Native App VS Hybrid Apps – Which Would Suit Your Business?

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Nowadays, people have become more reliant on digital assets due to the advancement of technology. We make key life and business choices through the Internet and smartphone applications. It becomes more difficult for companies to compete in today’s competitive digital market, as various applications compete for limited visibility, talents, resources, and money. In fact, according to Statista, global app downloads are expected to reach 299 billion in 2023, up from around 247 billion in 2020 worldwide. 

That being said, even after more than a decade, the discussion over “native app vs. hybrid app” continues to be fascinating. This is because native and hybrid mobile app development methodologies, like any other technology, have their advantages and disadvantages and are continually evolving. 

Here, we’ll explain the features of a hybrid and a native app, the distinctions between them, and hybrid vs. native app pros and cons to assist you in deciding on the right strategy for your organization.

What Is A Native Application (NA)?

Native applications are created using platform-specific programming languages and are optimized for a certain operating system.

Native development refers to the process of developing applications or software that must run on a certain device or mobile application platforms, such as Android or iOS. Native application development relies on the operating system’s native programming language to create optimized applications for a certain platform, whether PCs, smart TVs, phones, or any other technological devices utilized in the digital environment.

Java or Kotlin are often used to construct native Android applications, whereas Objective-C or Swift produce native iOS apps. Native mobile application development is appropriate if you want to provide the best possible user experience in regard to the program’s design and feel. Native app development enables developers to expand the capabilities and features of their programs by using major smartphone hardware parts such as GPS, motion detectors, cameras, and microphones.

Popular Native Application Examples

Because video games are generally designed for high-end consoles, the majority of them are native mobile applications.

  • Pokémon Go: This game makes good use of the device’s capabilities—the camera for augmented reality, the GPS for position mapping, and the accelerometer for acceleration measurement.
  • Spotify: The world’s biggest music streaming service is also a noteworthy example of a native application.

Native Application Characteristics

The following are the major features of native applications:

  • Native applications are very dependable.
  • Native applications are more straightforward, execute quicker, and provide a superior user experience.
  • Native programs are capable of operating both online and offline.
  • Native app features may be fully exploited.

Native Applications Advantages

  • It is capable of a wide variety of functions because it utilizes the capabilities of the main mobile device.
  • It ensures that software runs quickly and responsively.
  • It has push notification capabilities.
  • Native applications provide a user interface (UI) that is more consistent with the OS’s user experience.
  • Their rankings may determine the quality of Native applications in the App Stores.

Native Application Disadvantages

  • Native applications need numerous codebases because each device requires a unique version of the software, i.e., the coding for Android and iOS is distinct.
  • It will be more expensive since more programmers would be needed to construct and maintain a code base for every platform.
  • Each feature upgrade involves a significant effort spent on several fabrications for various platforms.

When Should You Consider Native App Development?

  • Your intended audience would be using your application for the first time, and you want to make a good first impression
  • Need to write platform-specific code
  • Businesses that specialize in 3D games & animations
  • You want to acquire many DAUs, get product finance from venture capitalists, and design an easy-to-learn but intuitive software
  • Additional device-specific features such as GPS, camera, and so forth are required

What is a Hybrid Application (Hybrid App)?

Hybrid application development is a blend of native and web solutions in which developers insert code written in languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript into a native application using plugins such as Ionic’s Capacitor, Apache Cordova, and others to get access to native functionality.

The hybrid platform is primarily composed of two components: backend code and a native viewer that is downloaded to show the functions and backend.

With hybrid application development, code is developed just once and maybe reused across many platforms. When creating a hybrid app, you may achieve speed and user experience comparable to native applications; however, hybrid app development falls short regarding UX & navigation patterns.

Popular Hybrid App Examples

  • Gmail: With a seamless combination of native and HTML features, Gmail was designed as a hybrid application.
  • Uber: Uber’s user interface is straightforward and clear, with simple navigation. The program runs quickly on various devices and provides dynamic features for Android and iOS users alike.
  • Amazon App: Powered by HTML5, the store has an intuitive user experience and is highly popular with thousands of users.

While native applications are renowned for their “faster” performance, hybrid apps like Uber and Instagram can hardly be described as sluggish or lagging. Thus, we could suppose that there is a negligible difference in these applications’ high-level performance.

Hybrid App Characteristics

A hybrid application has the following characteristics:

  • Hybrid apps may run regardless of whether the device is connected to the internet or not.
  • Hybrid applications may interact with the device’s file system and make use of operating system functionalities.
  • Hybrid applications include web-based services.
  • Another critical component of hybrid applications is an integrated browser, facilitating access to the dynamic web material.
  • Hybrid applications may be produced more quickly and lower development and maintenance expenses. As a result, it saves both time and money.
  • Hybrid applications are easily understandable and manageable.
  • Apps that are hybrid in nature have a cross-platform user interface (UI).
  • A significant advantage of hybrid applications is that they share a single code base across various platforms, making them far simpler to maintain.

Hybrid Applications Advantages

  • They are cross-platform, i.e., they may run on both Android and iOS since they share a common code base. Additionally, its uniform user interface (UI) allows it to run on most devices.
  • Hybrid apps are easier to design and maintain (including updates and modifications) since developers have to construct one codebase.
  • Because hybrid applications share a common code base, they are more cost-efficient to build because they take less time and do not need as many developers as native apps do.

Hybrid Applications Disadvantages 

  • Because hybrid applications are built on a similar basis to web apps, they need an ongoing network connection to function properly.
  • Due to their design, hybrid mobile applications depend on plugins to access the device’s built-in functionalities.
  • Hybrid applications don’t deliver the same level of user experience as native applications do since the interfaces for Android and iOS are impaired. If too much focus is put on Android, the customer experience for iOS users suffers, and vice versa.
  • The paradox in the case of producing a Hybrid application is that Native app developers are needed to produce one since establishing a Hybrid application does not resolve a variety of functional concerns that are critical for Native app development.
  • Numerous organizations confront the age-old dilemma of whether an application to create, native or hybrid, provides an exceptional customer experience and which application is most suited to serve their business’s goal.

When Should a Hybrid Application Be Considered?

  • You want to run the app flawlessly across many platforms, but lack the time to develop a cross-platform solution
  • You want to publish your web application through app stores
  • With the app accessible through the web and mobile devices, you’re reaching a bigger audience
  • A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is used to validate a project’s concept
  • You intend to utilize the device’s native functionality, such as GPS and the camera

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Native App Vs Hybrid App

Now that you know more about what hybrid and native apps are and their pros and cons, let’s compare the two directly. Mentioned below are some of the most popular use cases and aspects that are important for any application. 

Time & Cost of Development

Hybrid applications are the most cost-effective and require the least amount of time to build. Additionally, hybrid applications are simpler to maintain since they share a single code base, while native apps have several code bases because they are platform-specific.

User Experience

As native applications are optimized for a certain app store, they provide the greatest user experience. Native applications consider the hardware’s capabilities and the size of the screen. In contrast to hybrid applications, which employ a single code base for all platforms, providing a pleasant user experience is not feasible.

Utilities (Free or Paid App)

For companies looking to build a paid app on the App Store, native applications are encouraged due to their superior user interface (UI), whereas hybrid apps may be built for free.

Compatible Portals

If a company wants to operate its mobile app across many platforms, such as Android, Apple, and Windows, it may save time by developing a web or hybrid app. By designing a web or hybrid app, a firm may construct the app once and then distribute it across several platforms since it uses a single code base. On the other, native applications need platform-specific code, such as JavaScript for Android as well as Objective C for Android.

App Store Compatibility 

If a company wants to distribute its app through the App Store, it must develop a mobile app instead of a responsive web design (RWD) web application that can be accessed via the device’s web browser.

Need of Developers

If your company requires a presence on many platforms and lacks professional mobile app developers, it may be easier to design a hybrid mobile app. This way, you may utilize your current coding abilities, such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, rather than studying the platform-specific languages.

Conclusion

As previously said, both hybrid and native apps have pros and cons. Choosing the right kind of app is highly dependent on the organization’s requirements. Following an examination of the business’s specs, it is advised that you consult with application developers, who will give your ideas the best form possible.

Additionally, application development may be outsourced rather than maintaining a permanent in-house structure since partnering with an outsourced team simplifies the process of developing a mobile application. So, if you’re looking for a professional app development company to create a stellar app for your brand, contact our experts at One Dgtal today!

Why You Should Outsource To A Software Development Company

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There is a strong probability that your IT crew is overburdened with work. Outsourcing your software development is an excellent option in this instance. However, it would be best to outsource software development to a suitable partner for the relationship to succeed. Without a doubt, outsourcing to a software development business would alleviate your IT team’s strain.

According to Statista statistics, the outsourcing business in the information technology sector was valued at USD 66.5 billion worldwide last year. It is a vast landscape that encompasses several cross-functional industries.

Almost all firms rely on the efficiency of their information technology teams to ensure seamless operation and growth. On the other hand, managing many activities concurrently diminishes the IT team’s efficiency. This is why outsourcing software development is the optimal path to growth.

Historically, the primary purpose of outsourcing was to save money. And although the cost is certainly a significant consideration, there are several additional reasons to outsource.

We have explored each of these causes in-depth in this post. We’ve compiled a brief guide that provides an overview of the benefits of outsourcing to a software development company.

Time Savings

Money is time! Consider this: you’re required to design a software package with twenty features. You must deploy something within the next six months. Can you perform the work within this timeframe?

If you have engaged an in-house team, the team’s capability will determine the work completion time. Are they given sufficient time to work on this project? What other liabilities is this team tangled up in? Which other initiatives are equally a priority, if not more so?

If you want to engage a dedicated in-house staff for this assignment, the process will be incredibly challenging. The human resources department will need time to recruit suitable employees. This may take months now when recruiting, orientation, and appropriate training are included. As a result, the deadline is automatically pushed forward.

The superior choice is to outsource to a software development company. One thing that remains constant in this circumstance is that you are not required to push deadlines or pressure your staff. You would not need to consider eliminating functionality from your programme to accommodate development deadlines.

When working in-house, you must add resources to the team when you need to expedite the development process. To complete a work that is widely seen as a pain, you must either recruit or remove resources from other projects and dedicate them to the specific project. In each of these instances, a software development company is the better alternative.

You are not responsible for any of this since the software development company already has a specialized staff. Transfer the assignment and negotiate the project’s deadlines and procedures. Your internal staff may concentrate on more demanding responsibilities, and you can avoid recruiting and training a completely new workforce from the beginning.

Cost-Effectiveness

Another significant argument for outsourcing to a software development company is the ability to execute at a low cost. If you are fortunate to locate the appropriate supplier who can provide the mentioned advantages properly, you can split your money for the assignment effectively.

Several reasons contribute to the high cost of in-house software development, including the following:

  • Procedures for hiring
  • Team members’ salaries and benefits
  • Costs associated with software licencing
  • Costs of equipment
  • Additional perks for the squad
  • Charges related to training and development
  • Charges related to information technology architecture

Numerous businesses also provide housing and office space, which adds to the above mentioned prices. A software development company is cost-effective in this regard.

Additionally, if you do not have an in-house software development team, hiring for a single project is not beneficial in any way.

When you use a software development company, these expenses are eliminated, and you are only responsible for the services bought. The outsourced software development business manages the staff from recruiting through training.

Superior Quality

A software development company enables you to increase the quality of your programme drastically.

Consider a small or medium-sized business that hires a five-person software development team. Due to the scope of the project and the tight schedule, each member of the team is producing and testing concurrently. As a result, neither development nor testing receives sufficient attention. While development may continue faster to accommodate the addition of items included in the scope of the project, testing is somehow neglected.

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Big Team & Diverse Expertise

When you outsource software development, the software development company provides an experienced development and testing team; in fact, the team size is considerably larger than what you can employ in-house.

The availability of the appropriate resources results in enhanced workflows and job completion. Both development and testing are prioritized, resulting in a better and improved end product.

Diverse expertise is another component that helps an outsourced team’s productivity. Working with diverse clients enables these teams to be more creative. This unique thinking is reflected in the quality of your software product.

Possibility of Accessing a Large Talent Pool

A significant distinction between your product and the ordinary software product is the development team’s skill set. Generally, outsourcing software development provides you with an advantage in this area.

The staff of the software development company will be proficient in various technologies, including NET JavaScript and machine learning. Additionally, this team can help you enhance the UI and UX of your software product.

Simply said, a software development company team is beneficial when a full, end-to-end software solution is required.

However, you must ensure that you choose a reputable software development company with a diverse staff of professional personnel. From front-end developers to scrum masters, acquiring additional technical skills might prove an excellent investment in the project.

This  does not mean that you will be unable to build a diverse and vibrant workforce inside your organization. Of course not, however, this brings us back to our first and second considerations, namely time and money. Building a full-stack team comprising scrum masters, full-stack engineers, interface designers, and information architects, among others, requires a significant amount of time and money.

Increased Security

When your team is overburdened with several projects, the amount of expertise, creativity, and effective methods applied to a single project decreases. This raises the danger to the software product’s security framework. This danger is amplified when you lack a team to begin with.

The software development company will have a dedicated staff of software engineers and testers. This team will guarantee that the software code is free of flaws and breaks, ensuring a high level of protection. They may cover your software product and its security with care.

A More Improved Culture

‘Culture’ is a word that immediately conjures up images of a workplace and its activities. When you decide to create a software in-house, you must verify that you have the necessary culture to execute the project on time.

The ideal digital culture for enhancing the development of a software product consists of the following:

  • A risk-taking atmosphere that fosters creativity
  • A culture that values rapid decision-making based on actionable facts
  • A cross-functional atmosphere that fosters exceptional teamwork
  • A solution-oriented work atmosphere that promotes innovation
  • A customer-centric culture

It is critical to recognize that software development is a digital transformation process. The appropriate culture enables you to link your goods with your ultimate digitalization aspirations. If your team culture falls short of the above mentioned standards, outsourcing software development may be the best option.

The software development company will properly implement digitization  and develop software solutions. This team can assist you in modernizing your business processes and models and establishing a suitable development culture.

Conclusion

Outsourcing may be the best option when you lack the in-house resources necessary to finish software development. Choosing the appropriate software development company, on the other hand, helps to improve the quality and efficiency of your software product. 

As a result, when outsourcing software development, choose a provider with demonstrated industry experience, a strong skill set, and a strong track record, like One Dgtal. We offer comprehensive IT solutions, including Software Development, Mobile Application Development and more, making us the perfect software development company.