Native vs. Hybrid Apps: Which Platform is Apt for Your Startups

It’s more complicated than it may appear to develop an application for your startup. Before creating one, you must go through several planning stages. The correct application type is only one of the dilemmas to be solved before app creation.

Each platform company is distinct. Different corporate houses have different operating procedures. The requirements are diverse, as are the objectives to be accomplished. As a result, the kind of application needed would similarly vary. You must understand your startup’s goals before choosing an app type. 

The following variables heavily influence the kind of application to be developed:

• Intended audience
• Finance 
• Business needs

Once you complete the necessary market research, you can choose the application type. Currently, the world is divided into native and hybrid apps. Multiple questions arise when it comes to choosing which is most appropriate.. So today, we will guide you to find the answer based on the detailed comparison between hybrid and native apps. 

Let’s delve more into the differences and some crucial information regarding both kinds of apps;

An overlook on Native Apps

Native apps are exclusively developed for a particular mobile operating system be it iOS app development or Android app development. The programming languages and tools required to build a native app are designed for a single mobile platform. Native apps have the ability to use device-specific hardware and software due to the fact that they are created for a particular device or platform. 

They often give enhanced performance and have the latest technology compared to web apps meant for universal compatibility. One more thing about native mobile apps is their ability to function faster and more efficiently with higher accuracy and greater flexibility. Native iOS apps often use objective-C or Swift, whereas native android apps are often made with Java. 

Characteristics of Native Apps

• Native applications are highly reliable.
• Native apps have a simple interface and faster performance and deliver a better user experience as compared to hybrid apps.
• Both online and offline usage is supported in native apps. 

Advantages

• Since native apps are centered around their particular OS or platform, they can offer a broader range of functionalities since they can leverage the entire potential of the primary mobile devices functionality.
• Native apps offer quick and responsive software performances.
• Native apps come with features such as push notifications as they are downloaded and installed on devices.
• As they are OS centered so a  native app can provide a better matching user interface(UI) as compared to hybrid apps.
• The quality of native apps supported by user ratings as they are downloaded software.

Disadvantages

• While being a single OS application has its advantages, there are also major disadvantages, such as needing a different code every time for different platforms as each device would need its app version. The coding will become different for android and iOS.
• Building a native app involves more developers specializing in particular fields to handle the code bases for the various platforms. This, in turn, leads to increased development costs and maintenance costs.
• Native apps also require a lot of development time to fabricate codes for various platforms.

Native App Development Frameworks

PhoneGap- As a top native Android application development framework available today, PhoneGap is regarded as the go-to option. Since there is no use of the command line, this enables programmers to develop inventive applications. This framework is worth attempting in so many aspects, and it has a thriving community and an extensive library.

Corona SDK- Smartphone games and applications are created using the framework Corona SDK. The shorter development time and a broad selection of plugins are the features for which this framework is most famous. With this framework, programmers may quickly create apps by calling an API.

Xamarin- The Xamarin framework enables developers to create native iOS, Windows, and Android applications using a single C# codebase. Newbies should use the framework since it offers real-time assistance and immediate OS upgrade release.

An overlook on Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps, as the name suggests, are a mixture or blend of both web solutions and native apps. They are engaged in a native container that contains both native app elements and uses a mobile web view. In simple words, we can describe hybrid apps as websites that behave and function like a mobile app but are not installed on any device, the only way to access them is through a browser on the device.

Hybrid apps do not come with offline accessibility as they are not downloaded on any device. They are generally referred with the transmission of data, voice, or video through wireless-enabled devices without necessarily needing a tangible link. CSS, javascript, and HTML are the usual technologies used in these apps. 

Characteristics of Hybrid Apps

• Hybrid apps can use operating system features and integrate with a device’s file system.
• They also have the feature to integrate with web-based services.
• Embedded browsers are also an essential feature of hybrid applications; they help to enhance access to various dynamic online content.
• The development speed of hybrid apps is faster compared to native apps. Also, hybrid app development and maintenance require much lower costs than native apps, thus saving both time and money.
• Hybrid apps are easy to manage, and they are comprehensible.
• A significant feature of hybrid apps is their cross-platform accessibility due to their web-app nature.
• Also, managing hybrid apps is more accessible as it requires a single code throughout all the given platforms.

Advantages

• Hybrid apps have a constant user interface(UI) that allows them to function constantly across almost all devices. Also, they can operate across both Android and iOS since they have a single code across platforms.
• The development and maintenance of hybrid apps are much faster than native apps, as a single code base is required for all OS or platforms. This makes updating and making changes to the app a lot easier.
• As hybrid apps have a single code base, they are far more cost-efficient as fewer developers are required to build, develop and maintain the app than the native app.   

Disadvantages

• Since hybrid apps have similarities to web apps, they require an internet connection at all times to work to their full potential.
• Hybrid mobile apps rely heavily on plugins to access the inbuilt features of a device owing to their architecture.
• As hybrid apps have to consider having a proper user interface(UI) for both android and iOS users, they are not able to provide a user interface as great as native apps as they have to compromise for both android and iOS. If a hybrid app thinks too profoundly about android or iOS, then the other platform will end up having a horrible user interface and an even worse user experience.

Hybrid App Development Frameworks

Ionic- Ionic is one leading hybrid application development frameworks. This combines top-notch UI elements and a top-notch library that is ideal for developing a PWA. Ionic needs iOS 7 and Android 4.1 as bare minimums.

React Native- React Native, initially published in 2015, is the technology for creating hybrid mobile applications. This framework allows for the most effective code reuse, which increases costs. It has rapidly grown in popularity to become the top choice for many developers, making it simple to construct unique apps thanks to its prominent features.

Flutter- As programmers from all corners of the globe have welcomed its robust library and tools, Flutter has grown significantly in popularity. It has a built-in 2D rendering engine called Skia that makes it possible to build apps with outstanding graphics and excellent productivity levels.

Native Apps or Hybrid Apps: How a startup should decide

Nearly all businesses face the issue of choosing one application over the other. Still, in particular, when a startup wants to use either of these applications, they need to consider the following factors. 

1. Code Adoption

While a native app is meant to work for only one OS, that is, Android or iOS, a hybrid app can work on all platforms. So, in the case of native apps, a single code cannot be used across all platforms, while in hybrid apps, a single code will function across all platforms. This also means that the development time for native apps is significantly higher than for hybrid apps.

2. Development Cost

When we talk of startups, a significant factor that must be kept in mind is the company’s budget. As the native apps require different codes for different platforms, it requires more developers, more time, and thus more development and maintenance costs. On the other hand, hybrid apps use one code across all platforms, thus requiring less time, fewer developers, and thus far lower costs than native apps. 

3. Performance and Usability

Native apps are known to provide better and more robust performance. These apps exceed hybrid apps in the user interface as they are centered around a single platform. Hybrid apps also require an uninterrupted internet supply and load in a web-like view; although they are good, they are yet to reach native app-level usability and performance. When prioritizing a fast and seamless experience, native apps are preferable. 

4. Security and Quality

The security and quality of any application should be thoroughly checked before using them. The security depends more specifically on the code of the app. That being said, native apps are usually more secure than hybrid apps as they are built for specific platforms and thus have enhanced security for that platform.

Similarly, hybrid apps work across platforms and depend on web views, which means they become prone to online malware injections.

End notes,

Ultimately deciding which app to use depends on many factors, including security, cost, time, app requirements, etc. For a startup, only a few essential things are to be considered to kickstart an app for your use, and you should be good to go. We understand that, as a startup owner, making a decision can be overwhelming. This is why we are here. With Netsmartz 23+ years of experience and pool of skilled developers, we are always ready to help you. Feel free to book a free consultation if you have any questions or app ideas!

FAQs

1. What distinguishes hybrid applications from React Native applications?

Unlike hybrid applications, React Native applications are not constrained to web-based UI components. In general, hybrid apps are applications with a native shell.

2. What advantages does React Native have for startups?

React Native apps have several advantages for startups, including quicker creation of apps and less expensive development of Native-like apps

3. Why do React Native apps outperform hybrid apps?

Hybrid apps cannot provide the same level of functionality and reliability as React native applications.