The moment you decide to build an app, you will be faced with many questions. When choosing between native, hybrid, or web apps, various factors like technical, business, design, marketing, and branding need consideration for app success.
For instance, Any smart business owner knows that if you want your company or business to sustain growth, you have to reinvest profit earnings back into the company. In the digital era, obtaining profit and reinvestment are proving difficult with many new avenues to pick from, but the original remains the same.
The consequences in case you make the wrong decision will be very expensive. Changing the decision about platform, technology or app type in the process of app development can undo lots of working hours and exponentially increase the overall app development costs.
Here in the blog, we will discuss the difference between Native vs Hybrid vs Web apps and which is best for your business? Let’s get into the topic:
What is a Native app?
Native applications are exclusively developed for one particular system. Similar to Android apps that don’t run on Windows without Bluestacks. In order to facilitate native mobile app development using iOS need objective C or Swift, for Android we use Java, for Windows we need .Net and so on. Native apps have the ability to fully access device features and APIs using accessing Native API. That’s correct! This version maintains the active voice and conveys the information clearly. Here are the pros and cons of native apps
Advantages of Native app
- The native apps offer a fast, responsive, robust and reliable experience to the users.
- Due to efficient coding, it uses less amount of hardware
- Provides rich user experience by accessing native device functionalities.
- The native apps will work even when there is no internet connection
- Using the push notification the app usage can be increased.
- The native app developers develop the app using the core operating systems which will result in a high performing user interface app to the users.
- Native apps easily reach the target audience as they are accessible natively.
Disadvantages of Native app
- These native apps are available only on a single platform to the audience.
- App development for two platforms is very costly and time-consuming.
- Supporting and updating the app across the codebase and app store in both platforms is compulsory.
- Native apps on two platforms will not provide the same user experience.
- To develop and maintain an app for two platforms, you may need two separate developer teams, each specialized in one platform.
- These native apps require meticulous maintenance that drives the product price.
- Native apps are not compatible with all devices.
Of course, the cost for the development of native apps is higher since the costs are based on the time spent on the development of the features needed for each platform. Achieving better performance comes with a higher development cost. Native apps are finely tuned to the platform, reducing the learning curve for users.
What is a Hybrid app?
Hybrid apps usually rest in between native apps and web apps. They behave like a native app as they are downloadable from the app store. It is the combination of both native and web apps. Hybrid apps enclose web apps within the shell of a native application, enabling faster development while retaining access to native hardware features through the shell, providing a more native feel. The hybrid apps can be run on any platform with just slight improvements. Basically Hybrid apps are based on web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and hybrid development framework such as Ionic, React Native, Xamarine, etc. Hybrid apps are leveraging the native benefits allowing for the same app to be available both in the App Store and Play Store
Advantages of Hybrid apps
- Developers quickly build hybrid apps by leveraging standard web technologies for most of the development process.
- They use device native features
- Developing a single base saves resources because developing a single codebase only needs a single team and also takes less time.
- Updates to the app can be done easier and deployed easier.
- These apps can be worked even without an internet connection
- They are distributed on both app stores and can leverage them for distribution.
- Hybrid apps are very fast as a single code base operates them
- The development cost was very less as it is a single code base
Disadvantages of Hybrid apps
- The performance of hybrid apps is often poorer compared to native apps because it relies on the quality of the web view.
- Hybrid apps are not too fast like native apps
- Optimization of hybrid apps is very lower than native apps
- Developing a native-like experience can be more challenging because the app is simultaneously developed for two platforms.
- Need for the third-party services. JavaScript won’t work until you use the hybrid app development framework.
The benefits of this approach are that it offers to hire one web development team. Hybrid apps can run on any device or platform, saving development time and reaching a wider audience. Businesses prefer hybrid apps when reducing time to market is critical without exceeding the budget.
What is a Web app?
Web apps are simply websites but they feel like apps because of their interactivity and functionality. Web apps operate through the internet and typically run in browsers; users access them through browsers and cannot download them to mobile devices like native or hybrid apps. The coding languages for this app are JavaScript and HTML5. Web apps prioritize and compress a lot of information for presentation on the website. These web apps will redirect to the URL of the relevant website. These web apps won’t ask you to install something from their page.
Advantages of Web apps
- Web apps will redirect so they won’t occupy your device memory.
- These apps will save the user’s personal information on servers.
- These apps need an internet connection and web browser.
- Shareability and reach of a website
- There is no app store approval process
- The capability of any platform
- Instant updates
Disadvantages of web apps
- Unavailable through app stores
- They need always an internet connection
- They just appear only on the home screen if a user bookmarks them through their browser.
- They don’t work on older devices and browsers.
- These apps are not access to native capabilities of the device
- Less intuitive and interactive, slower operating speed.
- Limited access to native features
Web app development is still on demand. Web apps enable code originally written in any programming language to compile in the browser.
How to pick the best one for your business?
In order to choose the right one for your business, it is important to understand the difference between native, hybrid and web apps in each option. So you are in the right direction – web apps are cheapest and fastly developed apps but they lack their ability in a mobile device. Native apps are the best and most powerful apps in the app market. But when it comes to cost it’s relatively high. When it comes to hybrid apps, it attempts to access the power and feel of native apps while reducing the cost and time to develop it. Each one has their own way and will benefit your business in a way that only an app can.
Conclusion
Choosing between Native or Hybrid or Web Apps have their own benefits and downfalls. To cater to the needs of mobile users. There is no unique solution that is best and each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. The choice you make will impact business growth. So that you understand the assets and limitations and use them to get the best return in the form of your app. Once you decide the app type, it is important to work with the developers who visualise your concept and bring it to live within your budget and as per the core goal of your business.
Other articles on this topic : native apps vs hybrid apps
1. Differences Between Native, Hybrid and Web app Development
2. Native vs Hybrid : what platform do you choose?
3. Responsive Web, Native, Hybrid or Web Apps, Confused?
4. Weekly Round up topic: Different Types of Mobile Apps to Develop for any Businesses
Get in touch with us now as we Krify is a professional mobile app development company in India and the UK. We will provide the details for you, obtaining the final choice an easy call.
