The Refinery

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Details

Founded:
2005
Hourly Rates:
$50 - $99 / hr
Employees:
10 - 49
Avg. Project Cost:
$10,000+
Ratings:
4.3 9 Reviews

Services

  • Mobile App Development
  • Web Development
  • Mobile App Design
  • App Marketing

Industries Served

Manufacturing Real Estate Energy & Utilities Healthcare Environmental Services Legal Services Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

Where We Specialize

20% Mobile App Development
Mobile App Development 20%
Cloud Computing Services 18%
DevOps 17%
Web Development 15%
Express.js 11%
Testing Services 7%
IoT Development 6%
Progressive Web App 6%

Industry Expertise

Education100%

Typical Project Size

68% Enterprise
21% Midmarket Business
11% Small Business

About

Businesses looking for a reliable technology partner often consider The Refinery. Their core services include Mobile App Development and Custom Software Development. Its team includes 10 - 49 specialists working across design, development, and delivery. Clients can expect pricing around $50 - $99/hr, with projects averaging about $60,000. These details offer a useful starting point when evaluating The Refinery.

The Refinery Reviews

4.3 9 Reviews
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Would happily work with them again

Naledi Naidoo / Head of Engineering | Sep 21, 2026

Overall we had a good experience working with The Refinery. When we changed our minds on a couple of features halfway through, they handled it without fuss and were clear about the impact on cost and timeline. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money. We dealt with the same core team throughout, so we did not have to keep re-explaining things.

It has made a real difference to how our team works day to day. There were some early misunderstandings on requirements that took a few rounds to sort out. We are already discussing the next phase with them.

Project summary

We hired The Refinery to build firmware and a companion app for a smart device we were launching. The project was split into milestones, with a working build shared at the end of each one. Overall it was a 2-month engagement.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 4.0
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 4.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IoT Development
Project Cost:
$50,000 to $149,999
Project Duration:
Jun 2026 - Aug 2026
Business Type:
Manufacturing
Location:
Durban, South Africa

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I work as Head of Engineering at Clearfield Components. We operate in Manufacturing and most of our customers are in and around Durban, South Africa.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to build firmware and a companion app for a smart device we were launching, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly IoT Development. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
They had relevant experience in Manufacturing and their proposal was the clearest of the ones we received.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
They understood our goals quickly, partly because they had worked with Manufacturing clients before.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Communication was good overall and improved further once we settled into a routine.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
We can now handle more volume without adding staff, which was the main goal.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The consistency. Same team, same standard, from the first week to the last.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I would recommend them and we plan to work with them again.

They listened, asked the right questions, and delivered

Amanda Reed / Co-Founder | Aug 12, 2026

The Refinery did an excellent job for us. Communication was consistent. We had a weekly call, a shared Slack channel and a project board we could check at any time. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building.

We are already seeing better numbers than before the project. Overall, a team we trust and plan to keep working with.

Project summary

Our company worked with The Refinery to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities. Scope included discovery workshops, development in two-week sprints and a short support period after launch. The engagement ran for about 7 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.0
  • Schedule 4.5
  • Project Cost 5.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IoT Development
Project Cost:
Less than $10,000
Project Duration:
Nov 2025 - Jun 2026
Business Type:
Real Estate
Location:
Raleigh, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I work as Co-Founder at Pioneer Properties Inc. We operate in Real Estate and most of our customers are in and around Raleigh, USA.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly IoT Development. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
They had relevant experience in Real Estate and their proposal was the clearest of the ones we received.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Very well. They asked a lot of questions upfront and turned our rough ideas into a clear plan.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Communication was good overall and improved further once we settled into a routine.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
We can now handle more volume without adding staff, which was the main goal.
What did you like most about working with this company?
Their attention to detail and the quality of the final product.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I would recommend them and we plan to work with them again.

Easy to work with and very transparent on timelines and cost

Dan Price / Co-Founder & CTO | Aug 02, 2026

We were very happy with how this project went. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money. They were upfront about what was realistic within our budget, which helped us prioritise the right features. When we changed our minds on a couple of features halfway through, they handled it without fuss and were clear about the impact on cost and timeline.

The result looks great and performs well, and our internal team found it easy to take over.

We would definitely work with them again.

Project summary

Our company worked with The Refinery to reduce our cloud bill and clean up an AWS setup that had grown messy over the years. The project was split into milestones, with a working build shared at the end of each one. Overall it was a 3-month engagement.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 5.0
  • Schedule 4.5
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Cloud Services
Project Cost:
Less than $10,000
Project Duration:
Apr 2026 - Jul 2026
Business Type:
Energy & Utilities
Location:
Raleigh, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
We're a mid-sized Energy & Utilities company based in Raleigh, USA. I'm the Co-Founder & CTO and I oversaw the project from start to finish.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our team was spending too much time on manual work. The goal was to reduce our cloud bill and clean up an AWS setup that had grown messy over the years so they could focus on customers.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly Cloud Services. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Well. There were a couple of points we had to clarify early on, but after that they were spot on.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Very responsive. We usually heard back the same day, even with the time difference.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Customer feedback has been positive, and we have seen better engagement since going live.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The consistency. Same team, same standard, from the first week to the last.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes. They are a reliable Cloud Services partner.

Strong Technical Skills and a Very Responsive Cloud Services Team

Lachlan Stewart / Engineering Manager | Jun 30, 2026

The Refinery did good work for us, and we would use them again. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money. Communication was consistent. We had a weekly call, a shared Slack channel and a project board we could check at any time.

Since launch, everything has been stable and our team has adapted to it quickly. Their team changed one developer midway, which slowed things down for a couple of weeks.

Happy to recommend them.

Project summary

The Refinery was brought in to reduce our cloud bill and clean up an AWS setup that had grown messy over the years. They also took care of integrations with a couple of third-party tools we already used. The engagement ran for about 9 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 3.5
  • Schedule 3.5
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Cloud Services
Project Cost:
$50,000 to $149,999
Project Duration:
Aug 2025 - May 2026
Business Type:
Healthcare
Location:
Melbourne, Australia

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I work as Engineering Manager at Pinecrest Clinics. We operate in Healthcare and most of our customers are in and around Melbourne, Australia.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to reduce our cloud bill and clean up an AWS setup that had grown messy over the years, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
End-to-end Cloud Services — from requirements and design through to deployment and a support period afterwards.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Better than we expected. They pointed out a few things we had not thought about.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Very responsive. We usually heard back the same day, even with the time difference.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Our team saves several hours a week, and we have had very few issues since launch.
What did you like most about working with this company?
That they were proactive — they suggested improvements instead of just doing what was asked.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I've already recommended them to a couple of people I know.

A reliable long-term partner for our tech needs

Lauren Wallace / Marketing Director | May 16, 2026

Our experience with The Refinery was really positive from start to finish. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in.

The result looks great and performs well, and our internal team found it easy to take over. We would definitely work with them again.

Project summary

We hired The Refinery to build a customer portal where clients can log in, track orders and download invoices. The project was split into milestones, with a working build shared at the end of each one. The project took roughly 6 months from kickoff to launch.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.5
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 4.0
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Web Development
Project Cost:
$150,000 to $499,999
Project Duration:
Nov 2025 - May 2026
Business Type:
Environmental Services
Location:
Charlotte, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I'm the Marketing Director at Sage Recycling LLC, a Environmental Services company based in Charlotte, USA. I look after our technology and work closely with outside partners on bigger projects.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We had tried to do this internally and it stalled. We needed specialists to build a customer portal where clients can log in, track orders and download invoices.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Web Development, including planning, development, testing and launch support.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
They understood our goals quickly, partly because they had worked with Environmental Services clients before.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
It was delivered on time, and the final invoice matched the original estimate.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Our team saves several hours a week, and we have had very few issues since launch.
What did you like most about working with this company?
How easy they were to work with. They were responsive, honest and genuinely interested in our success.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I would recommend them and we plan to work with them again.

Solid Cloud Services Work With Clear Communication Throughout

Eric Foster / Founder & CEO | May 05, 2026

The project went well overall. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline. They shared working builds regularly, so we could test early and give feedback before things were locked in.

It has made a real difference to how our team works day to day. There were some early misunderstandings on requirements that took a few rounds to sort out. I would recommend The Refinery to anyone looking for a dependable Cloud Services partner.

Project summary

We engaged The Refinery to migrate our on-premise servers to AWS. The work covered requirements, design, development, testing and launch support. The engagement ran for about 2 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 3.5
  • Schedule 4.0
  • Project Cost 3.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
Cloud Services
Project Cost:
$10,000 to $49,999
Project Duration:
Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
Business Type:
Energy & Utilities
Location:
Dallas, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Pinecrest Solar is a Energy & Utilities business in Dallas, USA. As Founder & CEO, I was responsible for this project on our side and the main contact for The Refinery.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We had tried to do this internally and it stalled. We needed specialists to migrate our on-premise servers to AWS.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly Cloud Services. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
Their pricing was fair and they were honest about timelines instead of just telling us what we wanted to hear.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Well. There were a couple of points we had to clarify early on, but after that they were spot on.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Good. Weekly calls, regular updates and a shared board meant we always knew where things stood.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
It is still early, but the numbers are trending in the right direction and the system has been stable.
What did you like most about working with this company?
How easy they were to work with. They were responsive, honest and genuinely interested in our success.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes. They are a reliable Cloud Services partner.

Honest advice and solid execution

Jack Nguyen / Owner | Apr 20, 2026

The Refinery did good work for us, and we would use them again. The developers were knowledgeable and made a few suggestions that ended up saving us time and money. The team asked a lot of questions early on, which felt slow at first but meant there were very few surprises later.

We are already seeing better numbers than before the project. A couple of milestones slipped by a week or so, mostly around testing.

I would recommend The Refinery to anyone looking for a dependable IoT Development partner.

Project summary

We hired The Refinery to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities. They also took care of integrations with a couple of third-party tools we already used. The engagement ran for about 5 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.0
  • Quality 4.5
  • Schedule 3.5
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IoT Development
Project Cost:
$10,000 to $49,999
Project Duration:
Oct 2025 - Mar 2026
Business Type:
Legal Services
Location:
Adelaide, Australia

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
I'm the Owner at Redwood Partners Pty Ltd, a Legal Services company based in Adelaide, Australia. I look after our technology and work closely with outside partners on bigger projects.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We had tried to do this internally and it stalled. We needed specialists to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities.
What services did the company provide for your project?
Mainly IoT Development. They also helped with the technical planning and a few integrations with our existing tools.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
Their pricing was fair and they were honest about timelines instead of just telling us what we wanted to hear.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Very well. They asked a lot of questions upfront and turned our rough ideas into a clear plan.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Organised and transparent. Their project manager kept the project on track and flagged risks early.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Mostly. One milestone slipped by about a week, but the final delivery was on schedule and the budget held.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
We can now handle more volume without adding staff, which was the main goal.
What did you like most about working with this company?
That they were proactive — they suggested improvements instead of just doing what was asked.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Yes, I've already recommended them to a couple of people I know.

The Refinery Delivered a Quality IoT Development Solution on Time

Amanda Carter / CEO | Mar 26, 2026

We were very happy with how this project went. Communication was consistent. We had a weekly call, a shared Slack channel and a project board we could check at any time. Their project manager kept things organised and was quick to flag anything that might affect the timeline.

Since launch, everything has been stable and our team has adapted to it quickly. Happy to recommend them.

Project summary

We partnered with The Refinery to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities. Their team handled planning, development and QA, with our product owner signing off each milestone. Overall it was a 5-month engagement.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.5
  • Schedule 5.0
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IoT Development
Project Cost:
$50,000 to $149,999
Project Duration:
Aug 2025 - Jan 2026
Business Type:
Energy & Utilities
Location:
Austin, USA

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
Greenfield Energy Inc is a Energy & Utilities business in Austin, USA. As CEO, I was responsible for this project on our side and the main contact for The Refinery.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
We needed to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities, and we didn't have the in-house capacity to do it ourselves.
What services did the company provide for your project?
IoT Development, including planning, development, testing and launch support.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
A colleague recommended them, and our first calls confirmed they understood what we needed.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
Well. There were a couple of points we had to clarify early on, but after that they were spot on.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Very responsive. We usually heard back the same day, even with the time difference.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
It is still early, but the numbers are trending in the right direction and the system has been stable.
What did you like most about working with this company?
That they were proactive — they suggested improvements instead of just doing what was asked.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Definitely. We have already started talking about the next phase.

Professional team that made a complex project feel manageable

Tom Evans / Senior Engineering Manager | Mar 10, 2026

I would rate this engagement highly on almost every front. Even with the time zone difference, responses usually came the same day and we never felt left in the dark. Communication was consistent. We had a weekly call, a shared Slack channel and a project board we could check at any time. They took the time to understand our business before suggesting anything, which we appreciated after previous agencies jumped straight into building.

Since launch, everything has been stable and our team has adapted to it quickly. We are already discussing the next phase with them.

Project summary

We hired The Refinery to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities. They also took care of integrations with a couple of third-party tools we already used. We worked together for around 2 months.

  • Overall Rating 4.5
  • Quality 4.5
  • Schedule 4.5
  • Project Cost 4.5
  • Willing To Refer 5.0
Project Type:
IoT Development
Project Cost:
$500,000+
Project Duration:
Dec 2025 - Feb 2026
Business Type:
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Location:
Edinburgh, UK

Questions & Answers

Please describe your company, your role, and the industry you operate in.
We're a mid-sized Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology company based in Edinburgh, UK. I'm the Senior Engineering Manager and I oversaw the project from start to finish.
What specific problem or business challenge led you to hire this company?
Our team was spending too much time on manual work. The goal was to set up a sensor network and alerts for our cold storage facilities so they could focus on customers.
What services did the company provide for your project?
IoT Development, plus QA and some consulting on how to structure the project.
Why did you choose this company over other providers you considered?
Their pricing was fair and they were honest about timelines instead of just telling us what we wanted to hear.
How clearly did the company understand your requirements and business goals?
They understood our goals quickly, partly because they had worked with Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology clients before.
How was your overall experience with their communication and project management?
Organised and transparent. Their project manager kept the project on track and flagged risks early.
Did the company deliver the project on time and within your expected budget?
Yes. The only extra cost came from features we added ourselves, and they quoted those fairly.
What tangible results or business impact have you seen since the project was completed?
Customer feedback has been positive, and we have seen better engagement since going live.
What did you like most about working with this company?
The consistency. Same team, same standard, from the first week to the last.
Would you recommend this company to others, and would you work with them again?
Definitely. We have already started talking about the next phase.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions about our specialized technology solutions? We have the answers to help you make informed decisions.

The Refinery typically covers the standard range of software development work — mobile apps, web platforms, custom internal tools, UI/UX design, cloud infrastructure, AI integrations, and larger enterprise builds. Its core focus areas include Mobile App Design, App Marketing, Web Development and Mobile App Development.

Generally, yes — companies like The Refinery tend to work well with startups because of what they typically offer: MVP builds, product strategy input, architecture that can scale later, and dedicated teams that keep costs manageable while still moving fast. For context, it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage, and it has been operating since 2005.

It depends heavily on scope. A lean MVP might be a matter of weeks, while a full enterprise system or a larger digital transformation project can stretch into months once you factor in development, testing, and deployment. With a team of 10 - 49 professionals, The Refinery can scale resources based on project urgency.

What tends to set The Refinery apart usually comes down to some mix of technical depth, relevant industry experience, how clients describe working with them, their development approach, communication habits, and whether they can actually deliver something that scales. Founded in 2005, the company has built a track record of delivering projects across various industries.

Most businesses reach The Refinery through its website, a direct email, or a contact form — any of which works for discussing what you need, booking an initial conversation, or asking for a rough estimate. For context, its listed capabilities span Mobile App Design, App Marketing, Web Development and Mobile App Development, and it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage.

When you're weighing up a software partner such as The Refinery, it's worth looking past the pitch and checking the portfolio, what past clients say, relevant industry background, technical range, how they communicate, pricing structure, project management style, and what support looks like after launch. For context, it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage, and its typical hourly rate is around $50 - $99.

Most professional shops, including The Refinery, expect to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before getting into specifics — it's a fairly standard ask and a reasonable one to make before sharing anything sensitive. For context, it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage, and it has been operating since 2005.

It's a common line of work for a company like The Refinery — multi-tenant architecture, subscription billing hooked up properly, and cloud-native deployment built for a product meant to scale as a service rather than a one-off build. For context, it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage, and it has been operating since 2005.

The most reliable route is giving The Refinery a clear, specific brief up front — through their website form, a direct email, or a call — since a vague ask tends to get a vague answer back, while a concrete one usually gets a proper estimate. For context, its listed capabilities span Mobile App Design, App Marketing, Web Development and Mobile App Development, and it has experience across industries such as Gaming & Gambling, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, Environmental Services and Food & Beverage.
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