In the modern era of technologies, small business knows the importance of applications to engage users. So, Cross-platform development is the game changer for small businesses to build a strong presence of users, increase sales, and operate streamline. It is hectic to develop apps separately for Android and iOS platforms. In this way, it is not only costly but also wastes a lot of time and is not suited for the budget of a small business. Meanwhile, Cross-platform app development is worth it, the title of a game changer for small businesses. Because cross-platform development is cost-effective, wider-reach of users, and works around multiple platforms. We explore the pros and cons, costs, technologies, and some examples of cross-platform mobile app development.
What is Cross-platform development?
Cross-platform development is operating to develop software with a single code for multiple platforms (like Windows, Android, and iOS). It applies to many domains like web app development, desktop app development, and mobile app development.
Cross Platform Development- the pros and cons
Pros
There are many benefits to using the approach of cross-platform app development. It can save time, work faster, reuse code, and maintain the best quality. Let’s explore more benefits in depth.
Cost Effective
Cross-platform developments reduce the cost of the app development process. It is stated that cross-platform app development is 30% cheaper than the native app. Because of its code reusability, one app can operate on multiple platforms.
Time-saving
Cross-platform development is a time-saving process. The technologies (like React Native and Iconic) for developed app makes their progress faster in the market.
Maintenance
Cross-platform development has the best maintenance performance. Once a bug appears in the existing code, it is removed with the help of a tool and doesn’t show again.
Wider Reach of the audience
Cross-platform app development gets a broader range of audience by using multiple platforms at one time. It is the best possibility for business owners to choose a business app developed on the approach of a cross-platform app development framework.
Code re-usability of Cross-Platform development
Cross-platform app framework is the best choice for reusing code to develop new products from previous existing code. So, the right choice is to create a new application that generates from existing code. Cross-platform app development code is processed in two ways. First, reuse the code to develop a whole new app from the existing one. Second, use the library of cross-platform, where one code helps to work on various platforms.
Cons
While there are advantages of cross-platform app development, it has drawbacks.
Poor Performance
Cross-platform development has poor performance. These apps are graphics-heavy or intensive tasks that crash the application.
Lack of native feature
Cross-platform development lacks in the native features. The advanced features or function for the native mobile app is quite complex to run in cross-platform app development.
Compatibility Problem
Cross-platform development has a compatibility issue. It is challenging to solve the compatibility issue. When problems appear in the differences in the guidelines, software, and hardware, Developers have to solve them with different technologies like react native, Flutter, or Xamarin.
Customization issue
Cross-platform development sometimes spots the issue of customization. Its unified code that works around the many platforms causes the problems. Customization needs a specific coding platform, which requires building complexity that wins against multiple platforms at once.
Tough Code structure
Cross-platform app development has a complicated code structure. So developers develop layer-by-layer code bases to work on multiple applications that make the code structure complex and often harder. So, developers use tools and technologies to overcome this issue.
Cost
Cross-platform mobile app development costs vary according to the need for app features, functions, and better UI/UX design structure. As for simple apps that need minimal function and features, their costs start from $10,000 and end at $20,000. As for medium complex apps that demand more function and better UX/UI design, their range starts from $20,000 to $50,000. As for advanced-level apps, these apps need a highly advanced level of function and an advanced UX/UI design framework. The estimated range starts from $50,000 to $150,000 or more.
If compared with the native mobile app, then cross-platform mobile app development is worth it to use for small businesses. It could use a single code on multiple platforms that increase the audience and minimize the cost.
Technologies
There are some technologies to find the solution and overcome the drawbacks of cross-platform mobile app development. These technologies are efficient and currently in demand in the market.
Flutter
Flutter is a powerful tool developed with Google that uses Dart program language. Because of its best performance, speed, and UI widget, it is gaining popularity among developers. Because of its UI widget, it is easy to develop multiple software with a single code base in minutes. Some examples of Flutter are Alibaba, Google Play, eBay, etc.
React Native
React Native tool is developed through Meta platforms and uses the JavaScript program language. It is operating to create code that looks like a native mobile app and works on Android and iOS. Some examples of React Native are Shopify, Facebook, Skype, etc.
Xamarin
Xamarin developed with Microsoft in 2011 and used the C# program language. The purpose of Xamarin is to create three applications for Android with a single code base. An example of Xamarin is Alaska Airlines.
Iconic
Iconic is used to build web-based applications and uses web languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to give a native-like feel. Examples of Iconic are children and education apps, EA games, etc.
Native Script
Native Script operates to build the app with better performance and a native UI structure. It uses the two program languages, JavaScript and Typescript. Examples of Native scripts are Strudel, Breethe, Daily Nanny, etc.
Sencha Touch
Sencha Touch is to develop a complex hybrid application. It is the best tool for cross-platform app development that works on multiple platforms. The ExtJS, HTML, and JavaScript are their program languages. The benefits of Sencha Touch are strong security, easy use, fast hardware, and data.
Adobe Phone Gap
Adobe Phone Gap is also a tool for cross-platform app development that builds through Nitobi, but in 2011, Adobe bought it. The application develops smoothly with this tool, which speeds up the development process. Examples of Adobe Phone Gap are Wikipedia, Pollution, Health Trap, etc.
Examples of Apps that have been developed using cross-platform technologies
There are a lot of examples that are developed with the approach of cross-platform app development technology. Here are some examples of them;
Example of Apps that have been developed by using cross-platform technologies
Facebook is the best example of cross-platform app development that develops with the help of React Native technology. Commercial run on Facebook gets a broader range of audience.
Instagram is linked to the Facebook app. And it is also developed with the cross-platform to react native.
Walmart
Walmart application also develops with the help of the React Native tool. The purpose of Walmart is to serve a broader range of customers.
Airbnb
The tool used in Airbnb is React Native for the development of applications. We can use it for both Android and iOS platforms.
Tesla
Another example of cross-platform app development is the Tesla app. This app is used to control vehicles and develops with the help of the React native tool.
Skype
Skype is an example of a cross-platform app development. It is generated with the help of the Xamarin tool.
Sound Cloud
Sound Cloud is also developing with the help of the Xamarin tool. That is the best example of cross-platform app development.
Final Words
Nowadays, smartphones become a crucial part of the lives of individuals. That is why most companies want to build hybrid applications that work on Android, iOS, and desktop systems. As discussed above, the cross-platform mobile app development approach is developing multiple platforms with a single code. Because it increases the digital presence, is a cost-effective, time-saving process, and gets a broader audience.
However, cross-platform app development has some drawbacks, which cause poor performance, native features, and limited access. But, these technologies (like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin) operate to utilize the issue. Anyhow, cross-platform app development is the best choice for small businesses because of its availability of multiple platforms with one code base. After evaluating the pros and cons, you can decide for your business.
