Native vs. hybrid app is easily one of the most talked about topics in the mobile app development business worldwide.
Wait! Before you act like a bullet train and close this blog, hear us out. You never know when the need knocks on the door. Those who are jumbling between which one to choose between the native and hybrid app and those who are having the thought bubble of what is native and hybrid app should give it a read.
Imagine, you are in dire need of an app, but you don’t know how to go about it. It can put you into trouble. It’s never a one-size-fits approach. Every business has its own set of needs. Investing in a mobile app is an important decision. Having knowledge about apps can save you and is of help in choosing the right fit for your business.
Just in case you think that you don’t need an app…
According to Statista,
By 2020, mobile apps are forecast to generate around 189 billion U.S. dollars in revenues via app stores and in-app advertising.
This must have busted the bubble of “I don’t need an app.” You can’t afford to miss a huge chunk of revenue, can you?
Talking about the selection of app, the internet put so many terminologies in your plate. Today, we will save you from a load of terminologies and will put light on the benefits of the native and hybrid app. Read it out and discover what the perfect fit for your business is.
Native vs. Hybrid app – Comparison
The battle of what is the perfect fit starts now!
Native Apps
Native apps are built for specific mobile operating systems. The apps that you have in your smartphones right now are mostly native. Users can access native apps from Google Play store or App store. A considerable number of companies prefer native apps because of a hulk of benefits associated with it.
Talking about mobile web apps vs. native apps, it comes without a doubt that web apps are cheaper. Still, businesses go for native apps even though a cheaper option is available. It doesn’t make sense, right? Well, a plethora of advantages that a native app offers is worth every single buck.
Advantages of Native apps
Secure: When it comes to user’s data protection, opting for native app development is the best option. If you compare it with the hybrid app, a native app offers you a remarkable level of security.
Fast: The efficiency of native apps supersedes the rest. Since they are built and optimized for a dedicated platform, they are pretty fast and responsive. The load time of a native app is quick because the visual elements and the content get already stored in the user’s smartphones.
Offline access: Be it offline or online, native apps always work. You don’t need to be connected to the internet, a native app functions without it.
Push notifications: Native apps let you send push notifications to your users. For instance: If you want to notify your customers about new promotions, offers, and loyalty rewards, you can send them to push notifications in minutes.
Some challenges
Maintenance is time-consuming: It is essential for the application to be updated to the latest version to work seamlessly with the operating system. Not everyone updates the app – which means that several versions of the same apps are used. This thing gives rise to more challenges.
Lack of flexibility: Since each app is designed for a specific platform, developers don’t have much room. Separate coding needs to be done for App Store and Google Play Store.
Development cost is high: From time and money’s standpoint, native apps are quite expensive to develop yet, the development eats a huge chunk of time.
Hybrid apps
In the cloak of native, hides a web app! Yes, hybrid apps possess the elements of both native and web app. The question is how to identify; the app is native or hybrid? You can’t easily differentiate between a native and a hybrid app. The hybrid apps are downloaded the similar way. You access the app store and install a hybrid app on your smartphone. The key differentiator is that these apps are hosted inside a native application.
Unlike native apps, you can build a hybrid app on a single base which means that new functionalities can be added to the multiple versions of your app. Just like a coin has two sides, hybrid apps have their own set of benefits and challenges. Let’s explore more about it.
Advantages of Hybrid apps
Development cost: The development cost of hybrid apps is low. It doesn’t feel heavy on the pocket yet can be distributed on app stores sooner.
Let you penetrate in the market quickly: Since the development of the hybrid app requires less time, you can tap into the market and gain a competitive advantage. It is one of the best minimum viable products. People who want to see their apps, in the app store pretty fast, can consider having a hybrid app
Fewer efforts, maximum advantages: You can put the hybrid app on several platforms, reason being, hybrid apps meet the terms of native resources. This all makes it easier for you to communicate with your target audience.
Some challenges
Less consistent user experience: Hybrid apps are less intuitive and don’t deliver a seamless user experience; reason being, the uniform code for multiple platforms.
Not pretty interactive: In comparison with native apps, hybrid apps are not that much interactive
Debugging is a nightmare: Those developers who don’t have extensive knowledge of the targeted platform, debugging becomes a nightmare for them. Finding the root cause of the issue can be time-consuming.
Which one to go for?
We can’t provide you with a one-line answer to this. There are quite a lot of factors that count. It all depends on the need of your business, the amount you have and the purpose you want that app to serve. Still, we can provide you with a rough idea of which one you can opt for.
- If you are in dire need of an app and you want to get one fast – Choose Hybrid app
- If you want an app that shows a high level of performance – Choose Native app
- If you favor advanced graphics – Hybrid app is the answer
- Running low on a budget yet want an app – Go for Hybrid app
The bottom line
All in all, your priorities, your business goals decide which app you should go for. Some people favor hybrid apps because they are cost-effective and are friendlier with multiple platforms. Indeed these things count, but if we flip the picture, hybrid apps can turn out to be painful. Reasons being, dealing with its performance, and UX issues aren’t easy. From the standpoint of security, performance and a better UX experience, native apps supersede the rest. Doubtlessly native apps are expensive but in the long term, the advantages they offer make you feel that they are worth investing in.
Imran Abdul Rauf is a Digital Marketing Strategist, employed at CMOLDS, and specializes in content marketing, email marketing campaigns, lead generation, and other aspects of digital marketing. A content enthusiast by the day, and hardcore gamer by night, Imran is also a regular guest contributor at some of the top tech and digital marketing platforms.
