Cross-Platform vs Native Development: Which Approach is Right for Your Project?

Businesses have realized that mobile touchpoints have become the initial source to increase their customer base and engage more users than any other medium. Therefore, those who are considering building a mobile app for their business will be required to make a tough decision on which way to go- cross-platform app development or native app development.

If we talk about the future, then the total revenue in the app market is forecast to experience significant growth in all segments, resulting in a projected market volume of US 755.50 billion by 2027.

Isn't this a huge figure?

It is predicted that the number of app downloads will continue to increase annually. By 2026, it is estimated that there will be 181 billion app downloads, with the App Store accounting for 38 billion and the Google Play Store accounting for 143 billion of the total downloads.

That's why businesses are looking to create their own mobile application to reach the heights of success. However, the question remains the same, which approach should they opt for? Cross-platform app development by leveraging the expertise of an experienced Flutter app development company or Native app development? 

What Is Cross-Platform App Development?

Cross-platform development refers to the method of constructing an application, typically aimed at mobile devices, which can be deployed across various platforms utilizing a single source code.

Businesses, corporations, and startups often seek to extend the reach of their mobile applications to both Android and iOS, the dominant mobile operating systems globally. Creating cross-platform apps involves establishing a unified codebase that is engineered to operate seamlessly on both Android and iOS devices. This approach diverges from native app development, where separate teams concurrently develop distinct versions of an app for each platform.

Visualize cross-platform development as adhering to the "Write Once, Run Everywhere" principle, as it revolves around building a solitary, reusable codebase capable of running on multiple mobile platforms and operating systems. This versatility is facilitated by using cross-platform mobile app development frameworks like React Native and Flutter.

What Is Native App Development?

Native app development involves creating an application specifically designed for a particular platform. For those aiming to launch their apps across various platforms, native development allows for this, although it necessitates separate, and often concurrent, development processes for each platform.

For instance, if companies desire to offer their apps on both iOS and Android, they typically engage two separate teams to concurrently develop versions of the app for each operating system. Sometimes, they may opt to begin with the development of the Android native app, learning and refining from that process, before proceeding to engage another team for the development of the iOS native app.

Difference Between Cross-Platform And Native App Development

The below comparison highlights the key differences between native and cross-platform app development, considering aspects such as development approach, performance, user experience, development time, maintenance, access to native features, cost, and popularity.

Which One To Choose For Your Next Project?

Selecting one development approach over another isn't a straightforward decision. Each project presents unique priorities and circumstances. Here's a summary of key considerations to assist you in guiding your decision.

Cross-platform app development holds advantages in…

• The development time for an app can be reduced significantly by using a cross-platform approach, leading to faster time-to-market.
• By using a cross-platform approach, there is potential for cost savings during the development process.
• The use of a cross-platform approach can also reduce the workload and expenses involved in maintaining the app.
• Cross-platform development allows for code reusability between iOS and Android platforms, making development more efficient.
• Cross-platform development can result in lighter apps that do not heavily tax CPU and GPU resources, especially those with complex animations or logic.
• Consistency in interface and navigation across various platforms can be ensured, particularly when the UI remains similar, by using a cross-platform approach.
• By testing ideas, hypotheses, or prototypes across multiple platforms, a cross-platform approach can facilitate the development process.

Native app development offers advantages in…

• Improve the speed and performance of your applications.
• Ensure that your applications have higher security levels.
• Customize and fine-tune your application's features and user interface to meet your specific needs.
• Create cutting-edge, platform-specific user interfaces and user experiences for your applications.
• Deploy updates and new features more quickly and easily.
• Develop more responsive applications.
• Take advantage of a mobile phone's hardware capabilities, such as the camera.
• Manage resource-intensive applications, including mobile games and those with complex animations.
• Build applications that are part of a larger suite and can potentially share some codebase.

Which Development Approach Is Right For You?

Finding the right development approach is crucial for your project's success. While certain applications thrive with native development, cross-platform development presents a compelling option, particularly for those constrained by time and resources. It's also an attractive choice for businesses, regardless of their size, aiming to validate or prototype their concepts.

Moreover, numerous tech giants opt for cross-platform frameworks for their mobile applications. For instance, Meta utilizes React Native in various apps, including the Facebook app, Facebook Ads, and Instagram. Similarly, renowned companies like Bloomberg, Skype, Airbnb, Walmart, and Pinterest, among others, have used cross-platform development for their mobile apps.