Mobile application market
Mobile applications are an integral part of our daily lives. Using them, we communicate with family and friends, make transfers, shop, listen to music, watch TV series or check the weather. The range of possibilities is huge – from carrying out daily activities to making important decisions.
Currently, two systems reign supreme in the mobile market – Android and iOS. Android is still the most popular mobile operating system on the market. According to a Stockapp survey, by the end of 2021 it controlled nearly 70% of the total market. Despite this, it is losing its lead year by year, with iOS gaining. The system from Apple is increasingly popular and currently accounts for 25.5% of the market. This statistic shows that these two systems are the hegemons of the market, and the share of other mobile systems is only marginal.
Native vs. hybrid application
We divide mobile apps in terms of how they are built. We distinguish between native apps, hybrid apps and progressive apps. In the following article, we focus on the first two – native and hybrid.
Native applications
These are applications that we develop for a specific platform: iOS or Android. In the case of the former operating system, we write them in Swift / Objective-C, while in the latter we use Kotlin / Java. The native application accesses all the features offered by the device, while operating very efficiently. It is worth noting that both Google and Apple support developers by releasing appropriate tools that facilitate the development of native applications.
Hybrid applications
These are applications developed for several systems simultaneously. As the name suggests, this type of application combines native and web-based solutions. In practice, this means a considerable saving of resources, since we only have to prepare and maintain one source code. Hybrid applications also mean faster and easier interface building, which can be a key aspect if we have limited time.
Advantages and disadvantages – summary of technologies
The types of application construction correspond to different business challenges. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, which should be consulted at the decision-making stage. A thorough analysis will allow you to choose the right solutions for your project.
Native application
Undoubtedly, a big advantage of native technologies is their performance and the ability to use the full potential of the device. If the project is characterized by the need to create a flawless application and rich in advanced features, then this will be the ideal solution. Unfortunately, there is also the other side of the coin. The disadvantages of native technologies are the cost of their production and the high cost of maintenance. Wanting to exist on Android and iOS platforms, we need to create two versions of the software, and then maintain and develop them, which significantly increases the total cost of the project.
Hybrid application
A hybrid solution, due to its multi-platform nature, is much cheaper to maintain. Also, the process of creating such an application itself is much faster relative to native solutions. On the other hand, the drawback of such applications is their performance and limited capabilities. A hybrid application is an ideal solution where we have a limited budget, or we just want to test an application idea without involving separate development teams.
Native or hybrid application? Which solution should you choose?
And now the key question: which solution will be best for me? To give a clear answer requires an analysis of the situation. When choosing a particular type of application, let’s focus on its strengths and weaknesses, and consider the budget for creating and maintaining the application over several years. Contrary to what you may think, this is not so obvious, so it is worth taking the time to analyze our solution, or have a company analyze it to help select the best solution.
Get support from a specialist
At WeAstronauts, we specialize in developing native and hybrid applications. We tailor tools to our clients’ needs, preceding the implementation with a precise audit of their businesses. If you are looking for optimal solutions for your business, contact us through the contact form.
Summary
Mobile solutions are becoming increasingly sophisticated and demanding, which also brings with it complications that need to be taken into account. When choosing technology, business analysis and project specifications will play a key role. Native apps will work well if you have a large budget, can afford to wait longer, or have tested a mobile app idea and want to develop it further. Hybrid solutions, on the other hand, will be a better choice for us if we are a small company and just starting to develop the business, have a limited budget and time, or do not need a complex application. The variables are many, so the support of an external consultant can prove invaluable.
