How and Why to Hire Offshore Data Scientists in 2025
Offshore iOS Development: A Guide for Business
- Who Are Offshore iOS Developers?
- Top iOS App Development Services for Your Project
- Factors Influencing iOS Developer Compensation
- Salaries of iOS Developers in Different Countries
- Possible Team Setups in Offshore iOS Development
- Benefits of Integrating Offshore iOS Developers with In-House Teams
- Potential Challenges of Offshore iOS Development
- Best Practices to Hire Offshore iOS Developers
- Mobilunity Is Your Trusted Offshore iOS App Development Partner
- FAQs
In today’s competitive app market, mobile applications play a key role in connecting businesses with their customers. With over a billion iOS devices in use globally, creating a high-quality and performing iOS product is more than just a competitive edge – it’s a necessity. This is reconfirmed by StatCounter: iOS holds a 29.67% market share with over 1.64 million applications out there, placing second behind Android.
However, iOS development comes with challenges, including finding skilled software specialists, managing budgets and timelines. And this is where offshore software development comes into play. This may be a game-changing solution for projects that want to leverage global talent and cut high development costs – without compromising on quality and development time.
What’s even more exciting is that the offshore approach makes it possible to excel in related niches. Games, business, and education are the top three categories in the Apple App Store. And offshore iOS development allows companies to tap into skilled professionals from around the world who specialize in creating business-specific iOS applications. This approach to development is incredibly flexible. It ensures that your project is built using the latest technologies and best practices.
This guide explores the core services offered by offshore iOS development teams. We’re going to compare the pros and cons of in-house development vs. offshore strategies. And also focus on possible team setups that can align with your business objectives. Whether you’re a startup looking to launch your first app or an established company – understanding the nuances will empower you to make informed decisions and find the right offshore iOS development partner with maximum ROI.
Who Are Offshore iOS Developers?
Offshore iOS developers create applications for Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, from remote locations around the globe. They should be experienced with programming languages like Swift and Objective-C and proficient in using Apple’s development tools such as Xcode, Core Data, and ARKit. Unlike in-house developers, offshore developers operate remotely from countries with robust tech talent pools and lower cost of living – offering a good balance between price and quality.
When Should You Go for Offshore iOS Development?
Choosing offshore iOS development can be an ideal solution for optimizing development costs, access to software specialists with specific skills / technologies, cover fluctuating / seasonal workloads, or cope with aggressive deadlines. Below are the most common benefits and solutions you can count on with this model.
| Greater Cost-Efficiency | Gives access to highly skilled talent at a lower price, due to the lower cost of living. |
| Access to Global Talent | Allows you to connect with experienced iOS developers and hard-to-find specialists from around the world. |
| Flexibility and Scalability | Provides the flexibility to scale your team up or down quickly, based on current workload / global objectives. |
| Ability to Meet Aggressive Deadlines | Speeds up development timelines by combining in-house and remote teams for consistent progress. |
| Greater Focus on Core Business | Makes it possible for you to focus on core business activities such as marketing, customer acquisition, etc. |
| Boost for In-House Expertise | Gives quick access to new technologies if your in-house team lacks specialized skills or experience. |
| No Administrative Burden | Eliminates the need to recruit, onboard, and cover legal / admin activities short-term or one-off projects. |
| Affordable Post-Launch Support | Offers flexible and cost-effective app maintenance, updates, and support services after product launch. |
Top iOS App Development Services for Your Project
When it comes to offshore software specialists, they can provide a wide range of iOS application development services tailored to meet various iOS project needs. These core services cover the entire lifecycle of mobile development, ensuring a comprehensive approach that transforms your vision into a high-quality and fully functional application. Below are the main ones:
- iOS UI/UX Design. You can get a user interface that contributes to user-friendliness and structured information architecture. Offshore talents often provide a good way to find skilled designers who understand Apple’s design guidelines and create visually appealing, intuitive interfaces loved by users.
- Custom iOS App Development. Create tailor-made solutions that align with your business goals. Whether it’s a simple utility app or a complex enterprise solution, offshore iOS app developers ensure a tailor-made app is uniquely designed to meet user needs.
- iOS Software Testing. Ensure your application works as expected. QA specialists conduct comprehensive testing, including compatibility checks for apps developed with frameworks such as React Native.
- Deployment. Get a helping hand for every aspect of deployment, from configuring provisioning profiles and signing certificates to ensuring compatibility across multiple Apple devices. Ensure a successful launch that aligns with your business goals, maintaining optimal performance.
- iOS Development Consultation. Define your app’s roadmap, identify potential challenges, and outline the technical architecture upfront. You can try our consultancy service to ensure you come up with a well-thought-out plan that minimizes risks and maximizes efficiency.
Factors Influencing iOS Developer Compensation
The compensation for iOS developers can vary significantly based on a range of factors. Consider technical skills, the level of experience, the developer’s location, and the type of engagement. Understanding these factors can help you strike the right balance between cost and quality, ensuring successful project outcomes while staying within budget.
| Technical Skillset | Specific skills / technologies possessed by a developer are the primary factors that affect the cost. For example, proficiency in Swift and Objective-C, the primary programming languages for iOS development, comes by default. Developers with expertise in additional frameworks like UIKit, SwiftUI, Core Data, or Combine often receive higher compensation. Specialized skills like Augmented Reality, ML, or integrations with third-party services increase market value. |
| Experience Level | Years of experience also play a significant role in determining the salary. Entry-level developers with 0-2 years of experience understandably have lower rates as they are still building their iOS expertise. Mid-level developers with 3-5 years of experience are capable of handling complex tasks independently, resulting in higher compensation. Senior developers with 5+ years of experience can demand premium rates due to their advanced skills and ability to lead projects. |
| Geographic Location | The cost of living and economic conditions in a developer’s location significantly impact expected compensation. For example, North America, Western Europe, and Australia tend to have maximum salaries due to higher living expenses. Developers in Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Latin America can often provide equally skilled services but at far more affordable ratesю |
| Engagement Model | The type of engagement – freelance, part-time, full-time, or dedicated team – affects compensation. Freelancers often charge higher hourly rates but lack the stability and commitment of full-time roles. Dedicated teams or developers hired through vendors offer a cost-effective and predictable pricing structure with no additional overheads for the client. Part-time specialists (Flex) provide a focused approach to address specific challenges / tech gaps. |
Salaries of iOS Developers in Different Countries
One of the key considerations for offshore iOS development is understandably the cost of hiring. Common rates vary significantly based on factors such as location, expertise level, and the tech stack. Whether you’re hiring iOS developers locally or offshore, understanding the approximate salary ranges for iOS developers (Junior and Middle, to Senior) in different regions can help you make a more informed decision.
In the United States, iOS developers are among the most highly paid professionals in the tech industry, with the annual salary found within $107,000-160,000. In Canada, salaries are slightly lower but still relatively high, with iOS software specialists making up around $85,000-154,400 annually. In Western Europe, countries like Germany and the UK have lower compensation for iOS developers, with the annual numbers found within $52,100-100,000 and $50,000-92,400 respectively.
Countries in Latin America offer some of the most affordable iOS development services, with an annual average salary range of $12,400-25,600 (Brazil), which can come up to $50,000 for an experienced senior developer (our own case). Eastern Europe is known as a hub for cost-effective iOS development talent, offering high-quality services at lower costs. For example, in Poland iOS developers can earn annually $41,000-71,000 on average, and in Ukraine – $26,000-56,000.
Understanding these cost dynamics can help you make informed decisions when building a development team or boosting your in-house project with remote expertise.
Possible Team Setups in Offshore iOS Development
By selecting the right team setup, you can achieve your development goals faster while maximizing productivity and staying within budget. The team configuration depends on your project’s size, complexity, and goals. If you want to hire iOS developers, check out the possible teams that can be assembled based on your project needs.
Each of these basic team setups can offer unique advantages depending on the specific needs of your project. Mobilunity specializes in helping companies looking for the optimal team configuration, providing access to talents with expertise in iOS app development. Whether you need a dedicated team for a large-scale project, or smaller projects that don’t require the full-time involvement of certain specialists like a Project Manager or DevOps engineer – Mobilunity can help you get a tailored talent solution that combines technical excellence with cost efficiency.
Benefits of Integrating Offshore iOS Developers with In-House Teams
Working with an offshore team blended with in-house developers is an effective strategic approach. This type of development offers the best of two worlds, a good balance in terms of cost-efficiency, scalability, and expertise. Below are some of the key benefits of this hybrid offshore model.
Enhanced Productivity
Integrating freelance offshore iOS developers with your in-house resources will help you get the necessary expertise and tackle project tasks more efficiently, ensuring consistent 24/7 progress.
Sharing Knowledge & Skills
Your team can learn new specialized expertise, while offshore teams gain insights into the company’s processes and goals, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Efficient Risk Management
Outsourcing iOS development eliminates some of the risks, such as technological challenges or tight deadlines. This allows you to improve risk management, as the offshore provider is equipped to handle a significant part of them.
Cost Optimization
You can optimize the time and resources for hiring, onboarding, and managing in-house developers. In addition, you can achieve significant cost savings due to lower salaries, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
Potential Challenges of Offshore iOS Development
Offshore iOS development is a popular choice for businesses that need to optimize and give a spur to their mobile app projects. However, like any strategy, it comes with its own set of potential drawbacks. Below is a breakdown of the risks associated with offshore iOS development – backed with possible mitigation strategies.
| Challenge | Solution | |
| Communication Barriers | Time differences and language barriers can lead to communication and project management issues. | Employ clear communication protocols and tools like Slack or Zoom, ensure your offshore team has English fluency. |
| Quality Concerns | If not properly vetted, some offshore developers may underperform results or demonstrate mismatching skill sets. | Working with a reputable provider ensures high-quality tech vetting and adherence to your standards. |
| Cultural Differences | Differences in work culture, style, and problem-solving approaches can lead to misunderstandings. | Proper onboarding, regular communication, and scheduled check-ins can help bridge these gaps. |
| Time Zone Differences | A lack of overlap during critical meetings can slow down the entire project – turning the advantage into a potential drawback. | Make sure to establish written communication, clear schedules, and proactive instructions for all the time zones. |
| Task Management | Without proper oversight, you can face delays or get the whole development process completely misaligned. | Use project management tools like Jira and Trello to make controllable workflows and keep all on the same page. |
Best Practices to Hire Offshore iOS Developers
Success in offshore development depends on efficient communication, clear expectations, and streamlined processes. With the right partner and approach, remote software specialists can become invaluable assets in achieving your project goals. Below are some best practices to ensure a productive partnership, and maximize the benefits of offshore iOS development while minimizing potential risks.
Set Clear Project Goals & Requirements
Start by outlining your project’s objectives, timeline, deliverables, and technical requirements. Provide detailed expectations and technical specifications – this will help both parties minimize misunderstandings and ensure alignment with your vision.
Choose the Right Offshore iOS Development Partner
Research potential vendors, review their portfolios, and check client testimonials. Trusted providers have a proven track record of delivering high-quality iOS development services, ensuring that you get only skilled professionals.
Establish Effective Communication
Use tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for daily check-ins, progress updates, and discussions. Establish a schedule for regular meetings, even across different time zones, to ensure everyone is engaged and stays on the same page.
Promote a Collaborative Team Culture
Treat your offshore developers as an extension of your team. Encourage collaboration, share company goals, and involve them in key decisions. Remember, building trust and a sense of belonging boosts motivation and productivity.
Address Time Zone Differences Proactively
While time differences can sometimes create challenges, they can also be an advantage for 24/7 development cycles. Establish overlapping hours and provide clear instructions for work that needs to be done asynchronously.
Plan for Scalability
Offshore development teams can be quickly scaled up or down based on your project’s requirements. So, think about scalability in advance – and you’ll be able to onboard additional developers or reduce resources without disrupting the project.
Provide Regular Feedback
Offer constructive feedback to your remote developers to help them improve and align with your expectations. Celebrate milestones and highlight achievements to keep morale high and keep building a positive working relationship.
Focus on Long-Term Collaboration
Consider building a strategic relationship, rather than viewing your offshore development as a one-time solution. Eventually, a dedicated offshore team that understands your business and technical requirements can deliver consistent value in the long run.
Ensure Post-Development Support
Discuss support and maintenance requirements with your offshore partner early during the first stages of engagement. Ensure they can provide ongoing assistance after deployment to address bugs, feature updates, and future releases.
Mobilunity Is Your Trusted Offshore iOS App Development Partner
Established in 2010, Mobilunity has been helping companies in different industries hire dedicated remote developers – full-time, or flexibly part-time. These two basic cooperation models can be adjusted individually to your current needs and global objectives.
Mobilunity has practical experience in gathering offshore iOS development teams for our clients using our own global talent pool. One such is Chipin, a FinTech platform from the UK. We skillfully located the necessary iOS experts and handled development leveraging Cordova and Swift technologies.
While we have vast experience providing iOS developers, our expertise goes far beyond that. We can supply you with tech / non-tech IT talents with diverse backgrounds and in nearly any industry. Want to discover more of our offshore projects? Check out our extensive portfolio.
- Dedicated Teams of iOS Experts. You get full-time developers devoted to your success. This cooperation model is perfect for large projects with complex requirements.
- Flexible Part-Time iOS Developers. You gain the necessary expertise on a part-time basis. This approach is best for short-term or small-load projects.
FAQs
Looking for a reliable offshore iOS development vendor?
Tell us about your project – we’ll come back shortly and show you the best options tailored to your needs!
Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.
