BinarCode article - The ULTIMATE GUIDE to Finding the Best App Developers in the USA

Apps are the new storefronts

Looking for an app developer? 

If you’re not, you probably should be. Apps have quickly become the 21st century storefront for most businesses, and for many companies, meeting consumer expectations may as well require an app. 

In fact, over 52% of global website traffic in 2019 was generated from mobile devices, and in a world that is becoming increasingly fast paced and westernized, this number is likely to continue rising steadily. 

Apps have come a long way since then when apps like the mobile game Snake and Cuberunner were rulers of the app kingdom. Most of us remember Apple’s somewhat infamous ad campaign reminding us that “there’s an app for that,” and that statement rings even truer today than it did then.

What is the better solution: an app or progressive web application?

When considering whether or not to build an app, one question you should confront is this: would it serve my purposes better to have an app or a progressive web app (PWA)? 

In many circumstances a PWA is probably a better choice than a native app. 

A PWA is an application that you access via your mobile browser—they are halfway between a mobile app and a mobile website. 

Progressive web apps are mobile websites that are built to work like a native app. These apps use a modern javascript framework.

Although they don’t have EVERY capability of a regular app (it can’t make your phone vibrate with a new notification, for example), the PWA can do almost everything that a native app can do, and even has more advantages. 

Some of the advantages of using a PWA are:

• You don’t need to install it, yet you can access the same benefits of a native app.

• Many of the features can be used offline.

• You can enable some push notifications (depending on your browser).

• In many cases the PWA has a much faster response time than a native app. 

• They are less expensive and take less time to build than a native app.

• Doesn’t take up as much space as a native app.

• The UX is just as reliable and engaging as a native app.

We here at Binar Code do development in PWA, which many experts agree is the future for app development. If you have any questions about whether or not a PWA is for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

If you are still interested in native app development...

Streaming services, banks, travel booking companies, they all have mobile apps. In fact, a 2017 study found that Americans check their phone every 12 minutes, which equates to an average of 80 times a day. 

So, why not get a piece of this tech-driven pie?

A company needs a website to have a digital presence, but the ability to be at consumers’s fingertips is a necessity most companies have come to understand. 

However, if you’re not a developer yourself, you might be wondering just how you can find a qualified app developer to help you scale your business.

Consider all the factors surrounding your project, and it can quickly become overwhelming. Do you want your app developed for both iOS and Android users? Should you go with a native or web app? How much are you willing to spend? What scale and reach do you want your app to have? 

To help you find the right team for the job, we’ve picked out the most capable app developers in the United States for your desired functionality, budget, and user-base. 

A quick note about outsourcing

The fantastic part of hiring freelance, or contract, app developers is that coding is not necessarily location-centric. 

While this list strictly covers app developers operating inside of the US, there are plenty of options for hiring overseas developers. 

For example, we (Binar Code) are based right here in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We develop high-level software products for numerous American and European clients, as do many of our local colleagues. 

If you’re open to working with overseas teams, there’s plenty of options for finding talented developers.

If you want to learn more about options for hiring app developers that aren’t based in the USA, we made an article just for you!

But, without further ado, let’s begin the rundown of the best app developers in the US. 

Toptal 

Toptal is technically a platform for finding software developers, but we put them in this list because they make it somewhat easier to find a US-based developer than if you were to simply set out to find one on your own. 

To be hired through Toptal, an app developer needs to be deemed in the top 3% of all developers in the industry. In other words, they're the real deal. 

From design to functionality, Toptal offers you the choice to choose a developer that works for the goals you want to accomplish with your app. 

Toptal’s top-notch talent means you will be paying a hefty premium when hiring one of their freelance developers, and typically that hourly rate runs between $70 - $90 per hour. 

On the bright side, the customization offered through Toptal will ensure you get a usable finished product.

From front-end developers to back-end developers to UI designers, Toptal offers a trial period for whomever you hire as a safeguard. 

Consagous Technologies 

Headquartered in Chicago, Consagous  has weathered the tumultuous infancy stages of the app industry with over ten years of experience. 

The company specialized in iOS, Android, and Windows development, meaning there is virtually no operating system that this team can’t handle, and for a lower price than most competitors at a typical rate of $25 - $50 per hour. 

Consagous offers front and back end IT development services across all industries. In this regard, they are one of the most diverse companies available for hire and can apply their expertise from healthcare to the restaurant industry.

If your company is already established within the digital domain, Consagous can integrate the design, function, and overall aesthetics into the development of your app. 

One aspect of development that Consagous prides itself on is user design, something that business owners inexperienced with technology products may benefit from. 

The company’s model includes assigning your project a specific manager who will assist in strategizing the rollout of your app so that you are not ‘left in the dark’ once development has been completed.  

Gun.io 

Gun.io is the company you should hire if it isn’t your first rodeo within the app world. 

Much of the company’s focus is on scalability and growth, so if your enterprise already possesses a basic app as a sort of ‘footprint’ in the global app space, Gun.io can assist in expanding the app's features and function for a growing user base. 

The company advertises extensively that it knows its developers' personality, interests, and most importantly expertise, and this knowledge expedites the matchmaking process exponentially with most companies meeting their custom developer within two days. 

Rather exclusive in its acceptance of developers, Gun.io is an invite-only platform hiring specialized developers at the discretion of its internal community. 

In other words, developers can’t simply apply to work for Gun.io, and maybe this is why the company has been chosen by modern innovative companies such as Tesla and Dollar Shave Club. 

Roughly 90% of the company’s developer community is based in the United States, meaning that these developers know what sells, and also have an understanding of what types of aesthetics will allow your brand to be gobbled up by the masses with increased visibility. 

God forbid things don’t work out the way you expect them to, but we’ve all been there. You order a dish, but what the server brings isn’t on par with what you had in mind. 

Unfortunately, the same scenario can happen in the app development realm, but one unique feature of Gun.io at any time if you feel that the product your company is getting isn’t worth the price tag, then Gun.io gives you the freedom to swap your developer with one that aligns closer to your needs. 

X-Team

X-Team offers developers that can work for an hourly or monthly basis. Something to note is that the developers assigned to your project by X-Team will only work on one project at a time, which may help you move quickly. 

While it’s based in the United States, X-Team does hire developers from many countries in the world. This can allow for greater flexibility in stylizing your mobile application.

We don’t see it or notice it, but apps are highly dependent upon the person creating it. So if you find that apps from a particular region are more visually engaging or pleasing, then X-Team can hook your company up with a developer anywhere in the world, including Asia and Europe. 

X- Team has developers for nearly every language or practice, from Javascript to DevOps to Drupal who generate software within a wide price range, anywhere from $25 - $250 per hour depending on the quality and in-depth features. 

Go forth and find your dev

No matter what company you decide fits your needs best, be sure to get your toes wet before committing large amounts of hard-earned revenue towards development. 

Most companies will offer a free estimate to give you a general idea of the price tag associated with your app venture, and it is important to take advantage of this business model. 

Ask questions, be open about your vision and the intended outcome for your app, and above all take ownership in regard to the use and trajectory of your app after the development process. 

The last thing you want is a beautiful looking app which you haven’t the slightest clue how to expand upon. 

After all, long term success should be the end-goal, regardless of how difficult it may be to come by.  

In a world where software and app development is becoming more competitive, your company should be the entity determining what the appropriate price is for your app needs, not the company which you are paying. 

Now get out there and find the perfect developer for you. They’re waiting!