PRICE GUIDE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH · 2026–2027
Software Developer cost in the UK
£43–£71 per hour. Typically £53.
Contract software developers in the UK are advertised at about £43–£71 an hour, with a median of £53. Language and stack, seniority, backend or full-stack work, sector and London projects move a developer's hourly rate.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a software developer cost in the UK?
| Low end | £43 | a junior developer outside London |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £53 | what most people pay |
| High end | £71 | a senior developer on a London contract |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the agencies and freelancers near you.
What moves the price
- Seniority — a senior software developer who can design systems charges more than a junior
- Language and stack — a software developer with in-demand languages and cloud skills charges more per hour
- Scope — a small bug fix is quoted differently from building a new system
- Sector — finance and regulated sectors pay software developers more
- Contract or freelance — contract roles through agencies and direct freelance work are priced differently
- London — developers based in or working for London clients charge above the median
WHAT YOU GET
What a software developer visit includes
Takes: Small jobs take hours or days; new systems usually take weeks to months. Not included: Hosting, software licences, design work, project management and support after release are usually priced separately.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common software developer jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Software Developer near you, with prices shown
The agencies and freelancers that cover your area, nearest first, each with their price and one score from every review. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
How to pay less
- Write clear requirements before the software developer starts
- Use existing tools and libraries rather than building everything from scratch
- Release a small first version and improve it based on feedback
Before you book
- Ask for examples of similar software the developer has built
- Agree who owns the code and how it will be stored and handed over
- Plan security and UK GDPR compliance if the software handles personal data
- If the developer works through their own company, consider whether IR35 applies
Software Developer cost: questions people ask
UK contract adverts put software developers at about £43–£71 an hour, with a median of £53. Many contracts are priced by the day instead.
Small changes take hours or days; a new system typically takes weeks or months.
It depends on the contract. Make sure copyright and other intellectual property rights are assigned to your business in writing.
Day rates are common for longer contracts, while hourly rates suit small, occasional jobs.
Hosting, licences, design, project management and support after release are commonly separate.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, based on published UK contract rate data for software developers. They show the national range per hour, not a quote.
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