The ongoing conflict between iOS and Android apps impacts development decisions. Users are constrained by their device's OS, leaving them with limited options.
However, for app owners and development teams, the question isn’t that trivial. Developers build mobile apps with the smartphone’s operating system in mind. The platform defines tools, programming languages, and the IDEs they use. Cross-platform development can be the most balanced option if you want to develop an app for both Android and iOS. Separate codebases for each platform put a drag on the building process.
It’s hard to say whether cross-platform development is the "best" way to build an app. It will depend on a variety of factors, including the specific requirements of your app, the complexity of its features, the performance requirements, and the preferences (tech skills) of your development team.
Stats on iOS and Android Apps
iOS and Android apps are the most popular mobile applications, with almost all of the mobile application market occupied by these two platforms. According to
Although iOS has fewer users than Android, it offers a more profitable market for software products. Therefore, when deciding which platform to focus on, consider your business goals and target audience. Choosing the fitting platform will save you from questions like “How to get Android apps for iPhone?”. Keep in mind that success depends on choosing the right software development process, and these statistics do not guarantee success.
How to Make an App for Both iOS and Android
The development of iOS and Android apps isn’t different much from the usual app-building process. A team consists of developers, QAs, UI/UX designers, etc. The difference will come with the choice of the best tools to develop mobile apps.
You can choose the best mobile app frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin, or try your luck with low code/ no coding tools like Appy Pie, Zoho Creator, or Appian.
Multiple lists will show you what’s trending on the market. However, trends are not worth chasing if you plan to develop apps for both iOS and Android. You’ll need flexibility, easy scaling, and a reliable development process, and that needs quality research.
What is Cross-Platform Development?
To build a mobile app from scratch, you’ll need to choose one of the mobile application types. We’re used to thinking there are 3 main ones: native apps, hybrid applications, and PWAs (Progressive Web Apps).
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Native apps are built using a specific OS (usually fit for only iOS and Android apps). Native development is used to build mobile apps for use on a particular device or platform. iOS apps would be written in Swift or Objective-C and compiled with XCode (a native development tool). Application for Android devices will be coded using Kotlin or Java and compiled using Android Studio.
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Hybrid applications are the combination of web technologies and “native shell”. In simpler words, developers write core functionality with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and encapsulate code within a native application. Hybrid platforms consist of 2 components: a backend code and a native viewer downloaded for displaying the functions and the backend. To be honest, although hybrid development makes it possible to develop apps for both iOS and Android, it requires excellent coding skills.
This type of app is less optimized, could have trouble with UI design, and lacks app performance. To be fair though, hybrid development is definitely a cost-effective option (sometimes 2x cheaper than native).
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Progressive Web Apps. These are web pages converted into mobile apps. They can be run on any device and offline and are significantly cheaper in development. But, the core functionality might be limited on different OS, not compatible with app stores, and have some security risks.
And here comes a very important addition to the list - cross-platform mobile applications. It is suitable and even more convenient to make an app both for Android and IOS. Cross-platform (mobile) frameworks were literally made to have a single mobile app used for both OS.
Benefits of Cross-Platform (Mobile) Frameworks
Cross-platform development is worth considering as it has some significant benefits. And in these fast-paced economies, we don’t have the luxury to be slow, expensive, and ineffective.
Why are cross-platform (mobile) frameworks best for rapid app development?
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Reduced development costs and time. Only one app for all platforms is much faster to build and release to the market. You don’t have to build the application for iOS & Android separately. Fewer developer hours spent, a more cost-effective option.
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Reusable code. Cross-platform development tools allow for code sharing across platforms, making the entire development process a whole lot easier.
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Better target audience reach. Native development is associated with a
smoother user experience . However, cross-platform development means better exposure to a global audience without platform limits.
As with every solution in app development, cross-platform (mobile) frameworks have drawbacks. For instance, reusable code can face not-so-reusable UI/UX designs. Also, the minus is that the cross-platform (mobile) frameworks depend on third-party software, limiting our choices.
Best Mobile App Frameworks for iOS and Android apps
The app development company most definitely has one or two cross-platform (mobile) app frameworks. Even one could be enough to have in the tech stack (my personal favorite is React Native). Let’s take a look at the best tools to develop mobile apps.
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React Native: Developed by Facebook, React Native is known for its ability to offer near-native performance and support for both iOS and Android platforms. It uses JavaScript and provides an easy way to create cross-platform apps. React Native's code-sharing feature allows developers to reuse code across platforms, making it a popular choice for businesses. Also, React Native has a large community of developers who are continuously improving the framework, and its hot-reloading feature speeds up the development process.
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Flutter: Google's mobile app development framework, Flutter, has gained popularity for its customizable user interface and fast development cycle. Flutter uses Dart programming language and makes it easy to develop apps for both iOS and Android. Flutter has a hot-reloading feature too which helps developers see changes in the app's interface in real-time. It can also boast a widget library, which provides pre-built UI components, making it easier to create custom interfaces.
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Ionic: Ionic is a framework that allows developers to build cross-platform apps using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It provides a wide range of pre-built UI components. Ionic's codebase is shared between platforms, and it uses Angular, a widely used web development framework, making it easier for web developers to transition to mobile platforms.
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Xamarin: Xamarin is a Microsoft-owned framework that provides native performance for both iOS and Android platforms. It allows developers to write code in C#, and its cross-platform development feature allows for the sharing of code between platforms. Xamarin also offers a large library of pre-built UI components, which speeds up the development process.
Quick Overview
There is no single answer to how to develop an app for both iOS and Android and make it succeed. Analysis of your industry, competitors, best tools to develop mobile apps, and development companies should help you have a more clear picture of the entire process.
If you don’t have lots of time on your hands, it would be best to consult with tech managers, CTO, or app design professionals. No matter what type of mobile app development or the best mobile app frameworks you choose, the development team is the crucial part.
Feel free to reach out!