Choose the Perfect Mobile App Development Company in London in 8 Easy Steps!

Looking for the perfect Mobile app development company in London for your dream project? The United Kingdom is the motherland of innovative startups and unique tech business ideas. Every year more than 5 million startups launch in the UK with great pomp and show, with every startup revolutionising the way people consume and avail of services. 

However, when it comes to choosing the right app development partner, one has to chew a lot of cud. From extensive Google research to vigorous calling, it will take your sleep away! But, if you proceed with the research process right, you can make your journey seamless.   

This blog post shares some simple tips and a step-by-step approach to finding a mobile app development partner for your project in a less burdening way. So, let’s scroll down and find out some amazing tips!

#1 Enlist Your Mobile App Development Requirements 

Before beginning with the research process, you need to be clear about your mobile app development project requirements. Especially, you need to have a clear app idea of the following elements: 

Target Audience

Before starting with company research, you need to be clear about the target audience. But how does it relate to the choice of development partners? 

See, it is really simple! When you are clear about the Target Group (TG), you must also be clear about the app’s features, functions, and UI/UX design. And how it may help you, find it out in the next section. 

UI UX Design 

The User Interface and User Experience design will set the app’s visual layout and user flow respectively. Basically, whatever you expect your mobile app to function like. 

When you know your expectations from the app, you can check every company’s previous and ongoing work. Then, you may figure out whether the company’s work meets your expectations & project requirements! Be smart.

Targeted Operating Systems

Next, you must also be clear about which Operating System (OS), you will launch your app upon. You must already be clear that Android apps need different development technologies from iOS applications. 

Resultantly, you will have to choose between the iOS and Android app development teams. However, if you want a single codebase for both platforms, then cross-platform app developers will help you. This way, the selection of the OS will help you find a suitable team. 

Technology Stack 

Based on the project requirement, you will also figure out what technology stack will best fit your app development process. Different mobile app development companies in London have varying technology stacks. 

Therefore, the choice of tech stack will also direct your research and selection process. Say, for example, if looking for Android app development, you will need Kotlin and Android Studio experts. 

Likewise, for iOS apps, SwiftUI experts and for cross-platform apps, React Native app developers. So, search accordingly and do not run after the latest and cutting edge technology. Rather, focus on what is right for you!

Expected Features & Functions

When you have a really specific feature list and highly defined app functions, you need a custom app development company for bespoke designs. 

However, not every custom app development team can provide precise and absolutely bespoke services. So, again, if you have clear expectations from the app’s functionality, you can cross-verify different company’s portfolios and choose accordingly! 

#2 Hunt for The Top Mobile App Development Companies in London 

So, after clearly enlisting (roughly documenting) your project requirements, now when you are clear about the expected

✔️UI/UX Design

✔️Technology Stack

✔️Features & Functions

Now it's time to search for the ideal fulfilling development partner. Based on the technology stack and your project requirements, you can Google relevant search terms (keywords) and get ideal results!

Checking Google Listing for Localised Results 

Type in the Google Search bar whatever type of mobile app development services you are looking for. Be ‘Android app development’, ‘iOS app development’, ‘cross-platform app development’, or ‘custom app development’ services. You can find the most localised results through Google listings.  

Going Through The Business Profiles

Additionally, you can also check various other business listing platforms like Clutch, Design Rush, Crunchbase, Good Firms etc.

On these platforms, you can check real client reviews, and the company’s previous successful projects and find links to all their social media handles. 

By checking various company’s websites, you can compare and evaluate different app development companies! And choose the right one for you. 

#3 Verify The Online Presence of Enlisted Companies

Now, when you have found a list of various companies, you now need to stalk them properly! Verifying the online presence will help you get a clear picture of the company’s authenticity and existence. 

As you already know every year various tech and non-tech startups come into being in the UK. However, hardly 20% of them survive and most startups fail within 5 years of their launch. 

People often prefer to choose a startup to provide development services to save costs. And there is nothing wrong with it. 

Now suppose, you choose a new IT company to work on your app development project, and it fails in between. Scary! Isn’t it?

But don’t worry! You can anticipate which company seems more well-established by stalking them online. Check out the tips below: 

Checking the Website

• Have a look at their website and visit the ‘About Us’ section first. Figure out who are the founders and key people and cross-verify their skills, expertise, education, and experience on their LinkedIn profiles. The higher the experience, the higher the trust. 
• Next, you should go through their contact details and check the provided address and contact details thoroughly. Try to visit the office to make sure that the business actually exists.
• Additionally, the company’s website must also have a well-planned Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions sections. It ensures authenticity. 

Cross-Verifying Google Reviews 

• Checking Google reviews is also a useful way to check the authenticity and performance of a business.
• If a company has an average Google rating of 4 and above, then certainly it is trustworthy. 
• Additionally, remember that no business must have either too ‘good’ or too ‘bad’ reviews. Because such reviews must be fake. While the former might be sponsored by the ‘business’ itself, the latter might be sponsored by its ‘competitors’. 
• Google reviews will give you a clear picture of how the business is going and how it treats its customers. 

Stalking the Social Media Pages 

• The same goes with the Social Media Platforms. See, if a business is really serious about its existence, it puts in all digital marketing efforts.
• Because such businesses are continuously eying for growth and expansion. As a result, such businesses also leverage social media marketing to allure its target audience. 
• Moreover, the daily social media activities of the business also lets you peak in their lifestyle and seriousness. So, check their social media pages as well. Especially, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Peaking In The Job Platforms 

• Employment platforms like Ambition Box and Glassdoor also offer insightful information.
• By checking employee reviews about their managers and the company,  you can get a clear picture of their work culture.
• Also, try to note the duration the employees stay at the business. It will let you have an idea of the company’s stability. 
• If the employees stay for at least 2-3 years, then certainly, your project will get the right treatment!
• However, if the employees change too often, your app development project might face the heat. So, stalk well. 

Gather Some Funding Information

• Additionally, to ensure a startup’s existential stability, you can check the company’s Funding Rounds on platforms like Crunchbase and Open Corporates or PR sources like PR Newswire, Inc42, Tech Crunch etc. 
• However, this point is not applicable to all businesses as some businesses are also self-reliant when it comes to funding. 
• So, if you do not find funding information online, you must indirectly ask the business about its future plans and the measures it takes to sustain them. 

#4 It's Time to Connect & Invite Business Proposals

When you have stalked a couple of mobile app development companies in the UK, you may now create a list of the best 5-8 companies.

Connect with these companies one by one and share your project requirements with them.

Depending upon how they respond and communicate with you, you need to judge the following things now: 

See Their Professionalism & Presentation Skills 

When you connect with the companies and share your project requirements, they are supposed to share a document called ‘business proposal’ after you connect them personally either at their office or on Video or Audio calls.

They might also share their company’s portfolio, profile, and presentations so that you can know them more. At this point, you need to judge their presentation skills and professionalism. The better a company presents itself, the better the experience it will provide!

Check Their Punctuality 

Also, during this documentation and communication process, you may judge their punctuality. If a business is not punctual enough, remember that your project might suffer as well.

So, avoid a business which often times breaches its promises. Say, for example, not sharing the proposal on the said date and time, not calling on the time fixed between you both etc. It actually matters!

Analyse How Flexible They Are with You

Furthermore, remember that you need a long-term mobile app development partner for your project. When it comes to partnership of any form, personal or professional, mutual understanding and adjustment are the only food a ‘relationship’ may live on.

Therefore, make sure that your app development partner also understands you and is ‘flexible’ enough to adjust. Confused what kind of flexibility are we talking about? 

Check Out the Following:

1. Timings: Your business timing may or may not match with the business. But sometimes, the other party can be flexible to match the timings with you. However, not always, but sometimes it's important. So, check this out!
2. Feedback Acceptance & Incorporation: Most importantly, you need to check how decently they handle the feedback you provide to them. We will discuss this point in detail in the upcoming section. 
3. Always Finding A Way Out to Keep Your Resourceful: Your project might need extra resources and sometimes also special attention. Make sure that you discuss with the companies if they can provide dedicated services as well if needed. If yes, it will be an extra delight!

#5 Get Ready to Experience the First Glimpse of Your Mobile App!

Now out of those 5-8 companies, filter 3-4 best app development companies in London and take the project one step forward.

Ask for the app prototype or at least a Figma design that will work as a ‘sketch’ or ‘photograph’ of the final application.

Through the Figma design and prototype, you will be able to see the UI UX design, look and feel, layout, visual appeal, and user flow of the app before its development. Having a prototype saves a lot of time and cost.

However, some companies might ask for a little token amount at this stage, but we advise you to go for it! Next, you should check:  

See Neatness of App Design 

Compare the different prototypes from different teams and check the neatness of the design. It is better to choose a company whose design seems the most relevant to you. 

Judge Their Creativity

Even if you have chosen custom app development services, and have provided the same instruction to everyone, believe us! You will still get slight variations in the Figma design of different companies.

It is because, you might provide the same instructions, but every other person ‘decodes’, ‘perceives’, and ‘understands’ the instruction in their own way. And that’s what we call ‘creativity’.  So, custom mobile apps need more attention and creativity. Therefore, judge how creative one is. Choose the best team for your project this way. 

Again, Time to Check Their Flexibility for Accepting Feedback

It is not necessary that you have to accept the final product design as it is provided by the company. You are free to offer suggestions and ask for alterations at the design stage.

Rather, it is more budget-friendly to make changes to the app design during the prototyping phase than to make changes to the codes at the development stage.

As you offer your suggestions, check whether the company handles your feedback peacefully and patiently. It will help you pick the right development partner for your project.

Do Not Forget Responsive Designs 

Also, as the company shares UI UX designs with you, do not forget to ask about responsive designs from them. Remember that a mobile app whether Android or iOS have to take its place on different screen sizes.

In fact, today even foldable and flippable screen devices are a crucial part! So, make sure that you confirm with the design and development teams about their skills in making responsive designs for multiple device variants. 

#6 Discuss The Privacy Policies and GDPR Compliance

At the above stage, you must have either finalised a company or at least have chosen 2 app development companies to compare with! Remember, liking a company’s design and professionalism is not enough to choose then and there.

Rather, to ensure that you get secure solutions so that your beloved business never comes under legal disputes, you have to take care of some policies for digital products in the UK. Like check the list below: 

General Laws in the UK

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Ensures user privacy and sensitive data safety.
• PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations): Deals with the ethical use of Cookies on digital products.
• ASA (Advertising Standards Authority): Takes care of ethical and fair in-app advertising.

In addition to the above General Laws, you will also need to focus on industry-specific laws and guidelines for your mobile application development process: 

For Medical Fitness & Healthcare Apps 

• NHS DTAC (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria): A framework by NHS that lays guidelines for clinical safety for digital clinics. 
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): However, more prevalent in the US, but in the case of health insurance business, UK-based businesses must also follow the same for the purpose of expansion and global reach.

For FinTech & Banking Apps 

• PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2): General guidelines for secure online payments and financial transactions.
• PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): General guidelines for digital payments and transactions through Cards (debit/credit).

For E-Commerce & Retail Platforms 

• The above FinTech Regulations and
• Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013: Guidelines for online sales and refund policies.

For Social Media Platforms 

• Online Safety Act 2023: Regulations to deal with harmful, obscene, and hate content.
• Defamation Act 2013: Regulations to deal with Defamatory Content online.

For EdTechs 

• Children’s Code (Age-Appropriate Design Code): General guidelines to ensure online data safety and secure internet usage by children under 13. 

For Gaming Apps 

• UKGC (UK Gambling Commission): Licenses and regulations for gambling apps (in the case of betting sites and apps).
• AML (Anti-Money Laundering) Regulations: Regulations against money laundering. 
• KYC (Know Your Customer): To secure the users from financial fraud, KYC policies also exist.

For Transportation Apps

• DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency): Guidelines and Regulations for Driver & Vehicle safety in online ride-hailing apps and travel booking websites.
• TFL (Transport for London) Rules: Specifically applies to ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft etc.

#7 Finalise the Best Price with Due Professionalism

When a company checks all your list items, now you can finalise a mobile app development agency that offers the most optimum prices with the best quality and dedicated services.

You may rest your research part now and begin with the bargaining part. Try to ask for discounts and hand over your app development project to the right business.

#8 Never Overlook Post Launch App Maintenance & Support

Additionally, you need to check one more thing. Ask the business if they will also offer post launch support, maintenance, updates and troubleshooting management services. Post-launch maintenance is also worth having if you wish to exist for the long run. 

From time to time, your mobile app will need updates and maintenance. So, make sure that you choose a reliable team of app developers!

Final Thoughts 

Phew!!! Such a long discussion, right? Well, no worries! We are pretty sure that this discussion will help you a lot in choosing the right app development Company for building the app of your dreams. Just research well and be clear about what you want from the app. Having clear expectations from the UI/UX and functionalities and a little bit of knowledge about legal compliance will make the job much easier and you will find the best for your project. All the best for your search! For any further information feel free to connect with us. 

FAQs

1. How Much Does it Cost to Create an App in London?

App development cost depends upon the app’s complexity, design, animations, features, and functions. In London, the cost of developing a mobile app can range between £500 and  £100,000. Sometimes, depending upon customisations, the cost may go even beyond the given range. You can get an accurate cost estimate only by discussing the project requirements with different companies. 

2. What Are The Benefits Of Cross-Platform Development? 

Cross-platform app development is the best choice nowadays because it gives you two apps in the cost and time of developing a single app. In the cross-platform development technique, an app developer writes code such that a single codebase can run on Android as well as IOS platforms while also rendering native-like performance. This way, you save a great deal of time, cost, and effort but still get a wider business reach. 

3. Is It Safe to Share My Unique App Idea with Multiple Companies? 

If you research the top mobile app development companies well and proceed cautiously, then certainly it is 100% safe. However, be careful and do not share your app ideas with companies that lack a proper business address, communication details, social media presence, and presence on the Job Portals. Because such websites may also be fraudulent. 

4. What If Some Company Steals Away My Idea?

As said above, if you choose the right mobile app development companies to share your ideas with, nothing like this may surface. However, for further assurance remember that when you share your project requirements with any app development business, they have to be bound by a No Disclosure Agreement (NDA). It is a legal documentation process that ensures your app’s confidentiality. Breaching NDA invites legal action against all the persons associated. So, just go with the companies that are good to go with the NDA documentation process.