Mobile app development is constantly evolving, with new technologies and frameworks emerging every year. With various solutions on the market, it's often difficult to choose between them. You might have heard about the long-standing "native versus cross-platform" debate. Therefore, if you want faster and hassle-free development, then get aboard an excellent mobile application development company in Toronto, Canada. Choosing one or the other has long-term implications in terms of cost, time, and functionality. In this blog, we’ll explore both options and weigh the pros and cons of each. What is Native App DevelopmentThe term native app development refers to building a mobile app exclusively for a single platform. The app is built with programming languages and tools that are specific to a single platform. For example, you can develop a native Android app with Java or Kotlin and choose Swift and Objective-C for iOS apps. Native apps are known to deliver exceptional user experience as they are generally high-performance. User experience is also enhanced as the visuals are tailored to the platform's UX. However, startups are concerned about the high cost of native app development as they need to run concurrent development for both platforms. Advantages of Native App Development1. High Speed and StabilitySince developers can fully leverage the benefits of a specific platform and don't have to write complex code like their counterparts, native apps are comparatively faster and more stable. Since they're cost-effective and highly performative, startups usually prefer native apps. 2. Reliability and SecuritySecurity risks of native apps are relatively a lot lower than cross-platforms or hybrid apps. As native app development involves a few technologies, layers, and languages, vulnerabilities are less likely to slide in. 3. Quick App Release ProcessThe features of a native app seamlessly fulfill its requirements, and that's why you can publish your app in the Play and App Stores in the simplest way. 4. Offline FunctionalityOne of the greatest advantages of native apps is that they can work perfectly even without a mobile network. Your users can enjoy extra convenience through this feature as they can access app functionalities in an offline environment or during airplane mode. Even if someone is living in a remote area or has limited data, native apps can be of great benefit to them. Disadvantages of Native App Development Although native app development has an extensive list of perks, it has its downsides as well. Have a look at the critical ones: 1. Increased Development CostSince native app development involves only one single platform, you need to make a choice: do you want to expand releases for a little easier spending, or do you want to pay for multi-platform development at a single run? Compared to cross-platform app development, the overall expense of native app development would be around 30-40% more. So, choose carefully. 2. Separate Code BaseSince Android and iOS are different platforms, you need to have a separate code base and maintain the code quality and coding standards for each. Your developers should be ready to implement each functionality of the app twice, as well as the necessary tools and development procedures. 3. Longer Time to MarketDeveloping a native app is usually time-consuming. Hence, you must plan for a longer lead time to develop and test your app before releasing it to the market. Also, you need to hire different teams to build an app and ensure its smooth functionality across different operating systems. What is Cross-Platform App DevelopmentIn a layperson’s language, cross-platform app development enables an application to function in various computing platforms. However, in technical terms, one can say that cross-platform app development involves developing one code base to create two applications for Android and iOS. Pros Of Cross-Platform App Development Less Costly Instead of having two teams of developers, you’ll need only one to create a cross-platform app. Therefore, you’ll save on the development cost. Faster Development Only a single cycle of development is needed to create an app that runs on multiple platforms. Single Code Base As the app is created with a single cross-platform development tool, only one code base is created. Cons Of Cross-Platform App Development Slower AppThe need for an additional abstraction layer and rendering process makes the cross-platform app slower than its native counterpart. Limited Functionality Developers may have difficulty accessing smartphone functionalities like the microphone, camera, and geolocation in ways possible for a native app. Limited UX Cross-platform apps are unable to take advantage of native UX components. Therefore, it can’t deliver the same UX experience that is accustomed to the platform. What to Consider When Selecting Right Approach To be sure that your decision is right, it is recommended to bear in mind several factors. First of all, you need to decide on the type of app you want to develop. It means that your team should be prepared for a large amount of programming as well as the participants of a project have to determine different features and aspects of mobile app development, including UX design, UI flexibility, memory and CPU efficiency, animation, cross-platform responsiveness if needed, and so on. It is also vital to decide how to implement augmented reality (AR), allow access to camera or GPS location, and add other special features that you want. Besides that, you need to think about your end-users. Depending on the audience you want to cover, your team will have to implement different features, and thus, it will influence your choice of the development approach. For example, if you want to make your app user-friendly for those with disabilities, you will require additional resources during the development process. Summing Up
I hope this blog provides you with the needed background information and helps you establish a discourse in a language understood by both your developers and customers. Discuss with your project team and make the ultimate decision only after that.
0 Comments
|