Freelance developers and embedded engineers both add capacity without a permanent hire, and they suit different situations. A freelancer fits a short, well-defined task. An embedded engineer works full-time inside your team and fits ongoing product work where context, continuity and code ownership matter.
What is a freelance developer
A freelancer is a self-employed engineer who takes on tasks or short projects, often for several clients at once. You agree on the work, the period and the payment directly. You can usually start quickly, and you pay only while the work lasts.
What is an embedded engineer
An embedded engineer is employed by a partner and works full-time in your team. They join your standups, use your tools and follow your priorities for months or years. The partner handles employment, equipment and replacement, and you handle direction.
How do they compare
| Freelance developer | Embedded engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Depends on their other clients | Full-time on your product |
| Continuity | Can leave when a better project appears | Partner replaces if someone leaves |
| Context over time | Builds slowly, sometimes lost | Builds and stays |
| Management load | Task by task | Same as a team member |
| Vetting | Yours to do | Done by the partner |
| Contract | Directly with the individual | With the partner |
| Best for | A landing page, a migration script, a short audit | Product development over months |
When is a freelancer the right choice
Choose a freelancer when the task is small and clear: a prototype, a one-off integration, a design review or a security audit. The cost of explaining your product is low, and nothing breaks if the person is gone in a month. Freelancers also suit very specialised skills that you need for a few days.
When is an embedded engineer the right choice
Choose an embedded engineer when the work will run for months and touches your core codebase. The value comes from context: after a quarter, the engineer knows why decisions were made and can work with less direction. Continuity also matters for security and for the bus factor on your code.
You need someone to direct the work. If your team has a CTO or a senior lead, the model works well. Without one, a freelancer on a defined task may serve you better.
What are the hidden costs of freelancers
Finding and vetting the right person takes your time, often several weeks of interviews. Quality varies widely and profiles are hard to verify. If the freelancer leaves mid-project, you restart the search and lose context. For work that continues, these costs usually exceed the saving on the monthly price. Our article on what a software agency is covers the third option, handing the project over.
How do you decide
Ask three questions. Will the work run longer than three months? Does it touch your core codebase? Would losing the person halfway cause real damage? Two or three yes answers point to an embedded engineer. Mostly no answers point to a freelancer. You can also combine both: embedded engineers carry the product, and freelancers cover specialist tasks such as an audit or a design review. Whatever you choose, keep the code in your own repositories and agree IP ownership in writing.
What this means when you hire through Miyagami
We place embedded engineers full-time from €5,600 a month, with a three-month minimum and no recruitment fee. Every engineer is tested by an AI-native tech lead who works with AI every day. You see a shortlist within 3 working days. If the fit is wrong, we replace at our cost. Read how we vet or the guide on staff augmentation for more.
Short answers
Are freelancers cheaper than embedded engineers?
On the monthly price sometimes. Including your time to find, vet and replace them, the gap often closes for long work.
Can a freelancer become a long-term team member?
Yes, if they want to and have capacity, but you carry the risk that they leave.
Do embedded engineers need management?
They need direction from your lead, the same as any engineer in your team.
What if an embedded engineer does not fit?
The partner replaces them. With Miyagami we replace at our cost.
