There are 4.4 million apps available on both the Appstore and Google Play, aimed at the world’s 14 billion mobile phones. If you want to create a mobile app, one of the most crucial decisions you must make is whether to use native or cross-platform mobile development.
Choosing between the two has long-term consequences in terms of cost, time, and functionality. In this post, we’ll look at both approaches and analyze the benefits and drawbacks of each.
What is a Native App?
The term “native app development” refers to the process of creating a mobile app that is dedicated to a single platform. The app is created using platform-specific programming languages and tools. For example, you can create a native Android app using Java or Kotlin and an iOS app using Swift or Objective-C.
Native apps are regarded for providing an amazing user experience due to their high performance. The aesthetics are also matched to the platform’s UX, which improves the user experience. Startups, on the other hand, are concerned about the high cost of native app development because they must perform concurrent development for two platforms
Pros of Native Apps
Seamless Operation and Compatibility
Native apps interact effortlessly with the hardware of the device, ensuring smooth functionality. The software integrates with hardware such as touch screen features, camera, calendar, GPS, and so on.
Reliability and Security
The security concerns associated with hybrid applications are higher. The greater the number of layers, languages, and technologies used in your application, the greater the likelihood that vulnerabilities will be introduced.
Single Codebase
Apps that run on many platforms share a single codebase, which has a number of advantages. In the course of development, software with a single codebase enables for code re-use on multiple platforms. Furthermore, with a single codebase, maintaining and changing the application is simplified.
Cost-effective
It should be easier to find a team because there aren’t as many technologies as there are with native apps. Cross-platform development also necessitates fewer engineers than native app development because the same team builds apps for all platforms rather than separate apps for each platform. Cross-platform development also saves time on developing and testing.
Reduced Errors and Bugs
Managing two distinct codebases becomes more difficult than managing a single codebase as in native app development. Because native programs have a single codebase and do not rely on cross-platform tools, they usually have fewer issues.
Utmost Performance
Native app development aids in the development of apps that are designed for a certain platform, ensuring good performance. Because native programs are designed for a specific platform, they are responsive and relatively fast. Furthermore, these apps are built with core programming languages and APIs, making native apps more efficient.
When to Consider Developing a Native App?
- Your application requires full access to all the phone’s resources, services and functionalities such as GPS, camera, and so on.
- When required to code particularly for one platform.
- You’re looking to take advantage of the device’s hardware.
- You want to build the most responsive application.
- You want an app that can be easily updated and enhanced with new features in the future.
Cons of Native App Development
Higher Initial Cost
Native development is time-consuming for the same reasons that it is expensive. Finding the ideal team, developing a vision for your future app, and finally project implementation all add to the length of time it takes to develop a custom solution.
Needs More Skills, Talent and Time
Because native mobile apps are language-specific, it can be difficult to locate developers who can create native apps back-to-back. When it comes to native vs cross-platform app development, you’ll need to employ two teams for native app development, but cross-platform app development only requires one team.
Cross-Platform Mobile Development Technologies
Native mobile apps, without a question, are unmatched in terms of performance. It can be very powerful to be able to run the same code on many different operating systems. This can be very important in a lot of different situations. Despite its lower power, this choice is always more cost-effective and speedier.
A single database is required to create a cross-platform software that can operate on multiple devices. Because of the benefit of repurposing, development becomes faster and less expensive. The majority of code, 70-95 percent, may be utilized in another platform, making development for Android and iOS simple.
Flutter, Ionic, React Native, and Xamarin cover the most jobs for both operating systems in this regard. According to Statista, Flutter is the biggest cross-platform development framework, accounting for 42 percent of the market. React Native comes in second with 38%. The complete picture is depicted in the table below.
Best Cases of Cross-Platform Apps
When there is no need to focus on a single platform, many well-known brands opt for cross-platform app development. Among the most well-known instances are:
- Mozilla Firefox
- VLC
- Google Chrome
- OpenOffice
- Adobe Reader
Benefits of Cross-platform Apps
Cost-effective
It should be easier to find a team because there aren’t as many technologies as there are with native apps. Cross-platform development also necessitates fewer engineers than native app development because the same team builds apps for all platforms rather than separate apps for each platform. Cross-platform development also saves time on developing and testing.
Single Codebase
Apps that run on multiple platforms share a single codebase, which has a number of advantages. In the course of development, software with a single codebase enables for code re-use on different platforms. Furthermore, with a single codebase, maintaining and changing the application is simplified.
Quick to develop & launch
Having reusable code that is backed up by increased productivity and efficiency is a huge benefit for developers and entrepreneurs in the long term. In this case, a cross-platform app development framework has a big advantage over other options.
Great Product Maintenance
Businesses may rest easy knowing that cross-platform app development uses a single codebase and produces perfect results. Because there is only one codebase, it is much easier to test and release changes and upgrades, resulting in improved accuracy and superior quality mobile applications.
When to Consider Building a Cross-platform App?
- You must release a mobile application on many platforms while working with a restricted budget, time, and resources.
- You have a short window to an idea and hypothesis in the app market.
- You require speedier app development.
- You are ready to accept a less responsive app
- You must target both Android and iOS app users.
- The app isn’t complicated, and it doesn’t involve complex animation nor require platform-specific functionality.
Popular Cross Platform App Development Frameworks
- Flutter
- React Native
- Xamarin
Drawbacks of Cross-platform Apps
Slow performance
A cross-platform program’s code is substantially more involved than that of a native application because it must ensure compatibility with all devices and platforms where it will be used. As a result, the ready application has more code and a longer reaction time. Furthermore, platform compatibility concerns may cause performance delays in the program.
Difficult Integrations
Adjusting the software to add an update or increase its functionality necessitates a significant investment of time and resources, and there is no guarantee that the app will work well on each platform for the reasons outlined above. Furthermore, changing the solution on each platform takes time because each platform requires authorization.
To Sum Up
Both native and cross-platform app development have advantages and disadvantages. As a result, before settling on an app development framework, it all boils down to the specific business needs. Before settling on an app development framework, IT business owners must first determine what they truly want. And the decision should be made with both the present and the future in mind. What matters in the end is a fantastic user experience, maximum performance, security, and speed. Hopefully, this post will assist you in selecting the best method or will at least point you in the right direction. Still unsure about what to build? Get in touch over a free consultation.