Cross-platform custom mobile app development

1. Cross-platform and native applications
How do I choose a tool for creating mobile apps?
2. Features of cross-platform development
Fundamentals and approaches
3. Features of native development
4. How native applications work
5. Comparison of native and cross-platform development
6. What should I pay attention to when choosing an approach?
How is the cost of a mobile app calculated?
7. How to create a successful service: the Tiffin Loop case
Benefits with Flutter

The success of a mobile app begins with identifying business needs. Only knowing the goals and objectives of the future product, you can make an informed decision about choosing between native and cross-platform development.

Let's look at the advantages and features of each approach to creating mobile applications. After reading the article, it will become clearer to you how to choose the most suitable option for your business.

Cross-platform VS Native

As our practice shows, businesses are increasingly turning to cross-platform solutions. For the most part, this is because it benefits companies operating in dynamic sectors, such as e-commerce, information applications, fintech, foodtech, corporate mobile management systems, educational and training platforms.

Cross-platform development allows developers to create apps that work equally well on both iOS and Android, saving companies time and resources. Such applications can be easily refined and scaled.

As for the other approach, specialized (native) languages are chosen to create applications for a specific operating system. In this case, Swift becomes the main tool for iOS development, and Kotlin becomes the main tool for the Android ecosystem.

Native languages are popular because applications run faster and more efficiently, and developers get direct access to all the features of the platform. For example, using Swift, a programmer can easily integrate the latest iOS features such as Face ID or ARKit.

How do I choose a tool for creating mobile applications?

If maximum performance and access to device-specific functions are important to you, native app development may be the best solution.

On the other hand, a cross-platform approach will help save resources when running on multiple platforms at the same time.

We will try to make sure that our review helps you make an informed choice that best meets the goals and expectations of the end users of your products.

We adhere to a clear structure of communication with clients. Our development workflow is completely transparent to you.

Weekly reviews:

Regular online meetings to discuss progress

Report on completed tasks

Overview of current work

Planning upcoming stages

Comparison of planned and actual time costs

Written summary of the meeting in electronic format

At the end of each key stage of the project, we make a presentation:

The results of the analytical work

Ready-made design layouts

Implemented interfaces

At the end of each month, we provide:

Detailed statement of completed works

An invoice indicating the actual time spent

Full report on the results achieved

You will always be aware of the project status and will be able to monitor the work process.

Features of cross-platform development

Cross-platform means that the application can run on different operating systems and devices using a single code base.

Special frameworks are used in the development of mobile applications:

Flutter;

React Native;

Xamarin (rest in peace, this is now.NET MAUI).

If you are developing an app for ordering food, then with the native approach, you need to create a different version each time, designed for iOS and Android. Therefore, a double development of the interface, functionality and testing of each option will be required.

Advantages of cross-platform development

Enter the market quickly. A single code base, a rich ecosystem of libraries, a huge repository of ready-made widgets, and solutions for common tasks accelerate application development.

Reduce costs. Developing one product is cheaper than creating two separate ones. There is also a reduction in the development team and workload by 40-60%. Syncing updates for iOS and Android saves your maintenance budget.

You get a flexible and scalable solution. Skia's proprietary rendering engine provides high performance and smooth animations. This design has a simple and intuitive interface creation and the ability to quickly change the appearance of the application.

Are there any disadvantages to cross-platform development?

Limited usage specifics. There may be performance limitations and access to specific device features such as advanced stabilization modes, image depth, or GPU accelerators.

Template design of UX/UI interfaces. Sometimes you have to "sacrifice" some aspects of the user experience in order to have the same look and feel on iOS and Android. This can manifest itself in unusual buttons and the absence of typical platform elements

It remains dependent on the framework provider. The chosen framework is important to developers: if the vendor stops support, the stability of the program will be disrupted.

Basics of cross-platform applications

Let's explain which three popular frameworks are used to compile code into native versions.

The framework	Description of the framework	Advantages	Application Usage Example
React Native	JavaScript technology, which creates products on iOS and Android using a "bridge" between JavaScript and native components.	Support for different operating systems; Accelerated creation process; A wide library of ecosystems.	For an online store; For taxis.
Flutter	Google's Dart-based technology, designed to create high-performance applications with beautiful interfaces, compiles code into a native solution to achieve performance and cross-platform compatibility.	Effectiveness; Aesthetics of usability; Accelerated UI creation thanks to widgets.	For fitness; An animated game.
Xamarin	C# and are used .NET and ensures nativeness through the use of platform APIs.	Nativity; One language; Cross-platform is supported.	To manage tasks; For corporate products.

Flutter is used by large companies such as Rosbank, Magnit, MTS Travel, Yandex.Drive, and in the world of Uber, Alibaba, Google Ads and others. The tool supports styles for both Android (Material Design) and iOS (Cupertino).

What is meant by native development?

Native mobile development is the creation of products that adapt to a specific operating system.

Developers use languages specific to each platform (for example, Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android), which allows optimal use of device resources and achieve high performance.

Native applications have higher performance indicators. Seamless integration with device functions is achieved through the use of native code.

Imagine that you want to create a messenger. For native development, you will need to use Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android, which ensures that each application is fully adapted to its platform.

Advantages of using native development

The performance is at a high level. The work proceeds faster and more stable, as the gadget's resources are fully utilized.

Device functions are available. They can easily interact with device hardware components such as camera, GPS, and sensors. Fitness software, for example, can use GPS to track a running or cycling route.

The interface is intuitive. The ability to comply with the design standards of each platform allows iOS users to see the familiar interface, and Android users to see their own. Even the navigation buttons are positioned as expected by users of each system

Safety. Built-in OS security mechanisms are available that are critical for mobile applications that process confidential information, such as banking systems.

Fast adaptation to OS updates. Due to its platform specifics, instant integration of new functions is achieved. Unlike cross-platform solutions, they provide a faster response to changes in functionality.

Are there any disadvantages to native application development?

Development is lengthy and expensive. It will require creating separate versions for each platform, so it will take more time and money to develop.

Difficulties in maintaining and updating. Since performing individual tasks for each platform complicates management, long-term maintenance costs increase.

Dependence on the platform. Programs are highly dependent on a particular resource and its updates, which may lead to the need for regular changes to the code to maintain compatibility with new versions of the operating system.

Limited portability. The code base is not universal, so when migrating a product to another platform, it requires rewriting a significant part of the code, taking into account its features, which will require additional resources and time.

The difficulty of testing. Checking a product on multiple devices and OS versions is a complex and time–consuming process, but it is necessary to ensure the correct operation of the program.

How native applications work

Below are a few basic frameworks used in development.

The framework	What kind of platform is it	What are the advantages	Where it is applied
Android Native	Android applications are being developed. Java and Kotlin languages are used. Libraries and tools for creating software are provided.	High work efficiency; Full access to the Android API; Optimization for specific devices.	Google Maps, WhatsApp
iOS Native	iOS development with excellent integration, using Swift and Objective-C.	Efficiency; iOS features are available; Apple standards are supported.	Apple Music
Xamarin	Microsoft technology for creating products in C#. Cross-platform is supported.	You can do with one language.; Native APIs are available; Multiple platforms are supported.	Corporate software, task management
NativeScript	JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular are used. There is access to the native API.	Open source code; The ability to use JavaScript; Multiplatform is supported.	Products for managing health or fitness indicators.

Comparing native and cross-platform development – the difference between applications

Parameter	Native development	Cross-platform development
Efficiency	Effective	Lower cost
Access to device functionality	Full	Selective
Development time	Longer duration	Fast
Cost	Higher	Below
User experience	Simple and straightforward	It is not always adapted to a specific option

Business application – what should I pay attention to when choosing?

When choosing how to create an application, you should first determine your priorities.

If you are striving for maximum performance and smooth operation of a mobile application, pay attention to native development. Such applications use all the features of the device, be it a camera or GPS navigation.

Cross-platform development is suitable for quick access to multiple platforms. You can create an app for both iOS and Android simultaneously, saving time and resources.

Answer yourself four basic questions:

What devices does your target audience use? Assuming that most people use an iPhone, then it might be worth focusing on the iOS version.

What is your development budget?

What features of the app are particularly important to your users?

When should the product be launched?

Start by making a list of the main features of your future mobile app. These can be different scenarios of user interaction. For example, the functions of table reservations and payment processing are critically important for the restaurant business.

Startup time often plays a crucial role. If you want to test the viability of an idea in a real market, it is more rational to choose the path of rapid development.

When you plan to hold a promotion or launch a new product in the coming months, cross-platform development may be the best choice. For example, if you are launching a new cafe and want to quickly create a pre-order program, using cross-platform technologies will allow you to enter the market faster.

How is the cost of cross-platform and native mobile app development calculated?

The cost of mobile development is influenced by various factors, such as the functionality of the future application, the choice of platform and development tools.

There are many frameworks for cross-platform development, each with its own features and cost. Your budget directly affects the choice of technology. Cross-platform is usually more economical due to the ability to use the same code for multiple platforms. Native is more expensive in the short term, but it has its advantages, which we wrote about in this article.

The choice should be based on the specific requirements of the project, budget and long-term goals. Our developers will always be able to help you weigh the pros and cons of each approach and choose the best solution.

How to create a successful service: the Tiffin Loop case

Let's take a look at the difference between native and cross-platform mobile development using a specific example of our Tiffin Loop project.

Our team was tasked with developing an unusual reusable tableware rental service that would help reduce waste and provide convenience for partner restaurants and customers.

Tiffin Loop

mobile

Обеспечили диверсификацию бизнеса и рост выручки для компании Tiffin Loop

We understood that the choice of technology would affect the speed of market entry and the quality of the product. After the analysis, we settled on Flutter.

Why did we come to this decision? We have clearly shown you on the diagram.

Flutter benefits in this case

Flutter development has helped to optimize the process of creating a digital product and reduce costs due to the following advantages:

A single code base. You can use a single code to develop both the iOS and Android versions of a mobile app. As a result, the process significantly reduced the development time and resources required to create two separate applications.

Hot Reload technology. Programmers can make changes and immediately see the result without completely restarting the application.

Smooth animation. The flexibility of the design allows you to implement a creative concept in the shortest possible time.

Save on testing. Bugs were fixed in both versions at once, which accelerated development and improved product quality.

Reducing communication costs. The common technology stack has simplified communication between developers working on different platforms.

Reducing the working hours of the project manager and team leader. All the advantages in the previous paragraphs have reduced the time spent on project management.

With Flutter, we were able to create an attractive and intuitive interface that users appreciated.

We hope that our article and case study have helped you better understand the specifics of implementing projects in cross-platform and native application development. If you have your own experience developing mobile applications at the junction of these two methods, share them with us!