Native and Cross Platform Development

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Nike’s revenue soared 96% to $12.3 billion thanks to the power of their Nike App.

You may have already heard of Nike’s newly launched App: Nike App, which turbocharged their revenue growth.

The platform grants members personalized access to the brand’s products in Southeast Asia and India. There are a lot of benefits that members can get from the Nike App, for example, exclusive access to the latest product releases.

The result ?

Nike is doing more than great right now. According to the report, the company’s revenue jumped 96% from the lockdown-impacted quarter a year ago to $12.3 billion, or up 21% from the fourth quarter of 2019. This shows that the company had a considerable rise ahead of pre-pandemic levels

Native Vs Cross Platform

Nowadays, when deciding to build a mobile experience for your customers or your business, your options are not only limited to the realm of native app development.

There are approximately 3.04 millions apps on the Google store alone, and estimated numbers suggest that the global app revenue will reach a whopping $582 billion! To make a mobile app for your customers that will stand out from this competition, it is essential to understand the back-end of this procedure. The most crucial part of this is deciding whether to use Native or Cross-Platform Development. In this article, we have compiled a list of pros and cons of these two different types of development methods. Continue reading to find out which method is the best for your business and customers!

What is Native mobile app development ?

Native app development refers to the creation of software applications that are tailored to function on a specific operating system, such as Android or iOS. These apps are typically developed using programming languages and tools that are native to the targeted platform, such as Java or Kotlin for Android, and Swift or Objective-C for iOS. Native apps offer optimized performance, access to platform-specific features, and a more intuitive user experience compared to other types of app development.

Pros	Cons
Improved performance: Because native apps are designed to work specifically with a particular platform, they can take full advantage of the device's hardware and software capabilities, resulting in faster performance and a more seamless user experience.	Cost: Developing a native app can be more expensive than other types of app development, as it requires separate development for each platform. This can be especially challenging for businesses that want to launch their app on multiple platforms.
Access to platform-specific features: Native apps have access to all of the features and capabilities of the platform for which they are developed, including the device's camera, GPS, accelerometer, and more.	Time and resources: Developing a native app can be time-consuming, as it requires dedicated resources and expertise for each platform. This can be a challenge for businesses that are short on time or resources.
Better user experience: Native apps are designed to look and feel like they are part of the platform, which can result in a more intuitive and natural user experience.	Maintenance: Native apps require ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure that they continue to function properly and remain competitive in the marketplace. This can be a burden for businesses that are already stretched thin.

What is Cross Platform app development ?

Cross-platform app development refers to the process of creating software applications that can be used on multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, and/or web. This can be done using frameworks and tools that allow developers to write code that can be compiled and run on multiple platforms without the need to re-write the code for each platform

Pros	Cons
Cost-effective: Cross-platform development can be more cost-effective than native app development, as it allows developers to create one app that can be used on multiple platforms, rather than having to develop separate apps for each platform.	Performance: Cross-platform apps may not perform as well as native apps, as they may not be able to take full advantage of the hardware and software capabilities of a particular platform.
Time-efficient: Cross-platform development can be faster than native app development, as it allows developers to write code once and then deploy it to multiple platforms.	User experience: Cross-platform apps may not look and feel as native as apps that are developed specifically for a particular platform. This can result in a less intuitive and seamless user experience.
Greater reach: Cross-platform apps can be used on a wider range of devices, which can help businesses reach a larger audience.	Limited access to platform-specific features: Cross-platform apps may not have access to all of the features and capabilities of a particular platform, as they are designed to work across multiple platforms.

What to consider when deciding between Native or Cross Platform App Development

Performance

Consider how important performance is to your app. Native apps generally offer better performance than cross-platform apps, but cross-platform apps have come a long way in recent years and can now offer decent performance on most devices.

User experience

Think about the user experience you want to provide. Native apps are typically more intuitive and provide a better user experience, as they are designed specifically for a particular platform and can take advantage of all of its features and capabilities. Cross-platform apps may not look and feel as native, but they can still provide a good user experience if they are well-designed.

Cost and resources

Consider your budget and the resources you have available for development. Native app development can be more expensive and time-consuming than cross-platform development, as it requires separate development for each platform. Cross-platform development can be more cost-effective, as it allows developers to create one app that can be used on multiple platforms.

Target audience

Think about your target audience and the platforms they are using. If your target audience is primarily using a single platform, native app development may be the better choice. If you want to reach a wider audience across multiple platforms, cross-platform app development may be a better fit

Future goals

consider your future goals for the app and how they may impact your development approach. For example, if you plan to eventually expand to other platforms, cross-platform development may be a better choice.

Summary

In conclusion, native app development and cross platform app development both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Native app development allows for optimized performance and access to all device features, but can be more time-consuming and costly due to the need to develop separate versions for each platform. Cross platform app development, on the other hand, allows for faster development and the ability to reach a wider audience, but may not offer the same level of performance and access to device features as native apps. Ultimately, the choice between native and cross platform app development will depend on the specific needs and goals of your project.