App development may seem simple and straightforward, ? and it is! All you need is a positive mindset and some well-informed industry knowledge to give you an edge over your competition.
Although several factors must be kept in mind and deliberated on when you begin developing an app based on your unique idea, choosing an app development platform is perhaps the most essential aspect that must be considered at the very beginning.
As there are multiple options to choose from and various benefits to each option, we have created a comparison in this article between the choice of a Native or a Hybrid application to help you decide when the time is right.
Why Does the Development Platform Matter?
Choosing the right development platform to match your requirements is the most crucial step in your app development and production process. The development platform dictates the capabilities, UI, functionality, integration, and other features. Even though the difference between Native and Hybrid apps in the industry is fast approaching a non-differentiable level, there remain specific crucial differences that are highlighted below.
User Interface and Navigation
The navigation and user interface of the app is affected by your choice of the development platform. A native app incorporates usage cycles, UI elements, and navigation flows familiar to the users and well-paired with the specific OS or platform for which the app is developed. Native apps also benefit from a consistency of visual elements such as icons, emojis, and text formatting, that match the rest of the OS.
With a Hybrid app, you can deliver a consistent appearance across several different devices, but the appearance and experience will not match the natural flow of the OS as well when compared to a Native app.
Cross-Platform Compatibility and Integration
The benefit of developing a Hybrid app is the ability to support many different devices from several manufacturers, all having their unique tech specifications and capabilities.
With a Hybrid app, you can fine-tune the processes to deliver the most positive experience to the broadest group of users. Thus, when you are targeting a broader market for your app, it is best to opt for a Hybrid development platform.
Hybrid apps also benefit from greater integration, as the app can circumvent the restrictions of the OS and utilize third-party services to enhance capabilities.
This does weaken the security to a small extent, which can be easily corrected by applying additional layers of encryption to the app.
Need for Additional Resources
As different operating systems utilize varying protocols for accessing internal resources on the device, your app will have to account for this factor. In the case of a Native app, the application is developed directly for the OS in question; thus the access to resources, permissions, and integration of services is more natural, more fluid, and more accessible.
In the case of a Hybrid app, a limitation may exist, as the app is not developed for a specific platform and may need to use multiple pathways to access the same kind of resources on different operating systems or devices.
This does create a reliance on external resources to circumvent OS restrictions, which may add to costs and development time.
Speed of Operation
Another factor that separates a Hybrid and Native app is the speed with which operations can be executed.
With a Hybrid app, the speed of the functionality depends on the browser available on the device, and it is usually slower than Native apps. This is because the resources that are being accessed exist on independent servers connected to the app. The app must retrieve data from the back end every time an operation is executed.
On the other hand, a Native app provides higher speed, as each operation is seamlessly integrated with the OS environment. Whatever resource must be accessed can be easily retrieved in a short time.
Development Period and Costs
In terms of the development period involved, a Hybrid app usually takes less time to be developed and requires less maintenance.
Native apps may encounter bugs and require maintenance and improvements with each iteration of the OS update for the specific device.
This affects the overall cost of the development process, where Native apps require a higher budget as compared to a Hybrid app.
Conclusion
The decision to choose between a Hybrid or a Native app for your business must be made after careful deliberation and well-informed consensus. This is because the future of your app and business may depend on this choice alone. It is best to undertake a complete assessment of requirements and resources before settling on one final decision. Don’t fret, whatever choice you make would surely be the best for your business. Just don’t rush into it.
Good Luck with your App Development Journey!
