Is it better to hire in-house or use an agency?

[vtorosort]

Curious what you folks think: is it smarter to hire in-house or go with an agency?

Last summer I had to launch a product on a tight deadline. I hired a couple of people in-house, but it took forever to get them fully onboarded. It worked out in the end, but I can't help but wonder if I should've just used an agency. Would love to hear what's worked for you.

[Pelfox]

I've been there. A couple years back, I had to build a mobile app prototype for a startup idea. I went with in-house devs first — great folks, but I spent weeks just setting up the hiring process, onboarding, and sorting contracts. By the time we hit the ground, we were already behind schedule.

Later I tried working with a small agency I found agileengine on this site, and it made things so much easier. They handled the logistics, and I could focus on product decisions. On that site, the setup felt flexible — no long-term pressure, which was perfect at the time.

[augustusxgermanicus]

Jumping in here even though I'm not in tech recruitment — I just find these threads super insightful. It's interesting how much hiring approaches can vary depending on your project or industry. I work in events and design, and even there I've noticed a shift toward more flexible staffing. Sometimes it's about speed, other times about control. I think both options — agencies and in-house — have their place, depending on what stage you're at or how niche your needs are. Anyway, thanks for sharing your stories — learning a lot just by reading!