Every day, the market sees the emergence of numerous new ideas and projects, and developers face an important choice that will determine the success and longevity of their efforts: whether to use a cross-platform approach or bet on native development.
Today, we will explore what is better: native development or cross-platform development?
What is native development?
Native development is a method of creating mobile applications in which programming languages and tools specifically designed for each platform are used. For example, Java or Kotlin is used for the Android platform, while Swift or Objective-C is used for iOS.
Applications created using the native approach can easily utilize all available device features, such as the camera, geolocation, sensors, and other capabilities. Additionally, developers have direct access to the latest updates and innovations offered by operating system manufacturers, allowing them to quickly adapt to changes and ensure their relevance.
Pros and Cons of Native Development
Pros:
- High performance:
Applications developed using native tools work much faster and are more responsive than cross-platform ones because they are optimized for a specific platform.
- Full access to APIs:
Developers have direct access to all device functions and capabilities, enabling them to create richer and more integrated products.
- Better user experience:
Since the application is fully adapted to the platform, users find the interface comfortable and intuitive, which positively affects user satisfaction and product ratings.
Cons:
- Expensive development:
Creating applications for each platform requires more time and resources, which may not be accessible for small teams or startups.
- Double the cost for updates:
Because there are two separate applications, updates need to be released for each of them, increasing support costs.
What is cross-platform development?
Cross-platform development is a method in which mobile applications can work on different operating systems, such as Android and iOS, using a single codebase. This means you don’t need to write separate versions of the application for each platform, which can significantly simplify and expedite the development process.
Pros and Cons of Cross-Platform Development
Pros:
- Faster development:
Using a single codebase on different platforms speeds up the process of creating and releasing an application.
- Resource savings:
Developing one application for multiple platforms reduces costs and increases accessibility for a wide range of specialists.
- Convenience of updates:
Updates are released simultaneously for all platforms, making application support easier.
Cons:
- Performance:
Such applications may be less performant than native ones because they run on top of a framework.
- Limited access to APIs:
Not all device functions are always available through cross-platform frameworks, which can limit the functionality of the application.
- Differences in interfaces:
To achieve a similar user experience, some compromises have to be made to account for differences in interfaces between platforms.
How to choose a development platform?
- Analysis of the target audience:
The first step is to understand who your application is intended for. Study your target audience and determine which operating systems they most commonly use. If your target audience consists of users with different devices, cross-platform development may be preferable.
- Determining the functionality of the application:
Define what features and capabilities should be included in your product. If full access to specific device functions that are only available through native development is required, this may influence your choice. If you haven’t yet determined the functionality of your application, you can use a requirements gathering service.
- Budget and time assessment:
Consider your financial capabilities and development timelines. Native development may require more time and resources due to the need to create separate versions for each platform. At the same time, cross-platform development may be a more cost-effective option for small teams or limited budgets. We provided more details in a previous article on how to calculate the budget with practical examples.
- Research available tools and frameworks:
Study various development tools and frameworks. Evaluate their capabilities, performance, support, and developer community. Choose the one that best fits your needs and your team’s expertise.
- Testing and feedback:
Before making a final decision, test the created applications on different platforms and gather feedback from users. This will help determine how well the application works and whether it meets the needs of your target audience.
Conclusion
The choice between cross-platform and native development is a complex decision that depends on a multitude of factors. The approach that will be optimal for your project should align with your business goals, budget, and audience requirements.
We hope that this article will help you make an informed decision that leads to the success of your project.
If you have additional questions or if you’d like to develop your own product, you can submit a request using the form below.
Our team is always ready to assist you!