Updated 6 November 2026. Startups and growing businesses in the US, UK, Europe, the Middle East and Australia often have their software built by teams in India. Done well, you get an experienced team at a lower cost than hiring locally. Done badly, you lose months. This guide is written from the vendor's side of the table: what makes these projects go well, and what to check before you sign anything.
Why companies outsource software development to India
- Depth of skills. India has one of the world's largest pools of software engineers, working in modern stacks such as React, Node.js, Python, Flutter and the major clouds.
- English as the working language. Code, documentation and client communication in the Indian software industry are in English.
- Cost. A team in India usually costs less than hiring in the US, UK or Western Europe. That lets a startup build more of its roadmap with the same budget.
- Time difference. Used well, work moves forward while you sleep and is ready for review in your morning.
Cost alone is a poor reason to choose a partner, though. The cheapest quote is often the most expensive project. The rest of this guide is about choosing well.
Time zones: less of a problem than it looks
India Standard Time (IST) is UTC+5:30 all year. India does not change its clocks, so the difference only shifts when your own clocks change for daylight saving.
| Your city | India is |
|---|---|
| London | 5½ hours ahead (4½ during British Summer Time) |
| Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam | 4½ hours ahead (3½ in summer) |
| New York, Toronto | 10½ hours ahead (9½ in summer) |
| San Francisco | 13½ hours ahead (12½ in summer) |
| Dubai | 1½ hours ahead, all year |
| Sydney | 5½ hours behind (4½ in the Australian winter) |
Mornings in Europe overlap with the Indian afternoon, and early mornings on the US East Coast overlap with the Indian evening. In practice, two habits make the distance disappear:
- A fixed call slot that sits inside both working days, at the same time each week.
- Written updates and demos instead of status meetings, so you can review progress at your own time.
Choose the right way to work together
- A fixed-scope project suits a first version (MVP) or a well-defined tool. The scope, phases and price are agreed in writing before work starts.
- An ongoing team suits a product that keeps changing. You pay for the time worked, and you need to be more involved in setting priorities.
- A small first phase is the safest start with any new partner. A discovery phase or one small feature shows you how the team communicates and delivers before you commit to the whole build.
How to choose a software development company in India: a checklist
- Open their live work. Ask for products you can actually use, not only screenshots or a slide deck.
- Read reviews and talk to a past client. Check Google reviews and B2B review sites such as Clutch and GoodFirms, and ask for a reference you can call.
- Insist on a written estimate. It should list the scope, phases, what is included and what is not.
- Meet the people who will build it. If only a salesperson talks to you, ask to speak with the developer or project lead.
- Ask how often you will see working software. A demo every one or two weeks is a good sign. "You will see it at the end" is not.
- Confirm who owns the code. Ownership of the code and designs should pass to you, and you should have access to the code repository.
- Keep key accounts in your name. Your domain, cloud hosting, app store and code repository accounts should belong to your company, with the vendor given access.
- Agree on support after launch. Know what is covered, for how long, and how to report a problem.
Contracts, code ownership and payments
A good contract covers the scope and deliverables, the timeline, the payment schedule, transfer of ownership of the code, confidentiality, which country's law applies, and support after launch. If you need a non-disclosure agreement before sharing your idea, ask for one at the start.
Tie payments to milestones you can see working, rather than paying most of the price up front. Agree the currency and payment method in writing before the project starts. This guide is not legal advice, so have a lawyer review any contract for a large project.
Red flags to watch for
- A fixed price quoted before anyone has asked about your users, features or integrations.
- A price far below every other quote you received.
- No test version or demo until the very end of the project.
- Your accounts or code held by the vendor with no access for you.
- Vague answers about who is working on your project.
How a project with Bitinfusion works
We are a software development company in Pune, India, building web applications, SaaS products, mobile apps and AI tools since 2018, for clients in India and internationally. Here is how our projects run:
- A free discovery call, booked at a time you choose in your own time zone.
- A written estimate that sets out the scope and phases before any work starts.
- Short iterations, each ending with a demo of working software.
- Everything in writing and in English.
- At launch, the deployed application, the source code in a repository you can access, documentation, and admin access for your team.
- Support after launch, with the scope agreed in writing.
You can open the projects we have built, or read how we work with clients outside India.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to outsource software development to India?
It can be, if you treat it like any important supplier. Check live work and reviews, sign a contract that covers confidentiality and code ownership, keep key accounts in your own name, and pay in milestones against working software.
How much does it cost to outsource software development to India?
It depends on the scope: the features, the number of user roles, integrations with other systems, design depth and hosting. A reliable company gives you a written estimate after understanding your project, not a price from a one-line brief.
What time zone is India in?
India Standard Time, UTC+5:30, all year. India is 5½ hours ahead of London in winter and 10½ hours ahead of New York in winter, and the gap narrows by an hour when those cities move to summer time.
Do Indian software developers work in English?
Yes. English is the working language of the Indian software industry for code, documentation and communication with clients.
Should I start with a small project?
Yes, if you can. A discovery phase or a small first feature shows you how a team communicates and delivers before you commit your whole budget.
Planning a product and want a team in India to build it? Book a free call at a time that suits you, and we will send a written estimate after it.