Cross-platform Mobile App Development helps companies reduce costs on mobile app development for multiple platforms by using a single code base across all operating systems. Today’s mobile industry primarily operates on two operating systems: iOS and Android. iOS has a market share of 24.4%, while Android holds the top position at 75.2%, with 0.31% of mobile phones using other software. As a business, your first thought might be to create an app for both operating systems.
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As a business owner, it is important to understand what is involved in mobile app development before you start creating one. Your app may have various requirements, and not all development platforms will be able to satisfy them. Before proceeding, let us understand each of the platforms and how they impact mobile app development for businesses.
Mobile App Development Frameworks & Platforms Commonly Used
Flutter
Developed by Google, Flutter provides a cross-platform development model with a single code base for Android and iOS. It uses the Dart and Kotlin programming languages.
Limitations:
- Limited native features may require writing Objective-C or Swift code for iOS or Java code for Android.
- Other limitations include large app size and slower performance compared to native apps, but it tops the list among other cross-platform app development platforms.
Suitable for:
- Small and medium-sized apps with minimal or no requirement for device-specific functionalities. Think of small to medium-sized eCommerce stores, news apps, and real estate apps. Apps like Google Play and eBay Motors use Flutter as their platform.
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React Native
One of the most versatile app development platforms, React Native has a large community of developers supporting it. React Native provides better memory usage and gives apps a more native feel. It is sometimes faster than native apps but can have performance issues when using device-specific features. The code is reusable on both platforms and is generally the most preferred for cross-platform development.
React Native is open-source and backed by Facebook.
Xamarin
Owned by Microsoft, Xamarin is a cross-platform framework for mobile app development with C# as a codebase. Xamarin allows for native performance and uses the extensive .NET libraries with C#. It also enables bindings to iOS and Android SDKs. The platform is backed by Microsoft and has a strong developer community for support.
Limitations:
- Heavier apps and slow start times.
- UI limitations.
- Steep learning curve and limited ecosystem for third-party plugins.
Native vs. Cross-Platform Apps
While each platform has its own set of pros and cons, the decision to create a native app versus a cross-platform app depends on the features required by your business. Apps that require performance-critical applications, such as AR/VR, gaming, and 3D rendering, are best on a native app, which can directly access device hardware and system resources. Other reasons to use native apps include security—banking apps, for example, are best done on native apps for better security through direct access to system-level features like biometrics and encryption.
Cross-platform apps, on the other hand, are ideal for faster development across multiple platforms, particularly when the app is not performance-intensive. eCommerce apps and business apps that require frequent maintenance and updates are well-suited for a cross-platform framework. Social media apps with standard functionality and a simple UI are also great candidates. Cross-platform apps are often used for apps targeting multiple platforms beyond mobile. Apps that extend to desktops, such as PWAs and hybrid apps, don’t require the power of native development.
If you are looking for maximum reach on a budget and don’t require access to device resources like cameras or graphics, a cross-platform app is your best bet.
Cross-Platform Mobile App UI/UX Consistency
The biggest challenge when creating apps for multiple platforms is consistency, especially in the UI/UX. Two different apps will inevitably have inconsistencies in the UI, even if they function perfectly the same on both platforms. The chances of functionality differences are also high, though they are rarely noticeable. However, differences in UI/UX are easily spotted. Even with cross-platform mobile app development using Flutter, Xamarin, or React Native, your app may look different across platforms. Native components like buttons have to be customized to achieve a consistent look, overriding native UI/UX features.
Mobile App Performance Optimization in Cross-Platform Development
The second challenge is the performance of cross-platform apps. Native apps are optimized for performance, even when using device-specific features. With cross-platform apps, the performance depends on the APIs and SDKs used. Optimizing cross-platform apps may require debugging and optimizing the code specifically for each platform. Performance optimization also varies depending on the framework you use.