When it comes to mobile application development, businesses are provided with several approaches that focus on varying aspects of user experience and app building. Hence it becomes crucial to keep an open mind and consider the benefits of both, native and cross-platform development.
Cross-platform or hybrid app development uses a native foundation that allows interaction with all types of hardware such as PCs, Laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. The hybrid apps are predominantly made with web languages such as HTML. They can also offer additional services by tapping into the client-side APIs, such as being able to take Apple Pay payments on the web browser.
Advantages of Hybrid Applications
Cross-Platform Development
With their cross-platform development, hybrid applications are built on multiple platforms, and in this way they allow users to access the software on all their devices.
Offline Access
Some hybrid applications enable offline access by storing the data locally. Such as maps, user manuals, video tutorials.
Instant Access
As opposed to native applications, hybrid applications can be easily accessed through a link. You can also conveniently share this link on various social media platforms and email campaigns. By immediately making users interact with your application, it gets easier to promote your business.
One Size Fits All
Atimi hybrid apps development company helps developers significantly cut development time as most of the features of the applications can be built on existing languages such as HTML. This makes it easier for developers to test on multiple platforms. An iOS application when built with a hybrid application takes only a couple of weeks as opposed to other approaches which take three months.
Easy Maintenance
Hybrid applications are fairly easy to maintain thanks to HTML and other languages. It does not limit or restrict functionality by releasing a new operating system that could change the infrastructure of your application.
Automatic Updates
Hybrid applications conveniently lets you skip the whole process of submitting your application to the App Store and Play Store and then waiting for approval. Instead, your developers can instantly make amendments to your hybrid applications and it will appear right after. And then any time the application user logs onto the application, they will be able to access the latest version with enhanced security.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Applications
User Management
The Hybrid app owners could struggle to collect the data on performance metrics and usage of the app unless they ask the users to create an account and log in. This data is crucial for businesses as it helps them take necessary measures to improve the performance of the app.
On the other hand, asking users to log in every time can increase bounce rate and limit engagement among users.
Browser Needed
Users will need to open the web browser in order to access the application. This adds more steps and a bookmark or a URL. But if you choose to go with the native mobile app development approach, then the software will always appear on the home screen.
Limited Functionality
Hybrid applications certainly offer a more flexible approach as the web browsers constantly gain new performance improvements and functionality. But the developers will not be able to access some specific options such as augmented reality.
Native App vs Hybrid App Comparison
As mentioned above, there are several application development approaches, and businesses need to keep an open mind while deciding what would be the best options to meet their needs. Among the several approaches, it always boils down to Native and Hybrid app development approaches. It may entirely depend on the individual requirements of businesses but there must still be several areas where one proves to be better than the other.
Native Applications
Native Applications are designed for a particular operating system-Android or iOS and they run on smartphones. They are preferred by business owners who are looking for the fastest and most reliable user experience. These native applications are built using SDKs of operating systems and they also interact with all the features of the device such as device storage, GPS, camera, microphone, etc. If you are interested in making your native app run on multiple platforms, you may require a bigger budget.
Hybrid Applications
Hybrid applications conveniently combine the features of both native and web apps and hence brings out the best of both worlds. These applications are written in HTML5 and Javascript just like web applications. These applications are built using cross-platform frameworks such as Xamarin. React, Sencha and Ionic. They offer faster and more convenient development than native applications and also require less maintenance. However, they may not perform as fast as native applications.
