Web vs. Native vs. Hybrid: Which is the Best for Mobile App Development?

The number of people holding smartphones and tapping their fingers on it makes it pretty clear that the mobile app industry is snowballing.

As per the Statista report, the number of smartphone subscriptions globally surpassed 6 billion in 2022 and is estimated to increase by several hundred million by 2027. This is why mobile app development is a winning strategy for anyone willing sustain and grow in today's competitive market.

And why not? Mobile applications can help businesses reach a more wider audience base that is increasingly using apps to get things done – from entertainment, social media, music, and productivity to travel, communication, tools, video player and editing. Reaching these mobile users at the right time with the right solution is a great way to get noticed and boost sales.

However, developing a reliable and high-performing mobile application is not a cakewalk. You need to understand the technologies integrated, go through tips and tricks for mobile app development, understand the functionalities you want to deploy, and many more things. One of the most significant parts is determining the type of mobile application you need, whether it's web, native, or hybrid.

So, if your mind is constantly boggled with which type of mobile app is right for your business, this post will help you compare web app vs native app vs hybrid app, and choose the wisest.

Let's start with understanding the available applications and which technology you should consider for mobile app development.

What are Web Apps?

It is not surprising to get confused between a website and a web app, so let's understand the basic difference between websites and web apps. However, the fundamental difference is that a website is ideally informational, whereas a web application delivers more interactivity and functionality. It runs on any browser or device. The application is programmed and built using web application framework to run on any operating system like iOS or Android.

Typically, web mobile app development uses programming languages such as CSS and HTML. A user does not need to download and install a web app; it can run on the device's web browser using a URL. A web application can be loaded in any browser like Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. Most importantly, it does not consume storage on the user's device. And so, organizations nowadays are increasingly investing in different web app development strategies.

So, web app development might be a good option if you want to provide your audiences with mobile-friendly content across all devices and browsers. It is a cost-effective yet powerful way to showcase your products and services to a broad audience. Some web apps examples include Netflix, Google Docs, Basecamp, Microsoft Office, Trello, Starbucks, etc.

Pros and Cons of Web Application

To make a sound decision regarding web application development, let's understand the advantages and disadvantages of web apps.

Take a look at some of the key advantages of web apps:

• Web application architecture is simple and straightforward divided into a few layers. Web applications feature a simple codebase and are, therefore, easy to maintain. The glitches can be easily identified and fixed by the developers.
• The codebase can be shared across different platforms as custom web applications are cross-browser and cross-device compatible. It means you can now reach a broader audience base with your app, but in a cost-effective manner.
• Web apps do not need to be uploaded to an app store. These run on any device and browser through a URL. It means users do not have to download and install it on their devices. As such, accessibility is better. Additionally, developers do not need to spend time in distribution, deployment, or building new features.
• Since developers need to deploy a single codebase across multiple mobile operating systems, the web mobile app development time and the cost is relatively lower.

Nothing is perfect; the same goes for web apps. Mentioned below are the disadvantages of web apps:

• Web applications lack critical UI design elements and other features, like the load on the home screen, work offline, and push notifications, that you would get on a native app.
• User interactions are not as seamless or smooth as in other mobile applications. This can impact user experience.
• In the event of poor network connectivity, web apps operate slowly.
• Since web applications are not uploaded in app stores, your potential reach may be affected because most users begin searching for applications on app stores.

What are Native Apps?

A native mobile app has been programmed to run on a specific device and written in a platform-definite programming language. For instance, Objective-C and Swift languages are used to build native apps in iOS.

On the other hand, Kotlin and Java are the preferred programming languages for native Android applications. Whatever platform you choose for native app development, you will have dedicated development tools, SDK, and interface elements for each platform.

Since native mobile app development utilizes platform-specific programming language, you cannot build an application that will run on both platforms, i.e., iOS and Android. That means an app built for iOS will not exist for download at the Google Play Store or work on an Android device.

The same applies to native applications built for Android. It will not be available in the App Store or cannot be used on an iPhone device. There are several native apps examples, including WhatsApp, Spotify, Pokémon Go, etc.

Pros and Cons of Native Apps

From an exceptional user experience and superior hardware utilization, native apps offer a competitive edge and act as game-changers in the competitive app market. And in the following section, you’ll delve into the major benefits of native apps.

• Native applications are customized for particular platforms, and therefore, they are highly responsive.
• Native apps are high-performance and feature high speed that helps enhance the user experience.
• As they are available for download in app stores, you can potentially reach a broader audience base who are active users of mobile applications.
• Every mobile platform has its standard UI practices and native app developers need to follow these to deliver an improved experience.

Now let's go through the disadvantages of native apps:

• Native apps are built using complex programming languages, which require a proficient developer with experience in building these types of applications.
• Native app development is costlier than web or hybrid apps. This is because separate applications need to be built, deployed, and maintained for each mobile platform if you want to maximize your reach.
• If you are planning to develop a simple application for your business or users, native apps may not be the best choice.
• Native web apps do not support cross-platform compatibility. An application built for iOS will not work on an Android device.

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What are Hybrid Apps?

When the best of web and native comes together, you get a hybrid mobile app. They render the look and feel of a web app but can be downloaded and installed like a native app. Simply put, hybrid applications behave like native apps and work across platforms like web apps. These applications are built with CSS, JavaScript, or HTML and run in a web view.

On the one hand, hybrid apps are platform-agnostic; on the other hand, they are multi-platform compatible, i.e., the same codebase can be distributed across diverse platforms. These are the perfect combination of both worlds and are developed utilizing the best hybrid application development frameworks. They harness the benefits of native while allowing the same app's availability on both iOS and Android platforms.

Thus, businesses can choose web application development outsourcing services and maximize their reach through hybrid app development by making the app available on the leading platforms. Additionally, developers can access dedicated development tools, SDK, and interface elements like native apps. There are significant hybrid apps examples, including Instagram, Uber, Gmail, and Evernote.

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Applications

Let's now go through the advantages of hybrid app development:

• Hybrid applications are faster to develop because a significant part of the development process is done through standard web technologies and efficient hybrid application frameworks.
• Developers need to build only one codebase that can be deployed across multiple platforms. No need to write unique codes for each platform. This also helps save time in the hybrid app development process.
• You can reach a wide audience base by building cost-effective hybrid apps that can be distributed on both App Store and Play Store.
• Building and deploying updates for hybrid web apps is more straightforward. The applications are also easy to maintain with minimal glitches.

Now let's move forward and look at the disadvantages of hybrid apps:

• Hybrid apps are comparatively slower and fail to deliver some native-like experiences. This is because these apps are developed simultaneously for two platforms.
• Hybrid app development is costlier than web apps because they depend on a third-party system and need a wrapper.
• Hybrid web applications are less intuitive and interactive than native applications and, therefore, are not suitable if you want to build highly interactive apps for improved user experiences.
• If you are trying to make customizations, the core advantage of the hybrid may be compromised.

Now let's compare web app vs native app vs hybrid app based on different parameters. It will make it easier for you to choose between different types of mobile application development.

Web App vs Native App vs Hybrid App: Understanding the Difference

So, now is a good time to go into depth and understand the major points of difference between all three types of mobile application development. Therefore, the following table will help you draw the comparison between web app vs native app vs hybrid app more easily:

Now, let’s move forward and briefly differentiate each mobile application development type with one other.

Web App vs Native App

Mentioned below are the significant points of difference between native and web app:

• Web apps are accessed through internet browsers, which work differently depending on the device you’re using to view them. Native apps, on the other hand, are created based on specific platform.

• Web applications do not require downloading or installation because they’re not native to any one operating system. On the other hand, native apps are downloaded or installed through app store, such as Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

• Web applications are configured to update themselves automatically. Contrastingly, maintaining and regularly updating native applications is expensive.

Web App vs Hybrid App

Mentioned below are the significant points of difference between hybrid and web app:

• Web apps are simply websites with interactive features that simulate the functionality of mobile apps. On the other hand, hybrid applications incorporate features from native and web applications.

• Web apps are written in HTML5 and JavaScript and works across numerous browsers. Hybrid apps are written in Java and HTML5, and intended to function on a variety of operating systems and platforms.

• Web apps are the quickest applications to create and are quite affordable. On the other hand, when comparing hybrid apps to web apps, hybrid apps are bit expensive to create.

Native App vs Hybrid App

Mentioned below are the significant points of difference between native app vs hybrid app:

• Native applications are mobile apps created specifically for a particular operating system like Android or iOS. On the other hand, hybrid applications are the combination of native and web worlds, and can be used via web browser or downloaded through app stores.

• Native apps are written using Java, Swift, and Objective-C. On the other hand, hybrid applications are built by combining HTML5 and languages like Java.

• Updates for native apps are carried out through the Play Store or Apple Store. On the contrary, upgradations of hybrid mobile apps are centralized.

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Web, Native, or Hybrid Mobile Development: Ideal Choice for Your Business?

There is no absolute fit for any business when it comes to mobile app development. Each app type has its benefits and limitations, and the choice depends on your business objectives. Before you move forward, you should be well-versed with essentials of mobile app development and consider the following factors:

• What is the size of your target audience?
• Quality of user experience you want to deliver through the app
• How fast should the app be?
• The complexity and type of features you want the app to have
• What is your budget?

ConclusionThereby, with Radixweb, you can hire dedicated developers who have proficiency in building high-performance, intuitive, and interactive mobile apps. You can rest assured that one of India's top-rated technology organizations will handle your work. With matchless capabilities in delivering secure and robust web, native, and hybrid app development services, Radixweb is your app development partner.Get in touch to discuss your development requirements.