Mobile developers build and publish iOS and Android applications, whether native or cross-platform, and handle the store submissions and release process that come with them.
Mobile projects carry costs that web projects do not: developer accounts, store review, device testing and an update cycle that never fully ends. A freelancer who has shipped to both stores will raise these before you do — treat that as a good sign.
Decide early whether you need a genuinely native app or whether a cross-platform build meets the requirement. That single decision changes the budget, the timeline and the shortlist.
A short checklist that makes the quotes you receive comparable and the work easier to run.
Native or cross-platform? Cross-platform frameworks such as Flutter and React Native cover most business applications well and cost less to maintain across two stores. Native is worth the extra cost when the app leans heavily on platform-specific features or performance.
Do I need a backend as well? Almost always, unless the app works entirely offline. Say so in the brief — some mobile freelancers build the backend too, and others will want to work alongside a backend developer.
Who owns the store listings? You should. Publish under your own organisation accounts and add the freelancer as a collaborator, rather than the other way round.
Post the project and let matching freelancers come to you, or approach someone from the list above directly.