A mobile app is a long-term relationship with a codebase, not a one-time purchase. Choosing the team is the highest-leverage decision you'll make, so check more than a glossy portfolio.
First, platform strategy. A responsible team will tell you when native isn't needed and when cross-platform (React Native or Flutter) is the honest choice - not silently double your cost with two native codebases, and not force a web app into an app-shaped box.
Second, look for opinions about the store lifecycle. Release, review, and update processes are as important as the build. Third, ask who owns quality: automated tests, crash monitoring, and performance budgets should all have named owners.
Finally, ask about the future. Apps need maintenance, OS updates, and feature releases. Teams that plan for post-launch support - or hand you clean, documented code you can maintain in-house - are the ones worth signing. If a company has nothing to say about what happens after launch, that's your answer.
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