Mobile internet use has skyrocketed thanks to the large variety of affordable smartphones on the market. According to Statista, over
60% of the global internet population used a mobile device to go online in 2022. More people use their smartphones to browse the internet than ever. This means that
successful mobile app development for startups is no longer a way to stand out from the competition but an essential factor in surviving. And businesses definitely understand that. At Emphasoft, we see a constantly growing demand for mobile app development outsourcing coming from our clients. Finances Online reported that in 2020, there were over
6,3 million mobile apps available for download across the leading app stores (Apple’s App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, and Amazon Appstore). When a company decides to build its own mobile app, one of the decisions it needs to make is whether the app will be hybrid or native. It is an ongoing discussion about what’s better, so today we will look into the pros and cons of native mobile app development to help you make a decision.
What is a native app?
Native apps are software programs that are built for use on particular platforms, such as Android, using the native language of the platform, for example, Swift for iOS. Therefore, native apps have to be downloaded from their respective app stores.
The key pros of native apps
Like any technology, native apps have their benefits and downsides. Here are the key aspects one should consider before starting full-cycle development.
Native apps are believed to provide a superior user experience because they have full access to the devices’ operating system and can utilise all of its features, allowing them to perform better. This can be especially critical for processor-intensive apps, such as games, that must run and load fast to keep up with the action. Cross-platform alternatives generally experience more issues with fast execution and loading. This happens because, unlike native apps, they need an intermediary software layer to function. Native apps sit directly on top of the operating system and use things like cameras and microphones more effectively.
Better user experience
Besides running faster, native apps are also better adapted to the native UI/UX elements of the platform; resulting in a superior user experience. There are distinct nuances in each operating system that users might not even realise but that they subconsciously know and expect to see. Many hybrid apps struggle to adapt and seem “native” across all platforms which contributes to them not being the top end-user choice. Native apps won’t have to deal with this issue by default.
Faster development
It’s not a 100% guarantee that a native mobile app development will be a faster process than building a hybrid application, but it is true most of the time. With only one platform to worry about, the development process is much more straightforward and fast. There are no cross-platform feature and performance checks, and QA testing takes less time too. Moreover, native apps allow the team to use specific software development kits (SDKs) for their platform making app development even more efficient.
More functionality for users
Thanks to complete access to the operating system; native apps can add features that hybrid apps won’t be able to integrate. So not only do native apps achieve better performance; but their opportunities are wider than those of hybrid or web apps.
Stronger security
Native apps are distributed via the platform’s authorised app stores that run a vigorous check on every application. The checks are so thorough, that they are able to eliminate almost all threats. According to 360 Tech Explorer, 99,9% of discovered mobile malware comes from third-party non-native app stores. While lengthy checks slow down the release process, this step allows for avoiding bugs; and issues that the development team missed that could worsen the user experience. For end-users, native apps mean confidence that private and sensitive data will not be collected and leaked to third parties. Surely, there are exceptions, and sometimes authorised apps still malfunction or turn out to share data with someone they’re not supposed to. However, the risks are dramatically lower. It is important to point out that hybrid apps can be very secure too; and we are not saying they’re not. However, being secure and reliable is much easier when you’re building a native app.
The key cons of native apps
While there are many pros to native apps, there are cons too.
Hidden costs
Ever since the Fortnite and Apple commission battle, it has become abundantly clear just how much marketplaces charge and earn from mobile app downloads and in-app purchases. Apple’s App Store and Google Play both charge 30% every time users buy something from the app. There is a whole debate about whether app stores deserve it because they provide an ecosystem or if they are too big and basically create a monopoly. We will not go into that, but the fact is they are making the rules, and all native apps have to agree to those rules which means losing out on a substantial percentage of profits. Another cost that is often overlooked is having to hire additional programmers to build a native app for each platform. Developers can rarely do a great job across
multiple platforms; so team expansion becomes unavoidable, raising the cost of mobile app development much higher.
Limited flexibility
If you hire an outsourcing agency for iOS app development services; you won’t later be able to copy the code and paste it to the Android or Windows platform. The code designed for a specific platform will have to be heavily rewritten; and additional tools applied in order for it to function well on another platform. More often than not, it makes sense to start the code from scratch if you are expanding to a new OS. Besides code, UX/UI logic has to be completely changed as every platform has its own rules and standards. This means that if your company has once gone for a native app but later decided to expand; it will have to tackle a big development project almost from the start; unlike with hybrid apps that would take more work upfront but then let you enjoy the benefits of multi-platform support in later stages.
Low chance of success
With so many apps available out there, the chances of a particular native app blowing up are slim; especially if it’s built by a small business with no strong brand yet. We can use mobile app development tools, such as prototyping; to forecast potential demand and interest but once the app hits the store – making people see; download, and use the application will be a whole different story.
Native and hybrid apps: what do you choose?
Native apps have their drawbacks but they are fast, secure, and provide the best user experience. Yet, because native mobile app development is expensive and time-consuming; it will not be the best fit for all companies, especially startups. Hybrid apps are easier to maintain and update, but they can leave you more vulnerable to security threats and you will be missing out on utilising platform features that native apps will be able to use. Ultimately, the choice comes down to the company’s long-term strategy; and whether they are ready to move slower and incur higher costs in return for superior performance and UI.