A business came to us recently after the company that built their app shut down. There was no handover, no source code and no warning. Within days, their users could not log in.
The reason was small and completely avoidable: the SMS service that sent login OTPs was registered in the vendor's name. When the vendor stopped paying for it, the OTPs stopped. The app belonged to the business. The login did not.
We are now rebuilding that platform, and the first thing we did was move every account, key and service into the client's own name. If your developer has stopped responding, your vendor has shut down, or you simply want to move to a new team, this guide walks you through what to do, in order, and what it typically costs.
Step 1: Find out what you actually own
Before anything else, make a list. For each item, note whether you can log in, and whose name it is in.
- Domain. Where is it registered? Can you log in?
- Hosting or cloud account. AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Vercel, DigitalOcean or a VPS. Who pays for it?
- Source code. Is there a GitHub or GitLab repository? Do you have access?
- App store accounts. Are your Android and iOS apps published under your company's developer account or theirs?
- SMS, email and WhatsApp providers. OTPs, password resets and notifications often run on accounts set up by the developer.
- Payment gateway. Razorpay, Cashfree, PayU or Stripe. Is the merchant account yours?
- Database and backups. Where is the data, and is there a recent backup?
- Admin logins. Do you have your own admin access to every system?
Step 2: Secure the things that will break first
Some services fail fast when unpaid or unmanaged. Prioritise them in this order:
- 1.Domain renewal. If the domain expires, everything stops, including email.
- 2.SMS and OTP services. If these lapse, nobody can log in.
- 3.Hosting billing. Make sure the cloud account will not be suspended.
- 4.Payment gateway. Confirm settlements go to your bank account.
- 5.Backups. Take a fresh backup of the database as soon as you have access.
Step 3: Get the code, or find out if you can
If you have access to the repository, you are in a good position. If you do not, ask the developer in writing for the source code and account transfers. Check your contract: many agreements state that the code belongs to the client on payment.
If the code is truly gone, the app can still often be recovered. A new team can sometimes work from the running server, the database and the app store builds. It is slower, but it is usually cheaper than starting from zero.
Step 4: Get a technical audit before deciding anything
Before choosing between fixing and rebuilding, have a new team audit what exists. A proper audit should tell you:
- What technology the app uses and whether it is still supported.
- How much of the code is usable.
- Security problems that need fixing immediately.
- What it will cost to stabilise, versus rebuild.
Stuck with an app nobody can maintain?
We take over existing apps, audit them, and tell you honestly whether to fix or rebuild.
See our software development serviceFix or rebuild?
| Situation | Usually better to fix | Usually better to rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Source code available and readable | Yes | - |
| Technology is current and supported | Yes | - |
| App works but needs new features | Yes | - |
| No source code at all | - | Often |
| Technology is outdated or abandoned | - | Yes |
| Serious security issues throughout | - | Yes |
| The business has changed a lot since it was built | - | Yes |
What an app takeover costs in India
Costs vary a lot with the size of the app. These ranges are indicative.
| Work | Typical range | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Technical audit and recovery plan | ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Account and ownership transfer | Often included in the audit | Days |
| Stabilise and fix critical issues | ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Partial rebuild of key modules | ₹2,00,000 to ₹6,00,000 | 1 to 3 months |
| Full rebuild of a platform | ₹5,00,000+ | 2 to 4 months |
Related reading: What is an admin panel? and What does a cheap website really cost?
How to make sure this never happens again
Your next development partner should have access to everything. You should own everything. Insist on these from day one:
- The code lives in your company's GitHub or GitLab organisation.
- The domain, cloud, app store, SMS, email and payment accounts are in your company's name.
- You have your own admin login to every system.
- There is a short document listing every service the app uses.
- Backups run automatically, and someone has tested restoring one.
Working with a team in Thane and Mumbai
The Tech Thingy is a software development company based in Thane, in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. We regularly take over apps and platforms built by other teams, recover what can be saved and rebuild what cannot, and we hand over every account in the client's name. You can see our work or read about our software development and mobile app development services.
Need someone to take over your app?
Tell us what you have access to. We'll tell you what can be recovered and what it will cost.
Get a takeover assessmentFrequently asked questions
- My app developer stopped responding. What should I do first?
- Make a list of every account your app depends on and check which ones you can access. Secure the domain, hosting, SMS and payment accounts first, then ask for the source code in writing.
- Can a new developer take over an existing app?
- Yes. A new team should start with a technical audit, then stabilise the app before adding new features.
- What if I don't have the source code?
- Recovery is still often possible from the server, database and app store builds, but it is slower. Check your contract, as many state that the code belongs to you.
- How much does it cost to take over an app in India?
- An audit typically costs ₹15,000 to ₹50,000. Stabilising an app usually costs ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000, depending on size and condition.
- Should I fix my existing app or rebuild it?
- Fix it if the code is available, current and reasonably clean. Rebuild if there is no code, the technology is outdated, or the business has changed a lot.
- How do I avoid vendor lock-in?
- Keep the code, domain, cloud, app store and messaging accounts in your company's name, and give your vendor access rather than ownership.