Cross-platform mobile app development has brought a revolution in the app development industry since its inception. And also the popularity graph is touching its limit.
But how does cross-platform become that popular?
Business owners always prefer to save money or choose a method that takes less investment.
Cross-platform supported this idea and allow them to build an app for multiple platforms from a single code base.
Before the idea of cross-platform businesses have to perform comprehensive market research and come up with a solution to choose the best operating system either android or iOS.
Read Our Complete Blog Here: How Much Does Android App Development Cost
And if the business wants to target both operating systems then they have to invest tons of money and effort.
But since the cross-platform frameworks are being introduced businesses have to no longer think about the huge investment.
Just an investment of one operating system they can build a mobile app for multiple operating systems through the code-sharing feature.
This is just one of the benefit of the many benefits.
Let’s find out the benefits of cross-platform development that can help your organization perform well and grow more quickly.
But before we discuss benefits, let’s chew over when really is cross-platform app development.
What Is Cross-Platform App Development?
In simple words, cross-platform app development is a method or technique to develop software applications from a single code base for multiple operating systems.
That means if a cross-platform app developer develops an app using a cross-platform framework, then the app will be compatible with multiple platforms.
Not just this approach helps in saving cost but you get a feature-rich mobile app for multiple platforms.
Read More: cross-platform mobile development
5 Things That Make Cross-Platform Apps Better Than Native Apps
- Unlike native apps where you’ve to code the app multiple times. In cross-platform app development, you can build a single mobile application that runs smoothly on several operating systems.
- Cross-platform development offers a code shareability feature.
- You can build a cutting-edge mobile app for the two most popular mobile operating systems, Android, and iOS.
- You can develop a mobile app for multiple mobile operating systems at the price of one with the help of a cross-platform app approach.
- Cross-platform techniques can help you to create a mobile app for multiple platforms in a limited time and effort.
| Native App | Cross-platform App | |
| Code Sharability |
You can’t share the code from one platform to another.
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You can share the code among different platforms.
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| Supported Platform |
One mobile app supporting one platform can be developed at one time.
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The cross-platform mobile app supports multiple operating systems.
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| Cost |
Developers have to write code two times for two separate operating systems. Therefore, development can be really expensive.
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Due to the code shareability features. Developers have to write code just a single time – ultimately saving cost.
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| Time and Effort |
Developing a native mobile app for multiple platforms doubles the time and effort. As you’ve to write code multiple times.
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The code shareability features allow you to share the code from one platform to another reducing the time and effort.
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| Development Team |
You need to hire two separate teams to make native mobile apps for Android and iOS.
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You just need to hire a cross-platform development team to build an app for Android and iOS.
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Read Our Complete Blog Here: 11 Factors That Skyrocket Cost Of Mobile App Development
Why is a Cross-Platform Approach So Popular?
Cross-Platform Approach is gaining immense popularity in recent times.
Here’re the 5 things that make the Cross-Platform development approach overwhelmingly popular and widely used.
- Business wants to save money. Thus the cross-platform approach is the easiest way to build a feature-rich mobile app for multiple platforms at affordable rates.
- Cross-platform app development allows you to reach a wide target audience. With this approach, you can make an app for two of the most popular operating systems, Android and iOS.
- With the help of a cross-platform approach, you can develop an app for multiple operating systems in a limited time.
- To create a native app for Android and iOS you’ve to hire two teams; Android and iOS app development teams. However, you can develop the same app for both platforms by hiring only one cross-platform app development team.
- It’s easy to maintain and update a cross-platform application.
10 Benefits of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
1. Faster Updates & Flexibility
The greatest benefit of using a cross-platform mobile app is gathering and assembling the code is easier than ever.
Cross-platform allows developers to send the code from one operating system to another.
This way developers don’t have to code the entire application again and that also speeds up the development process.
When detecting and fixing bugs developers don’t have to make the changes separately.
The reusable code base feature allows developers to make changes in one fell swoop.
2. Cut Down The Development Bill
Thanks to cross-platform mobile app development they made it possible to build apps for several operating systems from a single code base.
Gone is the time when app owners used to spend thousands and millions to get their apps developed. They are no longer required to spend money separately developing apps for each platform.
3. Just One Development Team is Enough
Unlike native apps, you don’t need two development teams for every platform.
Since cross-platform support a single code base and share the same API a standard team can develop an app for both operating systems.
Thus fewer development team members ensure fewer app development bills.
Undebatably the best option if you’re on a shoestring budget.
4. Extensive Audience Reach
“Getting your app published on two Play stores is better than one”
Let’s explain this phrase in simple words.
When you build a native app you either target Android or iOS users. But when you build an app through cross-platform you can target both these target audiences.
Both Android and iOS cover more than 90% of the mobile user market. Hence, when you make your app accessible to both these platforms you can generate revenue in two ways.
5. Easier Implementation
There’re numerous cross-platform frameworks such as Flutter, react native, and Xamarin.
These frameworks do not just automate and streamline the app development process but also ensure the app looks super native while being a hybrid.
For instance, using a tool like Appcelerator makes it simple to write HTML5 programs and adapt them for use on various platforms.
Using resources you already have and adapting them for other platforms is another way to put it.
6. Easy Product Maintenance
Imagine you develop native apps for both Android and iOS. And after a few times, you discover bugs and errors which isn’t surprising at all as it’s very common.
When you develop an app it needs regular maintenance to ensure seamless application performance. When you build two separate apps it doubles the post-mobile app bill.
On the other side, cross-platform apps are built on a single code base making it very easy and time effective not only to test but to deploy fixes and upgrades.
7. Accelerated go-to-market
Due to the code shareability feature cross-platform development approach not just cuts down the effort and time required to develop an app by half but also if the app is created in the first go it can be deployed faster.
Furthermore, if you want to build an app for multiple mobile operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows, It can consume more than 6 months at least.
However, going with a cross-platform approach, you can develop the same app for different platforms.
Therefore, developers can publish the applications on multiple app stores simultaneously.
8. Support any Platform
If you wish that you could be able to build an app for multiple platforms on a budget of one.
We’ve got good news for you in this regard.
Now you can’t just develop a dream app at the cost of one but also the time to make an app supporting multiple platforms will be of one app.
Going with the native development approach, you can only build an app supporting one platform at a time.
This may be a better option if you want a platform-friendly app that leverages the full scope of the app.
But it’ll be really expensive – especially if you’ve got a limited budget to spend.
With the right set of cross-platform tools in hand, they can have one team developing applications for all platforms.
9. Standardized Appearance
We all are well informed of the fact that building a native mobile app for multiple platforms is a laborious and cumbersome task.
Because developers have to repeat the development cycle multiple times.
This is just one side of the problem.
The second issue is the biggest than the first one.
While making Android and iOS apps separately you’ve to ensure that the user has the same feel of the application irrespective of the platform.
In most cases, going native will not solve the issue as these platforms have different functionality.
To solve this issue, and to make sure the user has the same feel and look irrespective of the device; a cross-platform approach can be a better choice.
10. Prototyping
Cross-platform ensures that the app prototype version is developed at a rapid pace.
Due to the characteristics like efficiency and flexibility, developers will take less time and effort to create the prototype version.
3 reasons why cross-platform development can contribute to a successful prototyping process.
Rapid Development: A prototype can be created in less time due to the fast development approach.
Easy Iterations: Cross-platform development allows for faster iterations since changes can be applied universally.
Wider Testing: With a single codebase, you can test the prototype on various devices and operating systems, ensuring a wide range of user experiences and catching potential issues early.
3 Disadvantages Of Cross-Platform Mobile Development
Noting is 100% positive.
Just like everything else custom app development approach also has some dark side which you must be aware of before you make up your mind.
For some people, these 3 disadvantages may not be that much important and for some, these can be damaging.
Here’re the 3 downsides of Cross-Platform Mobile Development
1. Performance and Speed
There’s no second thought about the excellent performance of cross-platform apps.
But when we compare them with native apps, native apps are way ahead in performance.
Even if you ask a dedicated cross-platform app developer about the performance of both these platforms.
He’ll always say “ the native apps” as they are exclusively built to harness the potential of that specific platform.
One more reason that cross platforms apps are slower is that some parts of the app might be built using different technologies (native and non-native).
To make them work together, an additional layer of abstraction is needed.
This layer helps translate and manage communication between the different components, which can introduce some overhead.
2. Missing Features
Another downside of using a cross-platform approach is that it can’t support all the features of the device.
We all know that cross-platform is not a platform-oriented approach.
Thus many features like notifications, cameras, GPS, and many more can’t be used.
3. Integration Issues
One of these challenges revolves around the intricate realm of integration.
The very versatility that defines the cross-platform approach can pose complexities when harmonizing your app with local settings, notifications, and personalized preferences.
Navigating this landscape requires a deft touch, as seamless integration is the bedrock upon which user experience is sculpted.
An ingenious solution might involve the utilization of third-party cloud services, extending a helping hand across the integration divide.
However, one must tread cautiously, for while this avenue offers potential respite, it also casts shadows over the realm of security.
Why Develop A Cross-Platform Mobile App?
A cross-platform mobile app is better than a native mobile app in many aspects.
And in many cases, you’ll see that native apps are better than cross-platform.
Here things become overwhelmingly baffling for business owners to choose the platform.
A wrong decision can take you into hot water.
So it’s recommended that you first examine both approaches and choose the one that is more beneficial for you than another.
To make things less complex for you we’ve mentioned 4 situations where you should prefer developing a cross-platform.
1. Looking To build a mobile app for multiple platforms on a Reasonable Budget
If you’re on a shoestring budget or you’ve got a limited budget that will only be enough for one platform either Android or iOS.
And you wish that you could be able to build for both platforms, but
Your dream can never be fulfilled if you opt for native app development,
Because when you choose for native mobile app, you’ll hire two development teams.
Android app development team for building Android app and iOS team for iOS app.
Therefore, you’ve to pay both the team which will be out of budget.
However, cross-platform allows you to build mobile apps for both platforms on the budget of one.
You neither need Android developers nor iOS developers.
All you need is a team of professional cross-platform developers, and you’ll have a mobile app for both operating systems.
2. Limited Time To Build a Mobile App
If you’re in a hurry, cross-platform development approach can be a great choice.
Especially if you need mobile apps supporting multiple platforms.
In the case of native mobile apps, first, you’ve to hire two app development teams; android and ios.
This process itself consumes a substantial amount of time.
Afterward, you’ve to design and develop both apps.
Which can take up to 1 year to complete.
Testing both apps also Demands significant time investment.
But you know, if you choose a cross-platform approach, not just you’ve to hire one development team but also perform all the stages only one time.
Simply put, the cross-platform approach cut down app development time by half.
3. Want to build an MVP
The cross-platform approach is the ideal choice if you want to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or prototype of your mobile application.
Mainly businesses create MVPs to examine and inspect the success of the product.
In short, if you’re not sure that your final product will be accepted by the users not.
You create an MVP version of your app to test on your target audience.
If you prefer to go native you’ve to create MVP for both versions which can be a really expensive and time-consuming process.
And in case, you didn’t get the response you expected, all your investment will go down the drain.
However, by using a cross-platform approach you can create an MVP of the product for iOS and Android users and continue developing the application according to their feedback.
4. Reach Out To More Customers
The cross-platform approach enables you to develop a native alike mobile app for both operating systems, Android and iOS with a single codebase.
Surely, you can do it with a native approach too, but it’ll be really expensive.
As you’ve to write code for both platforms separately.
Moreover, the time it’ll take is almost double what the cross-platform approach takes.
In simple words, with a cross-platform approach not just you can save money but increase the chance of doubling the revenue by targeting two platforms.
Top 5 Cross-Platform App Development Technologies
Here’re the top 5 most popular and widely used cross-Platform app development technologies.
- Flutter
- React Native
- Ionic
- Xamarin
- NativeScript
Quick Overview – Pros And Cons Of Cross-Platform App Development
FAQs
Should Mobile Apps Be Cross-Platform Or Native?
It totally depends on factors like your business nature, target audience, time, budget, and many more. If you’ve got a limited budget or insufficient time, then you should consider a cross-platform approach. Contrasingly, if you have a huge budget and enough time, then a native development approach is the best option.
Is Native App Development Often More Costly Than Cross-Platform Or Hybrid App Development?
Yes, native app development is really expensive and it usually costs more than cross-platform development. Because in native app development, you don’t have the option to share code. This means you’ve to code for every platform separately. In cross-platform you’ve got the feature of code sharing which enables developers to share the code. This way 90% of the work reduces.
What Languages Do You Prefer When Developing A Cross-Platform App?
The best languages to use when developing a cross-platform are JavaScript, Dart, C#, and HTML.
Why Native Apps Are Better Than Cross-Platform?
Cross-platform apps aren’t always better than native apps. In a few conditions or cases, native apps have an upper hand on cross-platform apps. For example, if you want a mobile app to be platform-oriented then a native app development approach can be better. Moreover, if you want to have full access to device capabilities, the native approach is the ideal option.
Why Cross-Platform is So Rare?
This perception isn’t wrong. Cross-platform app development isn’t rare. However, people who avoid cross-platform approaches and prefer native app development often look for complete access to device capabilities. Some of the other reasons for avoiding the cross-platform approach are lower performance, flexibility, and compatibility than native apps.
