When hiring offshore iOS developers, it’s important to understand that demand for their skills is strong and growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for iOS developers is expected to grow by 25% from 2022 to 2032, leading to around 451,200 new job opportunities in the U.S. alone. This surge is driven by factors such as the increasing popularity of Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, the booming app economy, and the rise in mobile commerce. Some of the most widely used apps today, like Uber, Slack, Apple Pay, and WhatsApp, are iOS-based.
As more businesses invest in iOS apps to engage their users and expand their reach, securing the right developers becomes essential. Whether you’re looking to cut costs or scale up development, offshore iOS developers offer a viable solution. But to make the most of this opportunity, it’s important to approach the hiring process with careful planning and clear expectations. Here’s what you need to know to hire offshore iOS developers successfully.
1. What do iOS developers do?
3. How to hire offshore iOS developers?
Hiring offshore iOS developers is more than just finding talent; it involves careful planning, choosing the right partner, and maintaining smooth communication. Below is a more detailed approach to how to effectively hire offshore iOS developers:
3.1 Clearly Define Your Project Needs From Offshore iOS Developers
Before even considering where to look for offshore iOS developers, you must thoroughly understand what kind of offshore iOS developer you need. Firstly, determine whether you’re working on a new app, an MVP, or expanding an existing product. Each scenario will demand different levels of experience from your developers. For example, an MVP might require a smaller team with general iOS skills, while a full-fledged app with complex features might demand specialists in ARKit, Core ML, or integration with backend systems.
Talking about the technology stack, while Swift is the go-to language for iOS development, you might also need proficiency in Objective-C (for legacy apps), SwiftUI (for modern UIs), and Xcode. Understanding the full range of technologies your project requires is key before hiring offshore iOS developers.
Also, don’t forget to have quality expectations. You must define your performance benchmarks; otherwise, you risk facing misaligned expectations, unclear quality standards, and potential delays in identifying issues during development. Are you looking for expertise in building performance-critical applications, high levels of security (especially for industries like FinTech or Healthcare), or scalability for a large user base? Align these requirements early to ensure you hire the right expertise. By having a precise definition of what you want, you ensure that the offshore developers you hire will fit perfectly into your project’s specific needs.
3.2 Selecting the Right Offshore Development Partner
Now that you have clarity on what you need, the next crucial step is choosing the right offshore partner. This decision will significantly impact the quality and speed of your project’s development. Look for partners who have a strong portfolio in mobile development, specifically for iOS apps. InApps Technology, for example, has a solid reputation for delivering top-notch mobile applications to clients in the USA, Australia, and APAC regions.
Ensure the offshore team has experience in developing applications similar to yours. Ask for specific case studies or past projects where they’ve delivered solutions for similar industries, whether that’s eCommerce, healthcare, or on-demand services. Developers who have built apps with features like real-time updates, push notifications, and in-app purchases can save significant time during development.
3.3 Assessing the Offshore iOS Developers’ Skills
Once you’ve shortlisted potential partners, the next step is to assess the actual developers you’ll be working with. Here’s how you can make sure you’re getting quality iOS developers. Don’t skip the technical vetting process. You want to ensure the offshore iOS developers are proficient in Swift, Objective-C, and Xcode. You can also check if your offshore teams understand iOS frameworks, like UIKit, Core Data, and Core Animation, as well as common third-party libraries in app development.
Next is Code Reviews. Ask for examples of their previous work and conduct a code review to ensure they follow best practices, such as writing clean, maintainable code and adhering to Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. If your project involves critical functionality, such as handling financial transactions or sensitive user data, ensure that the team follows Test-Driven Development (TDD) or at least practices unit testing for robust, error-free code.
3.4 Risk Mitigation and Contracts With Offshore Teams
When hiring offshore iOS developers, you’ve got to be sharp about covering your legal and operational bases. Contracts and Legal Considerations are a must. Make sure your contract is rock-solid, covering things like intellectual property rights, data security, confidentiality, and dispute resolution. These aren’t just legal formalities, especially when working across borders—they’re essential.
Then there’s the Scope of Work (SoW). This is your roadmap. Without a detailed SoW, you’re inviting miscommunication and mismatched expectations. You should always ensure it outlines the deliverables, timelines, and quality benchmarks. When everyone’s on the same page from day one, you avoid those frustrating “this isn’t what we wanted” moments. And finally, the payment structure—never pay upfront in full. Make sure to set up milestone-based payments that align with specific project phases. It’s a simple way to assess progress and ensure the work is meeting expectations before you part with more money. This keeps both sides accountable and allows for adjustments along the way.
5. How much does it cost to hire offshore iOS developers?
When you’re planning to hire offshore iOS developers, the cost depends on two main engagement models: Offshore Development Center (ODC) and Project-Based Model. Each model serves different project needs, and the cost structure to hire offshore iOS developers varies accordingly.
5.1 Offshore Development Center (ODC):
An ODC is ideal for long-term projects where you need a dedicated team of iOS developers working consistently. This model gives you access to full-time developers for ongoing development, support, and maintenance. It’s perfect if your project requires continuous updates, multiple development stages, or large-scale features. In this setup, you pay a monthly salary for each developer based on their experience level:
- Junior iOS Developers: Starting from $2,300/month (if you hire at InApps Technology). They handle simpler tasks like bug fixes, UI/UX improvements, and minor feature implementations. Junior developers are cost-effective for less complex projects.
- Senior iOS Developers: Starting from $3,000/month. For more critical features, such as advanced integrations, performance optimizations, or complex modules, senior developers bring the expertise and leadership needed to tackle these challenges.
5.2 Project-Based Model:
If your project is short-term or has a well-defined scope, the project-based model is a better fit. This model allows you to hire developers on an hourly basis, making it flexible and scalable. You can bring in developers when you need them and scale down once the work is completed. Hourly rates give you more control over your budget, especially for time-limited tasks. Hourly Rates of offshore iOS developers typically range between $19 and $25/hour, depending on the complexity of the project and the developer’s seniority. This works well for fixed-scope projects, such as building an MVP, adding specific features, or handling a short-term app update.
5.3 Which Model Should You Choose?
- ODC (Monthly Salary Model): If you’re looking to build a product that will require continuous development, updates, and long-term support, the ODC model is the way to go. You’ll be paying iOS developers a monthly salary, which ensures you have a dedicated team ready to respond quickly to new tasks or issues as they arise. This model is best suited for projects that last several months or even years.
- Project-Based (Hourly Rate Model): If your project has clear boundaries—such as a specific feature rollout or a short-term development need—the project-based model is the better option. You’ll pay developers based on the hours they work, which is ideal for shorter, more defined tasks.
Both models offer flexibility, but the right choice depends on the scope and duration of your project. InApps Technology offers competitive rates for both models, allowing you to choose the solution that best fits your timeline, budget, and development needs. Talk to us!