So you’ve been thinking about building an application for your business and you did some research. Surely you’ve encountered two possibilities: web, native and hybrid. But which is which and which one should you consider in favor of the other?
What are web, native and hybrid applications?
A web application is very similar to a website. Users access them like they access any website. They follow a specific URL, but unlike a website, the web app has interactivity and it feels similar to a mobile app. A great example is Facebook.
A native application is built for just one platform and it can be written in different languages. For example, apps developed for iOS use Swift or Objective-C, while apps developed for Android devices use Java or Kotlin. Usually, a native app means actually two native apps: one for iOS devices and one for Android devices. However, some companies choose to have their product created exclusively for one platform.
A hybrid application is very similar to a native app. But it works on multiple platforms as it is a hybrid between a web and a native app. However, they don’t need a web browser to run. They are installed on a phone just like any other native app.
Native or hybrid apps: benefits and downsides
Native Apps
The main benefit of a native app is that it is faster. It has great performance and great user experience, it offers better data protection and it usually comes with a range of support tools from the app store.
The most important downside is that a native app is costly and it takes time to develop. Another challenge is offering the same features available for both iOS and Android platforms. These differences usually occur due to limited budgets or platform restrictions.
Hybrid Apps
The main benefit of a hybrid app is that you only need one single code base, which implicitly means faster delivery time and lower cost. They are also far easier to build, test and maintain.
The downside is that a hybrid app might fall short when it comes to overall performance. It is slower than a native app and has a limited user interface. Usually they need an internet connection to function.
The good news is that lately hybrid apps issues have great solutions. Thanks to the React Native framework, the app works fast and it looks and feels like a native one. Flutter is another good framework for building high performing hybrid apps. Both frameworks offer the possibility to implement components natively, if needed.
The Atta Systems team can build both native and hybrid apps
We know it’s pretty challenging to choose the best solutions for your app. This is why we can offer support and guidance so you can find the best and most cost effective option for you. Just send us an email at contact@atta.systems and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
