When it comes to mobile app development , its really been a difficult task to choose the best technology for developing your app.
Depending on your business objectives and goals , each technology has their own advantage and disadvantage . Variety of factors need to be taken into consideration while deciding to build your app on Native , Hybrid or Web version platform . I am writing this article not to choose the winner among the three platform , but I am here to guide you the advantage and disadvantage of each platform , from mobile app development company viewpoint .
Web Apps
Web apps are apps that run on your phone browser and does not get stored in your phone . Web apps are not website , rather they are made specifically for the phone browser to improve functionality , and is not similar to mobile sites .
Web apps can’t be downloaded from the respective app stores , rather they can be access from a phone browser . IT’s hard to find the difference between web apps , hybrid apps or responsive website design .
Sometime you might have seen that you have downloaded the app from app store , and the app is showing you non rather than the web view of the website , containing url of web app .
How A Web App Can Be Build ?
Web apps are built Javascript , CSS , HTML 5 and can be run only in a browser like safari , chrome etc . If you are searching for software development kit for developing web apps , then unfortunately its not available .
Progressive web apps is hybrid version of regular web pages and mobile apps , but lacks the functionality of native mobile apps . But due to technology advancement in this technology , progressive apps are now able to successfully deliver functionalities like sending push message , using test gestures and so on .
Advantage
- One app for all platform
- Easy to build
- Inexpensive option
- Can be maintained easily
Disadvantages
- Slower performance than native app
- Needs browser to run
- No icons on desktop
Native Mobile Apps
Native mobile apps are the most famous and common type of app available in market. Both Android and iOS platform have their specific written languages to build app . Apple has Objective C and swift and Android app has Java . Most company prefer to invest in the native app because of its advantage .
Advantages
- Really fast and responsive
- Gives best performance output
- Available to get downloaded from the app stores .
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Required a highly skilled technical person to build the apps
- Not best option for simple mobile apps .
Native mobile app user must necessarily have to keep on updating the app in order to take advantage of improve accessibility , however it may not be the case in web app .
Inspite of the higher initial cost in developing a native app , it is proven worthwhile for business organisation due to its advantage and higher performance , thus giving user personalised experience .
Hybrid Mobile App
Hybrid apps works across all platform and gives higher performance than web apps . It is built using HTML , CSS , Javascript and run in web view . It also contains the features of native app also .
Advantages
- Easy to built using technology like HTML / CSS / Javascript
- Less expensive to develop
- One app for all platform using technology like Cordova
- Requires less time to develop than native app
Disadvantages
- Slower performance in comparison with native app
- More expensive than web apps .
- Less user experience than native app .
Since the hybrid app are just the web view version , it required more time to load and hence it affect the user experience . The another main disadvantage being it can not be customised on the basis of platform .
Which Approach To Choose From ?
Well this decision solely depends on your business model like in how much time you want your app , what is the initial investment you are planning to invest in apps , how complex is your app and so on .
Irrespective of the approach you choose from , your app must be quick , responsive and reliable . As more and more users are moving towards mobile device , and to stay ahead with your competitors , you should provide your customer a richer experience .
Finally , its important to work with an app development company that can specialised in these things and can provide you consultation regarding the same .