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The mobile app landscape is more competitive than ever before. With over 5 million apps across iOS and Android app stores, users have endless options for entertaining and useful apps. For businesses, standing out in the crowded app market is a major challenge.

When developing a mobile app, one of the first decisions is whether to build native or hybrid apps. Both approaches have their own pros and cons. Read on as we compare native vs hybrid mobile apps so you can determine the best fit for your business.

Native apps are built specifically for one mobile operating system, such as iOS or Android. They are coded in the native programming languages for each platform, such as Swift or Objective-C for iOS and Java or Kotlin for Android.

Native apps utilize device-specific Software Development Kits (SDKs) and APIs provided by the platform vendor. This allows them to take full advantage of all the latest features and capabilities available for that OS, like the camera, GPS, push notifications, etc.

For example, a native iOS app is designed only for iPhones and iPads. It is developed using Xcode and written in Swift or Objective-C. The app is distributed through the Apple App Store.

On the other hand, a native Android app is built for Android devices only. It is coded in Java or Kotlin, distributed via the Google Play store, and optimized for the Android platform.

Here are some key characteristics of native apps:

  • Developed for a specific platform – iOS or Android
  • Written in native programming languages – Swift/Obj-C for iOS and Java/Kotlin for Android
  • Distributed through app stores – Apple App Store and Google Play Store
  • Access all device capabilities and hardware components
  • Offer better performance and smooth animations
  • Provide intuitive native UI experience
  • Work offline once installed on device
  • Examples – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Uber, Airbnb

Advantages of Native Apps

  • Superior performance – Apps are fast and smooth as they are built for that specific platform.
  • Full access to device capabilities – Can leverage all native device features like camera, GPS, contact list etc.
  • Better UI/UX – Provides fully native look and feel with platform-specific UI elements.
  • Offline usage – Apps can work offline once installed on the device.
  • Distribution via app stores – Easy distribution through standard app stores.
  • Security – Apps are more secure as they follow the best practices of the platform.

Disadvantages of Native Apps

  • Higher cost – Requires developing apps separately for each platform which increases cost.
  • Longer development time – Developing native apps for different platforms takes more time.
  • No code reuse – Code cannot be reused across platforms.
  • Requires platform specific skills – Need developers skilled in native languages for each platform.

Examples of Native Apps
Some popular examples of native apps across iOS and Android include:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Uber
  • Instagram
  • Skype
  • Spotify
  • Pokemon Go
  • Snapchat

Hybrid apps are built using cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter, Ionic etc. They use web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript along with native container wrappers.

The code is written once and can be deployed across multiple platforms. Hybrid apps blend components of native and web apps. They are distributed via app stores but run the shared code inside an embedded browser i.e. WebView.

Here are some key traits of hybrid apps:

  • Built using web technologies – HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Leverage cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter, Ionic etc.
  • Single codebase works across platforms
  • Wrapped in a native container and distributed as a native app
  • Can access some device capabilities like camera, storage etc
  • Offer moderate to good performance
  • Examples – Instagram, Starbucks, UberEATS

Advantages of Hybrid Apps

  • Faster development – Single codebase works across platforms. Allows faster development.
  • Code reuse – Significant amount of code can be reused across platforms.
  • Cost effective – Requires less development effort compared to native apps.
  • Easier maintenance – Easier to maintain a single codebase.
  • Web skills sufficient – Can be built with web skills like HTML, CSS, JavaScript.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Apps

  • Performance limitations – Performance and UI is not as smooth as native apps.
  • Limited access to device capabilities – Cannot leverage all native device features.
  • User experience – UX is not completely native and seamless.
  • Distribution only via app stores – Cannot be accessed via web browsers.
  • Security risks – Increased vulnerabilities as code runs inside WebView.

Examples of Hybrid Apps

Some popular hybrid apps across mobile platforms include:

  • Instagram
  • Facebook Messenger
  • LinkedIn
  • Netflix
  • Starbucks
  • Gmail
  • Amazon Shopping
  • Shazam
  • Uber Eats

Let’s compare native and hybrid apps in more detail across various parameters:

Performance

Native apps offer the best performance as the code is optimized for the specific platform. Apps are very fast, smooth and responsive. Animation and scrolling is seamless. Hybrid apps are not as performant as they rely on WebViews and need to bridge between native and web components. Performance depends on the hybrid framework used.

Winner: Native

User Experience

Native apps provide the most intuitive and immersive user experience as they fully conform to the OS guidelines. Users feel right at home with native UIs. Hybrid apps cannot fully match the consistency of native UX as they still run inside WebViews with some limitations.

Winner: Native

Access to Device Capabilities

Native apps can fully leverage all the device hardware features like camera, GPS, sensors etc. Hybrid apps have limited access to native features and need to use plugins and bridging frameworks to access them. Certain device capabilities may not be exposed at all.

Winner: Native

Development Cost

Hybrid apps are more cost effective to develop as a single codebase works across platforms. There is significant code reuse. Native apps require developing apps separately for each platform which increases cost and effort.

Winner: Hybrid

Development Time

Hybrid apps are generally quicker to develop because of code reuse. Developing natively for two platforms takes more time. However, debugging and fixing issues may take more time for hybrid apps as the framework may be responsible.


Winner: Hybrid
Code Reuse

 

There is little to no code reuse in native app development as languages are platform specific. Hybrid apps allow maximum code reuse as a single codebase works across platforms. Some minor platform-specific code may be needed.


Winner: Hybrid

Distribution

 

Both native and hybrid apps need to be distributed through standard app stores like Apple App Store and Google Play Store. They cannot be accessed through web browsers. Native apps may have faster approval times as they well integrate with the OS.


Winner: Tie
Maintenance

 

Maintenance is easier for hybrid apps as a single codebase needs to be updated. For native apps, updates need to be released separately for each platform. Fixing bugs and adding features takes more effort.


Winner: Hybrid
Developer Skills

 

Native apps require proficiency in platform-specific languages – Swift/Obj-C for iOS and Java/Kotlin for Android. Hybrid apps can be built with web skills like HTML, CSS and JavaScript that many developers possess.


Winner: Hybrid
Security

 

Native apps follow the best security practices of the platform and are generally more secure. Hybrid apps face additional vulnerabilities as they render web code inside WebViews. Apps must be thoroughly tested for security risks.


Winner: Native
Offline Access

 

Native apps can work offline once installed on the device. Hybrid apps still need internet connectivity to function as they run inside WebViews. Some data can be cached for limited offline usage but complete offline access is difficult.


Winner: Native
Interoperability

 

Hybrid apps offer the most interoperability as the same code works on web, mobile, desktop etc. Native apps only work on their target mobile platform but can be accessed on tablets and other form factors of the same OS.

Winner: Hybrid

So in summary, native apps provide superior performance, UX, security and access to device capabilities. Hybrid apps offer faster development time, code reuse and easier maintenance. Choose the approach that aligns best with your app requirements, budget and target users.

Development costs is often a major factor in the decision between going native or hybrid. Here is a comparison:

Native App Development Cost

Native app development requires building apps separately for each platform – iOS and Android. Even if the feature set is the same, two independent codebases need to be maintained. This significantly increases the cost.

A simple native app with basic features costs around $25,000 to $50,000. Moderately complex apps cost between $100,000 to $250,000. High-end apps with rich features, animations etc. can cost above $500,000.

These are ballpark figures to give you an estimate. The exact cost depends on the effort involved in development and the hourly rates. Since native apps require more dedicated engineering effort, they are costlier.

Hybrid App Development Cost

Hybrid apps use cross-platform frameworks which allow sharing code across platforms. Depending on the framework, developers can reuse 60-90% of the code. This greatly reduces the cost compared to native app development.

A simple hybrid app with basic features costs around $15,000 to $35,000. Moderately complex apps come in around $70,000 to $150,000. High-end hybrid apps can cost upwards of $250,000.

The reduced cost of hybrid apps makes them attractive for startups and companies building their first version of the app. The price disadvantage compared to native apps diminishes for complex apps as more custom native code needs to be written.

Team Cost

In addition to development costs, the team size required also impacts the overall cost.

For native apps, you need dedicated iOS and Android developers which requires a bigger team size. For simple apps, 2 developers are sufficient but complex apps need 4+ developers.

Hybrid apps can be built with a small focused team of 1-3 developers as code reuse allows them to build for both platforms. This lowers team costs.

Time Cost

Development time significantly affects cost, especially if you hire dedicated developers. Native apps take longer to develop as iOS and Android apps are built separately. More time means more engineering cost.

Hybrid apps have shorter timelines owing to code reuse. A minimum viable product can be built faster, though complex features may take longer due to limitations. Faster development translates to lower costs.

Both native and hybrid approaches are well-suited for certain app categories and use cases. Here are some recommendations:

Native Apps Work Best For:

  • Apps needing maximum performance like games, video streaming etc.
  • Apps requiring extensive access to native device hardware – camera, GPS, augmented reality etc.
  • Apps handling sensitive data like banking, financial, healthcare etc.
  • Apps with complex designs, animations and transitions
  • Apps needing an ideal native experience on specific platforms

Hybrid Apps Work Best For:

  • Apps where web functionality is a major component like forums, news etc.
  • Rapid prototyping and building MVP version of an app
  • Apps where cross-platform support is critical from launch
  • Apps where speed to market and lower costs are imperative
  • Apps where most UI functionality is fairly standard and non-complex
  • Apps requiring high frequency updates and rapid iteration

So in summary:

  • If your app needs to push hardware capabilities to the limit, go native.
  • If your app is lightweight and needs to reach users quickly, go hybrid.
  • If you want the best possible user experience, go native.
  • If you have budget constraints, go hybrid.

Evaluate your priorities and pick the approach that best suits your app goals!

Beyond the native vs hybrid debate, web apps are another option for mobile app development. Let’s see how they compare.

Native Apps

  • Offer best performance
  • Access all device features
  • Intuitive native UX
  • Distributed via app stores
  • Can work offline
  • Expensive to build
  • Separate apps for platforms

Hybrid Apps

  • Cross-platform code reuse
  • Moderate performance
  • Limited device access
  • Distributed via app stores
  • Need internet connectivity
  • Cheaper and faster to develop
  • Easier maintenance

Web Apps

  • Based on HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Run inside mobile browsers
  • Cheapest and fastest option
  • Single codebase
  • Limited functionality
  • Need constant connectivity
  • Not on app stores

Native apps are best for performance, UX and device access. Hybrid apps balance capabilities and costs. Web apps work for simple lightweight apps on a budget. Choose based on your specific app needs and constraints.

When it comes to development frameworks, native app and hybrid app platforms take very different approaches.

Native App Frameworks
Native app frameworks provide language-specific SDKs, tools and services that facilitate building apps for a particular target platform:

Android:

Android SDK – Enables Android app development in Java/Kotlin with access to Android APIs.
Android Studio – Official Android development IDE with emulator, debugger etc.
iOS:

iOS SDK – Allows building iOS apps in Swift/Objective-C using Apple’s native APIs.
Xcode – Apple’s official IDE for iOS development.
In addition, third party native app frameworks like Xamarin allow cross-platform code reuse while still ultimately compiling to native code.

If you decide to go with hybrid app development, you need to pick the right cross-platform framework. Here are some top options:

React Native

  • Open source framework by Facebook
  • React-based declarative UI
  • Native components for OS integration
  • Large ecosystem of libraries
  • Hot reloading for faster development
  • Used by Skype, Tesla, Instagram

Flutter

  • Open source SDK by Google
  • Dart-based reactive programming
  • Expressive UI components and tooling
  • Near-native performance and speed
  • Popular for MVP and prototyping
  • Used by Alibaba, Google Ads, BMW

Ionic

  • Open source SDK for hybrid mobile apps
  • Angular-based web components
  • Extensive UI components and themes
  • Easy integration of Cordova plugins
  • Best for apps with heavy front-end code
  • Used by Sworkit, Untappd, MarketWatch

Xamarin

  • Open source .NET framework
  • C# codebase
  • Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation
  • 1st party IDEs and tools
  • Advanced profiling and debugging
  • Used by Olo, Storyo, Just Eat

Evaluate their characteristics and choose the one that best fits your app requirements and developer skills.

So which approach – native, hybrid or web – is better for your app project? Here is a cheat sheet to help decide:

Go Native If:

  • Top performance and UI is critical
  • App uses many device features
  • App handles sensitive data
  • App requires complex designs/animations
  • Target users mainly use one platform

Go Hybrid If:

  • Web functionality is core to the app
  • Cross-platform support is a priority
  • Budget constraints exist
  • Fast development and iteration is key
  • App UI/UX complexity is low to medium

Go Web If:

  • You have an existing website
  • Very simple features are needed
  • Tight budget constraints
  • Cross-device support is required
  • App requires constant internet

Evaluate these factors relative to your app goals, target users, time and budget. Mix and match native and hybrid approaches where appropriate. For many apps, a combination may work best.

Whether you choose native, hybrid or web app development, focus on quality. Here are 8 tips to develop successful mobile apps:

  • Ensure your app solves a real user need or problem.
  • Design simple intuitive interfaces focused on key tasks.
  • Make apps fast to load and easy to navigate.
  • Test rigorously on real devices to provide a smooth experience.
  • Fix bugs and crashes quickly and monitor app performance.
  • Make apps work offline wherever possible.
  • Follow platform specific design principles and guidelines.
  • Secure apps end-to-end and protect user data.

Choosing the right approach is important. But maintaining sharp focus on user needs, simple design, robust testing and continuous improvement is crucial for mobile app success.

The choice between native and hybrid mobile apps involves trade-offs between user experience, development cost and time-to-market. Fortunately, the two approaches are not mutually exclusive.

For most real world applications, a pragmatic combination of native and hybrid development works best:

  • Build performance-critical and complex UI components natively for optimal responsiveness.
  • Use hybrid approach for simpler data entry and visualization screens.
  • Expose reusable business logic as cross-platform services that integrate with native and web UI.
  • Use native shell for hosting web content wherever possible rather than rebuilding UIs.

Understanding the relative strengths and limitations of native vs hybrid approaches helps strike the right balance for your mobile app project.

TAV Tech Solutions is a leading software development company specialising in offering a complete range of software services and technology solutions across industry verticals. The company is a trusted provider of apps, serving enterprises of all shapes and sizes. Backed by a team of proficient designers and developers committed to delivering an intuitive mobile experience. TAV Tech Solutions focuses on creating user-centric designs with excellent functionality and scalability. They deliver both native and hybrid apps that are built specifically to help businesses connect with their prospects.

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