Native vs Cross-Platform App Development: How to Choose?

Mobile applications have joined the daily life list. Business performance is now subject to the quality of products as mobile applications comprise over 60% of the internet traffic; survival in such a competitive industry requires high-quality apps.

There is one of the most important decisions when developing an application: whether or not to pursue native or cross-platform development. Native app development usually means that developers will create something unique for, say, either Android or iOS, which performance-wise is much better. Meanwhile, cross-platform mobile development lets developers use essentially the same codebase to run applications effectively on multiple platforms.

Each approach has pros and cons, taking into account different criteria like budget, deadline, performance needs, and target audience, which determine a choice. This blog post focuses on native and cross-platform smartphone development.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

Cross-platform app development enables mobile apps to be developed that can run on various operating systems, such as Android and iOS, using a single codebase. Unlike cross-platform vs native development, which has different codebases for each platform, cross-platform frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform simplify the process and save time and resources.

This approach enables businesses to reach a wider audience quickly while maintaining consistent functionality and design. Although it may have some performance and customization limitations compared to native apps, it's a cost-effective solution for companies prioritizing faster development and broader user reach.

Cross-Platform App Dev Benefits

Cross-platform app development offers many benefits that make it a very attractive choice for businesses seeking efficiency and broader market reach. Here are the key benefits:

1. Code Reusability Across Platforms

One of the most significant advantages is that it allows for a single codebase for both iOS and Android platforms. In native development, separate codebases are required, but cross-platform development simplifies the process. Developers can reuse much of the code, reducing the effort and time required to build apps for multiple platforms.

2. Faster Development and Time-to-Market

One development process is applied through cross-platform development, leading to faster turnaround times. Rather than managing an Android build separately from an iOS build, the same team works on one project and speeds up the time-to-market through quicker launches.

3. Cost Efficiency

Business companies will save 30% on the cost because only one development team is needed, instead of different teams for iOS and Android. Other frameworks such as React Native and Flutter help the developers reuse the assets for both web and mobile applications, reducing the expenses even further.

4. Unified UI/UX Across Platforms

Cross-platform tools ensure a homogenous user interface and experience across various devices. It is therefore applicable to brands that maintain their identity or in the usage of apps with multiple devices. Changes made to the visual design of the app automatically get effects on both platforms.

5. Talents and Ecosystem Scale

As the popularity grows for React Native and Flutter, so too does the potential pool of professional developers. More tools and more options for cross-platform development are thus available to a vibrant ecosystem that continually evolves.

6. Wider Market Access to Prototyping

Simultaneous deployment of apps on both Android and iOS allows business organizations to test ideas, hypotheses, or prototypes on a more extensive audience. This is much faster and less expensive, hence perfect for start-ups and companies entering new markets.

Cons Of Cross-Platform Development

1. Slower Performance

Cross-platform apps tend to take a little more time to run than their native counterparts. This is because they are abstracted above the native layer and have to pass through a rendering process to function on another platform; such aspects contribute to lag, which could adversely affect user experience, especially for a resource-oriented application.

2. Limited Access to Device Features

Cross-platform frameworks cannot possibly grant effortless access to particular device-specific features, for instance, camera, microphone, geolocation, or more sophisticated sensors. It complicates the job of the developer and might prevent the optimal usage of hardware smartphone features especially when a smartphone is hosting very feature-intensive applications.

3. Compromised UX Design

Cross-platform apps cannot fully integrate native UX components, which means they might not provide the polished, platform-specific experience that users expect. This limitation can lead to a less intuitive interface, particularly when compared to native apps designed specifically for Android or iOS.

4. Dependency on Framework Updates

Cross-platform development majorly relies on frameworks like React Native or Flutter. It can become frustrating when apps are not keeping pace with OS updates, resulting in lags to the application when integrating newer functionality or losing their compatibility.

5. The size of the App Becomes Bigger

Because cross-platform apps require extra layers and libraries to make them functional across different operating systems, they tend to be larger. This might lead to a higher storage requirement and may not appeal to some users to download the app.

6. Limited Customization

Customization options can be limiting when using cross-platform frameworks, especially if the application demands significant changes or platform-specific functionality. This would limit the ability to create unique and tailored solutions to complex app requirements.

When Cross-Platform Development is the Best Solution for Your Business

Cross-platform development is a cost-effective option in most scenarios. Here are some scenarios where it is the best solution:

• Budget

For companies, it also saves money as the same code base can be used for Android and iOS versions so there is no requirement for different teams for both platforms.

• Faster Time-to-Market

Reusable code and simultaneous development for multiple platforms help bring your product to market quickly, making it ideal for testing ideas or staying competitive.

• Serves a Greater Segment

Cross-platform apps have an easy-to-use experience across devices. This allows businesses to reach users on both Android and iOS easily.

• Prototyping and MVP Development

MVPs deployed across platforms with a very low investment help gather user feedback and refine the product efficiently.

• Average Performance Requirements

Applications not needing complex animations or advanced hardware can be well-optimized for satisfactory performance by frameworks like Flutter or React Native.

• Consistent UI/UX Across Platforms

Cross-platform development allows for an overall uniform experience and branding on different platforms that enhance customer trust.

• Existing Framework Expertise

When your team already is an expert in React Native or Flutter, cross-platform development leverages this expertise without having to incur extra time and resources.

• Easy Maintenance

Updates and maintenance are streamlined with a shared codebase, ensuring consistency and reducing ongoing development efforts.

What is a Native App Development?

Native app development involves the process of developing mobile apps for a native operating system only, such as Apple's iOS or Google's Android. Using platform-specific languages and tools will allow developers to take full advantage of the available hardware and software capabilities of a device, through Java or Kotlin for Android or Swift or Objective-C for iOS.

One of the significant benefits of native app development is that it ensures excellent performance with a superior user experience. Native apps are developed following the UI and UX guidelines set by their native platforms, thereby ensuring intuitive, seamless interactions.

Native app development, however, can be expensive, especially for start-ups targeting iOS and Android users at the same time because it demands two different processes for development. Despite these higher costs, the performance improvement and satisfaction with the app from the users often make it the preferred choice for most businesses.

Advantages Of Native App Development

Native app development offers several significant advantages over cross-platform approaches, including:

1. Application Speed and Performance

Native apps usually have better performance, especially for applications with intense animations or intricate functionalities. They are usually much smaller in size, which leads to faster download times, beneficial for users who have limited data or storage.

2. Stability in Maintenance and Updates

Because Android and iOS are supported by Google and Apple, respectively, the developers have access to stable Software Development Kits (SDKs) and tools. This means native apps can implement new features and updates immediately after they are released. Cross-platform frameworks, on the other hand, may experience inconsistencies or delays in updates.

3. Customization of Features and UI/UX

Native development can support maximum customization of user interfaces, unique to the specific standards of each native platform. Cross-platform frameworks allow users to customize, but native applications are more conducive and aligned to the ways of platform guidelines, hence providing better UI/UX designs.

4. Leverage the Full Functionalities of Hardware

Native apps utilize the hardware of a device such as the camera and GPS, using direct access to platform-specific APIs. This provides faster integration with new hardware updates than cross-platform apps, which may be slowed down by using external plugins.

5. Increased Application Security

Native development is more robust, with the possibility of developing specific security features tailored to each platform. It also allows for easy file encryption and fraud detection. Security updates are applied faster compared to cross-platform apps.

6. Access to Specialized Talent

Native app development benefits from a broader talent pool of developers who have deep expertise in their respective platforms, thereby improving the quality and effectiveness of the development process.

Disadvantages of Native Mobile Applications

1. Increased Development Costs

Native app development usually involves a different code base for iOS and Android, making the development process more time-consuming and expensive.

2. Longer Development Time

Building and maintaining two different apps is a time-consuming process that pushes the launch of the app even further.

3. Less Code Reusability

Unlike cross-platform frameworks, native apps do not allow code reuse between platforms. This means duplicated work.

4. More Maintenance Efforts

Maintaining two different codebases means double the effort for updates, bug fixes, and new feature implementations.

5. Platform Dependency

Native apps are tied to specific platforms, making it challenging to switch platforms or adapt to new ones without significant redevelopment.

6. Fragmentation of User Experience

Users on different platforms may have varying experiences, as the app's features and design may differ significantly between iOS and Android versions.

When to opt for Native App Development?

Native app development is recommended under the following conditions:

1. High-Performance Requirements

For applications requiring high performance, such as heavy use of animations and graphics-intensive processes or real-time processing, native development is preferred. For native apps, the full power of the device is utilized hence giving a smother output.

2. Advanced Hardware Features

For applications that require using advanced hardware functionalities, such as GPS, camera, or sensors, native development allows access to platform-specific APIs directly, thus allowing for faster integration and more effective use of these features.

3. Optimal User Experience

When delivering a better user experience is a priority, native apps can provide a more intuitive and seamless interaction by adhering to the specific design guidelines of each platform.

4. Long-Term Project Viability

If you intend to support and maintain the app for a long time, native development will be better in stability and support frequent updates since it is offered by each platform provider.

5. Security Needs

For applications that involve sensitive data or have the utmost requirement for security, native development allows using tailored security features to leverage the specific resources and libraries available for each platform.

6. Specific Target User Demographics

If your target audience is on a specific platform, such as iOS or Android, native development helps create a much more focused and engaging experience, tailored to the user base of that platform.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Native and Cross-Platform Development

1. Specific Project Requirements

Be sure to consider the project's specific requirements. Applications that demand intensive performance, direct access to hardware, or intricate features may be better served with native development. By contrast, if the application does not contain too many complex features, cross-platform might be sufficient for its success.

2. Budgetary Constraints

Consider your budget for development and maintenance. Native applications are usually expensive because they will have different codebases for both iOS and Android, while cross-platform development allows for cost-effectiveness through the reuse of codes.

3. Development Timeline

Consider the available time for the development process. Cross-platform frameworks can accelerate development since the code can be developed on both platforms simultaneously, while native development may take a longer time as it requires a separate build.

4. User Experience

Think about the user experience you want to deliver. Native apps offer a tailored experience that adheres to platform-specific guidelines, which can lead to higher user satisfaction compared to the often more generalized approach of cross-platform apps.

5. Target Audience

Identify your target audience and their preferred platforms. If your audience predominantly uses one platform, investing in native development for that specific environment may be more beneficial.

6. Long-Term Maintenance

Consider the long-term maintenance implications. Native apps take more effort because of separate codebases, but they sometimes come with the advantage of getting immediate access to platform updates. Cross-platform apps can make maintenance easier but might be subject to some delay when applying features on platforms.

7. Availability of Development Talent

Evaluate the availability of developers who are skilled in either approach. Native development may offer a broader pool of talent with platform-specific expertise, but cross-platform development can benefit from developers who are proficient in multiple frameworks.

Key Takeaways

In developing a successful, stable, and well-received mobile application, Prioxis should first identify the target operating systems: Android, iOS, or both, to guide their development approach. Evaluation of the tools, methods, benefits, and drawbacks of both native and cross-platform development should be done to find the best fit for each project.

Prioritizing security, performance, and scalability in the application design will ensure a robust product. Moreover, one should recognize that neither of these development methods is superior to the other; one needs to analyze the unique requirements of each project.

In addition, it would be the start to provide consideration of plans for the application, such as updates and their possible expansions. Moreover, continuous integration can make building, testing, and deployment greatly faster. Start even with free resources, like a CircleCI account, which will further streamline mobile development efforts.