When you think about building your own app, what do you think about it?
Do you think about how you could provide the best performance possible or if the app will run on multiple operating systems?
You can make an app quickly or make it more reliable or both but it all depends on where your priorities lie (or where the profits lie, so to say)This is why asking these questions before getting down to write your code (or get it written) because more often than not realizing what’s more important for your app later in the development cycle leads to a loss of a great deal of time and money.
So, what’s important in an app anyway?
The core of any app is user experience. That’s the least that a user expects of any app and considering that s/he took out the time to actually download the app and use it, it’s not much to ask for, is it?
If you provide great user experience, they’ll love your app, keep using it, and tell all their friends and the online community about it bringing in more users than you expected.
On the contrary, the dissatisfied user experience will bring equal amounts of pain and bad business. You don’t want to end up in a place where the average rating that your app has is 1.2 which is enough to keep new users away.
So, if you have one shot at making an impression, how do you do it?
The answer - choosing a platform that’s right for your app.
For the scope of this blog post, let’s limit it to two types of apps - Hybrid and Native.
What are native apps and why should you choose them?
Native apps are apps that are built specifically for a single platform, following the technical guidelines of the platform which gives it a similar look and feel and overall experience as other apps built for that platform.
So, for building an app for, say Android, a developer must use the preferred coding language of the android platform i.e Java/Kotlin. Similarly, building an app for iOS needs Objective-C/Swift coding languages.
Since all native apps for the particular platform follow the same guidelines, the users are familiar with the look and feel and navigation of the app even when using it for the first time which helps in bettering the user experience.
Perks of building a Native app
Native apps can be quite proficient in their performance and take advantage of the latest technology available.
Here are a few advantages that come with building a Native app:
Complete integration with device
Since the app is made for the platform that’s present in the device and follows the guidelines, it can take advantage of the many functionalities present in the device. This enables developers to build an app with an overall enjoyable experience.
No internet? No problem
Native apps have the possibility of working without an internet connection which is a huge leap in providing an experience that’s satisfactory to the users in case the user cannot access the internet.
Better Performance
Without a speck of doubt, native apps perform better in more ways than one and the reason is pretty simple - they are tailor-made for the platform which makes them more functional on the platform.
Increased Familiarity
All native apps are made by keeping the platform guidelines in check which makes the appearance and functionality of the app similar to the other apps built for the platform, making it more familiar for the users.
Increased Security
Since native apps are reviewed by the app stores before being made available, they are more secure and safe for the users. It also increases the reliability of the app and assures the user of its authenticity.
What are Hybrid apps and why should you choose them?
Hybrid apps are a fusion of web applications and native apps in the sense that they are built for multiple platforms but behave like native apps as well. Building these apps require pre-built native containers with on-the-go web coding.
Developing these apps need web coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Perks of building a Hybrid app
Reduced Costs
Since building a hybrid app doesn’t require any upfront costs, the total development cost of the app is significantly reduced. This is an important factor to keep in mind if you are building a novel app - an experimental one.
Simpler Development
Hybrid apps are built using web coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript which makes the process of app development much simpler when compared to the native app development.
Faster Development
The development of hybrid apps also takes a lot less time than native apps which enable a quicker launch in the market for early reviews and feedback.
Single App Development
Hybrid apps are built with different wrappers for different platforms but the core of the app remains the same which means that the time and effort that is needed to build different apps for multiple platforms is reduced to building one.
Suitable for testing
Because of it’s faster delivery and lower costs, it’s best suitable for building apps for testing their workability and accessibility.
Conclusion - Which one has a better user experience?
Coming back to our initial argument about which one has a better user experience, the Native app wins hands down.
The very fact that these apps have a symbiotic relationship with the platform makes its performance way better than hybrid apps. Add to that the familiarity and accessibility of these apps and what you have is an app that is not only user-friendly but also, for lack of a better word, addictive.
Native apps are the best bet for you if you know what you are doing, you understand the users’ preferences and tastes, and you have an irresistible service or product. For those who are beta testing ideas or building a prototype app, a hybrid app is a better cost because it saves their time and money and gives the results faster.
No matter where you are at the app lifecycle, we can help you build an amazing app to attract and convert your customers. Contact us today!