Native vs Hybrid App Development- All Inclusive Guide

Today we are all living in a digital epoch and science and technology have successfully conquered almost all domains of our lives. We now have excessive dependence upon digital assets and the Internet with mobile apps is something that we just can’t do without! 

However it is not only individuals, but businesses of all sizes have also ventured into the virtual realm as that is the new norm now, albeit the eclectic digital landscape is a cut-throat battle wherein businesses find it extremely hard to make a mark for themselves as there are myriads of competitors out there. Apps thus play a very crucial role and help businesses augment their operations, but having that said, we must also realize that there are innumerable apps on the App Store and Play Store; with an app for almost everything that we could think of. 

Your business app thus needs to have the special X factor in order to stand apart from the crowd.

Herein it is pertinent to mention that as per a recent estimate, the worldwide annual number of app downloads in 2023 would amount to around 299 billion, and mobile apps are expected to generate a humongous 935 billion US dollars as revenue in form of in-app advertising and via paid downloads. 

Apps are thus an indispensable part of a business and they act like a puissant sceptre, helping mushroom a business in today’s virtual world. However making a stupendous app is not a cakewalk per se, and there are quite a lot of factors that you need to take into consideration prior to commencing your app development operations.

You need to zero in on the ideal technology, the desired app development framework and also the approach that you would like to take up with native or the hybrid app technology stack being your two major choices. 

It is however a little baffling to decide the appropriate development framework for your app, but we’ll give you a lucid insight into hybrid app vs native app development, and would help you decide the right framework for your business app.

So do give this detailed blog a read, and well don’t forget to thank us later! 

What is a Native App?

Native apps are specifically crafted for a particular operating system that is either iOS or Android. It leverages platform-specific programming language and in case the app has to be made available on both the operating systems, then developers need to work on two separate codes. 

Native app development is essentially the process to develop software or apps that are compatible with specific devices and mobile app platforms such as iOS and Android. Developers use native application development to build apps that can fit only one distinct OS. Kotlin or Java are used for developing native apps for the Android platform and Swift or Objective-C are used in the case of iOS mobile app development. 

A native mobile app is most ideal when you wish to render a seamless and frictionless user experience in terms of the visual appeal, functioning and overall feel of the app. Native application development enables developers to smoothly add more features and capabilities to the app as native application development has the capability to smoothly make use of the primary smartphone hardware components such as the GPS, camera, proximity sensors and microphone etc. 

Advantages of Native Apps –

1. Smooth Offline Functionality

One of the major advantages of native app development is that the app operates seamlessly even without internet connectivity. This smooth offline functionality in Native apps is particularly useful for app users who stay in remote areas with low internet connectivity or have limited data availability. 

2. Lightning Speed

Native mobile apps do not have complex code like that of hybrid app frameworks and these apps hence work at a lightning speed. Native apps are thus the most desirable choice for start-ups as it offers a high speed and is also quite easy on the pocket. 

3. Augmented Security

Native application development provides an enhanced security as it primarily relies on different technologies and browsers such as JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS and it thus ensures complete data protection at the user’s end. 

4. Intuitive and Interactive 

Native apps are undoubtedly a lot more intuitive and Interactive as compared to hybrid apps. Native apps are crafted for a particular OS and the app assiduously complies with all the OS guidelines to render an enhanced user experience that is in exact congruence with the operating system. These apps are completely responsive and offer a sublime performance that is par excellence. 

5. Curtails the Scope of Unsolicited Bugs

Juggling between two different codebases is indeed quite a daunting task as compared to a single codebase in native application development. Native apps only have one codebase and do not rely upon cross-platform tools that completely curtail the scope of unsolicited bugs occurrences. 

When Should You Consider Native Application Development?

Native application development would be the ideal choice for you in the following scenarios –

• If your target audience would be using the app for the first time and you wish to impress them with a stupendous and mesmerizing user experience. 

• If coding particularly for one distinct platform.

• If you have a business that deals in animations and 3D games. 

• If you want to develop an Intuitive, albeit an equally easy to learn app. 

• If you want to add device specific features such as the camera, GPS and so on. 

• Some Popular Native Apps :

– Spotify

– Artsy

– Google Maps

– Pinterest 

• What are Hybrid Apps? 

Hybrid app development is a blend of native and web solutions wherein developers are required to scrupulously embed the code that is written in CSS, JavaScript and HTML languages, into a native app, albeit with the assistance of plugins that include Apache Cordova and Ionic’s Capacitor etc. as this enables developers to acquire the access to all native functionalities. 

Hybrid apps are compatible with different operating systems and thus no different codes are required for various OS. These applications are quite easy to create and launch and are also cost-effective at the same time. Furthermore the code that is created for one platform may be reused for making a new code for a different platform altogether.

Hybrid apps render a robust performance and also the hybrid app UI design is somewhat close to native apps, however when we talk about UX and the navigation patterns, then the hybrid app framework is sadly nowhere at par with native apps. 

Advantages of Hybrid Apps –

1. Swift to Market 

A hybrid app framework guarantees an expeditious development and the app launch in the market is thus quite swift and happens at an early stage. 

2. Easy-Breezy Maintenance

The hybrid app technologies are purely web based, and it is hence much easier to maintain hybrid apps in comparison to native apps that contain labyrinth and detailed coding. 

3. Budget-Friendly and Easy To Develop

The hybrid application development lifecycle is a unified development per se, and this is a major sigh of relief especially for start-ups as hybrid apps costs are quite reasonable and would sure not burn a hole in one’s pocket. Also, you won’t have to invest separately to create different versions of the app for varied platforms. The hybrid application development frameworks allow developers to develop a single version that can be then utilised for different platforms. 

Also Read: Hybrid vs Native vs PWA: How to Choose the Right One?

4. Refined UI/ UX 

Hybrid apps magically integrate and cash in on the advantages of both native and web apps while furnishing a magnificent and refined hybrid app UI on both iOS and Android platforms. The hybrid app UI framework is also quite lightweight and this permits seamless downloading of graphics and content at a super-fast speed. Developers can make use of the hybrid app framework to furnish stellar iOS and Android app development services. 

When Should You Consider Hybrid Application Development?

Hybrid application development would be the ideal choice for you in the following scenarios –

• If you want to operate your app on multiple platforms, but don’t have enough time to create cross-platform solutions. 

• If you want to distribute a web app all over the app stores. 

• If you plan to target a wider range of audience that uses the app on both web and mobile devices. 

• If you want to avail the native features of the device such as the camera, GPS and so on. 

• Some Popular Hybrid Apps :

– Gmail

– Instagram

– Evernote

– JustWatch

– Airbus Helicopters

– NHS 

Now let us succinctly give you an overview of the most ideal platform to create your own business app. Herein we’ll meticulously contemplate the perks of building a hybrid mobile app vs native mobile app and also vice versa and would help you decide the best platform for creating your own business app. 

1. Your Business Age

Be it any industry that you are working in, you would fall into one of the two scenarios wherein you either have an old and an experienced business, running since ages, albeit your app is a new one or else both your business and app have just ventured into the market. 

If you have just stepped into the market and are a newbie then you must go with a hybrid platform app and you may eventually switch to a native platform.  

2. Consider Your Budget 

We all have to pay high expenses for building digital assets but as a business entity, you must have a certain budget that you would like to specifically allocate for this purpose. This also includes the cost of building a mobile app, and just in case you are tight on budget, then go for a hybrid app development framework as a hybrid app costs a lot less as compared to its counterpart that is the native applications. However, if you have a greater budget for app development then native platform apps are your best bet. The budget of a business thus plays a cardinal role in choosing the desired technology framework between hybrid apps vs native apps. 

3. Complexity Involved 

You must primarily brainstorm and figure out the purpose of your business app as that plays the most significant role in deciding the right technology stack. If you simply want to highlight and display the information on-screen then a hybrid app technology would be the most suitable choice. However, in case the application requires detailed and heavy processing then native application development is what you should go for.

4. Future Goals of Growth and Expansion

Initially a hybrid app framework is a good idea as it is not time-consuming and also the development of a hybrid app costs quite less as it is really economical. However, if your business has future goals of growth and expansion, then it is always preferable to switch to native application development. Your business would also have an increased budget by then and a native app would be successfully able to cater to all your complex needs. 

The Final Verdict –

Businesses need to mandatorily have an app in today’s highly competitive world but the battle between hybrid mobile app vs native mobile app is an endless one.

You must primarily understand that your mobile app should be such that it punctiliously caters to all your distinct work requirements, and it should help your business grow. Organizations thus need to carefully contemplate and zero in on a mobile application development approach that meticulously suits their distinct business nature, their work requirements and it should also aptly address and fulfill all their customer expectations. 

This can indeed be quite an onerous task but the truth is that the right app development platform depends on your specific business needs. Businesses need to carefully figure out their particular requirements and only once clear with that, should they decide the ideal development platform for their mobile app.

It is important to know that both native and hybrid apps have their own pros and cons but you need to obtain a bird’s eye view of the bigger picture and figure out the distinct objectives that you wish to attain from your business app. This would help you select the ideal development framework for your app and you should go for the platform that serves the unique work criteria of your business. 

However in case you still need help with this, then Zazz is here to your rescue! We are an application development company and our developers furnish the most magnificent iOS and Android application development services. We hold years of expertise in building incredibly robust native and hybrid apps. We use the most avant-garde and cutting edge native, hybrid app development tools to create the finest apps that scintillate magic across all mobile ecosystems. Also, we have a proficient and adroit team of experts who would help you choose the right framework for your business app development. 

Contact us today for a free consultation and our experts would help you decide the right app development framework for your business app. 

Also Read:

• Top App Developers in New York
• App Developers in Dallas
• Top Mobile App Developer in San Jose
• Mobile Application Developers Chicago
• App Development Companies in Houston

zazz-io

Zazz has since been committed to facilitating services that go beyond excellence. We create apps to meet the needs of an evolving digital landscape. We are a leading mobile app development company . We design & develop web & mobile apps that drive today's businesses. Backed by research and development, Zazz uses technology, software, mobile, and customer service to create new revenue-generating opportunities. So contact Zazz to see your dream idea as the next big thing. We Offer Top Services iOS App Development , Android Application Development Services, React development , Flutter development , IoT Development , AR / VR development , Digital Marketing Services - SEO , SMO , PPC , Ecommerce App Development, cloud app development, front end development, education app development services, Mean Stack Web Development, Content Marketing, etc.