Why Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Tools Are Better Than Native Development in 2024

Cross-platform mobile app development has become the number one choice for app developers and business firms that want to create an app that can run on multiple platforms in 2024. For instance, tools like Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform have enabled faster development of high-quality and affordable applications.

Here’s why the native one is traditional for cross-platform development in 2024.

Faster Development with Cross-Platform Tools Native applications still demand the development of two codebases apart for each platform, say iOS and Android. This, to put it mildly, is a complicated, expensive, and time-consuming approach that necessitates different teams for different platforms. On the other hand, cross-platform tools like Flutter 3.10+ and React Native cut development time by writing one codebase that can run on multiple platforms.
Key advantage: Shortened time-to-market, reduced development costs, and smooth maintenance.
At Idea2Reality, we recently completed a cross-platform project using Flutter for a client who wanted a seamless mobile app experience on both iOS and Android. This development outfit was able to save 40% of the time required for development, thus speedy deployment and a harmonious user experience across devices were guaranteed.
Enhanced User Experience Without Compromising Performance
Cross-platform development has a whole ton of misconceptions but the most important one is that it compromises the user experience for the sake of convenience. The reasons for this are tools such as Flutter and React Native which are gaining the UI and performance capabilities comparable to the native app. Flutter’s Material You integration and React Native’s Fabric architecture provide assurances for cross-platform apps that are just as smooth, visually appealing, and responsive as native ones.
Key advantage: High-performance apps with unified design across platforms.
The healthcare service provider working with React Native, Idea2Reality, is one such example. A flawless user interface that was seamless in both iOS and Android and at the same time was cost-effective in development is the outcome of the native interface.
Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Efficiency
As native applications for iOS and Android are isolated, the budget is inflated and therefore, different teams, resources, and maintenance are required. In the future, cross-platform tools will be one more step in the direction of organizations not having to develop app versions for different platforms and instead providing a single application for all. No-code/low-code platforms such as OutSystems and Appgyver are also democratizing app development and making it cheaper by enabling non-developers to take part in the app development process.
Wider Audience Reach with One App
A cross-platform app can be delivered on a variety of platforms like iOS, Android, Web, and even Desktop. Thus, businesses can attract a wider group of people with one app rather than the conventional way of developing different native apps for each platform. Due to resources like Kotlin Multiplatform, enterprises are able to share the business logic of the app across different platforms but the user interface still has to be in the native quality for the best user performance.
Key advantage: Broader audience reach and better scalability for businesses.
Being a product-oriented tech company, Idea2Reality developed a customer loyalty app that was delivered on both iOS and Android using the technology of React Native, whereby the client increased their reach by 30% during the first few months of launch.
Streamlined Maintenance and Updates
Native development is cumbersome to maintain for different platforms for a much longer period of time. With cross-platform tools like Flutter and .NET MAUI that let developers send unified updates for all platforms at the same time, you now even have a single point of maintenance support, which is more efficient for the update maintenance and support work. This results in the reduction of post-launch work and the uniformity of applications across platforms.
Key advantage: Unification of updates and service provides extra time for development.
At Idea2Reality, we take full advantage of Flutter hot reload functionality to quickly fix bug issues continuously and release updates always to make sure that the app is functional and up-to-date across multiple platforms without needing separate cycles for all other platforms.
Innovation with AI and AR/VR Technologies
Cross-platform development is not only about creating applications for mobile devices but also integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI and AR/VR. Unity, which was previously used for game development, has now become a multipurpose tool for creating AR/VR experiences on different devices. AI tools for development like GitHub Copilot that take over some of the tasks, thus the developers can focus on the innovation and personalization of the end-users’ experience.
Greater Flexibility and Customization
With cross-platform frameworks, an infinity of possibilities arise that are just as good as, if not better than, that of a native app. To illustrate, React Native’s Fabric architecture has a concurrent rendering option that allows you to accurately animate objects and have a quick reaction time with the device. Flutter 3.10+ is another example of this. These systems provide excellent compatibility with Linux, Windows, and even embedded systems. By this, developers can create a targetable space that accommodates a great number of devices and operating systems without the need for multiple versions of code. Therefore, the process of development becomes easier and faster.
Key advantage: Flexibility in targeting different platforms and devices without needing separate codebases.
At Idea2Reality, our recent implementation of React Native’s concurrent rendering on an e-commerce app using such procedures brought us great success. It made it possible for the app to process a high volume of transactions across iOS and Android without lagging.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for Cost-Effective Alternatives
Progressive Web Apps are the perfect alternative for GSMs to offer a cost-efficient solution that is lightweight and does not need to go through the app store distribution. Currently, PWAs have joined the offline functionality, push notifications, and installability club and can now offer what is almost a native app experience directly from the browser. The result is, PWAs are loved by the companies that want to save app development costs while still reaching mobile users.
Key advantage: By not using app stores, you save money on development and distribution.
No-Code/Low-Code Platforms Empower Non-Developers
A no-code and low-code approach gives the chance for apps to be created cheaply and startups to be successful without the requirement of developers. In 2024, platforms like Adalo and OutSystems will be the disruptors of the front end. Through these platforms, startups can do a prototype and MVP quickly, thus testing their hypotheses before going all in with the full product development.
Native-Like Experiences with Hybrid Tools
Capacitor and Ionic are hybrid cross-platform development tools that have made great progress in 2024, allowing them to use native APIs for better control over app interaction with device features. The UI components of Ionic have now gone through some advanced designs, enabling developers to come up with applications that are almost indistinguishable from native ones while using only one codebase.
Key advantage: Hybrid apps with native-like functionality and performance across multiple platforms.

Conclusion: Cross-Platform Development is the Future in 2024
In the year 2024, the choice between cross-platform and native app development is unequivocal. Cross-platform mobile app Development tools allow developers to create apps faster, save on costs, and reach a broader audience without compromising on performance or user experience. Building a high-performance Flutter app, integrating AI and AR/VR features with Unity, or creating cost-effective PWAs, cross-platform development is the way forward.
At Idea2Reality, we focus on utilizing Flutter and React Native to provide high-quality cross-platform solutions that are cost-saving, time-saving, and ensure the best performance across different devices. Our knowledge in cross-platform app development has enabled many of our customers to broaden their digital footprint and render superlative user experiences.

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