There are several types of app development approaches, each with its own characteristics and purposes. The three main types of app development are native app development, progressive web app (PWA) development, and hybrid app development.
Each app development approach has its own strengths and considerations, so choosing the right approach depends on factors such as target audience, desired functionality, development resources, and budget.
Hybrid app development is an approach where we use web technologies to build an app that runs within a native container. This allows our developers to reuse code across multiple platforms while still having access to some native device features. Hybrid apps are typically developed using frameworks like React Native or Capacitor.
Shorter Development Time – Only one codebase is required to deploy to iOS, Android, and Web. Saving three times the work.
Lower Costs – Shorter development time, means less costs!
Easy to Maintain – Because there’s only one codebase, it is easier to maintain and update.
Integrated – Hybrid allows for simple integration into web services and APIs.
Fast Deployment – Building the app to run on Android or iOS is quick and easy, requiring almost no changes to the process.
Complexity – More complex applications will likely run slower than a native application.
Equality – The app will run the same regardless of the device, it can’t use device/operating system specific functions.
Native apps are built for specific platforms and are written in languages that are native to those platforms. For example, iOS apps are typically developed in Swift or Objective-C, while Android apps are usually developed in Java or Kotlin. Native apps have access to the device’s hardware and features, offering high performance and a rich user experience. They can be downloaded and installed from app stores and can work offline. However, native app development requires separate codebases for each platform, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Fast performance – Because the code is written with that device type in mind, the code is therefore more efficient.
Functionality – Apps can make use of the specific special functions that a device might have.
Higher Security – Any device specific known security risks can be individually addressed.
Improved UI/UX – The code can take advantage of the native appearance and frameworks to create a modern looking application.
Higher Cost – Each operating system requires it’s own codebase, and if iOS and Android apps were required, this would require two completely separate sets of code to create and maintain.
Longer Development – Because the code is being specifically designed to work on one set of devices, it is more involved to create, maintain, and test.
Specialists Required – A team of highly skilled app developers is required who have an in-depth knowledge of the system, adding to the cost.
PWAs are web applications that are designed to work and feel like native apps. They are built using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. PWAs are accessed through web browsers but can also be downlaoded and installed on the user’s device via the respective app store like native apps. They offer offline functionality, push notifications, and device hardware access through browser APIs. PWAs are platform-independent and can run on any device with a modern browser or any mobile device. They provide a more streamlined development process compared to native apps.
Accessible – The app can be found on any app store, or accessed through the website and the end user experience will be the same.
Loading Speed – Because everything is web based, loading speed are quick no matter the device age.
Works Offline – Cached versions of the application are able to be used when offline.
Responsive – The application is able to easily and dynamically change to the device type and size.
Cheap & Fast – Development times are fast because only a website is being developed, then scaled for mobile devices.
Hardware Limitations – Because the application needs to be installed, older and slower devices may not be supported.
Apple Support – Support for Apple devices is more limited, and performance is often much worse on iOS devices.
Battery Power – Higher battery consumption is used due to the application doing processing on the device, rather than the web.
Every customer’s requirements are unique, so in order for us to give you the best possible advice and service, please get in touch.
