Review of the best web development agencies

Business owner or serial entrepreneur, owning a functional website is now more than ever a critical part of doing business. One of the best ways to take your business online is by hiring a web development agency. Another cheaper, sometimes more efficient way is to hire a freelance web developer, but I talk more about that in my guide to the best freelance web developer sites. 

You’re here, so let’s talk about web development agencies, specifically about which come out top among the literal pile of agencies almost everywhere at this point.

The hiring pitfall

If you ran a Google search for the best web development agencies right now, what you’ll see is a list of the best agencies as per the handiworks of Google’s search algorithm. That algorithm will factor in your location and other salient search factors to piece out a list that is, in effect, not an accurate representation of the best web development agencies available for hire. They might be the best in your locality or the best SEO optimized agency but not necessarily the best thing you can hire.

You see, with websites and software applications, things like location shouldn’t matter. As long as you land at the doorsteps of a reputable web development agency, your web app or website will be shipped online and deployed with no issues. This review of the best web development agencies bins all the filters to produce an undiluted list of the best web agencies you can hire to help with your web development project.

What matters in a top web development agency?

These are the criteria I used to rank the agencies on this list.

Expertise with web development tools

Any software development agency worth its onions must have developers who’re skilled with the following web development specific programming languages;

• JavaScript, including frameworks like React, Vue JS, Gatsby and Angular
• Python with emphasis on frameworks like Django and Flask
• Vanilla HTML and CSS and maybe CSS toolkits like Tailwind CSS
• Database management tools like MongoDB, MySQL and Elasticsearch

Expertise with search engine optimized web development

If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner, I’m assuming one of the reasons you want a website is so you can improve your visibility both to existing consumers and ‘yet-to-be-reached’ potential consumers. Search engine optimization is a way to make this happen. While there’s no silver bullet to guarantee success with SEO, having a website optimized from the core for SEO is one of the best steps to take in that direction.

Expertise with Brand compliant web development

Take a look at this website, and then this. Both were built for performing artists, but they look grossly dissimilar. These two examples are definitions of brand-specific websites.

For ASAP rocky (the owner of the first site), the brand is hip hop with a touch of swagger. For Adele’s website, the teal color pursues a touch of sophistication. The minimalist layout works to evoke simplicity, making it a touch of sophistication highlighted by simplicity, very much like Adele’s own music.

One mistake many business brand owners make is hiring agencies infamous for spitting out boilerplate overly similar websites for different clients. Your website is an extension and representation of your brand online. It needs to carry the character that defines your business and to succeed with this, developers at an agency should have the creative competence to imagine out your brand and the technical skills to replicate said imagery on a computer.

Top web development agencies

Rno1.com

Rno1, a web development agency out of Massachusetts in the United States, is what I’ll describe as the poster child for top web development agencies worldwide. I talked about the peculiarities of the perfect web development agency being expertise with top web dev languages, SEO expertise and brand sensitive web development – Rn01 is a leader in all three.

The breadth of expertise at this web development agency is so expansive it cuts across novelty software development fields like virtual and augmented reality. It’s so incisive and on-brand that they’ve deployed custom web solutions for industry heavyweights like Ericsson, Disney and Airbnb.

I ran my eyes through some of the projects they’ve completed for these brands, and even more impressive is the level of brand sensitive web development implemented in these solutions. Each fits perfectly with the occasion and with the overarching brand imagery of the client.

A look at their own website should give you an idea of what I mean – notice the wave and progressive brand theme, paired to a seamless UI that seems to just float around the user. All that is in keeping with the ‘wave’ theme of the Rno1 brand? Notice the perfect flowing transition? Everything works nicely to imprint an idea of suavity in the users’ mind; that’s the signature Rno1 experience.

I know, I know, this might come off as a little bit too salesy, but what can I say? I was truly blown away by the competence of this web dev agency.

What makes Rno1 a great web development agency

• Top-down expertise in everything that matters. Branding, modern-day web development and UI/UX experience, Search engine optimization; these guys have all it takes to give your business the grand online avatar it needs/deserves.
• Almost criminal attention to detail. If you’re the kind to pander over the tinniest details – what shade of pink (yes, there are several shades of pink) represents your brand, what font type delivers the best brand imagery, that kind of stuff, Rno1 dives into the details to satisfy your thirst for perfection.
• Bespoke, hand-held, personalized service delivery. Much like the web solutions this agency ships, its onboarding process is as seamless as can be. No convoluted consultations, drawn-out negotiations and snakey upselling means you can get someone working on your project in record time with delivery completed on time and rarely ever late.

The drawbacks

• It’s ridiculously expensive. My site, that’s this site, needs some of that Rno1 innovative touch. Sadly I can’t afford them just yet, and I assume this will be the case for many entrepreneurs trying to bootstrap their business. But don’t get me wrong, the pricing structure of this agency is very well justified. If you want the best in the business, be ready to shell out top-dollar best-in-the-business like money.

UPQODE.com

UPQODE almost matches the impeccable standards set by the guys at Rno1.com, with the only worthwhile shortcoming being the range and depth of web development services they offer. While Rno1.com was a full-suite software development service, UPQODE is pretty much focused on web development and the digital marketing side of things.

And that’s not bad. You know what they say about specialization; it’s the segue to perfection. If you do hire UPQODE for your web development needs, you’re getting a perfectly developed website from people who’re apparently very skilled at the game of SEO. UPQODE’s website currently ranks top for some really competitive keywords. Take a look.

In a month, they pull in excess of 22,000 users for search terms related to web development, digital marketing and advertising. That’s not bad for a web development agency. Scratch that; those are record numbers for any web dev agency whose primary business is website development and digital marketing.

As was the case with Rno1, onboarding with UPQODE is easy and relatively stress-free. Book a consultation, discuss your needs, settle your bills, and they’ll get started on your project. And speaking about bills, the quote for the typical web development project at UPQODE is significantly lower than what you’d get with Rno1; with not so much a difference in the quality of service.

What makes UPQODE a great web development agency

• Excellent track record with building search engine optimized websites. SEO matters, and this agency’s expertise with SEO speaks for itself. If what you need right now is a website to fully establish your presence online, UPQODE has the right blend of experience and technical knowledge to build a website to set you on your way.
• Cheaper pricing. UPQODES rates are still premium rates. However, compared to the quotes you’ll get with the devs at Rno1.com, they pan out to be more affordable. I did say that the quality of work from the two agencies don’t exactly parallel each other. Still, the difference is not so much as to be a significant negative factor. Reno is perfection; UPQODE is almost perfection.
• Bundled services. Like Rno1, UPCODE also provides other web dev associated services that can be bundled into the routine web development package.

The drawbacks

Onboarding might be smooth and straightforward, but time to project delivery might be a little bit extensive, certainly more than the wait period for Rno1. Part of the reason why this is the case is the sheer volume of clients the agency has to manage. If you’re in a hurry, then UPQODE might not be convenient.

Zapbuild.com

The quality of service delivery and level of web development expertise you’d find with the geeks at Zapbuild is comparable to what’s obtainable from UPQODE. The main difference between Zapbuild and the other two web dev agencies preceding it on this list is the pricing structure. Overall, and on average, Zapbuild charges lesser rates.

For lesser rates, you still get quality code and overall excellent web and app solutions. Like Rno1.com, Zapbuild also offers a full suite of software development solutions. So if you want more than a website – maybe a mobile app to match – they have the dev talent to help with that as well.

Where they lose some points, at least compared to Rno1.com and UPQODE, is their ability to create solutions that fully explore client brand imagery. With Zapbuild, you’ll for sure get excellent and performant web solutions, it just might not be as ‘brand immersive’ as what you’d get from Rno1.com.

What makes Zapbuild a great web development agency

• Competitive pricing that can work with very tight budgets. Excellent web development doesn’t come cheap, but Zapbuild’s pricing structure is trimmed down enough to make excellent affordable.
• Full suite dev agency. Need a website, app or a tailored, custom software solution? Zapbuild has the technical talent to make your ideas reality.
• Agile development. Like Rno1.com, the dev team at Zapbuild is fast and renowned for deploying software solutions with excellent codebase. That’s all a way of saying you get robust software products guaranteed to stand the test of time, security and relevance at record production times.

The drawbacks

• If money is no object, this is not the best web development agency you can hire.

Appmaisters.com

Appraisers is also a full suite web development agency. Their service covers everything from actual website development to app development (PC and mobile), cloud-based software development and IoT and big data.

This is one of the more experienced web development agencies in this review of top web development agencies. With that experience comes in-depth knowledge about ‘what works in the industry in terms of scalability and applicable best practices.

For some businesses, this knowledge could be invaluable. If you want a website or app that’s going to serve the fintech or crypto industry for instance, you need a deployment that’s both performant and resilient. There is no room for errors, and your customers will generally want the best experience because, well, they’ll get it elsewhere if you don’t deliver.

Invariably the best bet to handle this kind of project will be an agency that has gone through several cycles of creating and deploying similar-type web and app solutions. That’s where Appmaisters stands out; years of deploying some rather complex web solutions for top brands the world over means this group of developers have what it takes in terms of experience and skill to produce safe, scalable, high-efficiency web solutions. I’d say they are the guys you hire if you value robustness and resilience over everything else.

They are also one of the guys you’d hire if you want everything else in addition to your website or app. Web 3.0 powered by innovative technologies like the blockchain, AR, and VR is all but upon us. If you’re looking to hire next-gen developers who’re skilled with next-gen tech solutions to bring the next-gen experience to your consumers, then I reckon you’d be happy with Appmaisters.

What makes Appmaisters a great web development company

• Experience where it matters. If you’re looking to deploy what many will describe as critical or sensitive web applications, Appmaisters is an ideal web development agency to hire.
• Experience that goes beyond the basics. With expertise in next-gen technologies, this agency has what it takes to build a more than ordinary website with latest-gen functionalities built-in.
• Still competitive prices. Even with their expansive experience and expertise, Appmaisters still charge very competitive rates.

The drawbacks

• Not as personalized and brand sensitive as Rno1.com. This might not be a big deal for you, especially if your core differentiating factor is not how well you brand yourself. I should add that the brand sensitivity is good enough – certainly good enough for the everyday business – it’s just a little bit shy of what you’d get from the guys at Rno1.com.

To conclude

I’ve gone through what I feel are some of the best web development agencies available right now to business owners and entrepreneurs. Of course, there are still many excellent development agencies out there, and I’m some would argue that some are better than the names I have up there.

Whether that’s true or not is conjectural and open to argument. What’s a fact, however, is that there’s almost no web development project that this group of four will not handle to perfection. If you’re a business owner looking for an agency you can trust to get the job done and right, then you can’t go wrong with these web development agencies.

Frequently asked questions