Native vs Cross-Platform Development: What’s The Right Fit For Your Project?

When potential app owners think of building a mobile app, one of the biggest challenges they encounter initially is deciding whether to go for native app development or cross-platform app development. Both have their associated advantages and disadvantages and selecting one over the other can have long-term implications in terms of functionality, time, and cost. Today, we will explore both options and help you decide on the right fit for your project. Let’s begin with native app development.

What is Native App Development?

Native Mobile App Development refers to developing an app for a specific mobile operating system such as Android or iOS. Specific programming languages are used to build a native app for a specific platform, for instance, Java or Kotlin to create a native android app whereas Swift or Objective C for a native iOS app. The app development company or the app developers make use of a Software Development Kit (SDK) and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to create a platform-exclusive native app. Frameworks used are XCode for iOS apps whereas Android apps are built with an IDE known as Android Studio.

A native app makes complete use of the device features such as Camera, GPS, Contacts, Microphone, and whatever is necessary for the app to function smoothly, and hence exhibits high performance and delivers an exceptional user experience. Android and iOS users can download a native app from their respective app stores (Google Play Store and Apple Store).

Pros of Native App Development

In this age of mobile applications, most organizations look for native app development not only because it combines with a device’s entire ecosystem but also because it offers a plethora of perks for developers as well as users. A few key advantages of opting for native app development are-

1. High Performance

Since a native app is optimized for a specific platform and utilizes its ecosystem to the fullest, it produces a high-level and seamless performance. Such apps tend to be faster, responsive, and efficient as they are compiled using a platform’s core programming languages and APIs. Native apps also assist users with faster loading as they utilize the processing speed of the device to its maximum potential.

2. More Scalability

A native app offers more flexibility and scalability due to the use of “native” tools. Also because they are compatible with a single platform, they can be configured quickly. Developers need not worry about the compatibility of the app with different versions for various platforms.

3. Great UI/UX

During native app development, UI/UX designers find it relatively easy to implement the design standards and best practices as the focus remains strictly on one particular platform and its design guidelines that ultimately enhance and align user experience with the OS the app is being made for. The flow of the app thus gets very natural and also makes user interaction very smooth.

Cons of Native App Development

There are a few disadvantages as well surrounding native app development, such as-

1. Longer Development Time

Developing a native app is a time-consuming process because it requires more time to develop an app separately for every platform, and the work involved in one particular platform cannot be duplicated for another. Developers need to code separately for both Android and iOS, which in turn increases the overall development time.

2. High Cost

As a native app needs to be built separately for different operating systems, the app development cost along with the maintenance and upgradation cost is on the higher side. You will have to deploy two different teams for iOS app development and Android app development.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

Cross-platform app development involves building apps that work on diverse platforms including both Android and iOS. In this case, developers can use a single code base for various platforms. These apps are built using tools that support a shared operating environment, like Xamarin, React Native and Flutter. Although cross-platform apps look convenient, you run the risk of compromising on quality.

Pros of Cross-Platform Development

Cross-platform development offers the following advantages-

1. Saves Time and Cost

Since cross-platform app development requires only a single code base to build apps for different platforms, it takes less time and also incurs less development cost. This also results in faster development. Moreover, any changes in the application can be made easily as developers don’t need to make changes separately.

2. One Team For All

Unlike native app development which asks for different teams to create apps for different platforms, cross-platform development demands only one team to build apps for multiple platforms or operating systems.

3. Faster Time to Market

By opting for cross-platform development, organizations can reach out to their target market quickly as they do not have to wait for the completion of the app on all other platforms. It’s a one-time creation that runs across platforms.

Cons of Cross-Platform App Development

There are a few disadvantages of opting for cross-platform development-

1. Limited Functionality

A cross-platform app doesn’t leverage the full capabilities of the device features which can reflect in the app’s functionality and stability. Also, every time a feature is rolled out for Android or iOS, it requires some time to update the applications to make the features supported by the app.

2. UX Challenge

Cross-platform app development possesses a big challenge to carry out an optimal user experience since every platform has its own styles and features, and developing a single app that’s suitable for both can often raise UI/UX issues. This is because developers won’t be able to harness the capabilities of individual platforms.

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

Consider the below-mentioned factors before you pick one between native and cross-platform app development.

1. App Complexity

If the application demands heavy processing and access to the device features for smooth app functionality, it would be ideal to go for native app development. On the other hand, if you want to create an app with minimalistic usage and features, cross-platform would be the best option.

2. App Design

If you want to have captivating user interfaces and provide a seamless user experience, prefer native app development as it provides developers with complete access to UI/UX elements belonging to a native environment. Cross-platform apps do not provide support for 3D graphics which can be a hindrance in creating visually striking designs.

3. Development Cost and Time

If you want an MVP for your app project as soon as possible covering different platforms, consider cross-platform development since it involves a single app development cycle for both Android and iOS. Mobile app developers wouldn’t have to work on two different versions of the app, and hence the development cost and time would be relatively less. If time and cost aren’t an issue, consider native app development.

Native vs Cross-Platform App Development: The Final Choice

Now that we have explained both native and cross-platform app development along with their pros and cons, assess them and check what fits your project requirements. A native app won’t make sense if the requirements are more suited for a cross-platform app, and vice-versa. Native apps are the primary choice when it comes to high performance and rich user experience. Cross-platform apps, on the other hand, are quick and easy to build but they are not that effective for delivering an equivalent native app-like experience. If you are still doubtful, get professional advice from our experts at Dew by contacting us here.