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Introduction – mobile development: cross-platform or native
In the dawn of the smartphone appearance, developers were limited to a platform-specific, or native, approach to building apps. They could only create an application for a platform (iOS and Android). If support is necessary for both platforms simultaneously, you must create two separate mobile platforms.
Now the choice is a bit more because, in addition to the native one, you can create a cross-platform application that will work on Android and iOS using only one code base. Next, we will explain what is behind the terms of native and cross-platform application development and also point in detail the pros and cons of each approach and their nuances.
What is native and cross-platform development:
- Native development (2 independent applications in Swift and Kotlin)
- Cross-platform development – a common code base for iOS and Android (using Flutter or React Native frameworks)
Each method possesses its characteristics, pros, and cons. Every one of them is suitable for each specific project and each particular goal. Now I will explain how to choose and what to look for.
Native development
Native development is the traditional way to build iOS and Android apps. It is conducted using tools and programming languages offered by vendors – Apple and Google. The languages, in this case, are Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android), and there are a lot of tools for profiling and debugging in native development.
However, we must understand that we are making two independent applications in this case. They are being developed in parallel. Each application can implement a feature in its way, and each can have its bugs. And most importantly, native development will not go anywhere: as long as iOS and Android exist, Apple and Google will provide tools for creating applications.
Native development allows you to create the highest quality and most functional application. Still, in return, you will have to develop and debug everything twice and ensure that the applications correspond to each other functionally.
This is the most popular way to create applications among developers. Therefore, assembling a team, even a large one, in this case, is more accessible than a cross-platform. First of all, because of the number of offers on the market.
Pros of native development
High speed and performance
When creating native programs, tools and technologies are used that are directly related to the platform; this allows for direct and, at the same time, more direct interaction of the application with the platform, which considerably increases the overall speed and performance of the program, mainly when using the graphics chip of the device (which is why almost all mobile games are native applications). For the same reasons, “natives” have a lower response time and a low probability of crashes and freezes.
More options for integration with the platform
Complete access to the functions and services of the platform allows you to create applications with full use of the possibilities of this platform. For example, native photo and video apps usually produce better quality products. The same is valid for Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, audio modules, and other functions.
Familiar user interface (more adapted)
As native applications are more closely integrated with the platform, this allows you to use the maximum available capabilities of the device’s hardware and more fully comply with the guidelines. Thanks to this, it is possible to implement a more familiar interface and user experience for the platform’s audience.
Best positioning in online marketplaces
Due to closer integration with the platform and device and a better user experience, native applications are usually positioned higher in such marketplaces as the App Store and Google Play. There are also suggestions that the ranking mechanisms on these sites are a priori more friendly to “native” applications.
Cons of native development
Big time and cost of creating an application
Developing a program for each of some platforms can significantly increase development time, as engineers need to write two code bases, thus developing an application at a higher cost. Adapting UI / UX design for each platform can also take a relatively long time, further “inflating” the development budget.
Dependency on one mobile operating system
For native solutions, software engineers use a language medium specially developed for the operating platform, which makes the application incompatible with other platforms. Sometimes this is not a problem, but this approach will often limit the reach and availability of your service, product, or service.
Lost financial opportunities (profits)
The deliberate reduction of its market by one mobile platform is a deliberate reduction in potential financial benefits. It happens when no one thinks about the possible release to other mobile media in case of a successful launch during the design and development of the project.
Cross-platform development
Cross-platform applications are programs built around the concept of “compile once, run everywhere” as they involve developing the same codebase to run on different platforms/operating systems. This is performed through development tools such as React Native and Xamarin, which allow you to write the program’s code and deploy it on different platforms with close to the native UI / UX design for the given platform.
Due to the cross-platform approach to creating programs, you can significantly reduce the time and cost of development. However, it would help if you did not count on outstanding performance and/or maximum integration with platform and device features and services. Another problem can be customization, as it can be limited by the framework used.
Pros of cross-platform development
Single code base for all platforms
The main advantage of cross-platform development is using one code base for different mobile platforms. In this case, the development team can use only one technology stack (and it is much easier to pick it up) rather than multiple technology stacks for each mobile platform / operating system simultaneously.
Easier and faster deployment
Because you don’t need to learn multiple technology stacks to create cross-platform solutions, developers can focus on a single technology stack, allowing them to explore and realize all of its benefits. In addition, a single codebase also dramatically accelerates the initial deployment of an application on multiple platforms at once, reducing the time and complexity of updates.
Reduce development time and cost
This is another essential advantage of cross-platform development, which reduces the time it takes to write code for two or more code bases. The time and money saved depend on the task of the project and the framework.
Coverage of a broader audience of users
Since cross-platform solutions are made for two or more platforms / operating systems, they also have more target audience coverage. Thus, the application can be presented on more mobile devices for more users, making cross-platform more profitable for businesses than on only one platform.
Acceptance of the same interface and UX
One development team and a common code base make it possible to create the same user interface for all platforms, which is very important for brands. It also allows you to implement a “seamless” transition from one platform to another, for instance, from a smartphone to a tablet, laptop, computer, or TV (game console or smart TV).
Cons of cross-platform development
Less flexibility than native apps
A unified technology stack does not provide the same high flexibility as a platform-specific stack. Because of this, the vast majority of cross-platform solutions cannot demonstrate the same degree of integration with the platform and device as native solutions.
Lower performance and reliability
Loss of flexibility in development will also mean loss of opportunities to improve and optimize performance. In other words, other things being equal, cross-platform solutions will never work as fast, reliable, secure, and smooth as native applications.
Possible inconsistency in design across the two platforms
Another problem you might have is some differences between user interfaces and user experience across platforms/operating systems (for example, Windows has a start button, but macOS doesn’t). This often is due to both diverse requirements for the design and the specific limitations of user interfaces on different platforms.
Possible difficulties with app marketplaces
The mechanism and requirements for cross-platform applications in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store marketplaces differ. Going through all the bureaucratic procedures, checks and tests can take a lot of time and cause difficulties.
Features of native and cross-platform approach
Interface design
When creating mobile applications, guidelines are used – these are valuable instructions/instructions from the platform owners, focused on fitting the functionality and appearance of the application to the platform standards. Guidelines reflect the vision of platform creators for making the user experience on the platform as comfortable as possible. Thus you can understand how the design should look to be familiar to users of the given platform.
Native development uses languages with complete tools to apply all the guidelines’ requirements and create a familiar design platform for the audience. At the same time, cross-platform development incorporates the use of universal tools, which, although they allow you to bring the design closer to “native,” you will have to spend much more effort. At the same time, animation speed, responsiveness, effects, and design will still be at least a little but different (although this is not always a bad thing).
User Experience
Lower responsiveness (the speed of the application’s response to user actions), sharper (jerky) animation, ping, and freezes can significantly spoil the user experience. Often these problems lead users to uninstall the application after the first launch, despite its uniqueness, excellent design, and low cost.
Cross-platform solutions, due to the use of non-platform-specific languages, are inferior to native ones – they slow down and hang, and this is their main problem. And although there may be freezes for a fraction of a second, this is enough for the user to prefer the native application. For example, many people prefer Android devices because, in this market, you can find devices with a screen refresh rate of 90-140 Hz. At the same time, on the same iPhone 12 Pro Max, it is only 60 Hz, which significantly spoils the user experience.
Developers of cross-platform applications usually make the same design (easier, faster, and cheaper), which may not always is a benefit since each platform usually has its own specific rules (guidelines). And when these rules are neglected, users of one of the platforms may find it unusual (uncomfortable) to use the application.
A vivid example is a Back function familiar to Android devices, which has no analog on iOS. If a cross-platform application has the same design, then users of this platform will be forced to adapt, which can worsen their user experience. The solution is to create two different designs, considering each platform’s characteristics. The result will be two separate applications but in one cross-platform language, which essentially eliminates the advantages of this approach to software development.
Mobile Platform Limitations
With native development, you will be limited by the capabilities of the platform and the device you are using. When designing a cross-platform application, the developer must have in mind these limitations and the capabilities of the language, bridge, and framework used.
Service and Support
Comprehensive maintenance of a cross-platform solution (updates, security updates, finding and fixing bugs) usually requires half as many resources since one specialist (team) can handle this. In contrast, maintenance of native solutions for two platforms requires at least two specialists (Android and iOS).
Development time and cost
Creating cross-platform solutions is much cheaper than native development due to the more minor work. The winnings are usually between 30 and 50%.
Conclusion – which approach to choose, cross-platform or native
Selecting the optimal approach to application development depends on the business objectives, the complexity of the project, and individual circumstances, so there is no single correct answer here.
It is better to stop at the native approach of app development if:
- The application will have to run the most of all the available features of the platform and device (multi-tiered menu, calendar, animations, camera, phone book, geotargeting, etc.);
- Maximum reliability, security, and stability are needed;
- Requires top speed and performance;
- The application must be able to work offline.
A cross-platform approach is preferable if:
- When your budget is limited;
- It is necessary to start the application on two platforms in a short time;
- Your business does not need complex functional developments (multi-tiered menu, phone book, geolocation, etc.);
- You are ready to put up with low responsiveness.
If you plan a rich application with logic on the client for a large audience, then native is better. In other cases, cross-platform solutions can be considered.
It can also be further emphasized that in most cases, it is preferable to create a native application (for Android Java and Kotlin, for IOS Swift), as it is more profitable in the medium and long term.
A cross-platform approach is better to test the idea and enter the market in the shortest possible time. Also, this approach is preferable if you need a simple application for a specific task, such as a news feed or a voting form.
If you plan a rich application with logic on the client for a large audience, then native is better. In other cases, cross-platform solutions can be considered.