Native vs. Cross-platform mobile apps is a decade old unending debate and experiencing changes in arguments with the pace of time and the advent of technologies. Let’s revisit it with fresh outlooks and inputs.
Why Are Businesses Looking For Mobile Identity?
Businesses and organizations are spending big budgets on mobile application development to reap the benefits of a mobile presence in the market. It compels them to think of various aspects of the app and mobile app development to achieve app success in their niche market. Choosing the OS to run the app, app development platform, framework, devices, and technologies are significantly detrimental factors to hit the intended goals of the mobile app. In due course, if we think of mobile OS platforms, there are iOS run by Apple, Android OS run by Google and alliance, Windows Phone run by Microsoft, etc.What Is Native?
These mobile OS platforms provide support for platform-specific programming technologies, tools, software, and hardware only. In other words, they are Native mobile platforms. The apps running on the native OS and devices are Native Apps with all native software and hardware components.What Is Cross-platform?
Apart from the native technologies like Objective-C or Swift for iOS, Java for Android, and Microsoft technologies for Windows Phone, there are other ways to run mobile devices irrespective of any mobile OS. It is mobile browsers that support the various web technologies, mainly HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and C# in the case of the Xamarin platform.You may also be interested in these articles: 5 Worst Myths about Mobile App Development that Need to DebunkedTherefore, these technologies have coined a decent term, cross-platform or hybrid technologies, to yield cross-platform or hybrid mobile applications. If you are a business looking for the mobile identity for your business requirements and business growth or any purpose you bet on, checking each option’s pros and cons may help you infer the right conclusion. Let’s start it!
Pros of Native App Development
Performance:
The programming technologies used in the development of native apps are native or platform-specific technologies. Therefore, native code has direct access to native OS features and functionality. Thus, native apps have rapid interactions with the operating system of native devices and hardware. It improves the overall performance of the native application when rendering graphics or multimedia content taking place. Native apps cut the risks of freezing or crashing like bottlenecks of performance in advance.User Interface:
We know the native code has direct access to the mobile device operating system so that apps can create user interfaces (UIs) as per the code commands and with the full support of familiar UI layouts and components of native operating systems. It results in seamless user experiences (UX) and better user engagement.Monetization:
Native apps have respective marketplaces to easily access the targeted audience and with the security of payments and other tons of advantages. For instance, Apple has App Store while Android has Google Play Store to publish the apps, get ranking, and greater visibility. Moreover, app stores impose several restrictions over bad practices and encourage high-quality apps to enter and sell more in the marketplaces. Thus, a better return is assured for the honest and hardworking enterprise mobile app developers and businesses.Cons of Native App Development
Costly:
Native app technologies and tools cost dearly for the App Development Company hence, the clients. If the app has a vast target audience and uses different mobile OS or devices, app development requires more than one platform to cover all and is expensive.Time-consuming:
We know that native app development requires apps for more than one platform and the same code is not applicable for all other mobile OS platforms. It takes more time to rewrite the code or start from scratch for each platform.Resources-consuming:
Native app development requires platform-specific skills in coding and using the tools. Therefore, an App Development Company or business has to hire talents at high rates, invest in tools and infrastructure, and allocate skilled resources as per the scale of the project because native coding is a bit lengthy and time-consuming compared to easy web development technologies.Pros of Cross-platform App Development
Fast:
In cross-platform app development, coding for the app is a one-time process, and you can run a single code on multiple platforms with minor tweaks. Thus, it saves a lot of time spent on programming and designing for different platforms following the platform-specific guidelines. Therefore, it is considering the biggest advantage of hybrid application development in the market.Affordable:
As discussed earlier, we have seen the cross-platform favors’ Write once and run everywhere’ process it saves bucks spending on different platform-specific development processes, time, and rates of developers.Profitable:
We know well that hybrid app development cuts the costs considerably. Particularly on designing, programming, time, hiring talents (web developers are a cheaper option), and infrastructural facilities. It increases the overall margin on mobile app development and proves profitable compared to native mobile app development.Easy:
Hybrid app developers have to learn only a few technologies and gain command over the selected development frameworks like PhoneGap, Titanium, Ionic, etc. It also cuts the deployment cost and time on different marketplaces, updates, and upgrade because you roll out the app on all intended marketplaces simultaneously.You may also be interested in these articles: Improve your Mobile App Usability with 5 Best Tricks
Cons of Cross-platform App Development
Performance Glitches:
We know cross-platform apps are running on mobile browsers using the capacities of browsers. It prohibits hybrid app code to directly access the operating system and hardware support, resulting in several performance glitches like freezing and lagging the app during specific or intense operations.User Experience Issues:
Due to the inadequate OS and hardware access and performance glitches, the excellent user experiences on cross-platform app remains a nightmare. For instance, touch gestures, accelerometer, GPS capability, microphone, and many native only features and functionality are not fully accessible for browser-based hybrid apps.Delays in Updates & Upgrade:
Whenever mobile OS releases new updates, native apps integrate those seamlessly. In the case of hybrid apps, developers have to rely on third-party support, and it takes time and money.Conclusion:
When we debate the appropriateness of native apps vs. cross-platform mobile apps, we see native apps winning on certain expectations while hybrid apps are on another set of requirements. In due course, looking at the pros and cons of clients’ perspectives and their app requirements seems a wise step. If you are trapped in the same dilemma and need expert advice, consider SysBunny, your best friend and professional partner.SysBunny has prolonged experiences and expertise in the development of mobile applications on various native platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows Phone as well as on cross-platform apps using the latest frameworks.
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