Freelance ReactJS Developers vs. a Development Company

React.js, often referred to as ReactJS, was the most widely used web framework in 2021, and it continues to dominate the field. JavaScript, the language behind ReactJS, has been the most popular programming language for web development for nine consecutive years. Given its widespread use, it’s no surprise that finding reliable ReactJS resources can be a challenge—especially when tech giants like Airbnb, Google, and Netflix are competing for the same talent pool.

One of the most common dilemmas companies face is deciding whether to hire freelance ReactJS developers or partner with a dedicated ReactJS development company. If you’re grappling with this decision, you’re not alone.

In this article, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of both hiring options, helping you make an informed choice that best suits your project’s needs. But before we explore the advantages and disadvantages, let’s take a closer look at what makes ReactJS so essential in the world of web development.

What is ReactJS?

ReactJS is a popular open-source JavaScript library that was created by Meta (formerly Facebook). It is efficient, flexible, and declarative in nature. It helps web developers create fast and interactive user interfaces. Using ReactJS, developers can create more readable and reusable code which is easier to maintain.

Here’s why web developers love ReactJS, primarily:

• ReactJS has a low learning curve and a vibrant community making it easy for young developers to enter web development.
• It comes with reusable components, meaning developers can create a component that performs a function and use it multiple times, increasing productivity and reducing development time.
• React comes with a decent set of tools and features that make designing, development, testing, and debugging easier and faster.
• ReactJS follows a unidirectional flow. It means the data flows in one direction offering developers more control and making debugging easier.
• ReactJS brings the concept of virtual DOM that helps achieve faster and smoother performance.

Advantages of Hiring Freelance ReactJS Developers

Here are the advantages you can expect when you hire freelance ReactJS developers:

Highly Affordable

When you hire ReactJS dev on a freelance basis, you save a lot of money upfront. For instance, you need not worry about the admin tasks, providing infrastructure, health insurance, retirement savings, etc., that you’d have to manage should you hire a full-time ReactJS developer.

In addition, freelance ReactJS developers work on an hourly or per-project basis. This way, you only pay for the work done. And once the job is done, you can bid them adieu, no strings attached.

Highly Flexible

Freelance ReactJS developers have a pretty flexible work schedule because they cater to multiple clients at the same time. So, if you have a unique project that has a pressing deadline, you can rely on a freelance web developer instead of hiring an agency that works on set hours each day.

Easier to Find

As compared to dedicated resources, freelance ReactJS developers are easier to find, and it’s because they don’t work full time. This way, you can always find someone who can squeeze in your tasks, saving a lot of time and effort.

Convenient to Manage

As freelancers work on their own, they’re self-sufficient. So, you need not offer extensive training and keep an eye on them all the time. Also, you need not provide them with amenities such as a company laptop or internet. You can share the task, briefly explain it, and set the deadline, making it convenient to manage.

Disadvantages of Hiring Freelance ReactJS Developers

When you hire freelance ReactJS developers, there are some disadvantages you need to face:

Less Committed

Unless there’s an agreement (in most cases, there isn’t), freelance ReactJS developers work on multiple projects at the same time. This means they won’t be paying 100% attention to your project, which can lead to low-quality outcomes.

Hard to Find a Reliable ReactJS Freelancer

While the onboarding process is pretty smooth and time-saving, finding the right candidate with the skills you need can be tough and time-consuming. And if you opt for freelance platforms such as Guru or Upwork, it’ll become even harder.

Coordination Can Be Hard

Coordinating with the QA, UI, and UX teams is crucial for the ReactJS developer to ensure everyone is on the same page and the project is heading in the right direction. However, when you hire freelancers working remotely, coordinating can become tough, hampering productivity and final results.

Ineffective Communication

Most companies end up hiring freelancers from offshore countries such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where the time zone is different, and so is the language. In such cases, communication can be a huge bottleneck and can lead to communication gaps, missed deadlines, and thus more time-to-market.

No Support Post-Project Completion

While you can ask for multiple rounds of revisions and support while the freelancer is working on the project, you cannot expect any support once the project ends. And this can be a dealbreaker for most businesses because what if the code breaks or the application crashes? A new developer will be required who’ll take way longer to fix than the freelancer who wrote the code.

Security Concerns

When you’re working on a confidential project, especially one that involves sensitive information such as bank information, user name, email, and address, it’s hard to trust a freelancer because most freelancers don’t operate with a contract and are unprofessional when it comes to dealing with sensitive information.

Advantages of Hiring a ReactJS Development Company

Here are the advantages of hiring a ReactJS development company:

Dedicated Resources

When you hire a ReactJS development company, you can get access to dedicated ReactJS developers who will work on nothing but your project. As there won’t be any distractions, you can expect 100% attention and high-quality results.

Specialized Experts

Hiring a ReactJS development company that works on ReactJS projects only is often more reliable and has specialized experts. Not only can you find developers, QAs, UI/UX designers, and project managers who’ve managed complex ReactJS projects in the past.

This way, you can outsource your complete project to a ReactJS development company, reduce the overall development time and launch your product in the market faster.

Ideal for Long-term Cooperation

While freelancers can get the job done, they aren’t suited for complex, long-term projects. However, you can rely on ReactJS development companies for long-term projects. They can stay with your company as long as you need them, no matter how complex the project is.

Effective Communication

Although communication is subject to how good the development company is, it’s usually better than hiring a freelance developer. Most outsourced ReactJS development companies offer effective communication via slack channels or video meetings. This way, you can always get regular updates and determine whether the project is running as expected.

More Security

ReactJS development companies are usually more secure than hiring a freelancer because they have a reputation to protect and value data privacy. Also, the majority of quality development companies are open to signing a data privacy agreement ensuring complete data security and no breaches at all.

Disadvantages of Hiring a ReactJS Development Company

Sadly, there are some disadvantages to hiring a ReactJS development company too:

Higher Upfront Costs

While you can expect better quality from outsourced development teams, you might have to pay a higher upfront cost than hiring a freelance ReactJS developer, which can be a bummer if you’re short on capital.

Pro Tip: Spending more to achieve better quality is a risk worth taking. Because cheap resources often lead to poor-quality results.

More Time to Onboard

When you hire an outsourced ReactJS development company, get ready to spend more time briefing or training them about your project. However, while it may take you time, it’s for your own good. The better your team understands the task, the better the results will be.

So, Should You Hire Freelance ReactJS Developers or a ReactJS Development Company?

If you noticed, both options, hiring a freelance ReactJS developer and a ReactJS development company, have their advantages and disadvantages. So, you must consider your requirements and then make an informed decision.

For instance, if you’re looking for a short ReactJS task, are short on capital, and don’t seek high-quality results, you can hire a freelance ReactJS developer. However, if you have a complex project, need long-term association, want data security, and need high-quality results, hiring a ReactJS development company is your best shot.

Yes, you may have to spend more time and money while hiring and onboarding a ReactJS development company, but it’s completely worth it in the long term. Because ReactJS development companies have all the resources, you need to ensure the best results. To shorten the search time to find a reliable ReactJS development company, you can always connect with us.

Pangea can help you get in touch with quality ReactJS development companies within 72 hours that not only promise quality results but are affordable too.

FAQs

Q1. What are the cons of a freelancer?

While several companies rely on freelancers to get their job done on short notice and at affordable prices, hiring freelancers often brings along several cons. Here are some of them:

• You might get the project delivered past the deadline.
• There could be a lack of commitment and, thus, poor-quality results.
• Communication lapses – leading to additional hassle.
• You may not be able to get 100% transparency on the project.

Q2. Is it safe to work with a freelancer?

Yes, it is safe when you work with well-reputed freelancers with a strong portfolio respect data privacy and strictly follow the required guidelines to ensure complete safety. It’s secure to work with such freelancers, but they can be difficult to find.

However, it can also be risky because when you work with freelancers – many of them aren’t professional and may not be appropriately cautious with confidential or private information. Some of them don’t respect signed agreements which can lead to data breaches and thus defy the purpose of safety.

Q3. What is the difference between a freelancer and a full-time employee?

A freelancer is a contract-based employee or resource that works for a set number of hours or a set number of projects for a mutually agreed-upon price, and once the conditions of the contract are fulfilled (the project is delivered), the freelancer is free to go take up different projects; while a full-time employee is a dedicated resource who works in your office or remotely as your regular employee (5 days a week). These employees don’t leave once the project ends. Instead, full-time employees help you with all day-to-day tasks that come under their job profile for a fixed monthly or weekly compensation.