Choosing an app developer is a decision you make by asking the right questions before signing. First, ask who writes the code and whether the price is fixed. Second, ask who owns the source code, the design and the App Store and Google Play accounts. Third, ask how testing, store review, the GDPR, maintenance and handover are arranged. The 12 questions below cover each point, with a good answer and a red flag. For example, a cross-platform app built with React Native or Flutter costs €15,000 to €60,000 at VirtuoLab as an indication for 2026. Store fees come on top: €99 per year (Apple) and €25 once (Google). According to Apple, about 90% of submissions are reviewed within 48 hours. Finally, compare at least 3 companies side by side, with the same brief for each.
1. Who actually builds my app?
The developer who sells a project is not always the developer who builds the app. Many agencies bring a senior consultant to the sales meeting and hand the build to a junior, a subcontractor or an offshore team. Subcontracting is not wrong in itself, but a client deserves to know before signing. A good answer names the people who write the code, shows published apps on Google Play or the App Store, and offers direct contact. Even an agency with 40 people can name the developers on your project. For example, VirtuoLab is a one-person software agency in Papendrecht, where every app is built by Mustafa Kose using React Native, Flutter or Swift. The first advantage is short lines, without an account manager in between. The honest downside is capacity, because one developer can only run a limited number of projects at the same time. Additionally, holidays and illness affect the planning. Continuity comes back in question 12. Ask any one-person business how continuity is arranged.
2. Can you show work I can try myself?
A portfolio is the best evidence of skill when you can click through the work yourself. Screenshots and client logos say little, while a working demo via TestFlight or a live app on Google Play says much more. A good answer includes a demo on your own phone and an explanation of the technical choices. Ask two follow-up questions. Point 1: which part of each project did the developer build personally? Agency portfolios often show work by colleagues who have since left. Point 2: is each case real client work or a concept? Additionally, be careful with client names and claims you cannot verify, such as "used by 50,000 people". In practice, the projects page from VirtuoLab shows in-house products and demos, not client work. VirtuoLab built all of it itself. Honest labelling matters more than a long list of logos.
3. Who owns the source code, the design and the data?
Ownership is the question with the biggest long-term impact, because the owner of the source code decides who can maintain the app later. Under Article 2 of the Dutch Copyright Act (Auteurswet), a transfer of copyright requires a written deed made for the purpose. Without such a clause, the developer keeps the rights, even after the final invoice is paid. In Germany, copyright itself cannot be transferred under the German Copyright Act, according to Section 29. A German developer can only grant rights of use, which Section 31 allows to be exclusive. A good answer is a contract transferring all rights, or an exclusive and perpetual licence, for the source code, designs and documentation. Additionally, the code belongs in a Git repository in your own name, for example hosted with GitHub (Microsoft) or GitLab. VirtuoLab follows the same principle: the client owns the code and the data.
4. Do you work for a fixed price or an hourly rate?
A fixed price is an agreed amount for an agreed scope, while an hourly rate means paying for the time actually spent. A fixed price gives budget certainty and shifts the risk of underestimation to the developer. An hourly rate is more flexible when the scope is still unclear, but the final bill can grow with every surprise. A good answer explains which model applies and how changes are priced before work starts. Additionally, ask for a written scope, because a fixed price is only as reliable as the description of the work. After a free intake call with VirtuoLab, the client receives a fixed price in advance. For example, a simple mobile app for the first 500 customers costs €10,000 to €20,000 as an indication for 2026. A medium-sized app costs €20,000 to €50,000. The exact price from VirtuoLab follows from the scope.
5. What is not included in the price?
The items missing from a quote often cost more than the items in the quote. Common exclusions are UX design, texts and images, the backend server, third-party licences, store accounts and maintenance. A good answer is a quote with an explicit list of exclusions, so offers can be compared fairly. In 2026, the Apple Developer Program costs €99 per year, according to Apple. According to Google, a Google Play developer account costs a one-time fee of €25. Hosting for an app backend built with Node.js and PostgreSQL typically adds €50 to €500 per month, and an app for 200 users sits near the low end. Additionally, ask whether bug fixes after launch are free during a warranty period. For example, two quotes of €20,000 can differ by thousands of euros once hosting, design and support are added. A developer who names every running cost upfront is easier to trust than the lowest headline price.
6. Native or cross-platform: what fits my app?
Cross-platform development means one codebase for iPhone and Android, built with a framework such as React Native (Meta) or Flutter (Google). Native development means a separate app per platform, in Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. Cross-platform is usually cheaper and faster to build, which makes the approach a sensible default for most business apps. Native fits heavy graphics, advanced Bluetooth or camera features, and apps needing new iOS features on day one. A good answer explains the choice for your specific app, not the developer's favourite tool. For example, an app for both platforms with React Native or Flutter costs €15,000 to €60,000 as a 2026 indication from VirtuoLab. Two native apps cost €40,000 to €120,000. Additionally, ask what the choice means for maintenance, since two native codebases need two rounds of updates for every platform change.
7. Can I see progress and test along the way?
Regular demos are the best protection against a project drifting away from the goal. A good developer works in short sprints and shows working software after each sprint, not slides. Ask how you can test on your own phone during the build. On iPhone, testing runs via TestFlight: a developer can invite up to 10,000 people as external testers, according to Apple. On Android, Google Play offers internal, closed and open test tracks. Google adds one rule worth knowing for accounts created after 13 November 2023. Such personal developer accounts need a closed test with at least 12 testers for 14 days before launch. Additionally, ask which tests run automatically and which devices are tested by hand. In practice, VirtuoLab works in short sprints with interim demos. The client sees the app grow step by step and can steer before the budget is spent.
8. Whose name goes on the App Store and Google Play account?
The developer account is the legal owner of the app listing, so the account belongs in your company's name. Apple shows the account holder as the seller on the App Store, according to the Apple Developer Program enrolment page. An organisation account requires a D-U-N-S Number, which Apple uses to verify the legal entity. The App Review Guidelines from Apple also say apps should be submitted by the person or legal entity owning the intellectual property. Additionally, Google Play distinguishes personal and organisation accounts, and new personal accounts face the testing rule from question 7. A good answer is simple: the developer publishes via App Store Connect under your account with a team role. When an app sits in the developer's account, moving the app later requires an app transfer and cooperation from the developer. For example, a business app with 1,000 customers belongs in the account of the business.
9. Who handles App Store review and rejections?
App Store review is the check Apple runs on every new app and update before release. According to Apple, App Review typically handles at least 50% of submissions within 24 hours and 90% within 48 hours. Rejections still happen, often for avoidable reasons. First, guideline 2.1 asks for a complete app, a working backend and a demo account when the app has a login. Second, guideline 5.1.1 requires a privacy policy link, plus account deletion inside the app when users can create an account. In a good answer, the developer prepares the store listing, screenshots, privacy details and demo account via App Store Connect. Rejections are then resolved within the agreed scope. In practice, ask which apps the developer has published personally and which rejection reasons came up. Finally, Google Play runs a separate review under the policies from Google, so Android needs the same preparation.
10. How do you handle privacy and the GDPR?
The GDPR applies as soon as an app processes personal data such as names, email addresses or locations. When a developer or hosting provider processes personal data on your behalf, Article 28 of the GDPR requires a written contract with the processor. Breaches of the processor rules can lead to fines of up to €10 million or 2% of worldwide annual turnover, according to Article 83. The highest tier reaches €20 million or 4%. A good answer covers four points. First, a data processing agreement with the developer and every hosting provider. Second, servers in the European Union where possible. Third, data minimisation, so the app only collects data a feature needs. Finally, a privacy policy, which Apple requires for every app. In practice, privacy choices made at the start cost far less than fixes after launch.
11. What does maintenance cost after launch?
App maintenance is not optional, because Apple and Google regularly raise the technical requirements for apps. Since 28 April 2026, apps uploaded to App Store Connect must be built with Xcode 26 and an iOS 26 SDK, according to Apple. According to Google, new apps and app updates on Google Play must target Android 16 (API level 36) from 31 August 2026. For example, an app with 1,000 users and no maintenance reaches a point where even a small bug fix requires a platform upgrade first. A good answer is a clear maintenance offer: what is included, which response times apply and what a yearly platform update costs. Hosting for the backend adds €50 to €500 per month. Additionally, ask who monitors crashes and who updates outdated libraries. At VirtuoLab, launch and support form the fourth and final step of every project.
12. What happens if we stop working together?
A good handover plan is the clearest sign of a developer who does not lock clients in. Ask the question before you sign, not when the relationship ends. A complete handover in 2026 includes the source code in your own repository, documentation for setup and deployment, and all passwords and API keys. The handover also covers admin access to App Store Connect, Google Play, hosting and domains, plus the design files, for example made with Figma. In a good answer, every account is already in your name, so a handover takes days rather than months. An app used by 2,000 customers can then move to another developer without a rebuild. For a one-person business such as VirtuoLab, a clean handover also answers the continuity question from question 1. Additionally, a common framework such as React Native, Flutter or Next.js makes the step easier than an exotic in-house framework.
What do good and bad answers look like?
Frequently asked questions
How many app developers should I compare?
Comparing quotes from 3 companies is usually enough to see the spread in price and approach. Fewer than three gives little reference, and the time cost for every party grows quickly above 5. First, send each developer the same short brief with the goal, the target users, the must-have features and the deadline. Second, ask the 12 questions above and compare the answers side by side using Google Sheets, not just the totals. For example, a low quote without design, hosting and store publication can end up more expensive than a complete quote. Finally, watch how each developer asks questions back. A developer who challenges the brief usually thinks about the business goal, not only about the code. At VirtuoLab, every question above is answered by VirtuoLab's developer personally during a free first call.
Is a freelance app developer a risk?
A freelance app developer is a risk mainly when the code, the accounts and the documentation depend on one person. The same risk exists at an agency with 50 people when one employee holds all the knowledge about an app. A freelancer usually offers direct contact and lower overhead, while an agency offers more capacity and backup. Three measures make the risk manageable. Point 1: the source code lives in your own repository, for example with GitHub. Point 2: the store and hosting accounts at Apple and Google are in your company's name. Point 3: the documentation allows another developer to continue. Additionally, ask any freelancer how illness and holidays are covered. VirtuoLab is a one-person business as well, and the client owns the code and the data. The article from VirtuoLab on freelance developers versus software agencies compares the costs and risks in more detail.
How long does it take to build an app?
The time to build an app depends mostly on scope, and a cross-platform MVP is a useful benchmark. At VirtuoLab, a cross-platform MVP built with React Native or Flutter takes 8 to 12 weeks as an indication for 2026. The price is €15,000 to €25,000. Larger apps with many user roles, integrations or offline features take longer. Additionally, plan the time around the build. Apple reviews 90% of submissions within 48 hours, according to Apple, but a rejection adds another round. A new personal Google Play account needs a closed test with 12 testers for 14 days. For example, an MVP for the first 200 users can launch on iPhone first while the Android test runs. In practice, the fastest app projects combine a clear scope with quick feedback from the client after every demo.