Native vs Hybrid: Which App Best Solves your Requirement

Like most entrepreneurs, if you too are caught in a debate on what kind of cross platform app, Native or Hybrid will best suit your requirements, then here is a happy read for you, as we delve into the pros and the cons, the high points and the benefits that each—the native and the hybrid apps—come packed with. And even better will be our detailed comparison, which makes this decision of yours a cake walk.

To start this comparison fair, it is important for us to first discuss what each of these apps imply and how are they different from the other. Broadly speaking, a native app, is a platform specific app and has to be designed keeping specific specs in mind. For example, for an ecommerce company, one will have to build different apps for an Android user and an iOS (and Windows Phone users), as they will require specific coding. While these apps have the advantage of leveraging the entire platform to function larger app functionalities, they are steeper on the cost and may have higher development timelines.

While on the other hand, hybrid apps, as the name suggests, use augmented web code with native SDK. These codes can be readily deployed across multiple platforms (mobile operating systems) at a given time. This results in decreased effort and timelines, which brings down the overall developmental cost.

Taking a deeper dive

Native applications are loaded with feature functionality that allow the app to leverage the support of an app store or market place. Since native apps are favoured by all app stores, they also enjoy the free promos, you wouldn’t get otherwise. The only con of a native app is the fact that they have to be found on the store in order to be installed and there is always a chance that despite the hiked visibility of your app (by the marketing promos), one may still find it tough, to place the app.
Also most native apps, developed within a specific platform will have similar navigation specs or flow. This makes the app usage friendly, leaving a very small learning curve, as most of the time the users are familiar with the interface and don’t get lost easy in its functionality.
While Hybrid apps are only a few shades different from the native ones and is place somewhat between mobile website and native apps. Hybrids can also be called as the advantage app, as it automatically fetches content from the website (or server), in an app format suitable for any OS. The best part about Hybrid is the fact that it can also be a published app or a temporary mock-up to fill the store, while you are working on the final frames. This gives the developers a head-start, on the development stand-point.

Factors that rule your choice

Having listed the major pros and minor cons of the native and hybrid apps, the question now moves to what to choose, or rather prefer, as a user. The easiest way to tackle this is asking your internal stakeholders the following questions:

Do you want a feature packed app, with all Native functionalities?
It’s easy to comment that the functionality that a Native app can provide is far superior to any other, so if functionality is a priority over timelines and budget then Native should be a preferred option.

How quickly do you want to ‘Go-To-Market’?
Native apps have longer and at times extended timelines while the hybrid is an easier job as it extracts content and matter from the existing website or server—a perfect choice for those who want to hit the market ASAP.

Do you have a big budget or a conservative one?
Since native involves a larger effort base and involves duplication of work, in terms of recreation of code for apps on different OS; Natives are bound to be more expensive than the hybrid.

From where you plan to distribute apps?
While creating Hybrid apps, one has to be extra careful because an app that doesn’t follow the design guidelines or an app only wrapping a mobile website might be rejected by the app store.

At TechAhead our mobile experts can provide mobile app consulting and create any or both, native and/or hybrid apps for your cross-platform app development requirement. Head over to our contact page and submit your requirements to get a free quote.