Developer gone? App half-built? We take it over and finish it.
When a freelancer disappears or an agency stops, you’re left with code you can’t judge and a launch that keeps slipping. We take it over, tell you honestly what’s worth keeping, and finish it.
We first make sure you own and can access everything: the code, the store accounts and the servers. Then you get an honest written assessment and a fixed plan to stabilise and finish the app, or hand it over cleanly.
- 11+ yearsbuilding apps and software
- 30+ appslaunched on the App Store and Google Play
- 100%Job Success · Top Rated Plus on Upwork
- 5.0★from 30+ client reviews
Sound familiar?
- Your freelancer stopped replying, and the app is half-built.
- The agency moved on, or the contract ended in the middle of the build.
- You inherited code from a previous team, and nobody can explain how it works.
- Apple or Google keeps rejecting the app. Our rejection guides explain the common reasons.
- It was built quickly with AI tools and keeps breaking. See fixing an AI-built app.
The first steps
- Access and ownership check. We list everything the app depends on: the code repository, App Store Connect and Google Play Console, servers and hosting, domains, and services like payments. Then we check who controls each one.
- An honest written assessment. What works, what’s risky, and what’s worth keeping, explained without jargon.
- A fixed plan and quote to stabilise and finish the app, or to hand it over.
Getting your accounts and code back
A checklist to work through with the previous developer. Ask for each item to be in your company’s name, with them added as a user if they’re still involved, not the other way round.
- Code repository on GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket, with you as the owner, not just a collaborator.
- Apple Developer account and App Store Connect. If the app was published under someone else’s account, Apple has a process to transfer it to yours.
- Google Play Console, which also supports transferring an app between developer accounts.
- Hosting and cloud accounts, such as AWS, Firebase or Supabase, billed to you with admin access.
- Domain and DNS at your domain registrar.
- Payments and other services, such as Stripe or RevenueCat, plus any API keys. Change the keys once old access is removed.
- Design files and documentation, if there are any.
Not sure what to ask for? We’ll tell you exactly what to request on the first call.
What happens next
- Finish itComplete the features that matter and launch, with weekly demos.
- Stabilise itFix crashes, security gaps and App Store rejections first.
- Hand it overClean code, documentation and access, ready for any future team.
After that, we can stay on as your ongoing product team, or step back. Your code and accounts are yours either way.
What clients say
“Worked on a difficult problem that we weren't able to solve.”
“Does so to a high standard every time, in an almost entirely independent manner.”
“Very helpful. Fast. Knowledgeable. Recommended!”
Verified 5.0★ reviews from Upwork clients. Read more reviews
Questions founders ask
What if I don’t have the code?
Then getting it is the first step, and we’ll help you ask for the right things. If it can’t be recovered, we’ll give you an honest view of what rebuilding the important parts would involve.
Who owns the app?
You should. The code, the App Store and Google Play listings and the cloud accounts should all be in your company’s name. If they aren’t, we help you move them, and everything we build lives in your accounts from day one.
Can you fix it without starting again?
Often, yes. The written assessment shows what’s worth keeping, and we only suggest rebuilding parts that would cost more to fix than to replace.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the state of the app and what’s left to do. You get a fixed quote after the assessment, before any work on the app starts.