The number of both iOS and Android device users is increasing. And this puts businesses in a situation of choosing between the mobile app development of these two platforms. Thankfully, developers can build apps for both platforms with a single codebase. Thus, giving rise to hybrid app development companies.
However, hybrid app development has as many cons as its pros. In this article, we’ll take you through the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid app development.
Advantages of Hybrid Mobile App Development
There are some unmatched advantages of hybrid app development. Here are a few of those that you can make the best out of through hybrid app development services.
- Low development cost
Hybrid app development is said to cost 30% cheaper in comparison to native app development. Developers can create one app that supports both iOS and Android by employing a hybrid approach. However, the cost of maintenance increases with the rise in the demand for customization.
- Rapid development
A single codebase works for both iOS and Android app development. This saves time which is otherwise needed to write code for two platforms separately. Therefore, the development process in a hybrid framework takes less time than native app development.
- Extensive market reach
Whether to build an iOS app first or an Android app is a dilemma that is often faced by businesses. Regardless of the research you’ve done to analyze which platform is used by the majority, two are always better than one. Thus, developing apps for two platforms at the cost of one will always prove to be a better deal. It’ll help you reach a wider audience and attract users from both platforms simultaneously.
- Support for cloud services and enterprise solutions
With the help of Exchange Integration Code, incorporation of hybrid frameworks such as Ionic, Titanium, etc on the cloud is easy. Developers can enhance the functionality and appeal of the app by using a range of convenient plugins these frameworks provide. Hence, hybrid apps can be easily integrated with known platforms such as Amazon Web Services and Salesforce.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Mobile App Development
Besides many advantages, there are some cons of hybrid mobile app development.
- Slow performance
Multiple factors that impact the performance of a mobile app. The native carrying the same functionalities as a hybrid app performs comparatively better. Even though the performance difference is not much.
- Restricted functionalities
If you want a feature-rich mobile app with complex functionalities, then a hybrid app won’t be a suitable choice for you. The reason is, not every hybrid framework supports all the features of a native app. For instance, Phonegap. The stability of mobile apps is greatly affected by this limitation.
- New features take time
It is a long wait to start optimizing the new feature upon its launch by Apple and Google for iOS and Android. As a hybrid app, developers take time to put in support for the latest features. While SDKs for native apps are released much quicker than the cross-platform frameworks. So, this provides your competitors with an upper hand in case they’ve developed a native app.
- Lack of 3D support
Hybrid apps do not properly support complex graphics or 3D effects. So, developing a hybrid app with a high-end design, and having appealing graphics and 3D components won’t give you quality results. Though you can utilize third-party tools like Unity 3D for that needed quality, it’ll require more effort in comparison to native apps.
Wrapping Up
Consider all the points about hybrid mobile app development and make your pick. After all, it all comes down to one question- “What kind of mobile app do you want?”
After the complete evaluation, if you want to go for a hybrid app, then opting for a hybrid app development company is recommended. They are professionals who will leverage the features of this cross-platform to give you a quality app for your business.
