The Apple App Store and Google Play Store have millions of apps available to download across various categories. Still, many companies consult mobile app development service providers to build dedicated apps to leverage the benefits of a mobile-driven age. As a leading mobile app development company in Canada, we often receive the question from prospects: Should we opt for cross-platform apps or go with native apps? Let’s find an answer to this question.
First things first. Cross-platform app development and native app development are distinct approaches for building a tailored mobile app from scratch. However, which approach is better for your company largely depends on several factors, including deadlines, target audience, and development budget. In this post, we will understand both native and cross-platform apps and dig deep into the factors you should consider when choosing the most suitable approach.
Overview of Cross-Platform and Native Approaches
Native approach is highly popular in the mobile app development domain. However, cross-platform development has started gaining ground in recent years. These are two distinct strategies that can assist companies in reaching the target audience more effectively.Native Approach
This approach involves developing applications particularly for a single operating system, like Android OS or iOS. Native app development is based on the respective platform’s native programming language, like Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Kotlin or Java for Android OS.Cross-Platform Approach
This approach follows the ‘write once, deploy everywhere’ principle. Mobile app development services need frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin to build cross-platform apps. It requires writing code once for deploying on multiple operating systems, like Android and iOS.
Let’s dig into two types of applications.Understanding Native Apps
Native mobile apps can target customers using either the Android OS or iOS. Here, developers code applications in a specific language based on the operating system. For example, Java and Kotlin are useful for writing native Android apps, and Objective-C or Swift is handy for developing native iOS apps. Google Maps, Spotify, WhatsApp, and Pinterest are some noteworthy examples of native mobile apps.
Apple App Store and Google Play Store have separate rules and regulations for approving native apps for iOS and Android OS respectively. Moreover, both these apps require system-specific tools. Developers of Android app development use Android Studio or IntelliJ IDEA. For developing iOS apps, developers need to use Xcode or AppCode as an IDE.
Better performance and high-quality user experience are noteworthy benefits of native apps. However, native apps require more time in development, and they are costly.
Understanding Cross-Platform Apps
Cross-platform mobile applications require a single codebase to develop. These apps target multiple operating systems with one project. These apps require cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native. These cross-platform app development frameworks use platform-specific SDKs (Android SDKs and iOS SDKs) from a unified API. It enables developers to access the different platform SDKs and libraries.
Mobile app developers can compile cross-platform mobile applications to use native UI elements to give a native-like look and feel. Here, they can use the same code repetitively for multiple operating systems. Instagram, Walmart, Google Ads, The New York Times, and The World Bank apps are cross-platform apps based on popular development frameworks.
Cross-platform apps take less time to develop as compared to their native counterparts. As a result, its development cost is also less than the native app development cost.
How to Differentiate Cross-Platform vs. Native Apps
Cross-platform and native apps have several differences, including
Time to Market
Native apps usually take more time to develop and iterate than cross-platform apps. It is due to platform-specific coding in native apps. Cross-platform apps, on the other hand, offer a faster TTM by enabling developers to reuse code across multiple operating systems.
App Security
Native apps have built-in security features and access to OS-level libraries for additional safety. When it comes to developing sensitive applications, native apps are a better option as compared to their cross-platform alternatives.
Performance
Native apps can work seamlessly on specific operating systems. Therefore, they can give better performance and user experience than cross-platform apps. Demanding applications like games require more optimization effort in the case of cross-platform app development.
Development Costs
Native app development incurs higher costs due to the requirement for separate teams and codebases for each platform. The mobile app development company can reuse the code and project in developing cross-platform apps, and therefore, this process remains cost-effective.
Usability
Native apps are useful for applications that prioritize high security, stability, scalability, user experience, and performance. However, when startups want to get a less time to market, and rapid deployment of apps, cross-platform app development is a preferred choice.
Here is a quick table of comparison between cross-platform vs. native apps.
| Characteristic or Aspect | Native Apps | Cross-Platform Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Time to Market | Slower because the development process takes more time for each platform | Quicker because developers can reuse the code across different platforms |
| App Security | Superior with built-in security features like encryption | It can be an issue for sensitive apps because of a lack of high-security features |
| Performance and UX | Optimal, especially for games and other complex apps | May require extra effort for optimization of complex apps |
| Development Costs | Typically higher and requires separate teams for each platform | Generally lower, as the same team can work on a single codebase |
| Useful for | Apps that need high security, scalability, and an excellent user experience | Startups and new businesses that focus on reaching a wider audience quickly |
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Approach
Choosing the right approach between native and cross-platform app development involves several factors. Here are some of the key factors you can consider to select the most suitable approach
Target Audience and Reach
If the majority of your target audience is on a single platform (either iOS or Android) and you want to deliver the best user experience, native is a preferred choice. However, if you need to reach a broad audience across both iOS and Android OS together, cross-platform app development is beneficial.
Budgetary Limitations
Developing separate apps for iOS and Android OS requires larger budgets due to the need for hiring two distinct development teams and using different codebases. Cross-platform apps offer a more budget-friendly approach because they need a single team with a shared codebase. However, complex cross-platform apps need optimization.
Development Duration
Mobile app development services require more time to develop native apps with the desired features. On the other hand, cross-platform apps have quicker development cycles and time-to-market than native apps. In other words, if your company wants to build an app for both platforms in a hurry, it is better to choose cross-platform app development.
Security and Complexity
Native apps are more secure than cross-platform apps because of better integration and platform-specific security features. These apps depend less on third-party libraries than cross-platform apps. This is a major reason security remains a concern in cross-platform app development. Moreover, highly complex apps need to meet intricate platform-specific requirements, and companies should opt for a native approach for developing such apps.
Apart from these differences, the maintenance of native apps can be more resource-intensive because of the two separate codebases. Cross-platform apps, however, need to upgrade and maintain a single codebase. As a result, cross-platform apps are easier to maintain than native apps. It is better to consult a reputed mobile app development company to select the right approach for your upcoming project.
Concluding Lines
A feature-rich and well-received mobile app can take your business to a new level. However, you need to choose the right approach from native and cross-platform app development to get the business app with the desired features. Hope this concise yet detailed guide on native vs. cross-platform approaches will help you choose the most suitable approach.
Silver Touch Technologies is a leading mobile app development company in Canada. We use cutting-edge tools and technologies to build highly customized and user-friendly mobile apps. Our in-house team of experienced developers can develop a robust and feature-rich business app to drive growth and expansion. Contact us to learn more about the differences between native and cross-platform approaches and select the right one for your upcoming app.
FAQs
It is not like either of these options is better. Native platform offers optimal performance with rich UX for specific platforms, whereas cross-platform development offers quick process and broader reach with a single codebase.
Traditionally, cross-platform apps could be slower due to abstraction layers, but modern frameworks like React Native and Flutter offer improved performance that is often comparable to native apps.
Yes, it’s possible to switch from cross-platform to native, but it often involves a significant rewrite of the application, which can be time-consuming and costly.
