What is the Difference Between a Native, Web and Hybrid App?
We use apps every day for everything from paying for bus trips and handling banking matters to playing games and listening to music. The apps have become such a natural part of our lives that it is easy to take them for granted. What exactly is an app with, how does an app work and how do you make an app? In this post, we will take a closer look at it.
There are mainly four basic forms of application:
When you are going to develop a smartphone app, you currently have three choices regarding approach which will help you to choose the one as per your business requirements. These are:
- Native
- Webb
- Hybrid
- Cross-platform
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Native
A native application is an app that is developed separately for each platform including iOS, Android or Windows phone. This type of app is usually be built solely with each platform’s tools and components. This means that it e.g. in graphics-heavy apps like games perform better than subsequent examples.
You can also use all the different features available on your smartphones, such as a camera o GPS.
An app needs to be developed for each platform and needs to go through each platform’s review process. At each update, you need to wait for the review process, which is usually around 7 days.
Advantages: Can handle graphically heavy applications, can access all the phone’s functions.
Disadvantages: Must be developed separately for all platforms, takes a long time to update.
2. Web
A web app is just what it sounds like- an app that runs like a website in your browser. For ordinary users, this may not sound like an app in its proper name, but if it can be run on a smartphone and has a more specific purpose than a regular website, it should be seen as an app. This is built with optional tools and components and is then published as a regular website. The performance can be so good that you do not notice any difference until you start with advanced and 3D graphics, such as the one found in modern games.
You can not access all the features of your smartphone, but the web is constantly evolving and in modern browsers today you can access both camera and GPS- you can even send push notifications, use it offline or get an icon on the desktop.
The app can be used on almost all mobile platforms and even computers and does not require a review process. You can also update it continuously without having to review it again.
Advantages: A common code base reduces the risk of bugs, longer development and maintenance costs, can be updated in one second across all platforms
Disadvantages: Not suitable for advanced games or when you want the exclusive feel of an app
3. Hybrid
Here comes the most exciting option- a combination of native and web. The app is built as a website located in your phone but runs in a browser built-in an app shell. The performance is similar to the web.
What’s so cool about hybrid apps is that it’s not just the shell that’s native. There are a plethora of different plugins that you install in the project, and you will get access to BlueTooth, camera and push notifications via web standards.
With the push button, you can go through each platform’s review process just like with a native app. Hybrid apps need a more established framework that makes the app look like a native app, regardless of which platform you use.
Advantages: A common code base reduces the risk of bugs, lower development and maintenance costs, can use native functions, web standards, you can also get a web app “automagically”
Disadvantages: Not suitable for advanced games, but simple platform games work without problems.
4. Cross-platform
Like Hybrid, it develops both iOS and Android with a codebase. The development process, on the other hand. A hybrid app consists mostly of HTML pages that are encapsulated in a native app for iOS and Android respectively. For cross-platform, you have a JavaScript framework where you genuinely build native code that is suitable for both platforms, and which has an underlying Native rendering engine. This means that the cross-platform apps are pretty much as native as Native apps. But at half the cost. Maintenance work is greatly facilitated in cross-platform development compared to Native because you have a codebase instead of two.
When developing an MVP product, it is most common to develop a hybrid app or a cross-platform app. The hybrid app is usually slightly cheaper than cross-platform but on the other hand, a cross-platform app is a more long-term choice. Native apps have some small advantages compared to Cross-platform in the form of slightly better performance and more optimally adapted UI/UX. In most apps, this is not noticeable at all while it gets some significance in certain types of apps. Overall, cross-platform is often the best option. Especially for a startup.
So how do you choose?
It’s not always easy, but experts always recommend choosing hybrid apps since you can do so much with hybrid apps today. However, it is important to be aware of the consequences of each choice, so feel free to use the guide to determine:
Is your app graphics are heavy a lot of 3D animations like in games – a lot of pictures are no obstacle or need to use advanced smartphone features? Native Will, you just present very simple information? Web
In other cases: Hybrid or Cross-browser
It is important to remember that there are no restrictions at all in terms of appearance, no matter which approaches you to choose based on your business requirements. You can also use all variants offline. It is best to select Native apps if you’re planning to run a heavy programme on your application. There is a hybrid app development company and simple native apps for Android and iOS. Feel free to reach out to them if you have any questions or are interested in how you can develop your app!
