In 2022, Statista reported 3.55 million apps on Google Play and 1.6 million on the App Store. Together, Android and iOS now control 99% of the global mobile OS market. Curious about creating a mobile app that reaches both Android and iOS users? This article explores why cross-platform development is becoming the go-to choice for mobile engineers. 

Considering cross-platform development? Make sure you’ve got a strong foundation in JavaScript as many of these frameworks rely on it. And the best part? Cross Platform Mobile App Development allows you to focus on innovation rather than writing separate code for each platform.

It has revolutionized the way businesses build mobile applications allowing one codebase to reach both iOS and Android users. With the rise in popularity numerous frameworks like React Native, Flutter and Node.js have emerged making it easier than ever to tap into this technology. 

However if you are looking for best Cross Platform Mobile App Development services then stop looking further. Leed Software Development is your go to option. So Schedule a Call Right Now!

Lets have a detailed discussion about cross platform mobile application development!

What is Cross Platform Development?

Cross-platform mobile apps are designed to run on multiple platforms, including both iOS and Android OS. Different technologies used to develop cross-platform apps include React Native, Xamarin, NativeScript, Flutter and much more.

Approaches of Mobile App Development 

First you need to understand the 4 main approaches of mobile app development given below:

1. Native Apps: Developed specifically for Android using Kotlin or Java or iOS using Objective-C or Swift. Native apps offer high responsiveness however building separate apps for each platform requires extra time and resources.
2. Progressive Web Apps: PWAs blend mobile app features with web technology, accessible via browsers without app store installation. They are cost-effective but limited in device functionality and lag behind native apps in performance.
3. Cross Platform Apps: Cross platform frameworks allow developers to write reusable code for multiple platforms, offering efficiency in time and cost.  Ideal for reaching a broad audience with a single codebase.
4. Hybrid Apps: Hybrid development combines native and web elements embedding HTML, CSS or JavaScript code within a native app. Although code-sharing is possible, hybrid apps may lack performance consistency across platforms compared to native apps.

Each approach has its advantages, making the choice dependent on project needs, budget, and desired functionality.

Difference Between Cross-platform Apps & Native Apps

Following are some of the points that will help you understand the differences between cross-platform Apps and Native Apps:

Features	Cross Platform Apps	Native Apps
Code	Shareable, code is for multiple platforms	Code is for a single platform
Cost	Low cost development	Low-cost development
Accessibility	Full Accessibility	Limited
Updates	Easier maintenance and updates across different platforms	High-cost development
UI Consistency	Limited consistency with UI components	Consistent with the UI components
Performance	High performance but compatibility issues may occur	Smooth Performance

What are Cross Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks?

Mobile engineers use cross-platform frameworks to create native-like apps for Android and iOS from a single codebase. This approach saves time, as one codebase eliminates the need to rewrite code for each platform, speeding up development.

Top Frameworks For Cross-platform Mobile App Development

The top frameworks for cross-platform mobile app development are as follows:

Flutter: 

Flutter, an open source cross-platform app development framework from Google created in 2017. Uses Dart as its primary programming language and offers one of the best platforms available for building mobile and web apps. 

Key Features

Here are some key features of Flutter platform:

• Hot reload feature
• Google’s Material Design for building digital experiences
• Uses Dart programming language 
• Own rendering engine

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Reusable UI components	Limited third-party libraries
Fast development	Large app size
Strong community support

Top Apps Built with Flutter

• Google Pay
• Alibaba
• BMW

Adobe PhoneGap:

Adobe PhoneGap is an open-source cross-platform framework used for hybrid app development. The tool works across platforms like Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows and provides multiplatform support. 

Key Features

Here are its main features:

• Main programming languages are JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Features different plugins and containers
• Facilitates enterprise app development as well.
• Access to numerous APIs 
• 100% approval on Play Store

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Cross-platform compatibility	Limited native functionality
Access to device APIs	Slower performance on complex apps
Open-source and easy to use	Limited community support

Apps Built with Adobe PhoneGap

• Wikipedia
• TripCase
• Paylution

React Native:

One of the most popular and widely used cross-platform mobile app development is React Native. React native focuses on UI to a great extent, rendering a highly responsive interface. The platform was developed in the year 2015, a little earlier than Flutter. React Native was developed by Facebook and is based on the Facebook JavaScript library. 

Key Features

Following are the main features of react native:  

• Code reusability
• Fast Refresh feature
• Product development is quicker
• Flipper is already enabled by default
• Access to a wider range of audience

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Single codebase for iOS/Android	Limited custom modules
Fast refresh during development	Performance issues with complex UIs
Strong community and library support	Large app size

Apps Built with React Native

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Airbnb

Xamarin:

Xamarin is an open source cross-platform which is used for building modern and scalable apps on multiple platforms. The programming language used in Xamarin is C#, which is complemented by the .NET framework. 

Key Features

Some of the main features of Xamarin are as follows: 

• Uses the Base Class Library or .NET BCL.
• Was developed in 2011
• Available under the MIT license 
• Developers can use platform specific UI elements 
• Data binding performance can be improved
• Easy to share and test the code

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Native-like performance	Large app size
Single codebase for iOS/Android	Limited library support
Microsoft support and integration	Slower development for complex UIs

Apps Built with Xamarin

• Alaska Airlines
• HCL
• The World Bank

Kotlin:

Kotlin is a cross-platform developed by SDK and was released in 2017. With kotlin, it’s easy to write code and then use it on multiple platforms. Using a single codebase, it is possible for developers to write business logic code. Different apps developed using Kotlin include Philips, Baidu, Netflix, etc. 

Key Features

An overview of the Kotlin cross-platform mobile app development is as follows: 

• Solves the issue of platform specific dependencies. 
• Developers have full access to UI.
• Large and growing community
• No need to rewrite the code
• No need to introduce new programming languages to the codebase

Pros & Cons

Kotlin Pros	Kotlin Cons
Native performance for Android	Limited cross-platform tools
Interoperable with Java	Limited resources for iOS
Concise and expressive syntax	Smaller community compared to other frameworks

Apps Built with Kotlin

• Pinterest
• Trello
• Coursera

Ionic:

Ionic is an open source SDK platform that is mostly used for hybrid app development. The tool was developed in 2013, and it uses a combination of web and native technologies. It’s a popular UI SDK framework that is scalable and easy to read.

Key Features

 Following are the main features of Ionic:

• Main programming languages are HTML, CSS, and JS components
• Different features for building intuitive apps.
• Based on the SaaS UI framework 
• Features its own IDE, known as Ionic Studio

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Single codebase for web, iOS, Android	Dependent on web technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS)
Fast development with UI components	Limited native functionality
Strong community and plugins	Performance issues with complex apps

Apps Built with Ionic

• MarketWatch
• Sworkit
• JustWatch

NativeScript:

Another cross-platform is NativeScript which is based on javascript. The framework was originally used in 2014. Main programming languages used in NativeScript are JavaScript and TypeScript. 

Key Features

Following are the main features of NativeScript: 

• Easy access to iOS and android APIs.
• Allows to build intuitive apps.
• Offers different plugins and templates
• No need for third parties.
• Use different web technologies which include JavaScript and Angular. 

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Full access to native APIs	Steeper learning curve
Native performance	Limited third-party plugins
Single codebase for iOS/Android	Smaller community compared to React Native and Flutter

Apps Built with NativeScript

• Salesforce1
• Strudel
• Skyjet

Advantages Of Cross Platform Mobile App Development 

Following are some of the benefits of cross platform app development:

Wider Audience Reach

Cross platform development allows developers to create apps that function on both iOS & Android platforms using single codebase. By targeting both major mobile platforms simultaneously companies can increase their market presence.

Cost Effective

Developing a single application for multiple platforms can significantly reduce costs. Instead of hiring separate teams businesses can invest in one development team that handles the entire project. Additionally with only one version of the app to manage the resources spent are greatly reduced.

Faster Development

Ability to share code between platforms allows for quicker development cycles. Crossp latform frameworks enable developers to reuse up to 70-80% of their code. This efficiency means businesses can launch their apps much faster allowing them to capitalize on market opportunities before competitors. 

Easy Maintenance & Updates

Maintaining separate codebases for iOS and Android can be complex. Cross platform development simplifies this by providing single codebase that allows for easier maintenance and updates. Developers can implement changes across all platforms simultaneously. This saves time and ensures that all users have access to the latest version of the app without delays.

Efficient Cloud Integration

Cross platform apps typically work well with cloud services and plugins enhancing their functionality. By using cloud integration businesses can offer users features like data storage, backup and real-time updates. This improves the overall user experience.

Consistent User Experience

Cross platform app development allows for a more consistent user experience across devices. By maintaining a uniform design and functionality businesses can ensure that users have a seamless experience. This consistency can strengthen brand identity and user loyalty.

Access to a Larger Pool of Developers

Cross platform development technologies such as React Native, Flutter & Xamarin have gained popularity which means developers are skilled in these frameworks. Due to this businesses can find qualified developers with lower hiring cost. Moreover developers familiar with web technologies can transition more easily into mobile app development.

Disadvantages of Cross Platform Mobile App Development

Performance Limitations

Cross-platform development frameworks combine native and non-native components, which can lead to performance issues. This integration may cause glitches or slower response times compared to fully native apps, especially in resource-intensive tasks.

Limited Access to Native Features

Cross-platform solutions often struggle to fully support native-only functionalities like advanced animations, 3D graphics, and device-specific features. This limitation affects the app’s design and restricts the use of unique capabilities on each platform.

Delays in Adopting New Features

When Android and iOS introduce new features, native applications can implement them immediately. Cross-platform apps, however, face delays as framework updates are required to support these new additions, impacting the ability to stay current with platform-specific enhancements.

Dependency on Development Tools

The quality of cross-platform apps relies heavily on the tools and frameworks chosen. For instance, Kotlin Multiplatform offers expected and actual declarations to access platform-specific APIs, allowing developers to create native-like experiences. However, choosing the right framework is essential to achieving a balance between code reusability and app performance.

Need a Cross Platform App?

Got a fantastic app idea but need it developed quickly and affordably? Leed Software has you covered. We’ll bring your vision to life, taking care of every step—from idea validation to post-launch support.

With Leed Software, you get:

• A full-cycle development team dedicated to your project
• Expert guidance on the best features for maximum impact
• Efficient project timelines to get your app to market faster
• Continued support for updates and maintenance after launch

Curious to know more? Discover our mobile app development approach and let’s start building your app together!

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