As companies react to the dynamic digital landscape, mobile applications have emerged as a significant vehicle for engaging customers. Nevertheless, making a determination of using cross-platform or native Mobile application development will be a trying choice. Both have pros and cons, and having a clear sense of your business objectives, user base, and budget will serve you well in making the most apt choice. Let's examine each process to better assist you in finding your ideal solution for your company.
Creating apps on different platforms provides companies with an option to code one codebase that can execute across several platforms, for example, iOS and Android. There are platforms, for instance, React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin, through which developers can create apps that can operate across both operating systems with a native-feeling experience. This is extremely appealing to companies that seek to maximize their access and efficiency via one development endeavor.
Using a cross-platform solution, you will be able to guarantee your application's functioning on different types of devices without duplicating efforts of development across numerous platforms.
Creating cross-platform applications is now an effective choice for modern organizations trying to save time, money, and an improved user experience. The key advantages, real-world examples, and related statistics are included below:
Among the most important advantages of cross-platform development is that it has cost-reducing potential. Rather than spending on individual iOS and Android development teams, businesses can invest in one team working with one codebase. Statista (2023) reports 42% of developers now utilize Flutter, a top-ranked cross-platform framework, partly because it has the potential to lower development costs.
Example: The Reflectly journaling app, developed using Flutter, was able to launch successfully on both Android and iOS platforms without doubling its budget—showing how a single codebase can dramatically reduce overall costs. This makes cross-platform solutions particularly ideal for startups aiming to develop MVPs on a budget.
Speed is a major advantage in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Cross-platform development allows developers to reuse up to 90% of the codebase across platforms, accelerating both the development and testing phases.A survey indicates that cross-platform frameworks save developers 30–50% of development time compared to native app development.
Example: BMW used React Native to develop and launch its "My BMW" app for both Android and iOS at the same time, saving time-to-market and the ability to deliver on time features to the worldwide user community. With quicker deployment, businesses can rapidly adapt to market changes and customer feedback.
Ensuring the look and feel of an application are consistent on each device is critical in the delivery of the proper user experience and the cohesion of the brand. Cross-platform tools enable developers to achieve that by implementing shared UI components and unified logic.
Example: Skype, built using Xamarin, delivers a consistent interface and user experience whether accessed from Android, iOS, or desktop platforms—strengthening its usability and brand trust. For global businesses, such consistency enhances user satisfaction and minimizes friction.
Cross-platform development is a rational strategy for organizations that want speed, cost-effectiveness, and a wider reach without sacrificing quality or consistency.
Cross-platform technologies enable organizations to deliver services to users on several platforms without having to manage different code bases. However, cross-platform development does expose organizations to a number of technical and strategic challenges. Set forth below are the three most critical obstacles - performance issues, challenges for customization, and the need to rely on a certain framework, with relevant examples and statistical references.
Cross-platform applications can experience performance issues, especially when used for heavy graphics, or real-time applications. The performance issue often emerges from the operational system used and the abstraction level, which is not as efficient as using native code.
Example: Performance was a particular issue of consideration for Facebook, as it originally built its mobile application using HTML5 (a version of a cross-platform application). Mark Zuckerberg stated that it was one of the biggest mistakes the company had made, "The biggest mistake we made as a company, was betting too much on HTML5 instead of native."
In fact, as a form of resolution to their performance challenges, they transitioned to native mobile development.
It can be difficult to customize the features and UI to follow the platform-specific guidelines. Some native APIs or components are hard to replicate (or simply aren't available) in cross-platform frameworks.
Example: Airbnb struggled with React Native when they attempted to implement platform-specific features on both iOS and Android. They phased out React Native due to the complexity of managing shared code with platform-specific customization
When businesses implement a single cross-platform framework, the stability and scalability of the applications they create can potentially suffer from changes to the framework outside of the application itself—such as updates, introduction of bugs, or deprecation of the framework altogether. This can be an even bigger concern if the framework is tightly bound to the application logic and UI.
Example: Xamarin presents a real-world example where many businesses and developers were affected when, in 2020, Microsoft announced plans to move development from Xamarin to .NET MAUI in what resulted in organizational changes and disruption for many developers and organizations. Companies then had to plan a move or live with an outdated application—an untenable position for most in the long term due to sustainment issues.
Even though cross-platform development speeds up the timeline of development and reduces costs, companies must still weigh up their long-term requirements, performance expectations, and technology reliance before proceeding down this road.
Native app development is the act of developing applications for a certain platform by employing a programming language that is associated with that platform (for instance, Swift is employed in the native development of iOS applications, whereas Kotlin or Java is employed in the development of Android applications). Native apps generally are better than web or hybrid apps because they provide developers with the ability to take advantage of all the applicable features of both device hardware and platform software.
Therefore, if you want to put performance first and provide users with the best possible experience in regards to their specific device, native app development is likely the way to go.
For companies that want to create high-performance, responsive, and platform-specific mobile applications, native development remains the gold standard. Because they utilize the full capabilities of the device and its OS, native applications outperform in terms of performance, security, and user experience.
Native apps are designed to target the platform, and therefore can have a faster runtime, quicker response times, and require fewer system resources. This is also because native apps can access the device's core APIs direct, rather than using an intermediary. Native apps tend to have better frame rates, quicker load times, and smoother animations.
Example: Instagram is a good example of a native experience, as it takes advantage of the native platform in a way that users can have real-time experiences with their camera functionality and scrolling, both of which are important in a social networking app.
Native development allows for access to platform-specific APIs and hardware capabilities as they become available. This would include some of the integrations with biometric capabilities (like Face ID or fingerprint readers), ARKit or Google ARCore (augmented reality), or secure in-app purchases.
Example: Snapchat engineers take advantage of cutting-edge iOS features using their camera APIs, coupled with Android hardware to deliver reactive lenses and filters, enabling users to have a more responsive real-time experience than with cross-platform tools.
Native apps are better configured with the UI/UX development guidelines of their platform, they'll create far more intuitive UX interfaces and more consistent experiences. Gestures, animations, and transitions will feel more natural which positively contributes to overall user satisfaction.
Example: TikTok, with strong features for seamless video playback and transitions, is built natively, allowing even real-time, smooth video capture, editing, and streaming -- without lag.
While native development is often recognized for offering a fast and smooth user experience, it is not without some significant cons, particularly concerning cost, time, and maintenance. Businesses must carefully consider these trade-offs before embarking on a native-first mobile decision.
Creating native applications means developing separate applications for both iOS and Android mobile platforms, which means hiring separate single teams for each platform or doubling the work for a single team. This creates greater cost for overall development.
According to GoodFirms' research, the cost to develop a mobile app varies based on complexity and region. For instance, developing a simple app in India ranges from $7,640 to $18,200, while in the USA, it ranges from $38,200 to $91,000. For a startup or small business, managing two codebases to remain feature parity, ensure design consistency, and to publish updates becomes a financial hardship.
Example: A fintech startup wants to launch on both platforms and could spend nearly double the initial investment as a result of not going with a cross-platform option.
Due to the independent design, development, and testing of each app, the process of native development obviously takes longer than cross-platform development. Consequently, companies can lose out on introducing goods in key markets when delayed, resulting in opportunities lost and money lost.
Example: a fashion retail brand could get an app launched in time for the holiday season but miss out on relevant sales before the holiday because of slower native development processes.
Having two independent native applications means double the work when making updates, fixing bugs, or releasing new features. Every minor change will need to be applied for both digital environments: iOS and Android. This creates complexity and increases costs over the long run.
For example: If a fitness tracking application is releasing a new dashboard feature, and the Android and iOS teams are not completely synced, the release can be delayed- and one group of customers will see a new feature before others do.
Selecting the right approach for your development is an important factor in the success of your app. The performance of your app, the user experience, your budget, and schedule will all influence whether cross-platform vs native development is your best option. Below are some important considerations to help in your decisions:
For many organizations, budget is the determining factor in picking between cross-platform and native development. Cross-platform development save significantly on costs by having one development team to work on, while native apps require separate teams to develop each app on each platform. That said, your choice should not be based solely on cost - you should take into account other aspects such as long-term scope and performance.
Think about where your audience spends most of their time. If your target audience lives in a location that leans predominantly towards either iOS or Android, you should lean towards the native app of that environment. For example, North America has a higher iOS audience, whereas India has a higher Android demographic.
The complexity of your application is another point of consideration in your decision making. If your app is a simple utility, or, an MVP, then cross-platform might be enough. However, for more complicated apps, especially those based on performance, it could be a better option to go native. A video streaming application such as Netflix, requires the performance and hardware integration possible with native development
If time is a critical factor, cross-platform will be faster since there is only a single codebase to develop and maintain. However, if your app needs unique features that are available only on that platform, the extra time building it natively may be worth it for the additional benefits.
It is easier to maintain cross platform apps, as updates are made to a single code base. Separate code bases need to be kept up to date for native apps, adding costs and increasing the likelihood of inconsistencies across platforms. This can get overwhelming throughout the app's lifecycle.
Consider how dependent the app will be on the chosen cross-platform framework if you have future growth plans and frequent updates. A sudden change, such as Microsoft moving from Xamarin to .NET MAUI, can create instability for your app. Native development can provide more flexibility regarding platform advancement and longevity.
The appropriate option hinges upon your app’s objectives, target audience, budget, and time constraints. Utilizing cross-platform development can allow for rapid completion and cost savings, which work well for MVPs or allowing you to reach a wider audience. Native development has a much higher resource overhead, but there are trade-offs associated with development speed versus superior performance and user experience. Each of these conditions requires balancing, to make a reflective, informed decision about where you want to put your resources in pursuing your business potential.
Startup Friendly: Why Cross-Platform Is Perfect for MVPs and Fast Launches
Cross-platform development works great for startups and businesses that are looking to test an app concept quickly, and on a budget, across multiple platforms. Take Airbnb as an example. They chose React Native for their app which allowed them to capture both iOS and Android users with a single codebase. This helped them manage their development costs while still providing a great user experience.
Performance-First Apps? Native Delivers the Experience Users Expect
For apps that require optimum performance and leverage device-specific features, natively developing the app is likely the best choice. Take the gaming app Pokemon GO, which has to better use real-time GPS tracking, augmented reality, and features inherent to the device to offer an immersive gaming experience. In these cases, native development is a better option - the optimum experience for the user.
It is essential to assess your team's capabilities, plan for long-term support, and finalize both the userbase and support strategies on the front end before making a decision between native and cross-platform development. All of these impacts can affect the viability of your development effort and user satisfaction.
1. Technical Expertise
Evaluate the skills of your development team. If your development team does not have separate iOS and Android developers, a cross-platform development approach would be a less challenging option for you and your teams. Platforms like Flutter and React Native allow one team to develop and maintain an app on both platforms, reducing the technical barrier.
2. Future Maintenance
Think down the road in terms of the eventual time and money that need to be spent on maintenance in the future. Cross-platform apps will offer a simpler experience for maintenance, as you will override previous updates, or bug issues, with a single code base to implement changes. On the other hand, native apps will require designated management of two different code bases for the same app (one for iOS, the other for Android), thus doubling the effort required in the long term.
3. Prioritizing User Experience
If the user experience being streamlined and highly responsive is your focused need, a native app is generally a better option. Native apps build code specifically for the device, on, or its environment and use every opportunity to use device components and UI elements to offer a polished and potentially better user interface, at the least offering an experience expected for the platform.
There is no universal answer to this question, and the best approach will depend on the technical skills of your team, your commitment to technology support over time, and the significance of user experience to the success of your product. These are all factors to weigh in order to select a development path that meets the goals of your business and provides value to your users.
The choice between cross-platform and native application development really comes down to your company's unique business goals, budget, timeline, and objectives later on. Cross-platform is likely best for any company that has a modest budget and wants to reach a larger audience as quickly as possible. If the performance and user experience of the application are the biggest factors, then native is likely the best choice of the two. Understanding your needs is what will help you make the best decision for your company.
Both options being equal, one element to keep in mind is that successful apps are simply not based on the format in which they were developed, but rather about the optimizations and user feedback that are incorporated into the app after launch. Make the decision that works for your business, and you'll be ready to start on a fun app that connects with your audience.
This blog is published by Dhaval Gajjar.
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