Why Should You Go for Cross Platform Mobile App Development?

Cross platform Mobile app development flourished to new heights with each year! Next-generation technologies, sophisticated programming languages, and dynamic customer behaviors added fuel to its popularity, allowing mobile apps to spread their wings.

According to Statista, mobile apps are expected to generate over $935 billion in revenue by the year 2023. How is that possible? Because almost 87% of smartphone users spend their time on ‘apps’. I wouldn’t say I am surprised. It’s pretty evident. Also, there are about 7.94 billion connected devices in the world today. It’s amazing how the number even exceeds the global population.

Speaking of which, this excessive use of smartphones reflects the increasing number of mobile apps. It keeps everyone on their feet. IoT, AR/VR, chatbots, hybrid, and mobile app development cross-platform seem to be driving the mobile app market growth.

What is Cross Platform App Development? 

It is all about building one application from a single code base, fully capable of running on multiple platforms.

This means developers have to write the code once. Whereas, your team can reuse this written code for other platforms as well. To enumerate, React native is considered the most popular language for cross platform development. 

Now let’s shine a light on some of the reasons why you should choose it for your next project.

Advantages of Cross Platform Application Development

Let’s have a look at the benefits of building cross platform mobile applications: 

‘Faster than light’ development

If you are a tech start-up or a service provider dealing with a bunch of customers daily, you would know how important, timely delivery is. Therefore, cross platform development offers the best solution. It ensures that your customers get everything they need, that too, on time.

Different people use different types of operating systems. According to studies, Android will be the leading mobile OS worldwide in June 2021 with a 73 percent market share and iOs with 27%.

Therefore, if you think that only developing for Android or iOS can help you get the much-anticipated win in the market, you are wrong! Because, at the end of the day, inclusivity is important.

Now that you have finally realized the importance of capturing Android and iOS users. Developing two distinct apps will cost you both – a fortune and time. But building a particular project with reusable code that supports different devices is a step in the right direction.

Convenient, dynamic, and consistent

Has your app finally seen the light of day? Now comes the hard part.

Maintenance. Not so easy now, is it, baguette boy! 

But with cross-platform app development, maintaining and updating apps is a walk in the park. Automatic updates ensure that your customers have the contemporary version, which positively adds to their overall experience.

Additionally, cross platform applications offer high performance. They are fast and reliable. You can use Xamarin, React Native, Flutter, or Adobe PhoneGap (all leading technologies) to build a highly scalable and standardized app. 

Moreover, it’s very easy to understand that both Android and iOS differ in terms of design and navigation. No need to drive yourself insane because of all the UI differences when cross platform development can handle it for you by default which, as a result, enables you to develop a more coherent brand identity with as minimal effort as possible. 

Have your ‘Integration’ in the Clouds

Nowadays, everyone is talking about the cloud – “cloud this, cloud that”. To my surprise, now most cross-platform and hybrid apps are leveraging cloud technology.

There are many tools, plugins, and frameworks (such as PhoneGap and Titanium) available for seamless cloud integration. Cloud technology not only helps with secure data storage but also is very cost-effective.

Therefore, cloud-based applications are reliable and offer faster services, plus they can save you the hassle that comes with physical IT structure failure and installation. Last but not least, apps integrated with the cloud are much easier to scale than otherwise. Just saying. 

Popular Mobile Operating Systems in Use Today

Nearly every smartphone needs an operating system to function, and when we talk about the most popular OS for smartphones we only think of Android and iOS (and windows maybe).

Now traditionally, you need to develop two distinct apps to cater to both platforms – meaning you have to write two separate codes, design two separate wireframes, two separate teams, additional development time, and let’s just not ignore the long budget planning to make ends meet. 

But what if I tell you that you can kill two birds with one stone through cross platform mobile application development? Well, you already knew that, didn’t you? 

Then I am sure you also know how important it is for mobile applications to run smoothly no matter the platform, right? 

Therefore, if you too want to develop solutions under a specified budget and in a time crunch, there is no better option than cross platform solutions for mobile app development.

Source: Statcounter

In this blog, I will uncover why you should prefer to create cross-platform mobile apps.

Best Frameworks For Cross Platform Mobile Applications

This is not a complete list of tools; there are many additional alternatives on the market today. The main thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all tool that will work for everyone. Your project goals and considerations heavily influence the framework you choose.

Nonetheless, we've attempted to choose some of the best cross platform mobile app frameworks in order to provide you with a starting point for your selection.

RECOMMENDED: FLUTTER VS REACT-NATIVE: THE RACE TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP

How to Choose the Right App Development Framework 

Now it all comes down to the things you should consider before choosing an app development framework, and let me tell you if you keep the below-mentioned things in mind – you are in for a surprise.

Performance

Speed and performance are very important for mobile applications because these two factors can literally make or break your business – therefore, choose the development platform that delivers optimal performance regardless of the intensity of future updates. 

Cost

Cross platform mobile app development costs can go up to $10,000, which is just the best-case scenario. On the contrary, it can cost you even more. The reason why you should always invest considerable time in calculating the cross-platform app development cost. 

Always opt for a platform that offers high-quality product development along with cost-efficiency. This can only happen in an ideal world, but it’s not impossible. 

Security

Data breaches are quite prevalent in this digital age, and they are inevitable. Hence, your app should offer higher levels of security without compromising even the slightest of customer details. When all comes to an end, it all depends on your development platform – how secure it is to counter an attack. 

Skills

Don’t commit to something if you know you don’t have the necessary resources to see the project to fruition, and by resources, I mean developers with skills. You simply can not have a flutter app if you lack the skills or qualifications. The best option is to either go for staff augmentation or hire a dedicated team to get the job done. 

Deployment

Quick deployment is also one of the very important factors to take into consideration. Your deployment should be quick and intuitive, so your users can use mobile applications immediately. We can’t have people waiting now, can we?

The Bottom Line
Mobile applications are only going to grow. There is no going back, just forward. 

Because there is no one thing that you can do without your smartphone. 

Talk about paying your bills, shopping, ride-hailing, binge-watching, and chatting. I can’t remember the last time I did something where I didn’t feel the need for technology.

Customers need such intuitive digital solutions to get the job done on the go. And mobile app development companies are making it possible. 

Speaking of businesses, I think it’s hard for businesses to have that edge in the market if they feel reluctant to invest in good software products. A carefully planned and structured platform can guarantee a visible lift in revenue – be it marketing, sales, business development, HR, or the finance department, for that matter.

One of the many reasons companies are developing intuitive applications every day – is to stay on top of things and, most importantly, to meet the growing demands of customers. Speaking of, mobile app development services offer the most efficient and compatible solution. 

If you, too, want to develop a perfect solution that guarantees ROI and customer satisfaction – get in touch with us now.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is cross platform mobile app development?

The construction of software applications compatible with several mobile operating systems is called cross-platform mobile development.

What language is used for cross platform applications?

Languages such as JavaScript, CSS, Dart (Flutter), ReactNative, Ionic, and Xamarin are used to create cross-platform apps. 

Is cross-platform the best choice for mobile app development?

To remain competitive, businesses must create mobile applications for their consumers and staff. These solutions are available on both the Android and iOS platforms. Each company selects whether to create two programs for each operating system or to employ a cross-platform solution. 

What are some pros and cons of cross platform development?

The advantages of developing a cross platform mobile application are identified below: 

• Lower costs 
• Faster development process
• Wider audience
• Consistency
• Reusable Code 

The disadvantages of developing a cross-platform application are as follows:

• Performance challenges 
• Long wait time to introduce new features

How much does it cost to develop cross-platform apps?

The cost to build cross-platform mobile app depends on your project scope, timeframe, budget, features, functionality, number of developers, industry, business size, and many other factors.