Originally published on the Djangix blog. This is a condensed version — the full article is linked at the end.
Most vendors sound identical on a sales call: similar stacks, similar timelines, similar promises. The useful differences appear when you ask for evidence and look at the terms around the work.
A practical way to compare
- Match the portfolio to your problem. A proof-of-concept or a demo is not the same as a shipped system handling real users. Ask whether the firm has actually delivered something like what you need.
- Pin down code ownership and access from day one. Who owns the code, the repository and the documentation? Can someone else take over if the relationship ends?
- Ask how communication really works. How often are demos, how fast are answers, and who is accountable when a deadline slips or a scope question appears?
- Make pricing comparable. Is the quote fixed, time-based or staged? What is explicitly excluded, and what happens when assumptions change?
Trade-offs worth naming
A large agency can bring a broader bench but also more overhead and layers. A boutique team can be closer and faster, but capacity is narrower. In-house hiring gives control but is the slowest and most expensive path to assemble. None is automatically best — fit matters.
A simple process
Score the same criteria for every candidate, run a short discovery before committing to a full build, verify claims with references or shipped work, and let that evidence drive the choice — not the polish of the proposal.
Read the full article on Djangix: Custom Software Development Companies: How to Compare Them Before You Hire — with the full scorecard and final checklist.
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