Mobile App

Native vs Cross-Platform Application

Any business owner who decides they need a mobile app will have to make an important choice. Are you going for native or cross-platform app development? The decision will be based on how the market is divided and which applications are already present in this market. Android and iOS are trying to gain market shares in various markets, such as the US and Europe.

In early 2017, the mobile device market looked like this:

Sales of Android devices have decreased in England, France, and the US Despite the total number of Android devices has decreased in the US, sales of Google’s Pixel phone have increased to 1.3% of total sales in the US
The Asian markets are still divided into Android and iOS, with local brands of Android phones currently dominating the market.

Besides the differences in the market around the world, there are also demographic differences between platform users. This sounds very complicated. Many business owners feel the same way and decide to opt for a cross-platform solution as a compromise. There is no clear winner in the trade-off between native and cross-platform apps. It often really depends on what you want to do with it. So there are cases where you can achieve (multiple) benefits with a particular platform.

Table of Content

Advantages of native app development

Native apps work better with the built-in functions of a device and deliver a better UX experience on a particular device
Native apps get help from the app store. App stores ensure that apps with insufficient security receive less attention
Native apps can be updated more easily and faster and take advantage of new functions
Certain functions such as multi-touch events and geo-locations are easier to implement with native technologies

Advantages of cross-platform apps

In many cases, cross-platform apps have an advantage over native apps. Cross-platform apps are especially interesting when launching an MVP of the product. Cross-platform makes it possible to approach more potential users.

If you want to save costs, cross-platform apps can help you with this. This allows you to reach different devices and receive real feedback from a specific target group in the market.

Cross-platform apps are a good choice when getting started to develop a prototype. By making a prototype it is possible to receive feedback and see if the app is actually a good idea.

An app that works on different devices

What do you do when market research shows that 50% of your users use Android or iOS? Cross-platform apps may then be the answer.

An app that uses simple interactions

Platforms that connect people are ideal for cross-platform development. Think of: social networks, booking functions, or e-commerce apps.

Not enough money for native development

If you already have a front-end team and decide that you want to develop a mobile application, this is very easy. It is easier to write a cross-platform native app in JavaScript with React Native. For a developer, writing a React Native application is comparable to developing a standard React application. A team that already knows what they are doing in React should get a quick start in developing a mobile app.

The idea that React Native does not work well with applications that use animation, audio, and video functionality is being put to the test by large companies. Facebook is working on the promotion of React Native, for example by building their own apps with it.

A large number of apps have been developed using React Native. Think of different industries and apps such as audio, delivery apps, chat, and e-commerce. A great many of these apps have won over the public with apps that work great. In some cases, it is possible, a good app that is not native.

Which popular apps have been developed with React Native?

SoundCloudPulse

SoundCloudPulse is an app for people who make music. This app can be used when you make music or podcasts. You can easily manage music and podcasts and you have access to an active community on this platform.

The SoundCloudPulse developer team said they had a good experience with React Native. At first, however, they had reservations. React Native was just a year old and this would involve some risks. In retrospect, the project went well. Especially the possibility that everything can be done in-house and that the latest version of the app functioned well including animations.

Walmart app

Through React Native, the Walmart app team has been able to improve their application for both platforms. By using cross-platform, they have been able to develop a codebase that is 95% identical to each other. This has saved the developers a lot of time.

Discord

Discord is another example of an app that is based on React Native and has managed to achieve a smooth performance. With the app, it is very easy to switch between teams and thus the history of conversations. Discord uses chat and voice calling. Voice calls are just as fast and efficient as chat interaction with this app.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats is an on-demand food delivery platform. The developers of Uber recently shared their ideas on using React Native with the Uber Eats application. Their experience has been very positive.

Why is React Native beneficial to Uber? With the existing technology of their applications Uber, it was possible to reuse many functionalities and technology. Their biggest problem for Uber Eats was developing a dashboard for the restaurants. First, the dashboard was written for the web, but this creates several problems for users. For example, it is not possible to use sound notifications on the web. The Uber team then decided to use React Native so that they can still use these functions. Even though only part of the React Native Framework has been used, the developers of Uber Eats are very enthusiastic and very optimistic about what the future may bring.

Cross-platform app have evolved into something we didn’t see coming. It is possible to use animation and touch functions and still be able to make the apps feel like native apps.

Although cross-platform app have to beware of native apps, some cross-platform app are very interesting for companies of all sizes. Apps developed with React Native can provide benefits for B2B or a creative start-up. We certainly recommend that you also consider React Native when building an app.