SWOT Analysis of Native vs Cross-platform for Mobile App Development

Introduction

With over 15 billion mobile phones worldwide, the App Store and Google Play offer a combined total of over 4.4 million apps! So, when you are looking forward to launching a mobile app, one important decision to make is whether to opt for native or cross-platform mobile app development.

The decision to opt for either Native mobile app development or Cross-Platform can have long-term implications in terms of cost, time, and functionality. This article will delve into both options and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each.

So, let’s begin by knowing these both mobile app development platforms.

What is Native mobile app development?

When developing native mobile apps, the applications are designed for either Android or iOS. Typically, the programming language used to code the app depends on the operating system being targeted.

Native Android applications are written using either Java or Kotlin programming languages. Java was the primary language for creating Android apps, while Kotlin was introduced by Google in 2017 as another option. Kotlin allows for both object-oriented and functional programming, whereas Java is restricted to object-oriented programming.

When developing native iOS applications, the programming languages used are Objective-C or Swift. Objective-C is a superset of the C programming language and was initially used to write software for iOS. In 2014, Apple introduced Swift, a robust high-level programming language for the Apple ecosystem, during their World Wide Developer Conference. Also, according to Apple, Swift is about 2.6x faster than Objective-C and the syntax is easy to learn as well.

Some famous Native mobile applications are:

      • Pinterest

      • Google Maps

      • Spotify, and more.

Tools of Native apps

Aside from operating system-specific software development kits (SDKs), native mobile development also necessitates an integrated development environment (IDE).

On the other hand, for Android apps, you will need Android Studio or IntelliJ IDEA. These tools work with Windows, macOS, or Linux. While for iOS apps, you have to use Xcode or AppCode as your IDE. Also, remember that these tools will only work on macOS.

Advantages of Native mobile app development

Native mobile application comes with a set of advantages including:

High Performance

Native apps are designed specifically for each platform, enabling them to utilize the platform’s full range of hardware and software capabilities, resulting in higher performance and faster execution times.

Better User Experience

Native apps offer a superior user experience since they are optimized for the specific platform’s unique features and characteristics, allowing them to provide a more immersive and responsive experience.

Richer Functionality

Native apps have access to all of the features and capabilities of a platform, which allows developers to create complex and sophisticated apps with a wide range of functionality.

Greater Customization

Native app development allows for greater customization of the user interface and user experience, ensuring that the app looks and feels like it belongs on the specific platform, providing a seamless and intuitive experience.

Better Security

Native apps have access to the platform’s built-in security features, ensuring that they are more secure than other types of apps.

Disadvantages of Native mobile app development

Surely, Native mobile app development comes with a ton of benefits, but they also have some drawbacks as well that you can read below:

Cost

Developing a native app for each platform (iOS and Android) requires additional resources, which can increase the cost of development.

Time

Developing a native app for each platform can take longer than developing a cross-platform app, resulting in a longer development cycle.

Maintenance

Maintaining two separate codebases for each platform can be time-consuming and expensive.

Skill Requirements

Developing native apps requires knowledge of platform-specific programming languages and software development kits (SDKs), which can limit the pool of available developers.

Limited Reach

Developing native apps for each platform can limit the app’s reach to only those users on that specific platform.

What is Cross-platform mobile app development?

Cross-platform development refers to the development process of creating mobile applications that can function on multiple platforms. This is accomplished by utilizing tools such as React Native, Xamarin, and Flutter, which allow for the deployment of apps on both Android and iOS platforms.

Although cross-platform development can save time and reduce costs, there is a risk of compromising the quality of the app. Developing an app that performs well across multiple platforms can be challenging, and an additional abstraction layer is required when running, which can result in reduced performance.

Startups may prefer cross-platform development due to its ability to reduce development time and cost. However, it is important to consider that customizing the app beyond the limitations of the framework may be more challenging.

Some well-known examples of Cross-Platform mobile apps are:

      • VLC

      • Google Chrome

      • Adobe reader and more.

Cross-Platform tools

In order to launch your app on Android, it is necessary to have the Android SDK installed and access a computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux. Similarly, for iOS, the iOS SDK and Xcode must be installed, and a macOS machine is required exclusively. Here is the list of IDEs that supports Cross-platform frameworks:

      • React Native mobile apps: VS Code, Android Studio, Xcode, and Atom

      • Flutter mobile apps: VS Code, Android Studio, and IntelliJ

      • Xamarin mobile apps: Visual Studio

Advantages of Cross-Platform app development

Opting for Cross-platform mobile app development can benefit you in the following ways:

Reduced development time and cost

Cross-platform development allows for the creation of a single codebase that can be deployed on multiple platforms, reducing development time and cost.

Easier maintenance

Maintaining a single codebase for multiple platforms simplifies the maintenance process.

Wider audience reach

Cross-platform apps can reach a larger audience, as they can be deployed on multiple platforms.

Faster deployment

Cross-platform development enables faster deployment of apps, as the app can be developed and deployed simultaneously on multiple platforms.

Reusability

Code can be reused across multiple projects, which can save development time and cost.

Disadvantages of Cross-Platform mobile app development

Cross-platform mobile development mitigates some of the drawbacks that native app development encounters. Here are some disadvantages of Cross-Platform mobile app development:

Performance

Cross-platform frameworks may not perform as well as native apps because they have an extra layer of abstraction that can slow down the app’s speed.

Limited access to device features

Cross-platform frameworks may not provide full access to all of the device’s hardware features, which can limit the functionality of the app.

Compatibility issues

Cross-platform frameworks may not work well on all platforms, and there may be compatibility issues with different versions of the operating system or different devices.

Dependency on third-party tools

Cross-platform development often relies on third-party tools and libraries, which can introduce compatibility issues and add complexity to the development process.

Limited customization

Cross-platform development can limit the ability to customize the app for different platforms, which can affect the user experience and make it harder to differentiate the app from competitors.

What platform should you consider: Native or Cross-Platform

Deciding whether to develop a React Native Cross Platform application or a Native iOS application is a crucial decision that requires careful consideration of factors such as your target audience, budget, development timeline, performance, and security requirements, among others. There are scenarios where native apps are more suitable than cross-platform apps and vice versa. Therefore, it is important to weigh your options carefully to make an informed decision.

Have a look at these factors that you should consider while choosing one:

Performance

Mobile applications, like games, can demand significant computing resources. In situations where accelerated performance is necessary, opting for Native Android application development is usually the most suitable approach. Utilizing cross-platform frameworks in such cases would require additional efforts and specialized knowledge of developing native apps. Optimizing the performance of an app for a particular operating system allows you to guarantee that your application runs with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Cost of development

Different companies have varying budgets for mobile app development. In cases where the budget is limited, it’s advisable to consider Multi-platform mobile app development since they require a smaller team. Moreover, cross-platform development enables you to manage costs by reusing code and projects.

Security

When contacting a Cross-Platform app development company for mobile applications, it’s essential to take into account the business’s reputation and the consequences of losing users’ trust. For some types of mobile applications, such as mobile banking apps, the risks can be significantly high. In such cases, native mobile development is a more appropriate option as it offers various inbuilt security features, including file encryption and intelligent fraud detection using specific OS libraries. Although Cross-Platform mobile development is useful for faster app deployment, Native apps provide better security, stability, and scalability.

Final thoughts

When you want to develop a successful, stable, and well-received mobile app, it’s crucial to identify the operating system or systems that your app will be compatible with. While both Native and Cross-Platform development methods can be used for Android and iOS operating systems, it’s essential to evaluate the tools, methods, benefits, and drawbacks associated with each method before proceeding with mobile app development.

Whether your target audience uses Android or iOS operating systems, it’s important to prioritize security, performance, and scalability when creating your mobile application and Bytes Technolab can help you with that. As we are the best mobile app development company offering app ideation, planning, operations, and management to build mobile apps for all your B2B/B2C needs.