Before we dive into the discussion of Native app vs Hybrid app, let’s take a look at the current mobile market scenario. According to a latest survey, about 88% of smartphone users prefer Android OS and 11% prefer iOS. However, if you go by your market segment, it can happen that your customers are more on iOS. Some may find Android as their targeted OS. Therefore, until and unless you are certain about it, it’s better to go for both. Hence, what to build? A Native app or a Hybrid one?
To find out who’s winning the Native app vs Hybrid app war, let’s first discuss both the architectures thoroughly. We will start with Native app vs hybrid app.
Native App Vs Hybrid App
Native app is the one that is coded in exclusive programming language for each separate platforms. The most popular among them is Java for Android devices and Objective-C or Swift for Apple devices. Undoubtedly, native app is way ahead with outstanding user experience and prominent performance.
Related: Objective C Vs Swift: What Should A Startup Choose?
1) Native apps mostly have fast graphics with fluid animations built in. It’s also very convenient to use with a native look and feel.
2) Native app can access OS specific APIs such as camera, push notifications, and in-app purchases, which would otherwise be prohibited.
3) If you’re developing a native app for iPhone, you will get many resources, development tools, and reading material to help you out.
4) It is a bit less painful to develop a native app as it focuses only on one platform at a time as it gets support from respective platform.
1) It is a time consuming process to build a native app if you want separate apps for different platforms. Here is a time estimate for your understanding:-
2) Native app typically requires different codes for smartphone and tablets which makes it more difficult sometimes.
3) It costs pretty high to develop number of native apps for different platforms and maintain them separately.
4) If you need to release the app in another app store then you might need to complete re-write the codes.
Hybrid App
1) The content of a hybrid app is easily portable and requires a native harness to run in another platform. Hence, it’s quick to develop and easy to maintain.
2) By using CSS, it makes the app design flexible and accommodates all kinds of device sizes. On the other hand HTML and JavaScript run seamlessly on every platform regardless of the OS. This flexibility helps you to reduce development cost.
3) Some software frameworks like Ionic or React provides flexibility act a web page like a native app. Hence, it can be distributed on the app stores.
Read more: Xamarin or Ionic, which one to choose?
4) Hybrid app has options to package locally or through servers that enables to access it online as well as offline.
1) If the App Store recognizes that your app is not truly native, there is a chance it may deny listing from the App Store.
2) When a new Apple iOS version is released, hybrid app developers would have to depend on a third party before they design hybrid apps on the new OS.
3) Since hybrid app development is still new in the development space, there is not much support available for troubleshooting uncommon issues.
4) Lack of the genuine UI assets of Android or iOS sometimes result in slower performance and can brink security threats as well. Here are some examples:
If you are clear about the requirements of your app and follow this flowchart with consideration of the merits and demerits of both the architectures, we hope this will help you to decide your match.
However, regardless of the architecture you choose, we are there to help you. At Valuecoders, we provide agile software teams for all kinds of Mobile App Development Services in India. Few of the benefits to partner with us are:
To find out who’s winning the Native app vs Hybrid app war, let’s first discuss both the architectures thoroughly. We will start with Native app vs hybrid app.
Native App Vs Hybrid App
Native app is the one that is coded in exclusive programming language for each separate platforms. The most popular among them is Java for Android devices and Objective-C or Swift for Apple devices. Undoubtedly, native app is way ahead with outstanding user experience and prominent performance.
Related: Objective C Vs Swift: What Should A Startup Choose?
Merits of Native App
2) Native app can access OS specific APIs such as camera, push notifications, and in-app purchases, which would otherwise be prohibited.
3) If you’re developing a native app for iPhone, you will get many resources, development tools, and reading material to help you out.
4) It is a bit less painful to develop a native app as it focuses only on one platform at a time as it gets support from respective platform.
Demerits of Native App vs Hybrid App
1) It is a time consuming process to build a native app if you want separate apps for different platforms. Here is a time estimate for your understanding:-
2) Native app typically requires different codes for smartphone and tablets which makes it more difficult sometimes.
3) It costs pretty high to develop number of native apps for different platforms and maintain them separately.
4) If you need to release the app in another app store then you might need to complete re-write the codes.
Hybrid App
Hybrid app combines elements of both native app and Web apps. It takes most of the good features from native and adds cross browser flexibility from web apps. As a result, you get an app that functions more like a native app with no platform boundaries.
Merits of Hybrid App
1) The content of a hybrid app is easily portable and requires a native harness to run in another platform. Hence, it’s quick to develop and easy to maintain.
2) By using CSS, it makes the app design flexible and accommodates all kinds of device sizes. On the other hand HTML and JavaScript run seamlessly on every platform regardless of the OS. This flexibility helps you to reduce development cost.
3) Some software frameworks like Ionic or React provides flexibility act a web page like a native app. Hence, it can be distributed on the app stores.
Read more: Xamarin or Ionic, which one to choose?
4) Hybrid app has options to package locally or through servers that enables to access it online as well as offline.
Demerits of Hybrid App
1) If the App Store recognizes that your app is not truly native, there is a chance it may deny listing from the App Store.
2) When a new Apple iOS version is released, hybrid app developers would have to depend on a third party before they design hybrid apps on the new OS.
3) Since hybrid app development is still new in the development space, there is not much support available for troubleshooting uncommon issues.
4) Lack of the genuine UI assets of Android or iOS sometimes result in slower performance and can brink security threats as well. Here are some examples:
How to decide on Native app vs Hybrid app:
Now as you have understood clearly about the pros and cons of both the architectures, this flow chart will help you to end up with right decision:
If you are clear about the requirements of your app and follow this flowchart with consideration of the merits and demerits of both the architectures, we hope this will help you to decide your match.
However, regardless of the architecture you choose, we are there to help you. At Valuecoders, we provide agile software teams for all kinds of Mobile App Development Services in India. Few of the benefits to partner with us are:
- Flexible Hiring Models
- On-time delivery and NDAs
- Zero billing guarantee
- Guaranteed SLAs
