Native vs Hybrid Applications: A Fair Comparison Guide

With the increasing usage of smartphones, mobile applications have become a crucial marketing tool for every firm - be it retail & ecommerce, food & restaurant or any other business. They are now considered the most convenient and fastest way to reach the target audience and build a strong connection with the clients. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that mobile apps are the kingpin of successful business ventures. Considering the importance of customized applications for any business, we need not say why companies are incorporating them into their daily workflow.

Mobile platforms are not only restricted to software products but are used by various industries, such as cab booking, banking, food delivery and more. We can take inspiration from Uber, a cab booking app that has attained unimaginable success within a few years of its launch and is now the most successful venture worldwide. However, developing a customized mobile service app that is result-oriented and powerful is a tough row to hoe. Once you have decided on seeking a mobile app development service, the next step is to analyze your objectives and plan the app that meets the established goals. 

Moreover, there are certain choices that you have to make and the most crucial one is to pick between Hybrid and Native app. Which is the right platform that guaranteed maximum user engagement and attention? Each of these two approaches has its pros and cons and the more we will dig, the more confusion we will have. Do you find yourself on the same wavelength? Then it’s time to keep your worries aside as our IT consulting providers have compared the two options on the basis of various parameters. So, let’s start by getting acquainted with what Hybrid and Native apps are:

Native Apps: An Overview

The apps that are specifically built for one platform or operating system using a particular programming language are called native applications. For example, Swift or Objective-C are used for iOS and Java or Kotlin are applied for Android. These native platforms have access to phone features and functions, such as camera, contact list, gallery and more. The developers have to create different versions for every device or OS, using respective codes but the logic behind each of them remains the same. However, the visual effects, design, typography, graphics are alike. The companies that opt for Native Apps often have the necessity to create apps simultaneously for two different platforms. Although it involves a lengthy development process and more efforts, the result is worth it. 

Hybrid App: An Overview

Hybrid applications are platform-independent using native web view to communicate with the devices. In simple terms, one app is created for different devices and operating systems, be it Blackberry, Android, iOS or Windows. It is the combination of native and web apps that serve all your purposes with single coding. Although it can look like a native, the app is run by a website that is put in the native app shell and blended with the device’s hardware. Each hybrid app uses exclusively designed APIs to get fundamental features and engage third-party resources. These applications use tools that communicate smoothly between the web and native platforms and are not from any specific OS. When you connect with any hybrid app development company, make sure that you learn about the development process and are familiar with all of its strengths and weaknesses. 

Differences Between Native and Hybrid Apps: Detailed Analysis

Technical Aspects

Yes, we are discussing the differences between Hybrid and Native in this blog but the truth is that both are totally worth being used for app development. What you pick for your business depends on your final objective and target audience. They differ in various technical aspects, such as user interface, platforms, security and more. Talking about the user interface, native is more attractive with rich functionality while Hybrid doesn’t provide the users with a completely native experience. The former uses only native languages, unlike the latter that uses native, web or both. Moving on to updates, the former needs regular updates to evolve with new changes and codes are updated through the market. On the other hand, the latter gets regular updates from the store and codes can be upgraded without the market. 

Performance

Hybrid apps add an extra layer between the source code and target platform which eventually results in performance loss. As these apps are made using a combination of different languages, the performance may not be the same on all devices and operating systems. On the contrary, Native applications use different codes for different platforms and are made for a specific OS, thus, ensuring smooth working. With platform-centric programming language, developers optimize the app with maximum performance. However, as apps are built simultaneously for various devices, the process becomes complex and lengthy, delaying the delivery. The best part is that the final result is worth the wait and meet your expectations. 

Development Cost

No matter how significant performance is to judge the right approach for your business app, we cannot deny the importance of development cost while selecting the right option. And when it comes to the money involved in the Hybrid or Native app, both of them are like chalk and cheese. Most often developers are proficient in one operating system so if you want an app that is compatible with various devices, you might have to hire two or more experts which will surely put a strain on your wallet. On the other hand, Hybrid uses a single code base for numerous platforms which reduces time and cost by a huge margin. Moreover, maintaining the apps are easier and you need to connect with one software development service provider to meet your goal. Therefore, if you are tight on budget, then Hybrid is the right pick for you. 

User Experience

Honestly, no user cares about the technology used to empower the app. All they want is great and smooth user experience. It is quite obvious that people prefer retrying those apps which engaged them for the first time. If the app fails to work once or twice, then there are rare chances that the person will use it again. As Native apps are specifically designed for one device, the screen size, loading time, design and everything else is well-taken care of. Furthermore, the app is consistent and supports the features of the device. While Hybrid provides a user experience that is not polished.

Non-Technical Aspects

After learning about technical factors, let’s talk about non-technical parameters to compare native and hybrid. First, is the finance required to develop the app. With native, you need separate finance for each platform which will surely increase your financial burden. However, Hybrid needs financing in one stream, thus, making it a reasonable deal. Moreover, time to launch native apps is six or more months while that of Hybrid is less than six months.

Conclusion

We are living in a world where every dollar, every moment and every decision can decide the fate of your business. Hence, you need to take every step carefully. As far as ‘Native vs Hybrid’ is concerned, it is more about the time and money that you can invest. Hybrid is preferred for minimum viable products with financial and time restrictions. When it’s about flawless performance and custom features, Native is second to none. So, the choice is yours!