Which Is Best In 2022: Native or Cross Platform Development?

We know that mobile app development firms' revenues are reaching top-notch yearly. In particular, mobile games gained $89 million, and app revenue reached $133 billion last year. The expected results of the upcoming market are excellent. The total number of mobile app developers will reach 3.7 billion worldwide. 

So, it's better to start investing in mobile apps and game development now!!! But lots of people are confused between Native and Cross-platform development. Which one to select? I will be clearing your thoughts in this blog. 

So, let's get started with Native app development first.

What is Native App Development?

Native app development means building an app for a single platform, like Android or iOS. The entire App is developed with programming languages and tools for the specific forum. 

For example: to develop Android apps, Java or Kotlin are used, and to create iOS apps, Swift and Objective-C are used. 

You can check out some project examples here. 

Now, let's talk about the pros and cons of native app development.

Pros and Cons of Native App Development

Pros

Scalability

Due to the flexibility in resource management and the variety of tools available, natively developed apps also tend to be more scalable. ‍

Wide-ranging Functions

There will be access to each API and tool the platform you're working on offers. There are no restrictions on how the programmers can use the new App technically.

Store Compatibility improved

Because it offers better performance and speed, a native app is simpler to publish and typically ranked higher in the platform's app store.

Excellent UX and High Performance

High performance is produced by the direct communication between the code and the underlying resources. Additionally, native apps typically offer a better UX that is distinctive to the platform.

Cons

Not Cost friendly

It can be expensive to build native apps when you need to launch for both iOS and Android. It calls for the deployment of two teams using various platforms.

Time Hungry

Because the work done for one platform cannot be replicated for another, developing native apps takes time. Instead, the other version needs to be worked on by a different team.

Now, let's get to know about Cross-platform app development.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

The process of developing an app that is compatible with multiple platforms is known as cross-platform development. React Native, Xamarin, and Flutter are a few tools that can be used to deploy the developed apps on iOS and Android.

Cross-platform development can reduce costs and time, but there is a chance that quality will suffer. An app's performance will suffer due to the additional abstraction layer required to run optimally across different platforms.

Startups will prefer cross-platform development because of the time and money savings. You should be aware that going beyond the framework's permitted customizations may prove more challenging.

Pros and Cons of Cross-platform Development

Pros

Cost-friendly

You will only need one development team instead of two to create a cross-platform app. Consequently, you will reduce the cost of development.

Quick Development

A single development cycle is sufficient to produce an app that works across various platforms.

Single Code

Only one code base is required for the App because it was developed using a single cross-platform development tool.

Cons

Slower App Possibility

The cross-platform application is slower than its native counterpart due to the additional abstraction layer and rendering procedure requirement.

Limited support and Functionality

Accessing smartphone features like the microphone, camera, and geolocation in feasible ways for a native app may be challenging for developers.

Restricted/Limited UX

Native UX elements are not available to cross-platform apps. As a result, it can provide a different UX experience to which the platform is accustomed.

Now you know what Native and Cross-platform development App and their Pros and cons. But when to choose which? Let's discuss this.

Choosing a Native or Cross-Platform Mobile App In 2022?

We will know which factors you should consider before proceeding with Native or Cross-platform app development.

The Complexity of the App

Cross-platform development will be wise if you create an app displaying data fetched from the network. However, you should choose native product if it involves intensive processing or calls for access to low-level APIs like Bluetooth.

Cost

Although native development results in high-performing apps, it can be expensive. The best option if you only have a limited budget is cross-platform development. As only one codebase is needed to create an app that runs on iOS and Android, you'll save between 30% and 40%.

Total Development time

You'll want to launch an MVP app on some projects immediately. Cross-platform development should be considered in this situation. There is no need to develop two versions of the App. Instead, an app can be published for Android and iOS after just one development cycle.

UX/UI

Native development is the solution if you want stunning visuals and an engaging user experience. When working in a native environment, developers can access UI/UX components. The UI/UX of the App will be significantly constrained by cross-platform.

Which One to Choose in 2022? Native Or Cross-Platform?

Your choice will significantly impact the App's price, development time, and user reaction. Before deciding, take into account everything mentioned above. If you still need help, try these additional suggestions.

Choose Native Development if

  • If you require building the fully responsive App
  • You want to take full advantage of the phone's hardware for the most cutting-edge features.
  • The App needs access to phone resources and services
  • Flexible and scalable for updating features in future

Choose Cross-platform development

  • You want to build a less responsive app but want rapid development
  • Short testing window
  • The App is simple and doesn't have any cutting-edge features
  • Want to develop the same featured App on both iOS and Android in less time

Summary

Native and cross-platform development have different advantages and disadvantages. The choice of either approach ultimately comes down to the project's requirements and the skill levels of the involved developers.

The best option for performance and user experience continues to be native apps. You'll feel at ease with lower fault rates and better visuals despite their higher cost.

Cross-platform apps can be created quickly and easily. Still, it will take more work to provide the same user experience on each platform.

Thanks for reading!

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