Do you know mobile apps are now an essential part of daily life, offering solutions for everything from shopping to communication? Approximately, 255 billion mobile applications are downloaded globally, whereas in 2023, people will spend approximately 16 billion hours using mobile apps, which clearly shows how high the demand for apps is.
Are you also thinking of launching your mobile app? So first of all you will have to decide whether you will do native mobile app development or cross-platform mobile app development.
Choosing the right mobile app development platform is a very important decision because, in today's digital era, there is too much craze for mobile apps. Every business wants to reach users through its unique mobile app. This decision has a long-term impact on your app's cost, performance, and time-to-market.
In this blog, we will understand the difference between these two approaches, so that you can choose the right platform for your project.
Native vs Cross-platform Mobile App Development Which is Better? Quick Overview
| Features | Native Mobile App | Cross-platform Mobile App |
| Development | Made for specific OS (iOS or Android). | Runs on multiple platforms from a single dealer. |
| Performance | High performance and fast response because it is user-specific. | Performance is moderate because it has an extra abstraction layer. |
| Time to Market | It takes more time because development is different for each platform. | It takes less time because there is only one dealer for all platforms. |
| Cost | Costs are higher because separate teams are required for each platform. | There is less cost because it has a single dealer on multiple platforms. |
| Security | High-level security because of its user-specific features. | Moderate security, as it has fewer native security features. |
| User Experience | Platform-specific design, which gives a better user experience. | Consistent UI across platforms, but customizations are limited. |
| Maintenance | Every platform requires different maintenance. | Having a single dealer makes maintenance easy and cost-effective. |
| Use Case | High performance, security, or heavy animation required. | Limited budget, faster market entry, or simpler apps required. |
Quick Summary:
If you want high performance, security, and platform-specific customization, then a Native Mobile Application will be best.
Cross-Platform Mobile Application will be a better choice if your budget is limited and you need faster development and market entry.
What is a Native Mobile App Development?
Native mobile applications are designed for specific operating systems, like iOS or Android, and won’t work on other platforms. They use tools and languages tailored to their platform - Swift or Objective-C for iOS, and Java or Kotlin for Android.
Native apps offer fast performance and an excellent user experience because they align with platform specifications. However, developing for both Android and iOS can be costly and time-consuming, requiring separate teams or methods. Examples of successful native apps include Spotify, Google Maps, and WhatsApp.
Pros and Cons of Native Mobile App Development
Pros
| Pros | Description |
| Better Performance | Native apps are made for one platform, so they run fast and use the device’s features directly. |
| High Stability | Native apps receive regular updates and support from Google (Android) and Apple (iOS). Therefore these apps are more stable and secure. |
| Excellent User Experience | Native apps are designed with platform-specific UI in mind, making them smooth and intuitive. |
| Access to Full Features | Native apps can use every feature of the device like camera, GPS, etc., which provides a rich and integrated experience. |
| Enhanced Security | Native apps have built-in security that matches the platform, making it easier to detect fraud and keep data safe. |
| Quicker Customization | It is easier to customize the UI of native apps because they are built for a specific OS. |
Cons
| Cons | Description |
| Time Consuming and Costly | iOS and Android require separate teams, which increases both development time and cost. |
| No Code Usability | Native apps require writing separate code for each request, which takes more time and effort, compared to cross-platform apps where code is reused. |
| Higher Maintenance Costs | Native apps are costly to maintain and update, as separate updates have to be provided for both platforms. |
| Double Work for Updates | Bug fixes and updates have to be implemented separately on both Android and iOS, which is time-consuming and can create delays. |
When is Native Mobile App Development the Right Choice?
Native mobile app development should be chosen when you need:
What is a Cross-platform Mobile App Development?
The primary benefit of cross-platform development is that it eliminates the need for separate teams for iOS and Android development, saving both money and time.
Cross-platform mobile application development means creating apps that can run on multiple platforms, like Android and iOS, using a single codebase. Writing different code for every platform is no longer necessary using this method. Instead, the code just needs to be written once to function properly across several operating systems.
React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin are examples of specialized frameworks that make this possible by enabling you to leverage platform-specific capabilities without having to create separate code for each platform.
Pros and Cons of Cross-platform Mobile App Development
Pros
| Pros | Description |
| Code Reusability | In cross-platform development, the same code can be used for both Android and iOS platforms, which saves time and effort. |
| Faster Development | Due to having a single dealer, development becomes faster and the app is launched in the market quickly. |
| Cost-Effective | Creating cross-platform apps requires a single team, which reduces development costs. |
| Consistent UI/UX | In cross-platform apps, the design and feel are similar on every platform, which improves the user experience. |
| Broad market Reach | Cross-platform apps are easily deployed on both platforms, which helps in reaching wider audiences. |
Cons
| Cons | Description |
| Lower Performance | Cross-platform apps have lower speed and performance than native apps, especially if there are heavy animations. |
| Limited Access to Native Features | Some features are available only on native platforms, developers have to make extra efforts to implement them. |
| Delayed Updates | When Google or Apple updates their system, cross-platform apps take longer to support new features. |
| Limited UI Customization | It is difficult for cross-platform apps to perfectly match the native look and feel of each platform. |
| Complex Maintenance | Native code sometimes has to be written to handle platform-specific issues, which makes maintenance complex. |
When is Cross-platform Mobile App Development the Right Choice?
Cross-platform mobile app development should be chosen when you need:
Essential Things to Consider When Choosing Between Native and Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
It is important to understand some important aspects while choosing between Native and Cross-Platform app development. By keeping these aspects in mind you can make better decisions for your app. Here I am going to tell you some key points that will help you:
1. Type and Purpose of App
- You must first understand what type of app you want to develop and what is its purpose. If your app has many features, it will need more coding.
- User Interface (UI): Is the UI of the app very important? Do you need high-quality visuals?
- Hardware Functionality: Does the app require specific hardware functions, such as a camera or GPS?
- If your app requires specific hardware functions, then native development can be better because it gives you direct access and also improves the user experience.
2. Team’s Experience
- The experience of your development team is also very important.
- Programming Languages: For iOS native app development, developers need to be skilled in Objective-C or Swift. For Android apps, Kotlin or Java are required.
- Cross-platform Framework: Cross-platform frameworks, such as Flutter, require developers to know the Dart programming language.
- If your developers are already skilled in a specific language or framework, then you should choose the framework that suits their skills.
3. Long-Term Viability
- When you are choosing any development approach, also see how much support it will provide in the future.
- Platform Vendor: Check the long-term support and community support of the platform or framework you are using.
- Adoption by Companies: Kotlin Multiplatform is made by JetBrains, and Flutter is backed by Google.
- If you want a sustainable and long-term solution, then you should choose a framework that is stable and widely accepted.
4. Development Cost and Budget
- Development cost is also a major factor.
- Native Development: Initial costs are higher because you need separate teams for iOS and Android.
- Cross-platform development: It uses a single developer, which reduces both development costs and time.
- If your budget is limited, then cross-platform development can provide you with a cost-effective option.
5. Industry Acceptance
- Also, consider the feedback from the tech community.
- Resources: You can look at platforms like Reddit, StackOverflow, and Google Trends to see which approach is gaining more acceptance in the industry.
- If a technology is getting good support in the industry, then it can streamline the development process.
6. Learning Resources
- You should also check whether learning materials are available or not.
- Documentation and courses: Make sure that there is good documentation, books, and courses available for the framework you are learning.
- If learning resources are readily available to you, your development process can be smoother.
Exposing the Truth Behind Myths About Native and Cross-Platform Development
Native Mobile App Development Myths
Myth 1: The Best User Experience Is Always Provided by Native Apps
Reality: Native apps are designed to take full advantage of the features available on a particular platform, like iOS or Android. Since the app is tailored for the device, this method enhances the user experience.
But, native apps don't need to be always the best choice.
Web or hybrid apps might be more useful in certain situations, such as when consumers don't want to download apps and require instant access. It's critical to comprehend user needs and how they interact with your software.
Myth 2: Native Apps Are Always More Secure Than Cross-Platform Apps
Reality: App security depends on development, not just on being native or cross-platform. Native apps use the security features of their platform, but this does not automatically make them more secure.
Cross-platform apps can also be secure if developers use strong security measures and reliable frameworks. Good security practices must be followed during development.
Cross-platform Mobile App Development Myths
Myth 1: Cross-Platform Apps Use the Same Code for Both iOS and Android
Reality: It is not true to say that cross-platform apps use the same codebase which works perfectly on both iOS and Android. Cross-platform frameworks facilitate the sharing of much code but require some adjustments for each platform.
Some frameworks, like Flutter, allow more code reuse, but platform-specific features require some tweaking.
Myth 2: Cross-platform apps are not as secure as native apps.
Reality: An app's security depends on its development process and practices, not on being native or cross-platform. Cross-platform apps can also be as secure as native apps if development best practices and secure frameworks are used.
Misconceptions regarding the security of cross-platform apps come from outdated frameworks or poor implementation. Modern frameworks and careful development can ensure high security.
Myth 3: Cross-Platform Apps Are Always Slower Than Native Apps
Reality: This thinking is that cross-platform apps are slow, due to old technologies or poorly optimized frameworks. Today's modern cross-platform frameworks, like Flutter, can compile code into native code, which is close to the performance of native apps.
Performance issues are usually related to specific frameworks or development practices, not a cross-platform approach. The right framework and optimized development practices can improve the performance of cross-platform apps.
Native VS Cross-platform Mobile App Development Examples
Native Mobile App Development Example
- WhatsApp is a messaging app built specifically for iOS and Android platforms using native mobile app development. Through this app, you can make free voice and video calls, messages, and share media.
- Thanks to native development, this app is fast, reliable, and secure, including end-to-end encryption.
Spotify
- Spotify is a native mobile app developer for iOS and Android that streams music. Music enthusiasts can listen to their favourite songs and podcasts using this app.
- Due to native development, Spotify's performance and user experience have both improved.
Pokemon Go
- Pokémon Go is a popular AR game created through native mobile app development. This game has been specifically developed to run on iOS and Android, in which GPS and AR technology is used.
- Thanks to native development, the game is fast and responsive, giving users a unique experience of capturing ghost Pokémon in the real world.
Cross-platform Mobile App Development Example
Walmart
- Walmart is a large American retail brand. He integrated the React Native framework into his app using cross-platform mobile app development so that his app runs smoothly on both iOS and Android.
- This makes the interface of the app better and the loading time also becomes faster, which creates an improved experience for Walmart customers.
Airbnb
- Airbnb is a popular travel and accommodation app. This app adopted cross-platform mobile app development and used the React Native framework. Through this approach, Airbnb was able to run its app smoothly on both iOS and Android platforms from a single codebase, reducing both development time and cost.
- This provided a steady experience for users and expanded the app's reach.
- Instagram, a famous social media app, developed its app on both iOS and Android using cross-platform mobile app development. Through the React Native framework, they provide a similar user experience on both platforms from one codebase.
- This approach helped Instagram save on development costs and time while boosting its popularity.
Conclusion
Deciding between native and cross-platform mobile app development depends on several factors. Native development offers great performance, easy access to device features, and the best user experience. It’s best for apps that need detailed graphics, real-time updates, or full use of device hardware. Cross-platform development, however, is more budget-friendly because you can create one app for both Android and iOS. This is a good option for simpler apps and getting to market faster.
With 54% of people worldwide - about 4.3 billion - owning smartphones, picking the right way to build your app is important to reach many people. Native development is great for apps with lots of features and high demand. On the other hand, cross-platform development can save time and money for simpler projects.
Choosing the best mobile app framework and mobile app prototype for the development process according to the app's requirements.
Frameworks can make development easier, and prototypes let you try out ideas before fully building the app.
