While working with web development, especially with related PHP projects, businesses more often have to decide whether to hire an offshore development team or exploit a freelancer. Both are good options, pros and cons to each, and which choice is best depends on your requirements, budget, and complexity of project. In this blog post, we’ll uncover some of the key differences between offshore PHP developers vs freelancers to guide you to the right decision.
- Understanding the Basics
Offshore PHP Developers
Typically an offshore PHP developer is a member of such a dedicated team working for a development company located in another world. These teams are rarely pure — the developers, designers, project managers, and quality assurance specialists all are thrown in together. From initial planning and design to follow on support and maintenance, they provide a suite of services.
Freelancers
Independent contractors offering their services on a project basis are called freelancers. You will find different people from different platforms, from novice developers to experienced professionals. Many freelancers work alone, with different levels of expertise and availability.
- Cost Considerations
Offshore PHP Developers
One such advantage of hiring an offshore development team is the cost advantage you will realise especially if you work with companies in countries where the labour cost is lower. The price tag may be a little higher on the front end when compared to hiring a freelancer, but all in all, the total project cost could be lower with a team vs. the resources and expertise on hand.
Freelancers
The rates during freelancers are generally less than the dedicated teams, and this makes them ideal for small projects or start ups with small budgets. Something to remember is that sometimes the cheaper price comes in the expense of quality when the freelancer is inexperienced.
- Quality and Expertise
Offshore PHP Developers
Usually, offshore teams bring a variety of talents and expertise to the table. Companies who have followed such processes are more likely to follow industry best practices as such processes typically include good quality assurance processes which can lead to a more robust and reliable final product. Besides this, being a team, the environment is collaborative and improves such things as innovation and problem solving.
Freelancers
The quality of work can vary greatly from one freelancer to another, but you can get high quality work from freelancers. There is a range of freelancers, some of whom are great and have a lot of experience and some who may not have the experience to deliver a complex project. As such, it is vital you take the time to vet freelancers and check out their portfolios and client reviews.
- The focus is on fighting the war on ideologies if you take a minute to read through the suggested topic areas.
Offshore PHP Developers
When you work with an offshore team it is usually structured in the project management sense. The advantage of these teams is that they often have dedicated project managers who take care of the communication and timelines and deliverables so it’s easy to stay on track. They can also use project management tools that help you work together and build transparency.
Freelancers
For instance, Freelancers likely don’t have the same project management resources or experience as a traditional company. Although many freelancers are self motivated and capable of effectively completing tasks they are destined for it, a lack of structure might mean that messages slip through the cracks or that deadlines are less likely to be met. Working with freelancers requires very clear communication, as it’s likely that you will have to be more hands on during the project.
- Scalability and Flexibility
Offshore PHP Developers
Typically, offshore teams are more scalable. Plus, it’s easier to add team members as your project grows or if it needs additional resources to accommodate changing needs. Here scalability is a huge benefit for projects that take a much longer time or involve a lot of people.
Freelancers
In some cases, freelancers can also be flexible, but scaling a project with freelancers is not easy. Given what you are offering they may be needed to coordinate multiple individuals, as well as maintain consistent quality which may require more effort on your part. A dedicated team can be easier to manage when your project changes rapidly.
- We offer Ongoing Support and Maintenance after you have used our services.
Offshore PHP Developers
Now, working with an offshore team helps you tap into these capabilities of ongoing support and maintenance at a reasonable price. Lots of development companies also offer post launch services that maintain your app updated, secure and in working order over the long run. Therefore, in cases when you have longterm projects or applications that would need to be, then this support can be very important.
Freelancers
Post launch support may be offered by freelancers, but it is usually difficult to keep their services for continued maintenance. If you have regular updates or troubleshooting to do on your project and you need to sign a contract with this freelancer, make sure that he is available for future work.
Conclusion
While deciding between freelancers and offshore PHP developers, it’s important to ask yourself, how complex is your project, how much does it cost you and what you want to achieve in the long run. An offshore development team is the right choice if you want a complete option with a broad spectrum of expertise, project structure, and regular follow up. But if you’re working on a small project, and your budget is tight, a competent freelancer might be the way to go.
In the end, success boils down to knowing your audience through thorough research, and being clear and conversational in communicating your message, whatever the path you’ve chosen. Which means you have to know their strengths and their limitations, so that you can make an informed decision on which one better suits the needs of your project.