When you think of app development, you might only think about either Android or iOS. That is what many startups make mistakes. They only focus on one platform. It might be because they don’t have enough budget, time, and resources. Everybody knows starting a startup is challenging and can be overwhelming when choosing the right development approach. However, there is a third choice that solves many problems, and that is hybrid app development. There are several benefits of hybrid app development that make it the best solution to go for.
Just like any other app, hybrid apps are developed for and installed on different devices. But what sets them apart is that they support multiple platforms. Looking at the sheer number of users on different systems, the wise choice for a startup is to go for a hybrid solution that is better than focusing only on one operating system. So, today we will talk about the benefits of hybrid app development and why startups should go for it.
What is hybrid app development?
As its name suggests, hybrid app development is an approach in which apps are developed for multiple platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, and Web Browers. Meaning one app capable of running in different systems efficiently. You only need to write the code once to run it anywhere.
Benefits of hybrid app development
With hybrid apps becoming more dominant nowadays, let’s look at the advantages that are making them so popular and demanding.
Cost-effective
Sometimes, startups build an app just for one platform, unaware that later they need it to run on different platforms. The mistake is that they need to code separately later on. For that, they again need to hire developers, research new libraries, APIs, etc., which is a waste of money, time, and resources.
Instead of developing different versions for different platforms, building one app for multiple platforms is cost-effective. This is truly life-saving for small businesses with less budget.
Easy integration
Instead of looking for different SDKs, APIs, etc., the same libraries can be used for hybrid apps. On the other hand, the app for one platform can’t be installed on another. Plus, it will be impossible to integrate it with other apps. Since the app can be used in any environment, it can run without any limitations.
Wide audience reach
By focusing on only one platform, you are missing the opportunity to attract users from other operating systems. In this competitive market, targeting only one set of audiences means giving yourself a very slim or no chance of growing. According to Statista, Android occupies 73% market share and iOS 26% globally, which amounts to 99% jointly. So, going with the hybrid app development offers you to reach a wider audience worldwide.
Easy maintenance
Developing different versions for different platforms means you have to have QA for each one. It means more resources, expenses, and time to test the apps. Maintaining one app is a challenge in itself, but multiple apps are going to be tougher. However, by developing a hybrid app, you will have a single codebase, making it easier for you to maintain. Plus, bringing new versions and updating the app will be faster.
Faster development
It takes a lot of time to develop an app for multiple platforms. You will have to hire separate developers, plan, research, and implement features separately, etc., which takes a lot of time. But, with hybrid app development, you will be planning, researching, and implementing for a single codebase. You will have a single development team that will be working solely on one version, making the development timeframe shorter and the speed faster as compared to native app development.
With the introduction of React Native, Flutter, Ionic, etc., hybrid app development has become easier, faster, and more efficient.
Better speed and performance
One of the causes of low performance is lengthy code. But, the hybrid app development frameworks offer better speed since they work on the concept of less code and provide the ability to reuse the code repeatedly. Moreover, they don’t rely heavily on network communication, which means they run at a high speed even when traffic is high. One of the best examples of a hybrid app is Twitter.
Hybrid app development provides better speed and performance compared to other development approaches.
Better UI/UX
Hybrid app development offers tons of resources to enhance user interface and experience. On the other hand, hybrid apps are better and faster in terms of speed and performance, which boosts the user experience. They run effectively and efficiently on multiple platforms with the same set of features and code. Moreover, hybrid apps are lightweight, load content quickly, etc.
Offline support
Amazingly, the hybrid app development offers offline support. The users who don’t have much data plans and a smooth Internet connection is a huge plus point. They don’t experience performance issues, crashing problems, etc. They can run hybrid apps flawlessly, connect with some of the features when offline, store data, etc.
Faster time to market
As stated earlier, since you will be developing an app for multiple platforms with a single codebase, the development time is faster. It means you can launch the app much faster than developing separate versions for separate operating systems.
Saves time
The hybrid app development approach saves time, money, and resources. Because you will be focusing on a single codebase, you won’t be wasting time on hiring separate developers, researching separate libraries and APIs, and maintaining and updating different versions. Plus, you won’t have to work on designing many test cases to test the app.
Popular hybrid app development frameworks
Hybrid app development frameworks help developers develop an app faster, effectively, and efficiently at low costs. Plus, they help developers do their job with fewer risks and errors. So, let’s look at some of the best and most popular hybrid app development frameworks.
React Native
React Native is an open-source framework created by Facebook to develop an app for Android, iOS, Windows, and Web. The benefits of using React Native includes
- It saves time and money
- Provides better performance and flexibility
- Cost-effective
- Code reuse
Flutter
Flutter is another popular framework created by Google. It offers a wide range of resources, UI kits, etc., to customize the app for better speed and performance. With the help of Flutter, you can develop an innovative and stunning user interface. The benefits include
- Attractive and smooth UI designs
- Reduced development timeframe
- Faster time to market
Ionic
Ionic is an open-source framework used for developing apps for Android, iOS, Web, and desktop. The benefits include
- Smooth UI/UX design
- Faster development and testing
- Enhanced performance
PhoneGap
PhoneGap is another popular framework developed by Adobe Inc. It helps develop mobile apps for Android, iOS, Blackberry, etc. The benefits include
- Cost-effective for those who have budget constraints.
- Enhanced UI
- Faster app development
Xamarin
Last on our list is Xamarin, a free and open-source platform written in C#. The benefits include
- Offer libraries for Java, C++, and Objective-C
- Reusable code for different platforms
- Easy API integration
Popular examples of hybrid apps
Here are some of the popular examples of hybrid apps.
- Twitter: One of the biggest social media apps.
- Gmail: Most used email service provider created by Google.
- Instagram: Image-based online photo-sharing app owned by Facebook.
- Uber: The biggest ride-hailing app that includes food delivery, cab service, etc.
- Amazon Appstore: The leading E-commerce giant in the world.
If you are planning to develop an app that is cost-effective, user-friendly, flexible with better performance and speed, then the hybrid app is your best decision. After going through the pros and cons, have you decided to go for hybrid app development?
Why choose Truemark Technology?
With 5+ years of experience in software development, we have developed numerous quality hybrid apps at an affordable price. Moreover, we have expertise in React Native and other JavaScript frameworks to develop scalable and flexible hybrid apps for major platforms like Android, iOs, and Web.
Past 5+ years, we have been providing the best development services, making us one of the leading software companies in Nepal. You can always count on us for developing apps that resonate with your business needs and goals. Leveraging the latest trends and technologies, we build world-class software that will help you take your business to the next level. So, if you are looking for a reliable and trustful development partner, contact us at any time. Let’s have a chat and work together.
References: QSS Technosoft
Cover Image Credits: PikiSuperstar from Freepik
