The demand for mobile applications is now higher than ever due to the growing contribution of mobile devices to website traffic. In 2023, mobile users downloaded 257 billion mobile apps to their devices, and in 2025, app spending on mobile apps is forecasted to reach $270 billion.

While investing in mobile app development is a major step forward, figuring out which platform you should be building for and how to go about building are important decisions. But choosing between native vs cross-platform app development isn’t quite simple, since both of these technologies are well-developed and practical. Yet, each has different qualities that make them suitable for different use cases.

In this guide, we will look closely at the differences between native and cross-platform mobile app development, examining their pros and cons to decide which one might be best suited to the goals of your project.

What Is Native App Development?

Native app development refers to the process of creating a mobile app exclusively for one particular operating system or device type (typically either Android or iOS). That means an app designed for the Android platform can’t be used on iOS, and the other way around. This is simply because both platforms use entirely different programming languages and technologies. Native Android apps are typically built using Java or Kotlin and with the help of Android Studio development tools.

For iOS apps, native app developers would instead use Swift or Objective-C and applications such as AppCode, Xcode, or Atom. Thus, if you want to build a native app that works well on both platforms, you would have to create two different apps. Such a solution usually requires separate teams of developers for both technologies. This, in turn, extends the duration of the development process and increases its cost.

Advantages of Native Apps

Native app development has a long list of benefits that make this development method popular with companies. These benefits are highlighted below.

Better User Experience

Since native mobile apps are built for a specific system, they can use all of the system’s core features and capabilities. Thanks to this, native apps typically are much faster than cross-platform ones and have far fewer performance-related issues, such as lagging, bugs, or app crashes. And even if these problems occur, it is much easier to fix them. App design and user interface can also be polished to make the app easier to use and, in this way, more appealing to the users.

Higher Security

Making the app as secure as possible is pretty much a priority for all app developers, as neglecting even one small part of the security measures can have terrible consequences for the app owners and users. Native mobile apps are winning here, as they can use all built-in security features a given platform and device has, from fingerprint scanners to face ID recognition. The API security level is also better in native mobile apps as they have more control over the API calls to and from the server.

Easier Addition of New Features

Whenever there’s a new system update, both Apple and Google update their programming languages so that developers can quickly add new features to their applications. That makes it easier to keep the app up-to-date.

Disadvantages of Native App Development

While native app development offers many advantages, it also comes with certain drawbacks that can impact your project timeline and budget.

Higher Costs

Developing one application is already a costly venture, but if you want your app to be available on both iOS and Android devices, then you have to build two separate apps from scratch. The costs are double as you will need two development teams working on each of the mobile apps.

Time-consuming Development, Testing, and Updates

A native app has to be created from scratch for the specific platform you’re building for. And if you are looking at creating two separate native apps, they have to mirror each other in terms of user experience, features, and performance, despite being coded separately by different teams. It’s a long and arduous process. The same goes for testing, maintenance, bug fixing, and adding updates.

Native Apps Examples

Native app development is best for complex applications that need device-specific hardware like GPS, camera, and so on. Some popular examples of native mobile apps include:

Google Maps
Spotify
Pinterest
WhatsApp

What Is Cross-Platform App Development?

Cross-platform app development refers to the process of building applications that can be deployed across multiple platforms using just one codebase. Where native applications work on one supported platform only (either Android or iOS), cross-platform applications are designed specifically to run on multiple systems.

These kinds of apps are created using cross-platform frameworks that use platform-specific Software Development Kits (SDKs) from a unified API. React Native and Flutter are two of the most commonly used frameworks for cross-platform development. The former uses JavaScript as its programming language, while the latter is based on Dart. .NET MAUI is another popular cross-platform development tool. Formerly Xamarin, this framework uses C# and XAML as its programming language.

Flutter is the most popular cross-platform framework out of the three, as it’s used by 46% of software developers (for React and Xamarin, that’s 38% and 11%, respectively). You can read more about how these popular cross-platform frameworks compare against each other in our Flutter vs Native article.

Pros and cons of cross-platform development.

Pros of Cross-Platform App Development

The following are some of the significant benefits and reasons why people choose to develop cross-platform mobile apps that can work on different operating systems.

Lower Costs

This is obviously the biggest benefit of building cross-platform apps. Your team only has to create one copy of the application instead of developing a stand-alone app for each operating system. You also won’t need to hire two separate teams for the project, but just one familiar with the cross-platform development framework. On average, you can save 30% of your budget if you go for cross-platform apps.

Time Savings

Cross-platform apps can run on multiple platforms using the same code, so your developers can deliver a ready cross-platform app much faster than native apps. They might need some extra time to adjust the elements, like app navigation. However, the time frame of the cross-platform app development process is still considerably shorter compared to native development, thanks to code reusability.

Greater Market Visibility

The time and cost of creating two separate native apps can be a pretty big hurdle to overcome if you want to publish your apps on both the Apple and Google app stores. This is why many startups simply stick to building for just one platform. With cross-platform development, you can build one app for both platforms and publish it on both marketplaces. This can increase your app’s visibility on the market and boost your revenue.

Cons of Cross-Platform Development

There are also a few limitations to cross-platform development, especially when compared to native app development.

Limited Functionality

The lower cost and much faster development speed of cross-platform apps come at a price, as the functionality of cross-platform apps is typically lower than that of native ones. Some of the native Android/iOS device features might be inaccessible to cross-platform apps.

Lower Performance

Since the cross-platform app code is made to fit different systems and devices, it takes more work to make it run as smoothly as a native app would. Cross-platform apps require more space and higher device specs to perform optimally.

Cross-platform Apps Examples

Cross-platform apps are ideal for simpler applications that have to be delivered quickly or built on a limited budget. Some popular examples of apps built with cross-platform development include:

Instagram
Skype
Google Ads
eBay Motors
Fox Sports
Alaska Airlines
BBC Good Food

What Is Hybrid App Development?

Hybrid app development is a process of building apps that combines the principles of native and web app development to create an application that can run on multiple mobile platforms based on a single codebase.

In hybrid app development, the core of the app is built with web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which is then wrapped within a native app shell instead of using platform-specific programming languages.

At its core, a hybrid app is like a web app. However, instead of running in the user’s browser, it is run from within a native app, which has its own embedded browser (WKWebView for iOS apps and WebView for Android). It is similar to a cross-platform mobile application in the sense that a single codebase is required to get an app that works on different platforms.

To build a hybrid app that works on both Android and iOS devices, developers use a native application wrapper such as Apache Cordova or Ionic’s Capacitor to add a native shell application to a regular web app. Only a single codebase is required to create an app that you can submit to each of the app marketplaces.

Advantages of Hybrid App Development

Hybrid app development combines the benefits of both native and web technologies to create versatile apps that can run across various platforms efficiently.

Easy to Deploy

Hybrid apps are generally easier to build and deploy compared to conventional native apps. They are mainly built with basic web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and developers only need to write one codebase to build for both Android and iOS devices simultaneously.

Cross-platform Compatibility

This is arguably the biggest benefit of developing a hybrid app. Similar to cross-platform mobile development, you get to achieve multiplatform compatibility without spending too much development time and money when you use a hybrid development framework. Hybrid apps are not platform-specific, allowing you to bring the same app to market without building separately for the Apple App Store and the Play Store.

Uniform User Experience

With hybrid app development, you get to use the same design components across multiple operating systems. This results in an app that looks and works pretty much the same way regardless of the platform you’re running it on, ensuring users get the same experience whether they’re using the Android or iOS version.

Easier to Maintain

A hybrid app is generally easier and cheaper to maintain. Unlike native apps, hybrid app developers don’t have to maintain multiple codebases. This makes it easier to update the app or fix any bugs that may arise.

Cons of Hybrid App Development

Hybrid app development, while versatile, also comes with some disadvantages that developers and businesses should be aware of before choosing this approach.

Slow Performance

Hybrid mobile apps are typically heavy, which can affect performance. This is because they require more lines of code to execute the same features as conventional native apps for a particular mobile platform. Also, they may also be unable to access some native device features, which may limit their performance and overall user experience.

Test Complexity

Hybrid apps are generally harder to test compared to native mobile app development. Developers have to test their performance across different devices to ensure everything is functioning well, which can be time and resource-intensive.

Hybrid Apps Examples

Instagram
Discord
X(formerly Twitter)
NerdWallet
Microsoft Teams

Features To Consider While Choosing A Development Technology

Each app development approach comes with a unique set of considerations that you must carefully consider in order to make the right decision. Some of the factors you should consider to ensure you’re choosing the development technology for your project include:

App Functionality and Complexity

If you’re building a simple app with no complex features, a hybrid of cross-platform app development will work just great. However, for complex apps that require access to some low-level operating system or device capabilities, such as Bluetooth or location, you might want to consider native development.

Target Audience

Native app development (especially when you can only build for one platform due to budget constraints) limits you to a particular audience of either Android or iOS users. If the goal is to build for a wider audience with no restriction, then a cross-platform mobile application might be more suitable for you.

Development Time and Budget

Native app development is time-consuming and resource-intensive. You need to hire two separate development teams working on two apps to deliver the same user experience across multiple platforms. Hybrid or cross-platform app development for Android and iOS platforms solves this problem and saves you development costs. You only need a single code base. In addition to saving on development costs upfront, a cross-platform mobile app is also easier and cheaper to maintain in the long term compared to native development.

User Experience

One of the benefits of native app development compared to cross-platform development is that it delivers applications with a smoother and more responsive user experience. The app can access device-specific UI/UX components, which makes them more robust and better performing. Native apps even offer better functionality for apps that need offline functionality or operate in areas with poor internet connectivity. While hybrid and cross-platform mobile apps are great, the experience is simply not as smooth as native development, especially for complex applications.

Does The Industry Matter When You Are Making A Choice?

Looking at the choice of technology through the prism of the industry you’re building for is an additional clue to help you make the right decision in mobile app development. That’s because some industries are simply more demanding in terms of the complexity of mobile applications and their expected capabilities. Below are our conclusions from projects implemented for clients from various industries.

iGaming

A betting development project and gambling apps require fast processing of data concerning match results, wagers, or odds coming from multiple sources. In addition, such applications are more demanding in terms of security, as users have to upload their IDs or other personal data to start using the app. In the case of iGaming development, native mobile app development might be a safer choice compared to hybrid or cross-platform development.

FinTech

This is another industry where security is of high priority, because FinTech apps collect and store confidential data such as payment information. Although cross-platform technology offers security solutions, they might not be as advanced as those applied in dedicated applications, and poor file encryption or security might result in data breaches. That’s why native technology may be a better option also in relation to FinTech apps.

E-commerce

Let’s say you want to create a simple application for your customers that would allow them to gather points and check the newest store offers. With a cross-platform app framework, you can build such an app much faster and for a fraction of the native app costs. You can also maintain the same UI/UX design for Android and iOS apps when you build with cross-platform development frameworks instead of native mobile development.

Healthcare

As in the cases of iGaming and FinTech apps, the security of the healthcare application is a priority since the app has to handle a lot of sensitive data. Cross-platform apps are somewhat limited when it comes to security in comparison to native ones. It means some advanced native features may be more difficult to code, and their implementation in a cross-platform solution might be overly time-consuming. So, if you want to add multi-level authorization or fingerprint login to secure the application, then a native mobile application development technology is a more practical choice.

Choosing Between Native, Cross-platform, and Hybrid Development

Overall, native development is generally a better choice if high security and performance are important to you or if you want to add support for new technologies shortly after they are released. Nevertheless, there are also cases where cross-platform development makes more sense.

If you aren’t sure which option to go for, you can consult development companies and seek their opinion or recommendations for your project. After analyzing the features of your app and other details of your project, they will help you decide between building with native or cross-platform technology. However, as a general recommendation, you can follow the tips below in selecting the most suitable technology for your project.

Native apps are the better option when:

You need exceptional functionality, security, and performance for your app.
The app should work offline or in areas with poor internet connectivity.
The app must use specific hardware/operating system capabilities.
Your audience mainly uses one platform.
You can spend more time and budget creating an app for a specific operating system.

Cross-platform apps are the better option when:

You want your app to support multiple operating systems.
The app needs to be simple, and you don’t plan to use complicated graphics, animations, or built-in device features.
You want to create an MVP of the app first to test the audience’s reaction to it.
The app needs to be completed quickly and on a limited budget.
You want your app to look the same across all platforms and devices.

Hybrid apps are the better option when:

You have a limited budget and cannot afford the development cost of building for different mobile operating systems.
When your team is more experienced with web technologies.
You need to launch your app quickly across multiple platforms.
Your app is simple and does not require any extensive native functionality.
You anticipate that your app might need frequent updates or iterations.

Summary

So, which software development method wins the native vs cross-platform battle? Well, that all depends on your perspective and the details or requirements of your project. Businesses looking to create apps that use the latest technology and deliver the smoothest experience for users may prefer native app development. However, they need to be prepared that those apps will cost more and take longer to be deployed.

Cross-platform and hybrid app development, on the other hand, are ideal for those brands who want to “test the waters” with an MVP of their app first or build an app on a budget. Of course, this might mean compromising on some aspects of the design, user experience, and performance of the app.

Whether you have already decided on which development approach is the better option for you or you need an expert opinion to help before you pick the right one, you can talk to us or get expert guidance. Let us know your needs, and we will help you work out the details of your project, including the right development technology that would be better, faster, and easier on your budget. Contact CrustLab today to get started on your project.

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