Insights · 5 min read
Freelancer, agency or small studio: who should build your app?
By Austin Hunter ·
We're a small studio, so we have a bias, and we'll say so. But we've also taken over projects from freelancers and agencies, and each option is genuinely right for some projects. Here's how they compare.
| Freelancer | Large agency | Small studio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Lowest | Highest | In between |
| Who does the work | The person you hired | Often a rotating team; seniors in the pitch, juniors on the build | The senior people you talk to |
| Range of skills | Usually one specialty | Broad: design, dev, marketing, strategy | Focused: design and development, sometimes more |
| Continuity after launch | Depends on one person's availability | Strong process, but you're one of many accounts | Usually long-term, with a monthly plan |
| Process and paperwork | Light | Heavy | Light but written down |
When a freelancer makes sense
A small, well-defined job (a landing page, a feature on an existing app) with someone whose past work you've seen. Protect yourself: make sure code, accounts and hosting are in your name from day one, and have a plan for if they become unavailable.
When an agency makes sense
A large program that needs many disciplines at once (brand, content, marketing, development) and a budget to match. Ask who will actually do the work, and meet them before signing.
When a small studio makes sense
A custom app, web app or website that has to keep running after launch, where you want direct access to the people building it and a predictable monthly plan afterwards. Ask how they handle vacations and emergencies, and who the backup is.
Questions to ask any of them
- Who exactly will build this, and who covers when they're away?
- Will the code, app store accounts, domain and hosting be in my name?
- What does it cost per month after launch, and what does that include?
- Can I talk to a client whose project you've run for more than a year?
- What happens if we part ways? How do I get everything back?
How we work
Elco Dev is a small studio near Nashville: fixed quotes paid by milestone, the developer you talk to does the work, everything in your name, and monthly care plans after launch. If that sounds like a fit, book a free call.