6 Best Cross Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks

The increasing speed of cross platform mobile development has led to countless new applications and frameworks, making it difficult to discern between the options. To ease the burden of some of the difficult choices you have in store, this blog outlines six of the best cross-platform app development frameworks and what distinguishes them! At the end of the blog, we will provide some excellent tips for picking your company’s best cross-platform mobile app development framework.

What is a Cross Platform Mobile App?

A cross-platform mobile app is built with shared code to work effectively across mobile operating platforms, including Android and iOS. It will have been built with frameworks or technologies like React Native, Flutter, and others.

Difference Between Native and Cross Platform Mobile App Development

Native app development refers to creating separate apps for each platform, utilizing the dedicated programming languages native to that platform (Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android), providing the best performance, and tapping into the device’s complete native capabilities.

Cross platform app development describes developing an app from a single codebase to deploy it in multiple environments, accepting some trade-offs in performance and app experience using technologies such as Flutter and React Native.

Below are the key differences between Native mobile apps and cross platform mobile app development:

Benefits of Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks

Here are the advantages of having cross-platform mobile app development:

Mobile App for Multiple Platforms

One significant benefit of utilizing a cross-platform framework is that it provides a single solution that can run across multiple operating systems without issue. This approach is beneficial for projects with basic business logic and where a quick turnaround is essential.

Reduced Development Cost

Traditionally, crafting a digital product demands distinct web, Android, and iOS workflows. However, utilizing a cross-platform framework significantly reduces the workload, slashing development efforts by more than half.

Agile Development Process

When a unified code structure is implemented, the creation phase demands fewer labor hours. The adaptability of selecting among native, web, and hybrid frameworks enables efficient distribution of development efforts across specialized teams. 

For instance, applications with high computational demands, such as gaming or intensive processing tasks, necessitate more excellent native development and refinement compared to a standard e-commerce platform.

Simpler Code Maintenance & Usability

Utilizing a singular code foundation across various platforms ensures that modifications, whether adding or removing features, require only one round of updates, seamlessly reflecting changes across all versions.

Additionally, a consolidated codebase simplifies the testing process, eliminating the need for extensive horizontal scaling of test resources. Instead, the focus can be on refining test case priorities for optimal performance.

Easy Cloud Integration

As this is a relatively new trend, the frameworks and ecosystems for multi-platform development are crafted with contemporary technological advancements in mind. Most solutions embrace cutting-edge approaches such as continuous integration and deployment, process automation, cloud-driven implementations, and advanced data visualization.

Cloud-hosted testing solutions like BrowserStack Automate and App Automate provide a highly adaptable and optimized workflow, seamlessly blending DevOps and QAOps into a unified operational model.

Faster Time-to-Market and Customize

Designed to encompass the entire mobile app creation cycle, these platforms have tools, capabilities, and add-ons that enhance adaptability, efficiency, and security. This results in a smoother workflow, significantly shortening the time required to launch a product.

Uniform Design

Achieving uniformity in design can be challenging, yet cross-platform development often delivers cohesive and visually appealing results. By embedding responsive design principles at its core, this approach leverages component hierarchies and micro-services architecture to effectively segment functionalities across both front-end and back-end systems.

Popular Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks

Widely recognized cross-platform frameworks employ a unified code structure to craft applications compatible with various operating systems. Consequently, development must align with the programming framework endorsed by the selected platform.

Converting a single code foundation into numerous applications is a complex endeavor, so different leading solutions present distinct strengths and limitations when evaluated against one another. Below are several cross-platform mobile app development frameworks for multi-platform app creation:

1. React Native

Meta Platforms, previously recognized as Facebook, introduced React Native in 2015, a short span before Flutter. This open-source framework, rooted in Facebook’s JavaScript library, React, empowers developers to craft cross-platform mobile applications with native-like rendering.

• Core Language: JavaScript.
• Notable Applications: Microsoft’s Office, Skype, and Xbox Game Pass leverage React Native, and Meta’s Facebook, Messenger (desktop), and Oculus do likewise.

Core Attributes

• The Fast Refresh mechanism ensures that developers witness real-time modifications in their React components.
• The primary concern in React Native is the user interface design. React Native uses React primitives that become native UI elements for the platform, giving a flexible and customized visual experience. 
• Starting with version 0.62, React Native comes with Flipper built-in for Android, iOS, and React Native applications. Flipper is a debugging toolset that can help with troubleshooting through features such as a log viewer, an interactive layout inspector, and a network optimizer.
• React Native boasts an extensive network of developers exchanging insights and technical expertise. This dynamic ecosystem ensures continuous support for application developers who use the framework.

2. Flutter

Flutter is a popular Mobile, Desktop, and Web application development package with a single codebase that Google released in 2017. To write applications in Flutter, you need to use Dart, a language designed by Google specifically.

• Coding Language: Dart.
• Notable Applications: eBay, Alibaba, Google Pay, ByteDance platforms.

Core Attributes

• Flutter supports Google’s Material Design, a systematic way to design digital interfaces. Developers can use wide-ranging visual and interactive components. 
• Flutter uses its rendering engine instead of a web browser, whereas frameworks and libraries usually require a web-based renderer. 
• With a growing number of developers worldwide, Flutter seems to be gaining popularity. Developers can integrate a diverse range of visual and interactive components.
• Unlike most frameworks, which rely on rendering UI through the browser, Flutter uses its engine to build all interface elements. 
• With a growing global user base, Flutter attracts developers. Insights from Stack Overflow Trends indicate a steady rise in its adoption, as reflected in the increasing frequency of related discussions.

3. NativeScript

NativeScript is a free and open-source framework for making mobile apps for iOS and Android. Introduced in 2014, it allows developers to utilize JavaScript or languages that transpile to JavaScript (like TypeScript) and frameworks like Angular or Vue.js to develop applications for iOS and Android.

• Supported Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript.
• Notable Applications: Daily Nanny, Strudel, Breethe.

Core Attributes

• With NativeScript, developers can easily access native APIs for Android and iOS. 
• The framework creates user interfaces that accommodate the respective platforms, which means apps run natively without using WebViews, an Android component that allows apps to render content in HTML5. 
• Various plug-ins and pre-built templates are available that limit the need for external libraries. 
• Based on popular web technologies like JavaScript and Angular, NativeScript appeals to many developers. However, it is preferred by startups and small businesses.

4. .NET MAUI

.NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) is a versatile framework introduced in May 2022 and developed by Microsoft. It empowers programmers to craft native applications for both mobile and desktop environments using C# and XAML. 

Functioning as the next iteration of Xamarin, .NET MAUI incorporates essential elements of Xamarin. Forms, delivering native interface components across supported platforms.

• Supported Languages: C#, XAML.
• Notable Applications: NBC Sports Next, Escola Agil, Irth Solutions.

Core Attributes

• .NET MAUI equips developers with unified APIs to interact with native device functionalities such as location services, motion sensors, battery status, and network conditions.
• A single project structure uses multi-targeting so developers can create Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows apps. 
• The .NET Platform supports hot reload, enabling developers to edit managed source code while the app in development is still running and delivering the app’s experience. 
• While ordered on-premise, hosted, or managed service, .NET MAUIDeveloper’s popularity and support are extensive, with large communities of developers already found on Stack Overflow and the Microsoft Q&A Portal.

5. Ionic

Established in 2013, Ionic is an open-source framework for building mobile user interfaces. Ionic enables the developer to create cross-platform mobile applications, leveraging web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a single codebase. Ionic may also be used with popular frameworks such as Angular, React, and Vue.

• Programming Language: JavaScript.
• Notable Applications: T-Mobile, BBC’s educational and children-focused apps, and EA Games.

Core Attributes

• Ionic is rooted in a SaaS-driven UI framework specifically crafted for mobile operating systems. It provides a varied selection of UI elements for mobile application development. 
• It allows users to access the device’s native features using Cordova and Capacitor plugins, such as the camera, GPS, audio recording, flashlight, etc.
• The framework is provided with the command-line interface Ionic CLI, which is necessary for building and managing Ionic Projects.
• Within the Ionic Framework Forum, there is a lively community where developers can learn from one another and resolve technical problems together.

6. Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is an open-source framework that enables developers to share logic across different environments while leveraging the benefits of native platforms. It allows developers to use as much code as possible, develop platform-specific components when necessary, and quickly merge Kotlin-based modules into their projects.

• Primary Language: Kotlin
• Notable Applications: These include McDonald’s, Netflix, Forbes, 9GAG, Cash App, and Philips. For more insights, explore Kotlin Multiplatform success stories.

Core Attributes

• Engineers can repurpose code across Android, iOS, web, desktop, and server environments while maintaining native elements when necessary.
• Kotlin Multiplatform integrates smoothly into any workflow, allowing developers to access system-specific APIs while balancing native and cross-platform approaches.
• With Compose Multiplatform, JetBrains’ declarative UI toolkit, programmers gain extensive code-sharing control, enabling the reuse of functional logic and interface components.
• If Kotlin is already in use for Android applications, there’s no need to introduce an unfamiliar language. Existing Kotlin knowledge and assets can be leveraged, making the transition to Kotlin Multiplatform safer and more efficient than alternative solutions.

Conclusion

As cross-platform development frameworks advance, their drawbacks have become insignificant compared to their advantages. Numerous technologies exist in the industry, each catering to distinct workflows and demands. The tools highlighted in this discussion provide comprehensive assistance for teams exploring cross-platform development.

In the end, thoroughly analyze your business requirements, aspirations, and operational tasks. Defining goals for your application will guide you toward the best strategy. 

Seek a cross-platform development company that can provide development as part of your app development. Integrated IT Solutions will undoubtedly lead to customized solutions focused on your business.

FAQs

How to create a cross-platform mobile app?

A single codebase is essential for creating an app that works across multiple operating systems. Technologies like Flutter and React Native facilitate this approach, though they might slightly impact performance compared to apps built natively. Native Android applications are typically developed using Java or Kotlin.

Is KMP better than Flutter?

KMP enables shared code to interact directly with platform-specific native code, mirroring the behavior of traditional native development. On the other hand, Flutter relies on Platform Channels to communicate with native components, requiring data serialization and deserialization between the Flutter Engine and the underlying system.

What is cross-platform coding?

Cross-platform mobile development involves a single application development strategy that allows seamless applications to operate across multiple operating systems. With these applications, part of or, in some cases, all of the source code can be reused when being developed for various platforms.