There is no single "best" app developer, there is the best one for your situation. For a founder with an idea and no technical team, that's the person who owns the whole thing: plan, build, launch, operate and hand over the code. Check any vendor against these five criteria.
The 5 criteria
- Plans and operates what they build. Not just writing code, but owning the architecture and keeping the app running.
- Fixed price on a written scope. No open hourly budget, price and date are set before the start.
- Real, shipped apps. Provable products in the store, not just concepts and mockups.
- Full code handover. You get source code, accounts and documentation, no vendor lock-in.
- Cover after launch. Bug-fixing and optional operation, not "unreachable after delivery".
Where I sit on this list
- ✓ 20+ years of experience; I plan, build and operate myself.
- ✓ Fixed-price starting points (MVP from $18,000, production app from $52,000), scope in writing.
- ✓ Several apps live in the App Store, see them.
- ✓ Full handover of code, accounts and docs from day one.
- ✓ 30-day (MVP) or 90-day (production) bug-fixing, then optional operation.
More about the person behind the work: about me.