How about building an app for iPhone users? Great call—Apple’s ecosystem is robust, but it’s also picky. And when it comes to iOS app development, picking the right developer is everything. The right person can bring your idea to life smoothly. The wrong one? Well, that’s how delays, bugs, and budget blowouts happen.
Before you sign a contract, here are seven real-world tips to help you hire smart—and avoid headaches.
1. Know What You’re Building (Before You Start Hiring)
First things first: what’s your app supposed to do?
Whether you’re building a food delivery app or a niche fitness tracker, sketching out the core features and goals will save you a ton of back-and-forth later. You don’t need a full product brief, but you should know things like:
- What problem does the app solve?
- What platform features (GPS, camera, payments) does it need
- Whether it needs backend integration or login options
When you’re clear on this, developers can provide you with realistic timelines and pricing. At Developer Per Hour, we help businesses refine their vision from the start, making the hiring and building processes smoother.
2. Make Sure They’re Fluent in Apple’s World
This is non-negotiable. You want someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes iOS application development. That means they should be familiar with Swift, Xcode, UIKit, and App Store guidelines.
Bonus points if they’ve handled app rejections and know how to fix them quickly. Apple’s rules can be strict, so experience counts here. Teams at Developer Per Hour have worked extensively within Apple’s ecosystem and are seasoned in navigating these challenges.
3. Don’t Just Look at Portfolios—Check the App Store
A pretty portfolio means nothing if their apps don’t work well or haven’t made it to the App Store. Ask for links to actual, live apps. Download them. Play with the interface. Read the reviews.
If they built something similar to what you need? Even better. That’s a huge plus.
4. Pay Attention to How They Communicate
Let’s be real—no matter how talented someone is, poor communication will wreck your timeline. If the dev doesn’t ask you questions, doesn’t clarify your needs, or goes radio silent during early chats, that’s a red flag.
Great iOS developers collaborate. They don’t just follow instructions—they help shape the product. That’s the approach we take at Developer Per Hour: clear communication and active collaboration from day one.
5. Check for Big-Picture Thinking
You don’t just need someone who can write code; you need someone who can write code effectively. You need someone who understands the full mobile product life cycle. That includes UI/UX, performance optimization, backend integration, and how to build for future scalability.
People who have worked across the full spectrum of iOS mobile app development can identify issues early, and they make smarter technical choices as well. This is a key strength of the Developer Per Hour team.
6. Ask How They Handle Bugs and Testing
This might sound boring, but trust us, it’s enormous. iOS users expect smooth, glitch-free apps, and Apple expects apps that won’t crash. So, ask how your candidate runs tests.
Do they use automated testing tools? Manual testing on real devices? Do they track crashes with tools like Crashlytics or Firebase?
A good dev will have a process in place. A great one will already be improving it.
Testing is one of the least glamorous parts of iOS mobile application development, but it’s what makes or breaks user reviews. At Developer Per Hour, we treat testing as a core pillar of quality, not an afterthought.
7. Talk Long-Term—Not Just Launch
An app is never really “done.” Apple updates iOS regularly, bugs emerge, and users demand new features. So, before you commit, ask what happens after the launch.
Will the developer be around for updates or maintenance? Do they offer ongoing support packages? Or will you have to look elsewhere six months later?
Set clear terms now. It saves awkward conversations later. Developer Per Hour provides ongoing support to ensure your app remains optimised and up-to-date.
The Wrap-Up
The market for iOS app development is crowded—and that’s both good and bad. You’ve got lots of options but also lots of room for missteps. If you’re thoughtful in your hiring, you’ll set yourself up for a better product and a smoother build process.
Bottom line? Hire someone who brings more than just code. Look for someone who understands your business, communicates well, and has the experience to get your app into the App Store without drama.
Your future users (and your budget) will thank you.
Ready to hire smart? Developer Per Hour is here to help you build with confidence.
