, and more.
• Engagement options: Staff augmentation, dedicated teams, and software outsourcing.
• Timezone alignment: Latin America-based developers working in US business hours.

Client review: “We’ve had a partnership with BairesDev for some years now, and it has been a fruitful one. We are able to source near-shore talent in convenient timezones that have the right level of technical proficiency.” – Louis Robinson via Trustpilot.

7. Chop Dawg

Founded in 2009, Chop Dawg has partnered with over 500 startups, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofits to develop more than 400 apps. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company operates across six continents.

Key features:

• Technical focus: Specializes in mobile and web app development, including blockchain and AI technologies.
• Engagement options: Offers fixed-price projects with dedicated project management.
• Client-centric approach: Maintains a 92% client retention rate.

Client review: “In addition to their design skills, Chop Dawg was a pleasure to work with, always professional, reliable, and dedicated to the success of the project.” – Matt M., COO via G2.

8. TRIARE

TRIARE is a web and mobile app development company founded in 2015, with a team of 50–99 professionals. They offer full-cycle development for mobile apps, and if the product they deliver does not function according to the specified requirements, they promise to resolve any issues for free.

Key features:

• Technical focus: Proficient in iOS, Android, React.js, Ruby on Rails, Node.js, and PHP.
• Engagement models: Offers flexible collaboration, including full-cycle development and dedicated teams.
• Industry focus: Specializes in logistics, edtech, and entertainment sectors.

Client review: “The engagement was absolutely worth it.” – Anna Portnoy

Owner, Professional Accounting For You via Clutch

9. Andersen

Andersen is a global software development company with 18 years of experience in software development. They have offices across the United States and Western Europe. The company specializes in technology-intensive sectors such as finance, healthcare, logistics, and telecom.

Key Features:

• Technical focus: Android, iOS, React Native and Flutter as well as big data, AI, and machine learning.
  Engagement Models: Offers flexible collaboration options, including building dedicated teams or augmenting in-house staff.
  Team composition: 3500+ in-house software developers, out of which over 250 are mobile app developers. 

Client review: “We are happy to have found a competent partner for our development projects in Andersen” – Bjorn Erb, Head of Development at Leicom ITEC

10. The NineHertz

The NineHertz is a global mobile app development agency with a physical presence in the United States, as well as offices in Australia, India, Canada, Israel, the UK, and UAE. They were founded in 2008 and since then delivered more than 1,000 mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms.

Key Features:

• Technical Expertise: Specializes in IoT, augmented reality, virtual reality, big data, and blockchain.
• Engagement Models: Offers flexible hiring options such as contract-to-hire and temporary staffing.
• Team composition: Have a team of over 350 full-stack developers at their disposal. 

Client review: “We have been working with The NineHertz for our MVP Launch project for more than 3 years. Our application received marked 1000+ downloads within a few months post-deployment.” – Christopher Graham, CEO at Chilling Inc. 

11. Focus GTS

Focus GTS is a niche IT recruiting and staffing agency with over 12 years of experience. They promise to connect businesses with mobile app developers in 48 hours. 

Key Features:

• Specialized Recruitment: Focuses on sourcing skilled mobile app developers tailored to client needs.
• Engagement options: IT staffing and executive search.
• Notable clients: Adobe, Verizon, American Express, SONY.

Client review: “I recommend working with Focus GTS, they work with big tech companies.” – Jaime Meneses.