Hybrid vs Native App: Which is the Best Bet in App Development?

Mobile applications are dynamic business tools. Today, they are the standard to connect with customers for their day-to-day needs like banking, grocery shopping, entertainment, and whatnot. Mobile applications provide the convenience and prompt experience that users seek. With constant innovation, there is no doubt that businesses now depend on apps more than ever before. Hence, the mobile app development industry is on the rise, and the number of mobile app downloads will be a whopping 299 billion.

However, no matter how exciting the idea of developing a mobile app for your business seems, it is a very serious business impediment and has its own challenges. For example, the native vs cross-platform debate. Is developing a native app for one specific platform the best approach, or should you go for the versatility of hybrid apps?

The decision depends on a number of critical factors, and this blog aims to dive deeper into that. Let's figure out the difference between a native app vs hybrid app, and understand which development approach is right for you.

What are Native Apps?

Native app development involves building apps with a specific programming language for a specific mobile OS – Java for Android and Swift or Objective-C for iOS. The app is developed in a secure ecosystem adhering to all the technical expertise and guidelines of user experience of the respective OS. It ensures faster performance and a better experience.

Here, experience means the consistent appearance and feel of other native apps on that device. As a result, the end-user may learn how to use the app and navigate much faster.

Besides, native applications also have certain advantages. It is easy to access and leverage the capabilities of the device, such as address book, GPS, camera, etc. Native apps are native to the OS. Hence, these are built as per certain criteria.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Native Apps

It's time to weigh the benefits of native mobile apps against their drawbacks to help you know what you are going to deal with if you decide to go for native app development.

Advantages of Native Apps

• Given that a native app is essentially a refined version of the operating system's default application, they often have a familiar appearance and feel. This resemblance can enhance the user experience.
• Since they are specifically created for the platform, native apps typically load more quickly. By maintaining the aspect ratio, they improve the app's graphics and image quality.
• They typically perform better while not connected to the Internet, so you can use them without it (for the most part). The fundamental functions of your application can still be accessed by a user even if they are stranded in the middle of nowhere, as on a plane or in the subway.
• Native code is still quicker than JavaScript and HTML, and hence, the performance of native apps is pretty good for graphic-intensive apps, high-definition games, and apps with heavy animation.

Generate Maximum ROI for Your Business with Our Native App Development Services

I am Ready

Disadvantages of Native Apps

• Native mobile apps typically take longer to download. Users have to enter the app store, look for the app, open it, accept the terms and conditions, and then eventually download it. If the whole process takes too long, potential consumers may abandon the download midway through.
• The app development cost of native apps ultimately increases since native app developers with different skill sets are needed to create, maintain, and manage the same application on each separate platform.
• It is nearly never simple or quick to release the same identical feature simultaneously across all platforms. The reason for this is that native mobile apps have a unique codebase.

Examples of Native App

• WhatsApp
• Spotify
• Pokémon Go
• Tesla
• SoundCloud

What are Hybrid Apps?

Hybrid app development is focused on the website. Although they may appear like an ordinary native app, the source is a company’s website. Hybrid apps are web applications developed using JavaScript and HTML and are wrapped in a native app container. As users navigate through the app, it loads most of the data on that page.

But unlike a typical web app, hybrid mobile apps can use native plugins to accomplish native app-like functionalities without requiring additional coding. In a single build, your app will be able to use native features of the device, like the camera, file storage, and security features like fingerprint recognition or Face ID. For better understanding, you can go through native app vs. hybrid app vs. web app guide.

In addition, a hybrid app costs less to create and maintain than a native app because hybrid app developers follow the “write once, run anywhere” approach.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hybrid Apps

As with native app development, hybrid apps have their strengths and weaknesses as well. Let's have a look at them:

Advantages of Hybrid Apps

• When creating multiple versions of an application, hybrid apps have a sort of "one for all" build that can save time and money.
• Regardless of whether a user switches between different browsers, devices, or operating systems, hybrid apps are capable of providing similar and consistent user experiences across all platforms (for better or worse).
• For all systems, there is a single code base, so hybrid app developers just need to write it once and run it as needed. Each platform has its own native apps, which must be developed, updated, and programmed separately.
• Hybrid apps are able to achieve the same hardware-based performance acceleration as native apps. This isn’t exactly an ‘advantage’ since native apps can do the same thing, but it is something to keep in mind.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Apps

• Performance for many applications is the same whether they are hybrid or native. Games in HD and 3D, software with data-intensive graphics, and other performance-based apps, however, could not function consistently or adequately in hybrid app form.
• Due to the nature of hybrid mobile apps, each user's experience with the app will be unique. The software and operating system they are running, as well as its version, will determine this. To prevent this, there will need to be a lot more testing.
• The use of native plugins is required for hybrid apps. A fully new device functionality might not always be easily accessible as a native plugin. A skilled developer can create their own, but this increases the amount of work and headaches involved in the development process.

Examples of Hybrid App

• Uber
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Evernote
• Teams

Key Difference Between Hybrid and Native App

The majority of people who download applications from the App Store or Google Play Store don't even know what hybrid vs native app means, and, let's be honest, they don't care. The only thing they care about is the end result, which should be an efficient and responsive app for either the Android or iOS operating system.

But how you achieve this goal matters to your organization, and knowing the difference between native and hybrid apps will help you pick the best approach. So, with the comparison table below, let’s look at a number of factors uncovering the primary reasons to choose one or the other development approach:

Build a Robust Mobile App and Stay Ahead of Your Competitors

Connect with Experts

Devise Access

In terms of devise access, native apps can access all device APIs through platform SDK. Hybrid app users can access a limited number of APIs based on the tool.

Development Cost

Native app development is the most expensive as you have to build apps for multiple platforms. Hybrid apps cost comparatively less as they come with cross-platform compatibility.

UI Consistency

Native app frameworks come with original UI components for a native look and feel. Hybrid apps can achieve a fairly native UI, if not accurately.

Programming Tools

For native app development, developers use Java/Kotlin for Android, Swift/Objective-C for iOS. Hybrid app development uses Xamarin, Flutter, Cordova, React Native, NativeScript, etc.

Code Reusability

The codebase of native mobile apps for one platform does not work on other platforms. Contrarily, developers can port the codebase of a hybrid app to all platforms

App Complexity

Native apps are generally very complex to build. On the other hand, hybrid mobile apps are simple and moderately complex.

App Security

Native app development offers high-end security measures. Compared to that, hybrid apps are comparatively less secure.

Development Time: Native App vs Hybrid App

When an organization undertakes mobile app development stages, they want to be a part of the competition, or they might have come across a business opportunity. Regardless of the reason, executives want to release the app at the earliest. However, anything done in haste might lead to compromises. Both native and hybrid app development approaches can be used for app development, but it is important to understand the process and assess the situation.

In a scenario where a company can wait for a few months to build and launch an app, the native app development approach ideal. Undoubtedly, have excellent performance and offer the highest security. Moreover, they provide the best experience.

In another scenario wherein a company has to launch and deploy almost immediately, hybrid mobile app development is the better option. Hybrid apps are built directly in one source code and released across multiple platforms. It also takes comparatively lesser time and effort to develop hybrid apps.

App Performance: Native vs Hybrid Mobile App

Between native vs hybrid apps, native apps are way faster as they directly work with the OS. Hybrid apps, on the other side, use a native wrapper and, thus, are slower.

So, when it comes to performance, nothing matches up to the native apps. Native apps are well-designed and relatively faster. As you navigate an app, its content, visual elements, and structure are already present on the phone and available for loading. Thus, you get a seamless experience.

On the contrary, only the wrapper of a hybrid app is downloaded to the phone, which may or may not include the crucial navigational elements. Most of the data is loaded directly from the server.

However, two issues may affect the performance of an app: server requests (the number of people calling the same server at once) and load balance requests (from where the requests are coming and if there is a designated server). Experts opine that despite everything, hybrid applications lag in performance.

User Experience: Native vs Hybrid App

The key to a successful application is user experience.

Today, mobile app development is mainly about user experience, unlike in the past. The key is to come up with an app that does not seem like a new app. Anything that seems difficult can be frustrating.

Remember, users have struggled to adapt to their phones. Now that they can handle their devices, the last thing they expect is an uncanny app with unrealistic features. They expect the applications, gestures, interactions, and visual clues to be impeccably integrated with the platform’s style guide.

Mobile app user experience is so important that customers would have a negative reaction to an app. Some users may hardly use the app again. Some other users may switch to another mobile app and give a poor rating.

This is crucial information to understand the tradeoff of user experience when you are to choose between hybrid vs. native apps.

Native mobile apps are OS-specific. As an organization starts building a new app, the specific user experience for that particular app becomes crucial.

While releasing a hybrid app, the platform should be agnostic. Single UI, single code base, and easier to develop – hence, it takes lesser time to hit the market.

User experience is the only tradeoff. Even an extraordinary user experience architect may fail to build a mobile app catering to the two dominant OS – Android and iOS. Both OS have different style guidelines for tactical factors.

Want to Develop a Value-Driven Application That Will Turn Your Business into a Brand?

We Can Help

Technology Stack: Native vs Hybrid Mobile App

You can enhance the performance of your app and ensure successful mobile app development by choosing the appropriate technological stack, which is a collection of tools, programming languages, frameworks, databases, and so on. On the other side, making the incorrect decision will result in certain unavoidable challenges and skyrocket the application's development cost.

Native App Technology Stack

Let's understand the tech stack you would need for native Android and iOS app development:

Native Android Apps

In terms of Android app development, Java and Kotlin are the two primary programming languages native app developers go for. And in development tools, Android Studio and Android Development Tool are the best choices for code editing, automatic testing, debugging, and so on.

Native iOS Apps

For iOS app development, Swift and Objective-C are the most preferred programming languages. And when it comes to iOS native app development tools, Appcode and Xcode come to the rescue.

Hybrid App Technology Stack

Standard web technologies like CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript are frequently used to create hybrid apps. Backend and Native shell make up the majority of these apps. Cordova, Sencha Touch 2, and Ionic are the three frameworks that hybrid app developers frequently use to create hybrid apps.

Hiring Developers: Native vs Hybrid App Development

Mobile app development is a time and resource-intensive process. Before you invest your money in it, make sure you are well-versed with an application development guide and have the most competent team of app developers onboard who ensure the successful development of your dream product.

A professional native app developer who is well-versed in languages like Objective C, Swift, Java, and Kotlin, as well as related operating systems and mobile devices, excels in creating bug-free and attractive apps. To create native apps for various platforms, you'll require more developers.

On the contrary, incorporating features like the camera, push notifications, or GPS signals deftly require top-notch hybrid app development services with in-depth technical knowledge of various devices on the developers’ part. Additionally, if you want to create highly interactive user interfaces, UI and UX skills like information architecture, user persona, and wireframing are immensely helpful.

App Updates: Native vs Hybrid Apps

A critical factor is the frequency at which developers want things to move to the production stage. It affects how you are doing it and whether or not users have to take any action to see those improvements.

With hybrid applications, users do not need to update the apps in their app store. As users navigate through the app, they would instantly see updates. However, in the case of native mobile apps, users have to update the apps to see any changes. On this front, the hybrid app has the upper hand over native app development.

When Should You Choose Native Apps?

Go for native app development when:

• Your niche has intense competition, so having slightly better performance is advantageous.
• Your entire service is mobile, or you intend for your app to stand alone as a business.
• The app is graphically complex with intricate designs and interactions.
• Your app must have extensive complexity and functionality.
• The application must be capable of working offline, and you must have long-term plans for scaling up.

When Should You Choose Hybrid Apps?

Hybrid app development is the best strategy when:

• You want to quickly test an app concept and launch it.
• You need a low-cost, multi-platform app.
• There aren't many intricate components or logical rules.
• Your startup must create an MVP quickly.
• Your app needs to download information from the Internet.

Accelerate Your Business Growth Across All Platforms with an All-Inclusive Hybrid App?

Let's Build One

Final Words on Native App vs Hybrid AppBoth native and hybrid app development has their pros and cons. However, the native approach has more benefits for the company.However, hybrid apps have a major detraction – the company would end up spending more time tweaking and fixing the app owing to user complaints about the elements of UI or issues related to the performance of the app.Contrarily, native app functions are specific to their OS. Likewise, the native development approach offers better security for mobile applications, highly responsive user interfaces, superior performance, and access to native APIs.And even though the initial investment is higher, businesses can save money and time with native apps. Besides, it also offers brilliant performance and user experience. You can partner with a professional mobile app development services provider like Radixweb to help you choose the optimum business solution. We have unparalleled capabilities in developing secure and robust mobile apps. Let’s discuss your development requirements: