HYBRID MOBILE APPS OVER NATIVE APPS
Here comes the age old topic – Hybrid Mobile Apps over Native Mobile Apps? This is now the unending discussion of many budding Entrepreneurs, to lean on which direction to start off their Business. And yes, it’s not a very easy decision. So let’s break down the topic to essential points, to choose more wisely.
Time has really moved on, since the Inception of Native Apps and it has now led to the different categories in Apps such as Progressive Web Apps (Hybrid Apps), Mobile Responsive Websites, etc.
So to launch your kind of product in the Market, careful decision planning is very necessary. Moreover these Apps show only slightest variation in their attributes, like say, Performance, User Experience and the like. In order to decide between the choices you have in hand, you need to weigh the pros and cons of the choices you have in hand.
Here lets us do the same for Hybrid and Native Apps to know which is more suitable, according to the resources you have.
FIRST JUST A BRIEF ON WHAT IS A NATIVE AND A HYBRID APP?
Native Apps: Native Apps are built for specific platforms like iOS, Android and Windows. Development of these apps are time consuming and expensive as they are developed specifically for each Platforms.
Hybrid Apps: Hybrid Apps are Applications, that share a common code base, but can run in native Platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows , written in Html, CSS, Javascript integrated with Native Touch. This is done using cross-platform frameworks such as PhoneGap, React Native, Xamarin, etc to create a hybrid app. These cross-platform Apps are suitable for all platforms from iOS to Android to Windows.
SO WHAT ARE THE REASONS HYBRID APPS PRESENTS ITSELF, TO CHOOSE THEM OVER NATIVE APPS?
1. PROFITABLE/BENEFITING:
The number one reason, Companies go for Hybrid Apps, because they are the fastest way to reach the audience. With less time to invest in development and with less resources you need in hand, Hybrid Apps makes small Enterprises’ dream of creating a successful app, a reality. Even though investment is very less, you can expect considerable amount of profit from Hybrid apps, as you are launching on all the platforms unlike Native Apps. There is also no risk-taking factor here as you are not dependent on one platform.
2. ONE CODE BASE IS ALL YOU NEED:
If your target is multiple platforms, then Hybrid Development Platforms are the ones you are looking for. The programming language for hybrid development is simple and almost all the web developers have the basic web programming skill to build Hybrid Apps. Then cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Xamarin, etc comes into picture to land your app in almost all app stores.
Henceforth, it reduces your burden of writing and maintaining different code bases for different platforms.
But in Native Apps, you need to write different coding for different platforms. Hence it creates a burden for developers to maintain their apps in all directions.
3. NO CONSTANT UPDATES:
This is a great desirable expectation of the end users. Because Smartphone users don’t feel like updating their apps often. It consumes much of their device’s space. So with Hybrid Apps, users doesn’t have to necessarily update their apps, because changes are directly happening in the web and later pushed to the respective platforms.
While in Native Apps, it requires lot of updates very frequently, to use them to the fullest. And most of them occupies much of the device’s space with regards to the updates.
4. OFFLINE SUPPORT:
Hybrid Apps now provide even Offline Support. This is a great attractive advantage, because now users can access the data even when experiencing poor connection. It happens through the device’s API, which hybrid apps makes use of, to store the accessed data of the users. So the next time, when they use the app, the application loads fast, even during poor connectivity.
5. EASY TO MAINTAIN
Hybrid Apps are a no big deal to maintain in terms of code-base as they are simple and uncomplicated. Also it requires much less time to port to other devices and put to use.
On the contrary, Native Apps require a lot of maintenance in terms of coding, as they are very complex and big. Also there is a need to constantly update the coding to bring any change in features of the Apps.
CONCLUSION:
So you can choose Hybrid Platform, if there is an urgent requirement to develop an app or if your resources are seemingly finite. More than anything, users need an app, which can give them a first hand user experience, while making use of your app. Because User Experience, determines the success of your app, anytime. Read more about Hybrid Apps here.
