The Top Online Marketplaces for App Development and Services
We all have had that million dollar app idea pop into our minds at one stage or another. We envision a life of financial freedom, endless travelling to exotic locations and a stress free existence. The problem is not many of us know how to turn that idea into a reality. Furthermore, because of our lack of technical expertise, we are worried about falling prey to the many unscrupulous scammers that may be lurking in the midst.
Fortunately there are a few solutions available to the new and upcoming Appreneur ( The word used to describe this new generation of business folk). We have delved deep into the depths of the internet to find the best three online marketplaces which offer security to their buyers and sellers and are still affordable even for college students.
Upwork
Upwork is a site which hosts thousands of web and app developers. It allows you to post a job you want done and it gets bids from the different freelancers. You can then select the person who best suits your needs and budget. This site is recommended for more advanced projects as the quality of freelancers are normally quite high. Security and fraud need not be an issue because all funds are escrowed until the buyer is happy with the work done, so there is no chance of being scammed. The only negative is that most of the freelancers work on an hourly rate and it is very hard to predict how long a job will take, so you risk going over budget. Expect to pay between $10- $30 per hour for a developer of decent quality.
Fiverr
Like the name suggests, Fiverr is an online marketplace where freelancing services are sold for as low as five dollars. This may be their selling point, however, don't expect to find someone on there to build your dream app for that price. It is still one of the more affordable marketplaces if you are on a strict budget. Fiverr is recommended for simple app or game projects that take around a week or two to develop. You are also well protected from being scammed, as clients can cancel the order if they are not satisfied with the work done and get their money back. One thing to be careful of is that the work might not be the same quality as you would get from a more premium site like Upwork. Expect to pay $100 – $500 for a simple project.
AppzMarket
AppzMarket offers something a little more different compared to the other two marketplaces. They offer more premium services compared to those on Fiverr. It is also more well rounded than Upwork, with their selling point being everything available under one roof. This is indeed true as they don't just offer freelancers for app development but also offer a range of promotional services, as well as online shopping for app assets such as templates, graphics and sounds. They also have firm security measures against clients being scammed, as the buyer only pays when he or she is happy with the completed work. The site is relatively new so don't expect as many freelancers as Upwork or Fiverr but still a worthy candidate. Expect to pay between $500 – $1000 for app development.
When hiring your freelancer you want to remember to check a few things off your list. There are certain requirements they need to meet. First off, communication is key. Do they fully understand the idea you are putting forward to them. This is where many problems may arise as many developers, if left to their own accord can come up with something completely different to the initial concept. They then often demand more money to fix this and can leave you out of pocket. Another thing to check before hiring anyone is proof of previous work. Many good quality freelancers have a portfolio ready to show prospective clients their previous app creations. This will give you an idea of the quality of work you can expect. This then brings us to the question of price. Do you go for an hourly rate or a fixed price? Hourly rates are suited for more complex projects. A lot of time new features have to be tweaked and tested and in this case it is impossible to give a fixed price as even the developer wont fully know what the job will entail. You should expect to pay between $10 – $30 per hour for a good quality developer. For clients who know exactly what they want and have a better understanding of what is involved, a fixed rate is the best option. It is hard to determine a benchmark fixed price for an app as there are so many variable factors when it comes to different applications. Expect to pay $100 – $500 for a simple app or game and up to $10 000 for something more advanced especially if it has a back end which uses servers etc.
It is important to do a little homework before you pursue hiring an app developer. Do you know how to upload an app to the App Store or Play Store or do you need the developer to do it for you? These are all things that have an influence on how much a developer will charge. Does the developer need to build the app from scratch or do you have a template he can work from so that the cost is lower. Do you already have the graphics made for your app or does your developer need to work with a graphic designer, which will be more expensive. The most important thing is to keep at it. Obstacles appear and just when you think you have solved them, new ones reappear. The key to making it in the app business is to not give up and constantly adapt.