While developing mobile applications for various clients, we learned that choosing between NATIVE and HYBRID mobile applications can be a big dilemma. Native or hybrid mobile apps – each has its advantages and disadvantages. Which one to choose and why? Often there is no exact answer to this. It depends on the developer’s requirements, schedule, budget, and expertise. In this blog, we’ll explain the difference between hybrid and native mobile apps, the pros and cons, and how they can help your business and your business needs. Let’s start.
The development of custom application development has reached new heights. Developers are preparing not only for smartphones and tablets but also for various wearable and smart devices. Cross-platform development has also become the need of the hour, enabling companies to create more optimized products. Then you have to decide between hybrid apps or native apps. Likewise, nowadays, the nature of software development services is changing around the globe, especially the software development services UK region. So, let’s start without further delay.
Native Applications
Native apps are mobile apps designed specifically for a specific mobile operating system. For example, for iOS, we usually use Swift; for Android, we use Java. Because native apps are platform-specific, they can take advantage of operating system features. It can also make use of hardware and software designed for particular devices. Moreover, It can take advantage of the latest technologies available in mobile devices, such as GPS, cameras, one-touch payments, and digital printing.
Advantages Of Native Apps
Let’s examine how businesses and their users can benefit from native applications.
1. Performance
Because native apps are specially designed for a specific operating system, they are faster and better than their counterparts. Performance makes Native Apps the preferred choice for high-performance games and apps.
2. User Experience
Users choose Android or iOS according to their characteristics. If someone has been using Android for a long time, they will have no problem accessing apps that meet the platform-specific UI standards. Also available for iOS users.
3. The Audience
Users can more easily search for native apps in the App Store, as apps with a better user experience are recommended more often. Therefore, it is easy for companies to reach their potential audience quickly.
4. Availability of Applications
Built-in applications can easily use any device functionality, such as a camera, microphone, calendar, GPS, graphics printing sensors, motion sensors, and more. Therefore, the availability of the app is very high.
5. Safety
Because native apps must be approved by the app store they’re developed for, businesses can be confident that their apps are completely secure. These apps also get full support from their respective app stores and marketplaces. Also, programmatically native apps can be more secure than hybrid apps.
Disadvantages Of Native Apps
It is very important to know the disadvantages of something. So let’s check it out.
1. Long Development Time
Because native apps are designed for specific operating systems, they take more time to develop for each platform. So developers have to write specific code for iOS, Android, etc. Therefore, the overall development time will be longer to ensure a quality product.
2. Expensive
Due to the long development cycle, native apps are less expensive than hybrid or web apps. Even maintenance and upgrades are cheap. But in the long run, native apps pay off.
3. Support
Since users of different devices can use different application versions, it is difficult for developers to maintain and provide support.
Hybrid Applications
Now let’s talk about another type of mobile app: hybrid apps. Hybrid apps are basically a combination of native apps and web apps. It is an application where the same application can be deployed on different operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows and even run on different browsers (Chrome, Mozilla, IE, Safari, etc.).As a result, it adheres to the “write once, deploy anywhere” perspective. Hybrid apps are cross-platform and can be instantly distributed to app stores without multiple versions. Most hybrid apps are built using cross-compatible web technologies (HTML5, CSS3, jQuery Mobile, Titanium, PhoneGap, JavaScript, etc.).
Advantages Of Hybrid Apps
Let’s consider hybrid mobile apps’ business and user benefits.
1. Costs
One of the biggest advantages of hybrid apps is the lower development costs. The development cycle is shorter because you’re not planning to create multiple versions for different app stores.
2. Easily Scalable
Hybrid applications are easily adaptable to different platforms and operating systems. This is because web technologies are almost 100% the same across all platforms. Therefore, code can be easily reused without rebuilding the entire application.
3. Faster Time To Market
The initial launch time for hybrid applications is shorter due to shorter development cycles and time saved by coding once. Programs are tested for quality in the same way as standard software or websites. Initial testing can be done from a web browser. App store distribution and platform testing are fast.
Disadvantages Of Hybrid Apps
Like the pros, hybrid apps also have drawbacks. Let’s highlight these.
1. User Experience.
This is a big problem with hybrid apps. Hybrid apps will never be able to provide users with a fully native experience. Built-in applications use easy-to-use system interface components that create meaningful solutions and help maintain the overall workflow. This is only possible with hybrid apps with compromising performance. A better user experience leads to greater customer engagement and the future of the application.
2. Native Functions
You can’t fit all the functionality you need into a hybrid app. Both Android and iOS have some features specific to their operating systems. You can never integrate them into a hybrid mobile app. This is a little frustrating for users.
3. Errors
Another problem with hybrid apps is how they load content. Loading times are sometimes slow. This is in contrast to the smoother native apps. But there are many solutions to fix the error. Apogaeis ensures that the applications we develop are error-free.
4. Design
Design issues are still a factor, as different operating systems work differently. Therefore, designers need to adjust styles according to different operating systems. New challenges may arise during the repair process. In the case of hybrid applications, graphic and visual representation possibilities are limited.
Bottomline
Mobile development is transforming, and companies are now moving towards hybrid apps. With fast development cycles, lower costs, and predictable results, companies want to build hybrid mobility solutions. It’s good in a way, but it also has its limitations. Eventhough, Hybrid apps now allow developers to have the best of both worlds. We know that hybrid applications have performance limitations, but today’s developers are increasingly coming up with solutions to overcome these issues.
Author Bio
Vishnu Narayan is a content writer works at ThinkPalm Technologies. He is a passionate writer, a tech enthusiast, and an avid reader who tries to tour the globe with a heart that longs to see more sunsets than Netflix!
