You search for “Mobile App Development” on Google and somehow you might run into cross-platform app development!
But have ever wondered- Why?
Well, the answer to the question lies in its popularity and the abundant features it has to offer!
Did you know?
- Nearly 87% of developers are using cross-platform app development frameworks to develop native mobile apps.
- The market share of cross-platform app development is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% from 2021 to 2026.
- Cross-platform app development framework can save around 30% to 40% time and money as compared to Native Apps.
Sounds surprising, doesn’t it?
Considering such facts, it’s no wonder why businesses are going crazy over “Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Services”!
Are you excited now to develop a cross-platform mobile app for your business? Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what it exactly means!
What is Cross-Platform Development?
To put it simply, cross-platform app development refers to the mobile app development framework that may help develop cross-platform mobile apps for multiple platforms using a single codebase. In short, developers can use the feature of “Code Reusability” to build robust, feature-rich, and scalable mobile apps that work seamlessly on a multitude of platforms, including Android and iOS.
Since developers need to write code once, they can effortlessly target multiple platforms and reach an extensive audience. From saving abundant time and money to easy maintenance, choosing cross-platform mobile app development is like a boon to businesses, especially startups with low budgets.
With so many features associated, it’s prudent to consider the wide range of benefits of cross-platform app development.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
What are the Benefits of Cross-Platform Mobile App Development?
Here is a list of the potential benefits of cross-platform app development for your business.
One Code for all
One of the biggest benefits of choosing cross-platform mobile app development services is that it efficiently uses a single codebase across all platforms. Thus, it simply means that developers can easily deploy and maintain without running into code complexity again and again.
Quick and Error-Free Development
Another major benefit of cross-platform app development is that developers can use a single codebase to build apps which ultimately help save significant time. Remember that faster development may lead to reduced costs and faster time to market which is important in today’s competitive landscape.
Uniform User Experience
Unlike native or hybrid app development frameworks, Cross-platform mobile app development frameworks render a seamless and consistent user experience across multiple OS and devices. No matter whether your users are using Android or iOS, if they are using your app built via cross-platform, they can get the same experience which ultimately leads to enhanced engagement and retention.
Accessibility to Native Features
Another major highlight of cross-platform app development is that it allows developers to access native features and device functionalities such as GPS or cameras. Furthermore, it can significantly enhance the user experience and render specific features to each platform.
Hassle-Free Prototyping
Last but not least, cross-platform mobile app development is an ideal choice for developers planning to build prototypes and test app ideas across multiple platforms. Furthermore, it would help you identify the functional and ethical concepts before you invest in mobile app development.
Though the benefits sound tempting, now you might be wondering- How to develop a cross-platform mobile app?
Let’s find out!
Difference between Native and Cross Platform Mobile App Development
Let’s compare Native and Cross-Platform mobile app development based on the following parameters.
| Parameters | Native Mobile App Development | Cross-Platform Mobile App Development |
| Definition | When it comes to native app development, it majorly deals with developing apps specifically for one platform (iOS or Android) using platform-specific languages (Swift, Kotlin, etc.). | Cross-platform mobile app development, on the other hand, is all about developing apps that work on multiple platforms (iOS, Android) with a single codebase using frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin. |
| Performance | Speaking of the performance aspect, there’s a relatively higher performance due to direct access to device resources and optimization for a single platform. | On the flip side, there’s a slightly lower performance compared to native apps due to a single codebase for multiple platforms. |
| Development Time | Longer, separate codebases need to be maintained for each platform (iOS, Android). | Faster, as one codebase is used for multiple platforms. |
| Cost | Coning to the cost aspect, it might be on a bit higher side because separate teams and codebases are needed for each platform. | On the other hand, cross-platform app development has a lower cost because it can seamlessly handle multiple platforms using a single codebase. |
| User Experience | Optimized for each platform, providing a more tailored and consistent user experience. | Can have a slightly less optimized user experience, as it is not tailored to each platform. |
| Access to Device Features | Full access to all platform-specific APIs and device features. | Limited access to some native features unless third-party plugins are used. |
| Maintenance | Requires separate updates and bug fixes for each platform. | Easier maintenance, as updates can be made in one place for both platforms. |
Step-By-Step Guide to Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Building a cross-platform mobile app isn’t a cakewalk! From market research to deployment and post-maintenance support, there’s a lot involved in the cross-platform app development process. Let’s find out!
#1. Conduct Extensive Market Research
Before you embark on your journey to cross-platform app development, you should start diving deep into market research and know your audience better. Furthermore, doing so may help you understand what your audience wants and what they don’t want. When you build an app according to your user preferences, you may likely have an edge over your competitors. Try to keep an eye on your competitors to have an idea of what they doing and how you can incorporate their strategy with your techniques and methodologies.
#2. Choose the Right Framework
In the next step, you will need to choose the right framework for your mobile app development. Since there are many popular Cross-platform mobile app development frameworks available like Flutter, React Native, Ionic, and Xamarin, choosing the best one is important. Remember that each framework comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses, which means you should first understand your audience, goals, and other aspects before making a decision.
#3. UI Design is Key
Once you are done choosing the framework, you should start focusing on building an appealing and user-friendly UI that aligns with your app’s objectives. Make sure your mobile app design is responsive because different users will use your app on different screen sizes. Thus, you should prioritize UI design when it comes to mobile app development.
#4. Dive into Coding
In this important aspect of cross-platform mobile app development, developers need to write the code to build a mobile app. With cross-platform, the best part is that developers need to write a single code only once and use it for building apps for different screen sizes and resolutions.
#5. Testing
After your final mobile app development, you need to test your app to identify and eliminate potential bugs or issues that might arise during testing. Furthermore, it will help provide a seamless user experience and they would likely recommend your app to their friends and peers.
#6. App Launch & Maintenance
It’s time to publish your mobile app on Google Play or Apple Store or both. Make sure you strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the App Store to avoid your app from getting banned. Even after publishing, your job is not over yet! Make sure you regularly update your app to make it relevant even after years.
Popular Frameworks for Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Fortunately, there are multiple cross-platform mobile app development frameworks to choose from. But there’s no one-size-fits-all tool that could be an ideal choice for every project. Let’s discuss some of the top cross-platform mobile app development tools to consider for mobile app development.
#1. Flutter
Released by Google in 2017, Flutter is one of the popular cross-platform mobile app development frameworks that may help developers build mobile, web, and desktop applications using a single codebase. Backed by the “Hot Reload” feature, developers can easily view the application changes as soon as you modify the code, without requiring you to recompile it.
#2. React Native
Developed in 2015, React Native is an open-source UI software framework that enables developers to build natively-rendered cross-platform mobile apps. One of the major highlights of the cross-platform app development tool is that it is solely focused on the UI. Furthermore, React Native has a strong community of developers where you can get the support needed.
#3. Kotlin Multiplatform
Built by JetBrains, Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is an open-source technology that allows developers to share code across a wide range of platforms while leveraging the benefits of native programming. Furthermore, it enables developers to reuse code multiple times. Some of the popular apps built using Kotlin are Netflix, McDonald’s, Forbes, Philips, and more.
#4. Ionic
One of the popular cross-platform app development frameworks, Ionic enables developers to build cross-platform mobile applications using a single codebase. Furthermore, the framework efficiently leverages a multitude of technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
#5. NativeScript
Launched in 2014, NativeScript is one of the popular open-source mobile app development frameworks that enables developers to build Android and iOS mobile apps using JavaScript. Furthermore, it comes with a multitude of plugins and pre-built app templates which ultimately the need for third-party solutions.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! That’s a wrap to the complete cross-platform application development in 2025!
Building a solid cross-platform app could be potentially exciting and daunting. With Cross-platform mobile app development frameworks, you can build a solid, efficient, functional, and feature-rich mobile app that perfectly caters to a broad range of audiences. Remember that the success of your app depends on your business objectives and the framework that you choose. Ready to develop a cross-platform mobile app? Partner with EitBiz and build a responsive and performance-centric mobile app for your business. Drop us an email at info@eitbiz.com or call us at +1(812)530-6300 today!
