Cross-platform app development is a concept that can sometimes be a bit tricky to grasp. A big part of the confusion comes from the term "platform," which can mean different things—whether it’s hardware like mobile phones or desktop computers, mobile development frameworks, or operating systems like Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android. These varied meanings can easily lead to misunderstandings.
So, let’s clear things up. Cross-platform approaches differ between desktop and mobile devices. When it comes to mobile apps, the main goal is to create a single, reusable codebase that works across all platforms. This isn’t always true for desktop software and consoles, where different versions might need their own unique codebases.
Another point to consider is that some experts use "cross-platform" and "hybrid" interchangeably, but this isn’t entirely accurate for mobile platforms. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of cross-platform mobile development and break down the differences between these two types of mobile applications.
Before we dive in, it’s worth mentioning that progressive web applications (PWAs) are often considered "cross-platform" because they run across various platforms and operating systems via web browsers. However, since PWAs aren’t specifically built for mobile platforms, we won’t be covering them here.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of cross-platform mobile app development frameworks and how they can benefit your projects. Let’s get started!
What Is Cross-Platform App Development for Mobile Devices
When we talk about “cross platform mobile development,” we're referring to one of the ways to build software for mobile devices and multiple platforms. Overall, there are three main approaches to mobile application development, each with its own pros and cons:
- Cross-platform. This type of software works on different mobile platforms. What makes it special is that a cross platform app typically uses a single codebase. Most of the code is shared or reused for different mobile operating systems. Specialized frameworks enable this, helping developers reduce the limitations while still providing a “native-like” user experience.
- Native. This type of application is written exclusively for one particular platform. It is designed to utilize all relevant software and hardware features available on that platform. Because developers focus on one mobile platform, the same code cannot be reused on other platforms.
- Hybrid. This approach to mobile app development combines native and web technologies. Developers write the code in web development languages like CSS or HTML. Then, they wrap this code in a “native” shell. Hybrid apps are very similar to cross platform apps. The differences between them are often subtle. Because of this, many specialists treat them the same for simplicity.
There are only two operating systems that dominate the industry of mobile devices: Android and iOS. Together, they cover over 99% of the market, making other operating systems almost irrelevant. That’s why, these days, when we talk about a "cross-platform mobile application," we usually mean software that works on both Android and iOS devices.
Main Advantages of Cross-platform Mobile App Development
- One code for all platforms. The main concept of cross-platform mobile apps is using a single codebase, fully or partially, on all target platforms. While “reusable code” has its limitations, it also leads to several further benefits.
- Lower costs to cover platforms. "One code fits all" is a cost-effective approach that maximizes a limited budget. With cross-platform development, there's no need for two dedicated teams to handle separate Android and iOS versions. Plus, native app developers charge more and are hard to come by. Using a single team with one stack of technologies for both platforms not only simplifies the process but also significantly cuts costs.
- Less time to deliver a final software product. Using one codebase and one team simplifies the software development process compared with managing two teams at the same time. For example, managers do not need to synchronize the progress of two teams to release the software product on iOS and Android at the same time. Two native versions of an app would mean double coding, double testing, etc.
- Larger user coverage. Thanks to cross platform mobile development, an application can reach more users. This approach offers a sufficient level of compatibility for different operating systems. It also maintains some level of “native” experience, so users feel more comfortable with their interaction with an app. That’s why cross-platform development is preferred if a project’s budget is not large enough to build two separate native applications.
Popular Cross platform Mobile Development Tools and Technologies
Over the years, developers have created many tools for building cross-platform applications. Here are the top 5 most popular frameworks that are currently used for mobile solutions for this purpose:
React Native
Pros: React Native, created by Meta in 2015, has taken the app development world by storm. Its ability to render React components to native platform UI components gives the power to create slick, customized, and responsive user interfaces. It also supports operating systems for smart TV, such as tvOS and Android TV, and virtual reality devices.
Flexibility, modular architecture, and extensive third-party library support are just a few of React Native's appealing features. These traits make it an attractive choice for many cross platform app developers, enabling the creation of some of the most famous and profitable mobile apps, including Facebook, Skype, Shopify, and Microsoft Office
Cons: While React Native provides the significant advantage of cross-platform development and a vibrant community, it does come with several drawbacks. Performance can be an issue, especially for complex, resource-intensive apps, due to the JavaScript-native code bridge. Limited native API support often requires custom native modules or third-party libraries, adding to the complexity.
Flutter
Pros: Its versatility and performance make it a popular choice, as seen with apps like Google Pay and eBay. Flutter offers great performance and a native look to apps. Flutter also supports smooth animations with a stable refresh rate of 60/120 frames per second, depending on the device. Unlike other frameworks, Flutter has its rendering engine for drawing widgets, not relying on web browser technology.
Cons: On the downside, Flutter's use of Dart can be a hurdle. Frontend developers might find it easier to switch to React Native, especially if they have React experience, while Java or C# developers may find Dart more familiar. Due to the Flutter engine, initial app sizes can be relatively large. Although Flutter's ecosystem is growing, it's not as extensive as more established cross platform frameworks like React Native.
Apache Cordova
Pros: Apache Cordova is a go-to framework for mobile platforms, supporting Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. It lets developers build mobile apps using familiar web technologies like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, making it easy for web developers to transition to mobile development. Using native WebView allows seamless integration with native device capabilities through plugins. Companies like IBM, Walmart, and Adobe use Apache Cordova in their stack.
Cons: Performance can be an issue since it relies on WebView, which might not match the speed and responsiveness of native components. Its focus on mobile platforms is somewhat restrictive compared to cross platform frameworks supporting a wider range of devices and OSs. Additionally, managing plugins for native functionality can add complexity and potential compatibility issues.
Ionic
Pros: Though Ionic focuses on building hybrid apps, it ranks as the fourth most popular cross-platform framework. Ionic supports Android, iOS, and the Universal Windows Platform. It combines web code like Sass, CSS, and HTML with native code, providing flexibility. Ionic's extensive library of pre-designed components and powerful CLI make creating visually appealing, functional apps easy. Using Angular or React for app logic enhances development with structured, scalable code. Southwest Airlines and Airbus Helicopters are famous adopters of the Ionic framework.
Cons: Ionic apps can face performance issues compared to fully native apps, especially for complex or graphics-intensive applications. The reliance on web technologies means that app performance is tied to WebView performance. Despite Ionic's strong cross-platform capabilities, developers may still need to write platform-specific code for the best performance and user experience.
Xamarin
Pros: Xamarin, maintained by Microsoft, rounds out the top five popular tools for building cross-platform apps for Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, the Universal Windows Platform, and macOS. It allows cross platform app developers to reuse and share code across platforms using C# and .NET, which is especially beneficial for those familiar with Microsoft's ecosystem. Xamarin ensures apps have native performance and access to native APIs, making them feel and function like native applications. Siemens and Pinterest use this framework.
Cons: Xamarin apps can be larger in size. While this framework offers strong cross-platform capabilities, it has a steeper learning curve for developers who need to become more familiar with C# and NET. Additionally, some advanced platform-specific features might require writing custom native code, which can limit the benefits of code sharing. Dependence on Microsoft's tools and ecosystem might also be a drawback for some development teams.
Tips For Developing Mobile Cross-platform Software
There are several factors you need to consider before deciding to create cross platform apps.
- Your target audience. Should you cover both Android and iOS? Is it better to narrow down your audience?
- Your budget. Will it be enough for two teams or only one?
- Your potential development team. Does it have enough specialists? What tech stacks do they use?
- Your time to market. When would be the optimal time to release your software? Can a team meet this deadline?
Do marketing research. Analyze your plans. Find answers to these questions before moving to development.
To sum up, you should consider cross-platform development instead of a native app development approach when:
- You lack budget for two native apps;
- You need to release your software as fast as possible;
- You need to cover both Android and iOS at the same time.
However, the benefits of cross-platform app development come at a price. If you decide to develop a cross-platform mobile app, you need to consider certain drawbacks.
- Lower performance compared to native apps.
- More testing is required to ensure compatibility with several versions of different mobile operating systems.
- Inability to use the full extent of hardware and software features provided natively.
- Higher maintenance requirements to adapt to system updates on all target platforms.
Properly choosing cross-platform mobile app development technologies can mitigate all those drawbacks to a certain degree. A skilled team will be able to maximize the selected framework and other tools to ensure good quality.
Conclusion
As you can see, cross platform mobile development process can be confusing at first glance. But once you learn more about it, you become impressed by its numerous advantages. Modern frameworks for cross-platform development are supported by such IT giants as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and many others. Thanks to the efforts of the loyal community, these tools have become very effective in delivering native-like experience across various platforms.
At Intellectsoft, we have skilled specialists in various cross-platform technologies. We offer a wide range of mobile app development services to create software for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Whether you want to release your application on all these platforms as separate native apps or just one, we can deliver the solution. Contact us and tell our solution advisor what kind of native or cross-platform mobile application you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cross-platform apps offer the same performance as native apps?
Cross-platform apps have come a long way and can offer performance close to native apps, especially with modern frameworks like React Native. While native apps are still the best in terms of performance and user experience, cross-platform development is a great alternative. It allows for quicker development, lower costs, and easier maintenance. For many businesses, the small drop in performance is worth these benefits, making cross-platform development a smart and efficient choice.
What is the cross-platform development cost?
The cost of cross-platform development varies based on several factors, including the complexity of the app, the required features, expertise of the cross platform app developers, and the chosen cross platform frameworks. Reach out to our team to explore the development process and prices for your project.
Are there any security concerns with cross-platform development?
Yes, cross-platform development can have security issues because of shared code and third-party libraries. However, working with a tech partner like Intellectsoft can help you avoid these risks. We conduct regular audits, use trusted libraries, follow consistent security practices, and leverage the expertise of our development team.
Can existing native apps be converted to cross-platform apps?
No, the developer needs to rewrite an existing native application to a cross-platform technology. This process, often referred to as application migration, employs cross platform frameworks to create a cross platform solution that works on multiple platforms.
