Hybrid vs Cross-platform – Which One has High Demand in 2020?


Many people think that to deliver a smooth mobile experience to users, developing a native app is the only choice. However, that’s not the case anymore. Today, you have plenty of opportunities when it comes to building an app that hooks in users with its usability and mobile experience. The two most sought-after options are hybrid and cross-fit. While hybrid relies on browser rendering and web technologies, cross-platform delivers benefits that others don’t.

Let’s look at both cross-platform and hybrid app development approaches to see which one should you be choosing in 2020:

Cross-platform app development

Cross-platform development means the development of mobile applications that can run across a range of operating systems, such as iOS, Android, and the Universal Windows Platform. To explain further, it is the process of building apps or software compatible with multiple platforms or operating systems using only a single codebase instead of developing the app or software on various platforms using the native codebase for each platform.

Universal apps based on this approach are Facebook, Skype, Slack, and many others.

Why choose a cross-platform app?

To start with, mobile applications created using a cross-platform framework are not bound to OS impulses. It enables them to offer multi-platforms usability. Plus, they are an excellent solution when you need to build a single app for multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android, in a limited budget and time.

Advantages of cross-platform apps

  • Cost-effective: if there ever happens a debate over which app development approach is more profitable, whether hybrid or cross-platform, cross-platform is the winner. Since a single cross-platform app can work on multiple platforms, the method further saves the cost of hiring separate Android and iPhone mobile app development companies to build apps for both platforms.
  • Reusable: with a cross-platform approach comes the ability to transfer the same codebase to other platforms, eliminating the need for writing different codebases for each platform. 
  • Expanded user-base: by developing a multi-platform app, you can target both Android and iOS mobile users without having to choose among different operating systems.
  • Consistent performance across all platforms: since a single codebase runs across different platforms with a cross-platform app development approach, there are very few visible changes in performance and UI across the targeted operating systems. It also helps brands maintain a coherent identity.

 Hybrid App Development Approach

Hybrid app development utilizes elements of both native and web applications. Another way to put it is that hybrid apps are mostly web apps enclosed in a native app shell. Once you download them from app stores and install them on your mobile device, the shell connects to the capabilities offered by the mobile operating system with the help of a browser embedded in the app. The browser and plugins operate on the backend, and thus, they are invisible to the users. They are more cost-effective in development than native apps; however, they are slower in performance. Universal apps that use hybrid development are Instagram, Evernote, and Gmail.

Why choose hybrid app development?

Building apps using hybrid app development enables you to blend web elements with the mobile’s function — GPS, camera, file system, etc. — to offer an improved user experience. It’s also cheaper in development than native apps.

Advantages of hybrid app development

Faster development pace: Since hybrid apps utilize the same backend code for all platforms, you can create them in less time as compared to others. Developers only need to create a native container to display the code that has already been written as a web app. But if you want to create a hybrid app with a range of features, it can be time-consuming.

 Easy maintenance: Because hybrid app development relies on web technology, these apps are comparatively easier to maintain.

Ability to use native APIs: One of the advantages of hybrid apps is that they enable developers to access features that only a user’s mobile devices can offer. Developers can connect with users by accessing their GPS, camera, and other system files, creating a deeper bond with them and providing an enhanced mobile experience.


Choosing the right framework from different app development approaches highly depends on your needs of the project, budget, the number of developers available, and the target audience you want to reach. To make the right decision, getting help from an Android or iOS app development company is your best bet.

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