Native Vs. Hybrid App: Ultimate Solution For Optimal Development

September 06, 2022Posted By: Pratik Parikh

App PerformanceDevelopment CostPlatform Coverage

Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where smartphones are central to our daily lives, the choice between native and hybrid app development is increasingly critical for businesses and developers. This decision impacts the effectiveness, reach, and user experience of mobile applications. Native app development involves creating platform-specific applications, offering optimized performance and a seamless user experience. In contrast, hybrid app development focuses on building a single application that operates across multiple platforms, providing cost and time efficiency.

This blog delves into the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, aiming to clarify this complex choice and assist developers and decision-makers in selecting the most suitable technology for their mobile app projects based on their unique requirements and constraints.

Native Apps

In native mobile app development, developers write code tailored to specific platforms, such as Android or iOS. This involves using platform-specific programming languages, like Objective-C or Swift for iOS and Java for Android. The result of this approach is a seamless and intuitive user experience, where native apps exhibit a look and feel that’s harmoniously aligned with the device’s operating system and other native applications. This congruence enhances user comfort and familiarity with the app.

A key advantage of native app development is its direct access to the device’s hardware features. Native applications can effortlessly integrate with and leverage the full potential of the device’s built-in functionalities, such as GPS, the address book, the camera, and more. This deep integration allows for more robust and feature-rich applications, providing a richer user experience.

Pros

Native apps are rich in user experience, animations, and smoothness.
App UI will be more user-friendly with the native components and design styles.
It has better performance than the hybrid app.
It is more secure compared to a hybrid app.
If there is any problem while developing, it will be easy to get a solution online. There is a large number of communities for the native platforms.

Cons

Need different teams for each platform of the native app.
Native app development is more time-consuming if the app needs to be developed in both Android and iOS.
The cost of the app will increase depending on the platform.

When To Choose A Native App

A professional app meeting all the standards of the chosen platform
If the app has complex requirements with wide functionality
If the app has some IoT-related functionality, it will need native component support
If you are looking for a high-speed app

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid mobile app development involves creating apps for multiple platforms using a single codebase. Platforms like Ionic, React Native, Xamarin, PhoneGap, and Flutter offer different advantages and limitations.

Pros

It allows developers to code once and generate all platform-specific apps using that code.
Cost and time effectiveness are the main benefits of hybrid app technology.
Different operating systems (iOS and Android) have their own components, design styles, and navigation types. So, in hybrid technologies, we need to use common packages for all operating systems. This will differentiate the app from the native app.

Cons

The performance of the hybrid app depends on the coding style, the structure of the code, the app size, and the packages used in it. Lower performance compared to native apps.
Some frameworks like IONIC come from the core of the web. It always feels like the web, even if we make a good application and design. As we know, those hybrid apps are Native Rendering apps. It means they render on a web view to give a feel like native.

Moreover, Flutter, which was introduced by Google, is a hybrid platform, but it is different from other hybrid platforms. It gives a feel of native, and in one code, we will get two or more platforms.

When To Choose A Hybrid App

If it is a simple app
If an app for two platforms at a limited budget price
One app has fast access to two markets (iOS/Android)

Our Experiences

React Native Version Migration

In the journey of native vs hybrid mobile app development, we’ve discovered that migrating the code of React Native from an older version (0.56) to a newer version (0.60) is quite challenging.

This process involves dealing with numerous dependencies linked to npm packages used in your project. Before version 0.60, most React Native developers were accustomed to manual setup, as auto-linking was not a standard feature. With the introduction of version 0.60, auto-linking became compulsory, presenting a significant shift in hybrid app development practices.

However, we observed that many packages were incompatible with this new auto-linking process, posing hurdles in the transition. React Native’s update greatly assists developers in migrating from older to newer versions, a crucial aspect in the evolving landscape of hybrid vs native app development.

However, for those working on native mobile app development, be prepared for substantial updates in OS versions. Even well-crafted apps can become outdated quickly due to rapid technological advancements. App owners striving to stay abreast of the latest trends often find themselves needing to overhaul their existing native apps. So sit tight on your chair to upgrade all your old apps.

IoT Type Projects

Regarding IoT projects, our experience tilts the scale in favor of native app development over hybrid. The primary reason is native technology can directly access hardware components, whereas hybrid apps require bridges for such interactions. This difference became evident in a project we undertook involving Bluetooth technology and Beacon devices. We struggled to find suitable packages (bridges) that could seamlessly interact with client-sent Beacon devices.

Each package came with unique features and limitations, and we noticed discrepancies in behavior across platforms like Android and iOS. For instance, when implementing code in hybrid app technology to gather beacon data, the interaction wasn’t as smooth as what was achieved with native technology. Moreover, the device company provided an SDK for native development, which was easier for native developers to utilize than those working on hybrid mobile app development.

Conclusion

In the native vs hybrid app debate, each has its merits. Native mobile app development shines in user experience and performance, ideal for feature-rich or graphic-intensive apps. Hybrid mobile app development, highlighted in discussions about hybrid vs native apps, offers cost and time efficiency, with frameworks like Flutter bridging the gap between the two.

For smaller projects, especially given iOS’s recent policy changes, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are recommended. This aligns with iOS’s preference for PWAs over native or hybrid apps for simple, informational, or marketing applications.

Ultimately, the choice between native vs hybrid mobile app development hinges on your project’s specific needs, budget, and audience. Carefully weigh these factors in deciding whether hybrid app development or native app development suits your goals best.

Are you struggling to choose the right app development approach for your project? Consult with ZealousWeb experts today to find the best solution tailored to your needs!