When you have an app to build, two of your top priorities are likely saving time and money. Custom app development is known to be rather pricey, and can take a long time. While a good end product is worth the cost, you may not have that kind of budget. That’s why agencies and freelance developers are using Bubble.io for app development. It not only reduces the turnaround time, but it makes app development more affordable for their clients.
If you’ve been wanting to use Bubble.io for app development, and you’re wondering how to find a Bubble certified developer for your project, this article will help you make the right choice.
First, let’s look at Bubble.io to see how it works.
What is Bubble.io for app development?
Bubble.io is a no-code visual application builder that makes creating apps easier and more affordable than using traditional coding methods. It’s suitable for most small-to-medium-sized projects that don’t have extensive and highly complex requirements.
The reason developers choose Bubble.io over other no-code platforms is because it’s robust, more customizable than other options, and open-ended. Custom, complex needs can be met with back-end logic, which is not something other no-code platforms offer.
The main benefits of developing apps with Bubble.io include:
- Full-stack capability. With Bubble.io, you get code-free development, design, and even hosting.
- Responsive design. You need responsive design in today’s world to be successful. Bubble.io has this covered. All web app layouts created will be responsive and will look great in any of today’s browsers on any device.
- Customizations. With some app development platforms, you don’t really get much of a choice regarding the aesthetics of the user interface. Bubble.io makes it possible to create any UX/UI that can be envisioned. Every workflow step, database field, and search parameter can be fully defined.
- Scalability. Since Bubble.io is built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), there’s more than enough computing power to scale your projects with high uptime and security.
- API integrations. There are plenty of plugins for Bubble.io, and a tool that makes API connections easy. Apps built with Bubble.io can be integrated with most third-party APIs.
Bubble.io makes it easy to develop applications without having to know any code. There is no learning curve to navigate, and since the platform is visual, you can create applications in record time, preserving more of your time and energy for handling other important tasks.
Although Bubble.io is easy to use, it still requires the mind of a developer to create a good app. You’ll need to assess which Bubble developers can meet your needs while balancing skill, speed, quality, and support. Whether you just need one application or you intend to sell apps, here’s how you can find the right developer.
Choosing between an agency and a freelancer
If you search online, you’ll find many developers who claim to be expert Bubble.io developers, but you need to be selective with who you hire. There are experts out there, but you can’t just hire the first person you find.
The first decision you need to make is whether you’ll hire an agency or a freelancer. There are benefits and drawbacks to both.
Bubble development freelancers – the pros and cons
The biggest benefit of hiring a freelancer is the low cost. There are many freelance developers who will work with a small budget (under $5k) and sometimes that’s because they’re not located in the United States. However, the largest drawback to working with a freelancer is not being able to get high-level, consistent, professional results.
Freelancers are usually busy working with multiple clients, juggling deadlines, and trying to live their own lives. Even if they do a good job with one project, there’s no guarantee they’ll have time for additional projects. Unfortunately, freelancers also have a reputation for being unpredictable and unreliable, sometimes disappearing on their clients.
If you need consistency and regular output, it’s better to work with a development team whose sole responsibility is developing applications.
Bubble development agencies – the pros and cons
Bubble.io agencies are in a better position to take on large projects with complex needs. They build applications for a living and are not trying to work around their personal schedules, so they have adequate time to focus on their projects.
Development agencies also tend to have experienced team members who can work together to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions. A team of Bubble developers will provide more specialization to your projects, like security, QA, and project management. There’s also less risk involved since companies want to maintain their reputation.
How to evaluate a potential Bubble.io developer
You can find experienced, talented developers in a variety of places, but it’s often hard to know who is legitimate. Here are some tips for discerning which developers you can trust and who has the skills required for your project.
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Can you verify experience and results?
Every Bubble developer should have an accessible portfolio that details how long they’ve been working with the platform, case studies that show how their projects have been used, and real client reviews.
As a general rule, a Bubble developer with at least five years of experience is going to be more trustworthy than someone with less than one year. Anything between 2-5 years is fair and less risky.
When looking at case studies and results, look for projects similar to yours. Just because Bubble.io is a no-code environment doesn’t mean any Bubble developer can create an app that meets your needs. Each app will have a unique set of features and specific design needs, so it’s important to choose someone familiar with your existing needs.
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Who makes up the development team?
You should be able to research the individuals on a development team to find out more about them. For example, people with experience in other roles, like marketing and management, bring far more to the table than someone who has only ever worked as an app developer.
If possible, look up the team members on LinkedIn to see if they have a profile. You can get a good idea of who you’ll be working with from LinkedIn since most people list their qualifications and experience in full.
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What is their location?
Finding a development company as close to your time zone as possible is ideal because then you won’t get stuck having Zoom meetings at 4:00 a.m. every week. Location also matters because it’s easier to work with someone who speaks your language. Although, many offshore developers do speak multiple languages. It’s just a matter of getting all your needs met with one development team.
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What is the pricing structure?
While price shouldn’t be the only factor that goes into making your decision, it is important. It shouldn’t be hard to find a development team with competitive pricing. Once you start looking around, you’ll get a good idea of what development costs.
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What is the lead time?
A professional Bubble development company should be able to start your project reasonably soon, but if someone offers to start immediately, that might be a sign of desperation, which is a red flag. However, if they can’t start for several months, that’s not necessarily a bad sign, but you should continue looking for another developer. Generally speaking, you should only have to wait a couple of weeks to get started.
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Is there a well-defined scope?
Experienced developers should be able to define the scope of your project in detail concerning the design and features. You want a company that asks you all the right questions because that’s the only way they’ll know what you need. A developer who promises to deliver without learning about your project is a red flag.
The main concern with this factor is that app developers can’t accurately calculate the cost of development without knowing your project needs in detail. If you don’t choose a company that has this down to a science, you can expect project delays, missed deadlines, and you’ll end up going over budget multiple times throughout the development cycle.
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Is there good communication?
Good communication with your Bubble developer involves more than just being in contact with them. Pay attention to the quality of that communication. For example, make sure they understand what you’ve told them about your needs. Ask them to reiterate what you’ve said and explain it to you to make sure they fully understand. You’re paying for the development, so you don’t want to have to pay more because they didn’t understand some of your more complex needs.
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Do you get ongoing support?
Once your developer delivers the project to you, is that the end of your deal, or will there be any ongoing support? If you need small tweaks or anything added to your app in the future, will they be available for that, or will you be on your own to find another developer?
Make Dev.co your Bubble development partner
If you’re looking for an expert development team to build your app, we would love to hear from you. At Dev.co, our team of professional Bubble developers are ready to build your app and help you launch faster for a fraction of the cost you’d pay for traditional development. Although, if you need traditional development, we can handle those needs as well.
Already offer app development? We can help you, too
Whether you’re already providing app development to your clients, or you’d like to start offering these services, you can outsource everything to our Bubble.io team. Even if you have an existing software development team, outsourcing some of your projects can greatly support your business. For example, you’ll be able to take on more clients overall, and you can outsource the simpler projects to us.
Our expert software developers specialize in helping all kinds of businesses build mobile and web apps for clients and to sell in the marketplace. If you have a project in mind, reach out to us today and let’s talk!
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