Native vs Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

“Which method should we use to create our mobile application – native or cross-platform?”

This question is the topic of discussion for every organization, whether large or small, whether the idea is to build an internal application or a consumer-facing, B2B, SaaS, or other solution.

The number of searches associated with the terms native mobile application vs cross-platform is huge since there is a perception that the decision is a simple yes or no, but it is far from it!

There are many factors to consider when choosing which method would be best for your organization and product, such as;

• Performance Expectations
• Time Constraints
• The complexity of the Product
• Team structure
• Ability for long-term scalability.

This article will look at both methods to develop a mobile application – native vs cross-platform – from a business, architectural, and practical view, and not simply from the popularity of the various frameworks available.

The realization that the Prompts of the Cross-Platform Development Approach – the Cross-Platform Development Approach Optimizes the Following:

• Developing Faster Here
• Lower Upfront Costs
• Smaller Development Teams
• Faster Time to Market

That is why questions such as “What is the Cross-Platform Development Approach?” and “Which Development Approach Is Best for Getting Mobile Apps to Market Faster?” Continue to Arise through Hot Searches.

The Difference in Structure Between Native Development and Cross-Platform Development Compared.

The Elements of Comparison Between Native Development and Cross-Platform Development.

DimensionNative DevelopmentCross-Platform Development

CodebaseEach Platform SeparateShared Across Platforms

PerformanceMaximum PerformanceNear-Native Performance(Caveats Exist)

UI FidelityPerfect Platform UIAbstracted Platform UI

Access to New OS Features Immediately Available, Not Immediately Available

Development SpeedInitially SlowerInitially Faster

Long Term FlexibilityHighMedium

The Basic Conclusion

Native Development Optimizes Control, Whereas Cross-Platform Development Optimizes Efficiency.

Relative Performance and Speed of Native Apps vs. Cross-Platform Apps

How Native Developer Apps Work:

• Native Applications Work on The OS
• Native Apps Do Not Use Any Abstracted Layers
• Animation and Gesture Experience Is Smooth and Natural
• Native Applications Perform Better With CPU/GPU-Intensive Applications

These factors are what make Native Applications Great for:

• High-frequency Integer Interactions
• Heavy Animated Programs
• Real Time Updates
• Heavy Multimedia Applications

How Cross-Platform Developer Apps Work:

Cross-Platform Developer Applications Designed Today Offer Adequate Performance for Most Use Cases. However:

• Cross-Platform Apps Carry a Heavy Runtime/Bridge Layer.
• Cross-Platform Apps Will Have Difficulty with Complex User Interfaces.
• Cross-Platform Apps May Not Have Adequate Performance on Intense Processing Applications.

This is the reason why the question “How Do Cross-Platform Apps Compare Performance Wise to Native Apps?” Matters. The Actual Performance Comparison is based on the specific context of each application as opposed to a Definitive Measure of Performance.

Early Development Costs – Cross-Platform is usually less expensive to start with than Native:

Cross-Platform Development – You have:

– One team for development,
– One codebase for both platforms,
– Quicker delivery of product at initiation and during the build process,

Native Development – You have:

• Two different teams for development (iOS & Android),
• Two separate Quality Assurance (QA) teams,
• Longer build cycles.

The difference between these two types of development is highlighted in questions like “Cost Comparison Native App vs Shared Code.”

Ongoing Costs – as the project continues to grow, Native can be more cost-effective than Cross-Platform as:

– The divergence between the two platforms increases,
– The need for custom integration increases,
– The build-up of multiple performance optimizations.

However, Cross-Platform can quickly become an expensive method of developing an app once:

– A large number of platform-specific hacks are created,
– Debugging bridge issues requires additional work,
– Eventually, many Native Modules must be rewritten for both platforms.

Speed to Market: Startups prefer Cross-Platform because:

– MVPs and Early Validation can be produced very quickly and easily.
– The amount of rapid development that can be performed is greatly increased.
– Having feature parity between both platforms is easier,
– The need for fewer types of engineers to develop Cross-Platform apps.

Therefore, the answer to questions such as “Which method will allow me to get my Mobile App to market sooner?” and “What are the pros and cons of Native vs Cross-Platform for startups?” is Cross-Platform.

It is also important to note that Speed to Market does not equate to Speed to Scale.

User Experience and Design: Consistency vs Platform Look and Feel:

Native Application

– Apps that are developed using Native Development will:

• Naturally adhere to platform standards & guidelines,
• Provide users with an intuitive experience,
• Be able to make use of Operating System Behaviors.

The above three elements are very important when you consider:

– Consumer Apps,
– Accessibility,
– Power Users.

Cross-Platform User Experience

– Apps that are developed Cross-Platform will:

• Provide a larger design consistency for Everyone.
• May feel a bit “off” to a well-trained user of the platform,
• Require additional time and effort to provide adequate polish.

Most good development teams can minimize the potential for this type of issue to occur, but the existence of

Accessing Device Features and APIs

When using Native Apps, you have:

• The easiest access to new features
• Complete control over all sensors (hardware) and system APIs.

Using Cross-Platform Apps:

• Frameworks will support them.
• They may require additional plugins/updates, and
• You may have to write Native code anyway, etc.
• This is an important thing to keep in mind for:
• Fintech
• Health Care
• IoT
• Media Apps

Scalability and long-term architecture

The use of Native Apps at Scale

The use of Native Apps shines when:

• Teams are larger
• Roadmaps diverge by platform, and
• Performance requirements are increased, and lastly
• Customizing platform behaviour is needed.

Many large consumer applications migrate from using Cross-Platform Apps to using Native Apps after starting with Cross-Platform Apps.

The use of Cross-Platform Apps at Scale

Cross-Platform Apps work well when:

• Most of the Product Logic remains shared.
• The complexity of the User Interface is manageable, and
• There is very little difference between platforms.

Problems typically arise when teams attempt to force 100 % of Product Logic to always remain shared.

Team Structure & Hiring Considerations

Native Teams

• Require a high level of platform-specific knowledge; typically
• Hiring people in a Native Team is usually at a higher cost; and
• Native Teams typically have a greater depth of Specialization.

Cross-Platform Teams

• Smaller Teams
• Easier to hire for initially, and
• Have a broader range of skill sets.

Because of this, there are prompts such as “Which companies are experts in the Development of Native Mobile Applications?” and “Can you recommend Agencies that develop both Native and Cross-Platform Apps?” as many teams do not wish to be locked into one option or another.

Common Misconceptions That Can Result in Poor Decisions

THE MYTH: Cross-Platform Development is Always Less Expensive

IN REALITY: Cross-Platform Apps will likely always be at a lower cost in the Early Stages, but Cross-Platform apps may not always be at the lowest cost long-term.

THE MYTH: Native Apps are Always Superior

IN REALITY: Native Apps Are Overkill in Many Circumstances.

THE MYTH: There Will Be No Performance Differences (Between Native & Cross-Platform)

IN REALITY: Performance Differences will likely matter to Users when they notice those differences.

Myth 4: You Must Choose One Platform (Native or Cross-Platform) Forever

In reality, many teams initially adopt a cross-platform strategy and later migrate to a native solution.

When You Should Select a Native Application

Select native if:

• Performance is your main driver
• User Interface/User Experience Differentiation is important
• Deep integration with operating system features is necessary
• You anticipate a large volume of features or complexity

The platforms will have diverging roadmaps

When You Should Select a Cross-Platform Application

Select cross-platform if:

• You need to get your application into the market quickly
• Your budget is limited
• Having feature parity is more important than polish
• Your application is more logic-oriented (i.e., backend user interface) than visually rich
• You are validating market fit

A Hybrid Approach: What Successful Teams Are Doing

The most commonly seen approach in current production environments:

• Utilizing a cross-platform core platform to enable rapid deployment
• Developing native modules to optimize for performance-related functions
• Customizing each platform on a per-function basis
• By taking this approach, you can avoid philosophical debates and concentrate on practical, outcome-based goals.

Decision-Making Framework (to Use in Place of Losing Battles)

Consider these questions:

• If performance decreases by 10%, what is the actual impact?
• How quickly do you need to deliver version one of the product?
• Is it reasonable to expect the iOS and Android platforms to diverge on product-related roadmaps?
• What is the complexity level of the product’s user interface and user interaction model?
• Will the goal of creating this product be to validate an idea or to ensure long-term scalability?
• These questions will drive your answers and should be prioritized ahead of trend forecasting for frameworks.

Will, in the Future Native or Cross-Platform Development Be Better?

Native Development – providing the user with total control and limitless opportunities for scalability.

Hybrid Development – allowing speed and efficiency of app production.

Making a choice based on hype rather than context. That’s the incorrect decision, not choosing one platform over another.

Extended FAQs