Developer hiring guide
Compare developer proposals beyond the headline price
A strong proposal connects the developer’s working proof to a realistic plan for the full project. Compare offers against the same requirements before choosing a price or timeline. Use the checklist below alongside each demo video and written proposal.
Check the working proof against your criteria
Try the agreed flow and watch the demo explanation. Record what works, what is simulated and what is missing. Use the same sample inputs for each proof and include the failure case from your brief.
A polished screen is only one signal. Ask why the developer chose the approach, what trade-offs remain and what must change for production. A challenge proof is not automatically a secure, scalable or complete product.
Compare scope before comparing cost
List the requested deliverables beside each proposal and mark included, excluded or unclear. Check integrations, content entry, hosting setup, testing, revisions, documentation and support. Clarify whether third-party subscriptions and ongoing hosting are additional costs.
Compare amounts in the same currency and on the same basis. Ask whether the quote includes any applicable taxes and current platform fees; use the pricing page and project agreement for the actual payment terms.
Examine the timeline and dependencies
Break delivery into milestones with an observable result. Check when your feedback, assets and access are required, and how availability affects the schedule. A short timeline that relies on unconfirmed inputs is difficult to compare with a fully explained plan.
The 24-hour Show2Build challenge covers only the agreed proof. The full project’s timeline is separate. Ask how scope changes and delays will be documented and reflected in milestones.
Confirm handover and ongoing responsibilities
Agree who controls repositories, deployment accounts and project assets, what documentation is supplied and what support follows delivery. Describe the acceptance process and the person authorised to approve each milestone.
Keep communication, agreements and payments on-platform. Confirm deposit, cancellation and dispute arrangements in the project agreement before committing.
Use an evidence-based comparison sheet
Create one row for each criterion: proof meets brief, relevant experience, included scope, explained assumptions, feasible milestones, communication and handover. For each developer, record evidence and a question to resolve rather than just a score.
Choose the proposal that best meets your requirements and risk tolerance. The cheapest offer or best-looking demo is not sufficient on its own; a clear answer to an unresolved requirement can change the comparison.
Common questions
- Should I choose the cheapest developer proposal?
- Compare the same scope, assumptions, ongoing costs and delivery responsibilities first. Price alone does not establish which proposal best fits the project.
- What should a Show2Build submission include?
- A working proof for the bounded challenge, a demo video and a price and timeline proposal. The full production project is agreed separately after selection.