Common Issues general

I Paid Someone to Build My App and Now It's Broken

You hired a freelancer on Fiverr, Upwork, or another platform to build your app or website. It worked for a while, but now something is broken. Maybe the developer disappeared, isn't responding, or wants more money to fix what should have worked in the first place.

This is one of the most frustrating situations — you already spent money, you have a product that half-works, and you don't know enough about the code to understand what went wrong. The original developer might have cut corners, left messy code, or built something that was never meant to last.

You need someone new to look at the code, figure out what's broken, and actually fix it — without starting from scratch and losing everything you already paid for.

Error Messages You Might See

502 Bad Gateway 500 Internal Server Error This site can't be reached Application error Database connection failed
502 Bad Gateway500 Internal Server ErrorThis site can't be reachedApplication errorDatabase connection failed

Common Causes

  • Developer used shortcuts — Many budget freelancers copy-paste code from templates or use AI without testing properly, leaving hidden problems
  • No documentation — The developer didn't leave any notes about how the app works, making it nearly impossible to maintain
  • Hosting or server expired — The developer set up hosting under their own account, and the subscription ran out
  • Hardcoded credentials — Passwords and API keys were written directly into the code instead of being stored securely, and they've since changed or expired
  • No version control — There's no history of changes, so there's no way to undo what broke

How to Fix It

  1. Get access to everything — Make sure you have the code, hosting login, domain registrar login, and any database passwords before doing anything else
  2. Don't let the original developer make more changes — If they already broke it, more changes from them could make things worse
  3. Get a second opinion — Have a different developer review the code and give you an honest assessment of what it'll take to fix
  4. Check if the hosting is still active — Log into your hosting provider and make sure the subscription hasn't lapsed
  5. Document what's broken — Write down exactly what works, what doesn't, and any error messages you see so the next developer can start quickly

Real developers can help you.

Tejas Chokhawala Tejas Chokhawala Full-stack engineer with 5 years experience building production web apps using React, Next.js and TypeScript. Focused on performance, clean architecture and shipping fast. Experienced with Supabase/Postgres backends, Stripe billing, and building AI-assisted developer tools. Pratik Pratik SWE with 15+ years of experience building and maintaining web apps and extensive BE infrastructure David Olverson David Olverson Solo dev shipping production apps with AI-assisted development. I specialize in rescuing broken Lovable/Bolt/Cursor builds and taking them to production. 10+ apps shipped including SaaS CRMs, gaming platforms, real estate tools, and Discord bots. Stack: Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Prisma. I use Claude Code with 50+ custom skills for rapid delivery. Average turnaround: 2-4 weeks from broken prototype to production. Jen Jacobsen Jen Jacobsen I’m a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of experience building modern web and mobile applications. I enjoy working across the full product lifecycle — turning ideas into real, well-built products that are intuitive for users and scalable for businesses. I particularly enjoy building mobile apps, modern web platforms, and solving complex technical problems in a way that keeps systems clean, reliable, and easy to maintain. legrab legrab I'll fill this later MFox MFox Full-stack professional senior engineer (15+years). Extensive experience in software development, qa, and IP networking. Matthew Butler Matthew Butler Systems Development Engineer @ Amazon Web Services Meïr Ankri Meïr Ankri Full-stack developer specializing in React / Next.js / Node.js with 6+ years of experience. I've worked across various sectors including automotive (Reezocar/Société Générale), healthcare (Medical Link SaaS), and e-commerce (Glasman). I build web apps end-to-end, from architecture to production, with a focus on scalability, performance, and code quality. I also mentor junior developers and contribute to technical decisions and code reviews. Basel Issmail Basel Issmail ’m a Senior Full-Stack Developer and Tech Lead with experience designing and building scalable web platforms. I work across the full development lifecycle, from translating business requirements into technical architecture to delivering reliable production systems. My work focuses on modern web technologies, including TypeScript, Angular, Node.js, and cloud-based architectures. I enjoy solving complex technical problems and helping teams turn product ideas and prototypes into working platforms that can grow and scale. In addition to development, I often collaborate closely with product managers, business analysts, designers, and QA teams to ensure that solutions align with both technical and business goals. I enjoy working with startups and product teams where I can contribute both as a hands-on engineer and as a technical partner in designing and delivering impactful software. Caio Rodrigues Caio Rodrigues I'm a full-stack developer focused on building practical and scalable web applications. My main experience is with **React, TypeScript, and modern frontend architectures**, where I prioritize clean code, component reusability, and maintainable project structures. I have strong experience working with **dynamic forms, state management (Redux / React Hook Form), and complex data-driven interfaces**. I enjoy solving real-world problems by turning ideas into reliable software that companies can actually use in their daily operations. Beyond coding, I care about **software quality and architecture**, following best practices for componentization, code organization, and performance optimization. I'm also comfortable working across the stack when needed, integrating APIs, handling business logic, and helping transform prototypes into production-ready systems. My goal is always to deliver solutions that are **simple, efficient, and genuinely useful for the people using them.**

Describe what's wrong in plain English. No technical knowledge needed.

Get Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I ask the original developer to fix it?

If they're still responsive and the project is under warranty or guarantee, you can try. But if they've disappeared or are asking for more money for basic fixes, it's usually better to find someone new who can properly assess the code.

Do I need to start over from scratch?

Usually not. A good developer can review the existing code and fix what's broken. Starting over is only necessary if the original code is so messy that fixing it would cost more than rebuilding.

Related Common Issues Issues

Can't fix it yourself?
Real developers can help.

You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.

Get Help