If you want to get ahead in today’s business world, building digital products is a great way to go. This can be a tough task for companies outside the digital space, but there’s no need to stress. Many options are available to companies looking to create digital products, regardless of how tech-savvy they may be.
Rather than hiring a full, in-house development team to create a digital product, most businesses will opt to hire a third party to handle their development needs. This usually comes in the form of freelancers or an end-to-end product development company, like RebelDot.
Both are great options, but one might be better for you depending on your needs. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of hiring freelancers vs. hiring an end-to-end development company.
Hiring an end-to-end development company versus freelance developers
Both end-to-end development companies and freelance developers will build you a great digital product, but which is better for your business? Here are some facts to help you decide.
End-to-end development companies
End-to-end development companies offer end-to-end services for developing and launching a product. They will handle every part of the project on your behalf so you can continue to focus on your other essential business tasks.
While there are many advantages to working with a software development company, there are also some potential drawbacks. Here are some pros and cons of working with an end-to-end development company:
Pros:
- Experience: End-to-end development companies have worked on multiple projects in the past, giving them a broad perspective on what works and what doesn’t. With this experience, they can provide valuable insights and recommendations to ensure your product’s success.
- A full team of experts: Agencies have a team of experts in various fields, including design, development, analytics, and project management. This means that clients don’t have to worry about finding and hiring individual freelancers for each stage of development.
- Established team workflows: End-to-end development companies have existing teams that work well together, which means they have established workflows and project management processes. This helps keep projects running on time and within budget.
- Proven quality of work: Agencies have a reputation to uphold and typically have a portfolio of successful projects, indicating a proven quality of work.
Best of all, the development company will handle all the tedious product management work.
Now let’s quickly look at the downsides of using an end-to-end development company.
Cons:
- Can be costly: Hiring an end-to-end development company is typically more expensive than hiring individual freelancers. The cost may vary depending on the company’s location and the team’s experience, but clients are paying for the expertise and experience of an entire team.*However, it is worth mentioning that, while hiring an end-to-end product development company may be more expensive than hiring individual freelancers, it can ultimately save time and money in the long run. With a full-service development team, clients can avoid the costs of recruiting, hiring, and managing multiple freelancers for different project tasks. Moreover, working with a professional team ensures that the development process is handled efficiently, with expertise and a deep understanding of all the steps needed for a successful product launch. With a well-structured development process, clients can enjoy a faster time-to-market and a higher return on investment.
- Less flexibility: End-to-end development companies have established schedules and workflows, which can make them less flexible than working with freelancers. Clients may have to adjust their timelines to accommodate the company’s workflow.*While it’s true that some development companies have established workflows and schedules, this is not always the case. Many full-product development companies, such as RebelDot, have experience working with a variety of clients and understand the importance of flexibility in meeting the unique needs of each project. Agile methodologies, which are often used by full-product development companies, prioritize adaptability and flexibility, making it possible to adjust timelines and workflows as needed. Furthermore, by working closely with clients and establishing a transparent collaboration process, cross-functional teams can quickly identify potential roadblocks or areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. This level of collaboration can actually lead to greater flexibility and efficiency in the development process compared to working with individual freelancers.
Freelance developers
Freelance developers are individual professionals who work on projects on a contract basis, either through temporary staff augmentation or independently.
Here are the pros and cons of working with freelance developers:
Pros:
- Lower costs: Freelance developers are often less expensive than end-to-end development companies, making them an attractive option for companies on a budget.
- Plenty of options: Freelance developers can be found all over the internet, allowing clients to find people with very specific skills and expertise.
Cons:
- Inconsistent: It can be challenging to ensure the quality of work when working with freelance developers, especially if they’re not vetted or recommended by someone you trust. This can cause problems when you’re nearing the project’s end, and you realize the work is subpar.
- Confidentiality concerns: Clients may be concerned about sharing confidential information with a freelance developer not part of a larger organization. This can be especially true for sensitive projects.
- Less (or no) support to back them up: Freelance developers typically work alone and don’t have the support of a larger team. This means clients may not receive the same level of support and expertise that they would with an end-to-end development company.
- One may not be enough: Depending on the project’s scope, clients may need to hire multiple freelancers for different stages of the development process. This can make your project more complex and harder to manage.
- You’re in charge of product management: When working with freelance developers, clients need to be comfortable managing and communicating with them directly, which can add another layer of complexity to the project.
As a full-product development company, RebelDot has a deep understanding of what it takes to launch a successful digital product. When founders choose to work with us, they’re getting more than just a team of developers – they’re getting a partner who can help guide them through every step of the process. This can include everything from product strategy and market research to ongoing maintenance and support, providing a comprehensive solution that’s hard to find with individual freelancers.
When should you hire a full-product development company versus a freelancer?
Choosing between an end-to-end development company and a freelancer is ultimately up to your business and project needs.
If you’re a small company with a limited budget, you may be unable to stretch your budget to an end-to-end development company. If that’s you, freelancers might be the best choice until you can fully outsource your digital products to a development company.
If your business is a little larger and you can stretch your budget, it’s far easier (and often better) to go with an end-to-end development company. By collaborating with an end-to-end development company, you gain access to a team of skilled implementers and a team of consultants who will be there for you throughout the entire development process. This cross-functional team of experts will go out of their way to provide the best user experience possible, constantly looking for the best solutions and ensuring your product receives the care and attention it deserves.
Partner with RebelDot, an end-to-end product development company
If you’re looking for a team with proven quality and skill but don’t have the time to build a new team from scratch, consider working with us at RebelDot.
We don’t just build digital products — we partner with you to help guide development and build the product of your dreams!
Get in touch with RebelDot today to discuss your product ideas.
