Should I hire a developer or an agency to build my app?
A single strong developer is faster and cheaper when the scope is clear and modest. An agency earns its premium on breadth — design, backend, QA, project management — and on continuity when someone leaves. The risk with one developer is the bus factor; the risk with an agency is paying for coordination you do not need.
There is a third shape that fits most SMB work: a small team where the person on the call is the person who builds. You keep the directness of one developer and the coverage of a team.
Whichever you choose, insist the first milestone is small and the code and accounts are in your name.
Last reviewed 28 July 2026