“Mobile applications are projected to generate revenue of $935.2 billion in 2024” After all those efforts and great market research, you are here with your mobile app idea but a dilemma. The dilemma of whether to invest in Hybrid apps vs native apps. Both sides of the app development are rich with their features, and […]
Updated 5 March 2024
Director at Appventurez
“Mobile applications are projected to generate revenue of $935.2 billion in 2024”
After all those efforts and great market research, you are here with your mobile app idea but a dilemma. The dilemma of whether to invest in Hybrid apps vs native apps. Both sides of the app development are rich with their features, and functionalities, and can fit well as per the requirements of the app idea.
The ongoing debate between Hybrid apps vs Native apps is already fierce and unending, however, choosing one over the other can be done based on their advantages, disadvantages, features, metrics, and so on.
So, before getting started with the native vs hybrid app comparison, let us very first begin with some stats that strengthen your decision to choose one over the other.
These are mobile app statistics that shadow the importance of mobile apps, their popularity, and why the world of mobile app development is thriving!
A business with great revenue on the side can simply opt for native and cross-platform solutions, however, a firm with fewer investment options finds the debate between Hybrid Apps vs Native apps a little confusing and a lot more challenging.
To clear doubts, and offer a clear vision of the choice between Hybrid Apps vs Native apps along with an in-depth difference between Native and hybrid apps, here is the article for making the right decision.
Let’s begin with Native apps, the advantages & disadvantages, and then move towards Native apps examples.
Meant for a specific platform among many like iOS, Android, and Windows, these apps can be installed directly on the smartphone and work with no internet connectivity in most cases depending on the nature of the application.
Native apps can simply be installed from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. They are written in languages that can be easily accepted by the platforms one at a time like Objective-C, Swift, Java, and Kotlin, and can work faster by harnessing the processor power along with accessing specific hardware like GPS.
Many times, apps installed in smartphones can also control devices while acting as a controller. Apart from that, these apps are also capable of incorporating gestures like app-defined gestures, standard operating system gestures, and so on.
All in all, native apps are dedicated to a particular platform and can deliver a great number of features to the user while controlling lots of digital activities nicely. The native app development approach carries its sets of advantages and disadvantages. To understand which way to pick for app development, let’s get started with the advantages of Native applications-
One of the very first advantages of native applications is reliability and security. Native apps use core languages during the programming phase for any of the platforms providing robust protection against security threats.
Native apps also provide a chance to evaluate risks along with offering security upgrades and proactive performance. Also, multi-factor authentication for native apps is easier, and adding security becomes easy.
Native apps can run smoothly when it comes to the user’s input and output. Also, these apps flawlessly mimic the OS interfaces and make themselves the integrated part of the device itself.
Moving on to interactiveness & intuitiveness then native apps are the same as they are made for a dedicated platform. Hence, for a particular platform, the native apps are made with the respective platform guidelines making the flow natural for the users.
Meant for a particular platform, native apps are powerful and provide fast performance and outstanding operational efficiency. Because of using core programming languages and APIs for the respective platform, these apps are proficient and can use the platform’s features immensely to the fullest.
Also, using the processing speed of the device, native apps offer robust performance while lowering the loading time too.
Because of the better mobile hardware integration adaptability, native apps use the device’s hardware features to the maximum like microphone, camera, GPS, contacts, and others.
Due to robustness, adaptability, and hardware integration, mobile applications are said to be the most acceptable choice for people investing in mobile app development solutions.
As native apps are made for a particular platform, they provide a way better and enhanced UI/UX experience to the users. Also, by maintaining the aspect ratio, native apps ensure to provide high-quality visuals.
Commanding over the size, orientation, and resolution, native apps offer enhanced user experience resulting in higher customer satisfaction.
Native apps can also work offline as per the nature and build of the application. Due to the no internet connectivity workable development, native apps appeal more to the app investors as they will be getting nonstop interaction from real users.
A native app can be used and get started when it is downloaded from the respective app stores. The process of getting started with the native application begins with the app store, looking for the application, accepting all the terms & conditions, and finally downloading the app.
The overall app download funnel takes time making users skip downloading the app if not required on a high priority.
In every step app downloading and usage funnel, about 20% of the users lost!
Mobile app developers are given less or no flexibility in developing the application for the dedicated platform. Also, for developing native applications, developers have to code for one platform at a time resulting in different coding processes for different platforms- iOS vs Android.
Thus, for developing native applications for different platforms, developers need to create different codes for respective platforms.
The cost to develop an Android app varies from the cost of developing an iOS app. Also, the programming used for developing native apps is quite tricky and a little difficult.
Thus, the hard work for developing native apps is laborious which makes it important to look at how long does it take to build an app. As the time for developing native apps is high, it results in more app investment too.
Also, app maintenance costs are high for native apps. The app maintenance might go somewhere between 15-20% of the overall app development cost. Also, a basic native app costs $25,000 whereas maintenance costs will be around $5,000.
The higher the app development cost, the higher the app maintenance cost too!
As native apps are made for a dedicated platform, the time taken to develop an application for a separate platform requires a set of codes, adding up to the time taken to develop the application.
On average, it takes around 18 weeks to develop a robust application, also the time might increase in the case of an app with complex features and functionalities.
For native applications, any bug, or new update whenever done or launched, developers on the other side first have to submit updates to the app stores. Also, on the user side, users are required to update their apps to the new versions.
The situation becomes a little challenging when a user doesn’t notice the mobile app update notifications, or if they don’t have enough storage space in their devices- in both situations, they might abandon the application due to unfixed glitches or issues.
Done with the basic understanding of Native applications, it is now the time to look at the next competitive app development form- Hybrid applications!
Let’s understand hybrid applications along with keeping an eye on Hybrid app examples too.
Hybrid applications are a combination of Native apps and web apps that can work on multiple platforms. The working of the hybrid application is somewhat similar to the web application but it installs like a native application. This type of application consists of two components- a backend code written in CSS, HTML, or javascript, however, the code is loaded through web view. These types of applications are developed using third-party frameworks.
Hybrid applications are considered the most selected choice by app investors as they require only one app to develop for working on multiple platforms. In addition, an internet connection is required for the working of hybrid applications which is not the case with native applications.
With it, let us begin with hybrid app advantages.
The first advantage of a hybrid application is that it offers a flawless user experience across multiple platforms like iOS, and Android. Such a kind of application is made to work by embracing web-like features.
Other than that, a lightweight hybrid application UI makes the time for loading content and graphics quick and less time-consuming. Also, the hybrid application can easily adapt to different device screens for seamless data streaming and faster data display.
As compared to native applications, hybrid mobile apps are easier and faster to develop. Other than that, for developing hybrid applications, a mobile app development company can leverage existing web development pools with developers knowing Javascript and HTML.
After the completion of codes for multiple platforms, the app can smoothly run on both operating systems offering a great user experience.
When it comes to the main advantage of hybrid app development, is its easier maintenance part. Unlike native application that requires new versions to roll with each update that goes the user updating the application, a hybrid app bypasses such requirements and simply keeps the app maintenance simple that too in real-time.
Due to the reduced development cost, hybrid apps carry their side of additional advantage. As hybrid applications can work on multiple platforms eliminating the need for numerous codebases, it gives developers the flexibility to accelerate the development process while reducing the time to market which is not the case with native applications.
When it comes to native apps, making harmony with one app with other apps is challenging, resulting in a lack of inter-app interactions. Moving on to hybrid applications, there is no such issue. Hybrid mobile apps can easily integrate with other applications giving users a flawless and smooth experience while using the app.
Because of offline support, hybrid applications are frequently used by users. These apps can provide offline support even in case of poor or low connectivity. Apart from that, hybrid applications do not come up with performance issues during the online and offline phases.
Because of the hybrid mobile app’s architecture, they depend upon plugins for accessing the built-in features of the devices. And because the plugins can be out of date or unreliable, they pose a disadvantage to the side of hybrid applications.
App developers are also required to create plugins in case of no available ready-made solutions for accessing some part of the device functionality.
As the same codes are used for two separate platforms- iOS, and Android, the user experience to the fullest lacks somewhere in the middle. Because of this, the next disadvantage of the hybrid app goes to poor user experience.
Also, if you are focusing majorly on Android applications, the iOS side of the user experience will be bad, and vice versa.
The next take for understanding the disadvantage of Hybrid applications is performance issues. As these applications load in a browser-like component called web view, they are considered best only when displaying the UI and running JS codes.
Carrying limitations, hybrid applications are still used by a major number of big names in the market.
Those names include-
With everything made ready about the plus and minus of both sides of app development- Hybrid apps vs Native apps, it is now the time to look at the core part of the blog- Native vs Hybrid comparison.
One of the deciding factors for the Hybrid apps vs native apps comparison is app development cost. Among both the app development approaches, both the types of development costs vary.
As no one wants to lose customers from any of the platforms opting for native app development for gripping over the customers might cost more as compared to hybrid apps that require one investment for multiple platforms. The efforts with native app development will be more resulting in more cost.
Moving on to the concrete cost- there is no fixed app development price as the development of the app depends upon the number of features, functionality, complexity, nature of the app, etc.
However, if given a rough idea, the cost to develop native apps ranges from $18,000 to $21,000 whereas the cost to build a hybrid app costs $22,000. The cost to develop a native application for both platforms separately will cost nearly $30,0oo to $32,000.
Moving from app development cost, the next factor that comes with native vs hybrid apps comparison is the app user interface. Users want their apps to work smoothly and without glitches, as they are not concerned about the backend processes. Thus, ensuring a high-end user experience is the most important thing for successful app development.
An enhanced user experience might be lacking with a hybrid application as the approach needs to be taken from both platforms while offering a robust and smooth app experience. Sticking to the app development guidelines, the app store optimization strategies, and other parameters will also play a major role here.
You cannot get biased with any of the platforms when investing in hybrid app development as both sides of the users might lack a great experience which is not the case with native apps. Native apps are made for a dedicated platform, so getting things done smoothly here can happen.
Thus, apart from bridging the gap between platforms, it is important to come up with an app with a great user interface and experience.
A secured app is way better than a rich app with numerous features. Finance-based apps, banking apps, medical apps, and others require high-end security, and losing a grip on the security might make one lose customers. Thus, security in the apps is the best hooking point to encourage users to use the app.
When it comes to making a native vs hybrid comparison based on security, the former is considered more secure because of built-in security features. Hybrid apps on the other hand depend upon webviews that are prone to vulnerabilities because of poorly written codes. Hybrid apps are vulnerable if they are related to Javascript, or HTML. Some of the most common attacks related to the respective apps are weak SSL, implementation, and caching problems.
However, this does not justify that native apps are not vulnerable.
The difference between native and hybrid apps also depends upon app maintenance. As mentioned above, hybrid apps are better when it comes to bug fixing, and updating the app from both sides- users and developers. Developers need to work on one platform and users are not required to download the updated version of the app manually.
The process is a little lengthy, and a little challenging when it comes to native app development.
The app functionality is the other point when doing native vs hybrid app comparisons for investing. Functionality can be speed, updates, features, and others. Native apps have better functionality because of accessibility to the device’s features like location, databases, cameras, and others which are limited to hybrid applications.
Also, hybrid apps are a little slower than native apps as they mimic the app’s behavior while working on a website browser.
Thus, when it comes to investing in app development, make sure you are sure of the app’s functionality too!
The choice of the app plays a vital role just like publishing it to the respective platforms. Native apps are faster and have a higher chance of getting accepted by the Play Store, however, this does not mean that hybrid apps are not accepted easily.
Also as compared to Android app store guidelines, iOS app store guidelines are strict and take a longer time to get approved.
Thus, the time taken for app approval varies as per the app platform.
Considering all the factors for native vs Hybrid app comparison, what to choose next for app development is now the task.
If you would like to invest in native app development, you will be getting unlimited areas for app development. The user experience will be smooth and outstanding here, however, the time taken for the app development along with the hard work will also double, as you will be developing apps for separate platforms.
Hybrid app development comes under the budget which is not a pain for the development process. Also, by investing once, you will be getting an app that will work on multiple platforms, however, the UX might suffer here.
The difference between Native and Hybrid apps with examples has been explained above along with showcasing how both the set of app development approaches carry their set of plus and minus, also the choice among them depends upon the nature and requirements of the application. However, if you still have more clarity between Hybrid apps vs Native apps, connect with our app experts today!
Elevate your journey and empower your choices with our insightful guidance.
Director at Appventurez
Director and one of the Co-founders at Appventurez, Chandrapal Singh has 10+ years of experience in iOS app development. He captains client coordination and product delivery management. He also prepares preemptive requisites and guides the team for any possible issues on a given project.
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