How to Hire a Cross-Platform Developer? All You Need to Know

Cross-platform app development is changing the game for businesses—no more juggling multiple codebases for iOS and Android! With frameworks like React Native and Flutter cross-platform development, you can build apps for various platforms from a single codebase, cutting development costs and time.

Over 40% of developers worldwide are deploying Cross-Platfrom app development frameworks. On the whole, roughly one-third of mobile developers use cross-platform technologies or frameworks; the rest of mobile developers use native tools.

The popularity of cross-platform deployment in the business landscape makes hiring professional cross-platform developers a priority. But the question is: how to hire a cross-platform app developer who is right for your business?

In this blog, we’ll explore the process of hiring cross-platform app developers, hiring models, key skills developers should possess, factors to consider when hiring, and potential pitfalls and red flags to avoid.

Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks

Cross-platform development refers to building apps that work across multiple platforms like iOS, Android, and the web using a single codebase. This approach is gaining popularity for its cost-effectiveness and speed, as developers don’t need to create separate apps for each platform. It’s particularly beneficial for startups looking to launch quickly and businesses aiming to streamline their mobile app development process.

Here are some of the most popular cross-platform frameworks:

1. React Native: Developed by Facebook, React Native is another popular framework for building apps that work seamlessly on iOS and Android.

It uses JavaScript and React, making it a familiar choice for developers already experienced with web technologies.

2. Flutter: Flutter, backed by Google, is a top choice for building visually rich, high-performance apps that run on mobile, web, and desktop.

Its standout feature is the use of customizable widgets, which make it easy to create sleek, responsive designs.

3. Xamarin: Xamarin, owned by Microsoft, is a great option for businesses already integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem. It uses .NET and C# framework to develop cross-platform apps for iOS, Android, and Windows.

Xamarin is known for offering strong performance and full access to native APIs, which allows developers to create high-functioning apps that integrate well with existing enterprise systems.

How to Hire a Cross-Platform App Developer?

Understanding the steps involved is important to ensure you find the right fit for your project. By following a structured approach, you can evaluate skills, experience, and cultural compatibility, ultimately leading to the successful development of your app. Here are the key steps to follow while you plan to hire a cross-platform mobile app development team:

Clarify What You Need in a Cross-Platform Developer

Before we talk about how to hire a cross-platform app developer, it is crucial for you to clearly defining your project’s scope is essential. What platforms will your app run on? What are your must-have features and functionalities? By articulating these needs upfront, you’ll streamline the process to hire cross-platform developers and ensure you’re attracting developers who align with your technical goals and vision.

Where to Find Cross-Platform Developers

Once you have a clear vision of your project needs, it’s time to begin the search for developers who can bring your idea to life. Here are some top sources to help you find the right talent:

• Job Boards: Post openings on Stack Overflow Jobs, Indeed, and LinkedIn to attract skilled developers.
• Development Agencies: Consider agencies specializing in cross-platform development for a team-based approach with extensive expertise.
• Freelance Platforms: Sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Toptal help you find experienced cross-platform developers with specific expertise.
• Developer Communities: Explore GitHub, Stack Overflow, and Reddit for active developers involved in open-source projects.

These platforms provide various options to discover the right talent for your project, giving you a list of cross-platform developers for hire.

Effectively Evaluate Potential Candidates

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of potential candidates, it’s time to evaluate their skills. Review their portfolios for previous cross-platform apps they’ve worked on. Pay close attention to their familiarity with the frameworks you plan to use, such as React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin. You should also assess their problem-solving abilities and communication skills, which are critical for working collaboratively on complex projects.

Key Questions to Ask Your Prospects

Ask about their experience solving complex challenges, their approach to cross-platform trade-offs, and how they handle collaboration and feedback. Here’s a questionnaire to help you hire dedicated cross-platform app developers for your project.

• How do you manage performance trade-offs between different platforms?
• How do you handle testing and quality assurance for cross-platform apps?
• What are the toughest problems you’ve solved using cross-platform development tools?
• How experienced are you with debugging and troubleshooting cross-platform issues?
• How do you keep up with the latest trends and advancements in cross-platform development?
• What cross-platform frameworks do you prefer and why?

Make the Final Call

Choosing the right developer goes beyond just checking technical boxes. You’ll want to ensure they fit within your team’s culture and work well in collaborative environments. Consider their communication style, availability, and their ability to handle feedback. A great developer will contribute code and help elevate the team’s performance through proactive problem-solving and creativity.

Now that you understand how to hire a cross-platform app developer let’s explore the key skills you need to consider before making the final decision.

Exploring the Best Hiring Model for Cross-Platform Development

You need to understand the hiring model to get the precise answer to your question about how to hire a cross-platform app developer. Selecting the right hiring model ensures project success when opting for cross-platform development. Whether you choose in-house, outsourcing, or freelancers, each model brings unique benefits that align with different business goals and requirements. The table below outlines these advantages, helping you determine the best fit.

Cost to Hire Cross-Platform Developers

The cost of hiring cross-platform app developers ranges between $40,000 to $300,000. This variation is driven by factors like the app’s complexity, the developers’ location, and the desired features, with premium services or advanced capabilities pushing costs higher

Cost Segregation Based on Hiring Model

When deciding on the best hiring model for cross-platform development, it’s essential to consider the associated costs for each approach:

• In-House: Costs range from $40,000 to $150,000+ annually, offering full control and collaboration but at a higher cost.
• Freelancers: Rates range from $25 to $150 per hour, providing flexibility and affordability for short-term tasks but with variable availability.
• Outsourcing: Typically costs $40,000 to $300,000+ per project, offering cost savings but requiring more oversight. It is one of the most recommended hiring models, offering access to specialized expertise and flexible scaling.

Also Read: Which is Better for App Development: In-House or Outsourcing?

Factors that Affect the Cost to Hire Cross-Platform Developers

When hiring cross-platform developers, evaluating their technical expertise, experience with relevant frameworks, and ability to meet your project’s unique, customized needs is essential. Consider these critical elements when you decide to hire dedicated cross platform app developers for your project:

Geographic Location

Developer rates vary dramatically by region due to differences in economic conditions and labor market trends. For example, North America and Western Europe have higher costs driven by a higher standard of living and demand for skilled professionals, while regions like Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa offer more cost-effective solutions. Businesses often opt for a global talent pool to strike the right balance between cost and expertise.

The cost of hiring a cross-platform developer varies widely based on geographic location, with rates typically ranging between $20-$100 per hour. Here’s a detailed regional breakdown:

Development Tools Used

The choice of tools and frameworks significantly impacts the cost of hiring. Some tools, like Xamarin, may incur additional licensing fees, making them costlier in the long run. Open-source frameworks like Flutter or React Native reduce app development costs but may require highly skilled developers, which increases hiring expenses. Additionally, using specialized tools for testing or analytics can further influence the total project budget.

Experience and Expertise

Developers with extensive experience and mastery in advanced cross-platform frameworks demand higher rates due to their ability to tackle complex challenges and deliver optimized solutions. Senior developers also ensure better performance, scalability, and fewer iterations, reducing long-term costs despite their premium pricing. Their knowledge of advanced development practices and problem-solving adds immense value to projects.

Project Complexity

Your project’s complexity and other critical aspects play a pivotal role in determining costs. Projects requiring intricate features like real-time updates, advanced security, custom animations, or AI-driven functionalities demand additional development time and expertise. As complexity increases, developers must conduct more extensive testing and debugging, which adds to the cost. High complexity may also necessitate collaboration with specialized teams or tools.

Engagement Model

The type of engagement—freelance, full-time, or agency, affects both short-term and long-term costs. Agencies typically charge the highest rates but offer end-to-end solutions, including project management and quality assurance. Freelancers are more affordable and flexible but might lack reliability and continuity.

Full-time employees provide stability and long-term value but include additional costs like benefits, training, and onboarding. Therefore, it is always advisable to outsource your project to a reputed agency like Appinventiv, which has a strong portfolio of the most successful enterprise-level projects.

Key Skills to Evaluate When Hiring Cross-Platform Developers

When hiring a cross-platform developer, looking for a combination of technical proficiency and strong interpersonal skills is important. Here are the core competencies and skills to hire a cross-platform app developer:

Technical Proficiency

The candidate should be well-versed in popular cross-platform frameworks and have a solid understanding of programming languages like JavaScript, Dart, or C#. Their ability to integrate APIs and work with third-party tools is essential to building a functional and scalable app.

Problem-Solving and Flexibility

Cross-platform development often involves addressing unique challenges and overcoming platform-specific issues. Find and hire cross-platform app developers who can showcase their problem-solving skills, especially when optimizing apps or handling compatibility issues across different platforms.

Communication and Teamwork

Effective communication is key, as cross-platform developers often collaborate with designers, product managers, and other team members. They should be able to explain their technical solutions clearly and work seamlessly with others to meet project goals.

UX/UI Sensibility

A skilled cross-platform developer understands the importance of user experience and design. They ensure the app functions well, intuitively, and visually appealing across different devices. They should also be able to apply platform-specific design principles without compromising the app’s consistency.

Testing and Debugging Skills

Testing is critical to ensuring that the app works flawlessly on multiple platforms. Developers should have hands-on experience with debugging tools and strategies to identify and fix cross-platform compatibility issues quickly and effectively.

Version Control Expertise

Knowledge and experience in working with version control systems like Git is essential for smooth collaboration. A skilled developer will use version control to track changes and collaborate with the team efficiently, particularly in larger, more complex projects.

Performance Optimization

Due to multi-platform development, cross-platform apps can sometimes encounter performance issues. The ideal developer should have a strong grasp of optimizing an app’s speed, responsiveness, and resource consumption, ensuring the best performance on both iOS and Android.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When You Hire Dedicated Cross-Platform Developers

Avoiding a few common pitfalls or mistakes can ensure the success of your project, especially when you plan to hire dedicated cross-platform app developers. Here are some of those:

Not Checking Reviews or Past Projects

Client reviews and a portfolio of past work give you valuable insight into how a developer operates. By reviewing these, you can better gauge their reliability, ability to meet deadlines, and the quality of their work, helping you make a more informed hiring decision. Always ensure their previous projects align with your vision and requirements to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road.

Skipping Experience With Cross-Platform Tools

It’s essential to hire developers with hands-on experience using cross-platform tools. These frameworks have unique challenges, and experienced developers can address them more efficiently, ensuring a smoother development process and better app performance in the long run.

Focusing Only on Cost

While choosing the most affordable option is tempting, focusing solely on cost can compromise quality. It’s important to strike a balance—ensuring you get a developer who can deliver the expertise and results you need, even if that means paying a little more upfront. Remember, cutting costs now may lead to higher long-term expenses if the project doesn’t meet expectations.

Neglecting Maintenance and Support

Cross-platform apps require regular maintenance to stay compatible with new OS versions, address security issues, and introduce feature updates. Choosing a developer offering long-term support is crucial to ensuring your app remains functional and up-to-date. Regular updates also help fix bugs quickly and add new features to keep users engaged and satisfied.

Overlooking the Significance of User Experience (UX)

Cross-platform development often requires design compromises to ensure compatibility across different platforms. Hiring a developer who comprehends the intricacies of UX design for Android and iOS is essential.

A subpar user experience can lead to poor app ratings, fewer downloads, and, in the worst case, project failure. Ensure that the developer focuses on delivering an intuitive, consistent, and seamless experience across all platforms.

Neglecting Communication

Effective project management and clear communication are crucial for the success of any app development project. Hire a cross-platform mobile app development team that is proficient in coding and excels at managing timelines, coordinating with your team, and maintaining open lines of communication. Poor communication can cause misunderstandings, delays, and unmet expectations, jeopardizing the overall success of your project.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

When hiring cross-platform developers, companies should be careful to evaluate candidates thoroughly. Therefore, watching for warning signs such as vague communication, unrealistic promises, or reluctance to share past work is important. Here’s what you need to check when hiring cross-platform app developers.

• No Portfolio or Vague Documentation of Past Projects: An unclear or missing portfolio can signal a lack of experience or competence, raising doubts about their ability to deliver quality work.
• Lack of Responsiveness: Poor communication or delayed responses suggest disorganization or a lack of commitment, leading to misunderstandings and project delays.
• Hesitation to Provide References or Transparent Estimates: Reluctance to share client references or detailed cost breakdowns may indicate hidden charges or unreliable services.
• Unrealistic Promises or Deadlines: Guaranteeing unfeasible timelines without thorough assessment often leads to rushed work, missed deadlines, or compromised quality.
• No Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): A refusal to sign an NDA can jeopardize the confidentiality and security of your ideas and sensitive data.
• High Employee Turnover Rates: Frequent team changes disrupt continuity and could indicate internal instability, negatively impacting your project.
• Lack of Post-Development Support Plans: Failing to outline clear maintenance, updates, or troubleshooting strategies leaves you vulnerable to long-term issues.

Advantages of Hiring Cross-Platform Developers

Cross-platform developers for hire offer numerous benefits, including reduced development costs, faster time to market, and the ability to reach a wider audience with a single codebase. Let’s examine those.

Access to a Diverse Skill Set

When it comes to hiring a cross-platform app developer, the first benefit you can leverage is their proficiency and skill set. These developers are technically competent and proficient in multiple programming languages, frameworks, and development platforms, allowing them to craft tailored solutions to your unique project requirements.

End-to-End Solution Delivery

With comprehensive offerings that span ideation, design, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance, professional companies manage your project holistically, eliminating the hassle of coordinating with multiple service providers.

Customizable Development Models

Professional firms offer adaptable engagement options, such as dedicated teams, time-and-material contracts, or fixed-price arrangements. These options empower you to select a structure that best aligns with your budget, timeline, and operational goals.

Expertise and Experience

Professional development companies employ seasoned developers with deep expertise across various technologies, ensuring your project benefits from their mastery of industry best practices and proven methodologies.

Cutting-Edge Technology Expertise

By staying at the forefront of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, and cloud computing, these firms ensure your project leverages innovative tools and advanced integrations for competitive advantage.

Global Delivery Models

Leveraging a distributed workforce and international delivery centers, these companies provide round-the-clock development and support services, ensuring continuous progress and faster delivery timelines across time zones.

Proactive Risk Management

Professional development companies proactively identify and mitigate risks during development, keeping your project on schedule and within budget while addressing potential obstacles before they escalate.

Robust Security Protocols

With extensive experience managing sensitive data, these companies implement stringent security measures to ensure compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, safeguarding your project against data breaches and regulatory penalties.

Cross-Industry Expertise

Having worked across diverse sectors like healthcare, FinTech, eCommerce, and manufacturing, professional development firms bring valuable cross-domain insights, helping them address industry-specific challenges and deliver effective solutions.

Why Appinventiv is the Ideal Cross-Platform Dev Team for Businesses

As businesses seek cost-effective solutions to expand their digital presence, hiring cross-platform app developers becomes critical to leveraging these advanced tools and maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Worried about how to hire a cross-platform app developer? Give this headache to Appinventiv.

Choosing Appinventiv for your cross-platform development needs means partnering with a team that delivers versatile, high-performance applications tailored to your objectives. Hiring cross-platform app developers from our team ensures you gain expert knowledge in crafting seamless, high-performance solutions that provide an exceptional user experience across multiple platforms.

With Appinventiv’s mobile app development services, you can transform your vision into a market-leading app that captivates users and accelerates business growth. With over a decade of experience, we have successfully delivered high-impact cross-platform enterprise solutions for leading brands such as KFC, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Adidas, IKEA, and many others, showcasing our expertise across various industries.

Transform your concepts into top-tier apps that captivate users and drive growth. Hire dedicated cross-platform developers today!

FAQs

Q. How to hire a cross-platform app developer?

A. To hire cross-platform developers and assess their proficiency in various related frameworks. Examine their portfolio, client reviews, and prior work to evaluate their expertise and reliability. Prioritize developers with effective communication, a well-defined workflow, and a commitment to ongoing app maintenance and support.

Q. How much does it cost to hire cross-platform developers?

A. The cost of hiring a cross-platform developer can differ widely depending on the developer’s location, experience, and the complexity of your project. Typically, developers in North America may charge between $50 to $150 per hour, while those in regions like Eastern Europe or South Asia may have rates ranging from $25 to $75 per hour.

The overall cost depends on the project’s scope and whether the app requires advanced features, customizations, or integrations. Long-term maintenance costs must also be factored in.

Q. Why should you hire cross-platform developers for your business?

A. Hiring cross-platform developers offers several benefits. By developing apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, businesses can save time and resources, avoiding the need to create separate native apps for each platform.

This approach reduces development and maintenance costs while delivering a consistent platform user experience. Cross-platform development is ideal for businesses that need to quickly enter the market or optimize their app’s efficiency without compromising quality.

Q. What are the major roles and responsibilities of a cross-platform developer?

A. Cross-platform developers are tasked with creating apps that operate seamlessly across multiple platforms. Key responsibilities include:

• Writing and maintaining code using frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin.
• Ensuring app functionality across various devices and screen sizes.
• Integrating third-party APIs to enhance app capabilities.
• Troubleshooting platform-specific issues and conducting thorough testing.
• Optimizing app performance to ensure smooth operation on both iOS and Android.
• Collaborating with designers and other team members to meet business objectives and user expectations.