Choose an app development company only after you have installed apps it has shipped to the App Store and Google Play, confirmed that the developer accounts, source code and database will belong to your business, and received a quote that ties each payment to something you can test. In Egypt, also ask about Paymob or Fawry integration, SMS OTP and Arabic (RTL) testing.
What separates a reliable app company from the rest?
A reliable company proves its work with apps you can download yourself, explains its technical choices in plain language, and hands over everything you need to run the app without it. Score each candidate on these points before you compare prices:
- Live work, not mockups. Ask for store links or working test builds, then try sign-up, payment and notifications on your own phone. Screenshots won't show you slow screens or crashes.
- Experience with your type of app. A delivery, booking or shopping app runs into different problems than a content app. Ask about a similar project, what went wrong and how they fixed it.
- A justified tech choice. They should explain why they recommend Flutter, React Native or separate native apps, and what that means for cost and maintenance. Read our Flutter vs React Native comparison before the meeting.
- The backend and admin panel. Most of an app's logic runs on the server and in the admin dashboard. Ask who builds them, where they are hosted and who pays the hosting bill.
- Proper Arabic testing. Right-to-left layouts, numerals, fonts and long labels inside buttons need testing on real devices, not just an emulator.
What's different when you build an app for an Egyptian business?
Three practical issues shape the contract and timeline of an app built for a company in Egypt: app store accounts, local payment methods and OTP verification. Ask for each one to appear as a written line in the proposal rather than a verbal promise.
Put the App Store and Google Play accounts in your company's name
The Apple Developer Program costs 99 USD per membership year, and Apple notes that prices may vary by region and are shown in local currency during enrollment. An organization account needs a legal entity, a D-U-N-S Number and a working public website on a domain associated with the organization, and the organization's name appears as the seller on the App Store (Apple Developer, checked 13 September 2026). Google Play charges a one-time US$25 registration fee (Play Console Help), and an organization account requires a D-U-N-S number, the organization's website and verified contact details (required account information).
There is another reason not to publish from a developer's personal account: new personal Google Play accounts created after 13 November 2023 must run a closed test with at least 12 testers opted in for 14 continuous days before releasing to the public (testing requirements). Have your company open an organization account and give the developer limited access to it. Request your D-U-N-S number early, because both stores ask for it.
Plan payments and OTP from day one
If the app will take payments, pick the provider before design starts. Paymob, for example, lists cards, mobile wallets, instalments and cash on delivery (Paymob), while FawryPay offers an SDK for mobile apps alongside reference-number payments at Fawry outlets (FawryPay developer docs). Ask the company whether it has integrated that provider before, and who pays for the SMS OTP service.
Agency or freelancer: which fits your app?
A freelancer can suit a small prototype with a fixed scope. A development company makes more sense when the app needs a backend, an admin panel, design, testing and ongoing support. The real difference isn't only price; it is who is accountable if one person disappears.
| Criterion | Development company | Freelancer |
|---|---|---|
| Team | Design, backend, mobile and QA usually handled by different people | One person covers everything or subcontracts |
| Continuity | Work continues if one person leaves, provided the code is documented | The project depends on one person's availability |
| Contract and invoices | Contract with a legal entity and formal invoices | Depends on the freelancer's legal status |
| Cost | Usually higher, because management and testing are included | Usually lower for a small scope |
| Best for | Operational apps with an admin panel and payments | Prototypes or a clearly defined task |
Snaabble provides a tailored technical assessment to define the right stack & exact budget.
What should you ask before you sign?
Ask these questions in writing and make sure the answers end up in the contract or its technical annex:
- What exactly is in scope? A list of screens and features, plus what is explicitly out of scope.
- How are payments split? Tie each instalment to a deliverable you can test (approved design, beta build, store release), not just a date.
- What will you receive at the end? Source code for the app and backend, repository access, the database, hosting and third-party credentials, and run documentation.
- Who owns the accounts? Store accounts, domain, hosting, payment provider and push notification service should all be in your company's name.
- How will the app be tested? On which devices, who writes the test cases, and how bugs are logged and tracked.
- What happens after launch? How long bugs are fixed at no extra cost, what new changes cost and how fast they respond. For budgeting, see our mobile app development cost guide.
- Who handles publishing? The store listing, privacy policy and replies to review feedback. The full process is in our App Store and Google Play publishing guide.
Which red flags should stop the deal?
Pause, or ask for a written explanation, if you see any of these. Each one makes it harder to take over or move your project later:
- Refusing to hand over source code, or charging for it when the proposal never mentioned a fee.
- Publishing the app from the agency's own store account instead of yours.
- A price with no written scope, or a quote far below the others with no explanation.
- A delivery date that leaves no time for testing and store review.
- No work you can try, or no access to the people who will actually build your app.
- Slow, vague replies while they are still trying to win your business.
Frequently asked questions
Should I agree a fixed price or pay by the hour?
A fixed price suits a clearly written scope, such as a first version (MVP). Hourly or monthly-team contracts suit products whose requirements keep changing, as long as you receive weekly reports of hours and completed tasks. Either way, link payments to deliverables you can test.
How do I protect my ownership of the source code?
State in the contract that rights to the code, designs and database transfer to your company once payments are made, specify how they are handed over (for example, a Git repository in your name), and get repository access from the start so you can follow progress. Have a lawyer review the legal wording.
Should I start with Flutter or with native apps?
For a business app with the same features on Android and iOS, a cross-platform framework such as Flutter or React Native is usually enough and avoids building everything twice. Native apps earn their extra cost when you rely heavily on device features or demanding graphics. Ask the company to justify its choice for your project specifically.
How much post-launch support should I ask for?
There is no standard figure. What matters is that the period is written down, along with what it covers (bug fixes only, or updates too), response times and the maintenance cost afterwards. Operating system updates and store policy changes mean an app needs regular maintenance even if you add no new features.
Does the company need to be in my city?
Not necessarily, although being close makes requirement workshops and acceptance testing easier. More important is one named person responsible for your project, a regular progress meeting and a test build you can try between meetings.
If you are comparing proposals, see our mobile app development service and try a live demo such as FoodFlow, a food distribution management platform with separate manager and sales-rep apps. You can reach us on WhatsApp or by phone at +20 103 673 3131, or by email at hello@snaabble.com. Our office is in Talkha, next to Mansoura.
