I work as an independent engineer, so I am not neutral. But I have also seen projects where an agency was the better choice. Here is how I would decide.
When a senior freelancer is the better fit
- You need one owner. One senior engineer who designs, builds and deploys the product means nothing is lost in handoffs.
- The scope is an MVP or a focused product. Most first versions do not need a team of six.
- You want direct communication. You talk to the person writing the code, not an account manager.
- Budget matters. You pay for engineering, not for sales, management layers and office space.
Several products on my projects page, including NepseView, theMixtr, ChefJRP and myigirlfriend, were built end to end by one person. That is normal for a well-scoped product.
When an agency is the better fit
- You need many specialists at once (native iOS, Android, design, QA, DevOps) on a fixed date
- Your organisation requires a company contract, insurance and formal procurement
- The project is large enough that one person would become a bottleneck
Questions to ask either way
- Who exactly will write the code?
- Can I see live products you built, and what was your role?
- How will I see progress each week?
- Who owns the code and accounts? (The answer should be: you.)
- What happens after launch?
A hybrid that works well
Many startups start with a senior freelancer to build and launch the MVP, then hire their first in-house engineer once there is traction. If the code is clean and documented, that handover is smooth.
If you are weighing your options, look at my services or start a conversation.