Native App Development vs Hybrid App Development
What is Native App Development?
The term discusses to those apps that are made for only one platform. A native app is formed with tools and programming languages specific to the platform. It can be either an Android native app made with Kotlin or an iOS app on Swift and Objective-C.
Native apps take much time to build, but they are user-friendly and produce a high-performance user experience. The only problem of native app development is the high cost, so startups often choose other options.
What is Hybrid App Development?
Hybrid app development proposes building a single code bar for two platforms. Thanks to specific tools, it is possible to generate communication between the platform and the web view, making hybrid apps feel like a native one.
JavaScript, CSS, and HTML web technologies are used for development.. After building the code, using cross-platform frameworks it is wrapped within a native app. Even though hybrid apps are established with web technologies, they feel like native apps and provide the same user experience.
Main Differences:
The major difference between native and hybrid apps is the process of development. Hybrid apps are established across the platforms, while the development of a native app is predetermined; it is carried out for a particular operating system. The difference can also be seen in the performance of apps. Unfortunately, a hybrid app cannot perform like the one based on one platform. Ultimately, the choice depends on the aims and priorities of the business plan.
A native app is software established for a particular operating system. For example:
- Swift and Objective-C are utilized for the Apple devices
- Kotlin and Java are used for a project that works on Android OS
- Basic, C#, and XAML is working by Windows Phone.
App Names | Pros | Cons |
Native apps | Native apps are fast, flat and smooth since they are developed for one platform. These apps have the top performance. In terms of user input and output, the apps run much easier. Offline mode is accessible for most of the apps. The whole user experience is great as the UI is specific for the platforms. | The price of native mobile app development is high. App development time is slow. You will need expert development agencies meanwhile the programming languages are complicated. This is not a best choice for simple apps. |
Hybrid apps | A hybrid mobile app is established in less time. The price of development is lower for Hybrid apps. A Hybrid application is used to run on multiple platforms. The app development for various platforms needs to be done only once. The device’s APIs can be retrieved. The maintenance for these apps is easy. | Hybrid app development is a much slower method as compared to native app development. Hybrid apps cannot use the complete functionality of mobile devices. The web apps fail to be interactive and intuitive which is why native apps are better than hybrid in providing better user experience. Hybrid apps lies on a third-party wrapper. |
What is the Difference between Native App and Hybrid?
The native vs hybrid app comparison is completed for different criteria. Some differences between mobile native vs hybrid are quite clear as they can be observed easily. However, there are also some main native and hybrid app differences that take place during the app development process.
- The first difference is the one that we have been talking about since the start of this blog, i.e. the platforms. The native apps are made for one platform whereas the hybrid apps can be run on multiple platforms.
- This provides the second difference between hybrid app and native app. The programming language used in both apps is different meanwhile there is a difference in supporting the platform. Hybrid apps are established using CSS, HTML and JavaScript whereas Native apps are established using Java for Android and Swift for iOS.
- Developer is the third difference between native app and hybrid app. When going for native app development platform then there is a requirement for an expert app developer. Meanwhile the app is focused on one platform; the importance of UI/UX design in the app is very high. Customers tend to leave the app if they are not happy with the UI of the app. On the other hand, hybrid apps are easy to develop and take less time. They do not need an expert for the development process.
- In the native vs hybrid mobile app development, the fourth difference is performance that is a main difference. Native apps are charming and provide better user experience than hybrid apps.
- The fifth difference is the user experience, which is the vital to an app’s success. As you know, native apps are organizes for a particular operating system. Thus when an organization develop a new app, the user experience for that OS turns out to be of critical importance. But when it comes to launching a hybrid application, then there is no requirement to maintain two different code bases. That makes hybrid apps easy to create, less time taking for the market, and need only one code base.
- One of the differences is the cost of App Development Native vs hybrid app development cost differs. The hybrid app development cost are low to moderate, and native app development costs are moderate to high. All these differences help a business decide whether they can use the benefits of a native app or a hybrid app. However, we cannot overlook the fact that both the app development choices have seen some successful apps.
- Some of the popular Native apps are Twitter, PayPal, LinkedIn, Google Maps, Telegram, PokemonGo, etc. Examples of Hybrid apps Instagram, Yelp, Baskin Robbin, Basecamp etc.
What’s the Best Choice?
An average of 21% of people will quit an app after one use. That’s almost 1 in 4 users! Now think of how terrible the abandonment rate will be if you don’t create an engaging and responsive app to give people a reason to stick around. Usually, this means going with a Native app because you’ll be able to develop something that’s responsive, fast and secure. It will also permit you for a lot more integrations with phone elements (such as GPS, cameras, and microphones).
Whichever you choose, always go with whichever option will best work for the end user. Don’t attempt to cut corners on pricing or sacrifice usability. It doesn’t matter if the idea behind the app is good if people don’t love using it. You should always keep the end users’ requirements and preferences top-of-mind. Balance that with the end-goal of the app and you’ll be well on your way to building successful piece of tech for your company.