Navigating the Cross-Platform App Development Landscape: A Comprehensive Guide to Frameworks

Building an app is hard enough, so building it twice? Well, many companies don’t want to spend that kind of time and money. That’s what makes cross-platform app development so appealing. 

While native apps are built for specific platforms, like iOS or Android, cross-platform apps run on multiple platforms using a single codebase. Cross-platform mobile development has quickly become one of the most popular app-building methods. The cross-platform approach offers an ideal combination of speed, efficiency, and cost savings for startups. Cross-platform app development allows budget-conscious startups juggling limited funds, small teams, and tight turnarounds to embrace a lean development methodology. 

Still, with more than a dozen cross-platform frameworks to choose from, landing on the right choice can be challenging. In this guide, we’ll explore the mobile app development framework landscape to equip you with the information you need to make a decision. We’ll also cover the key considerations and deep dive into the strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases for each of the top cross-platform frameworks.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Cross-Platform Framework

When choosing a cross-platform framework, it’s important to weigh several key factors. The framework you select has important implications that can ultimately shape the success of your app. From how your app performs to how it meets user expectations, a framework has significant implications down the line. 

For businesses operating in highly regulated industries, such as finance, healthcare, or legal services, your framework choice carries even more weight, given the high bar established by compliance, security, and user privacy requirements. A clear understanding of your unique needs will illuminate the options available and steer you toward the best decision.

Let’s take a closer look at a few key considerations for choosing a cross-platform framework and why they’re important. 

Target Platforms

Outlining your target platforms should be the first step before choosing a framework. Determine whether your app will launch on iOS, Android, web, or desktop. Some applications are intended only for use on mobile or desktop, while others must support both experiences. 

If your app needs a broad range of functionality, consider whether one platform or another is the top priority. For example, an enterprise app might require a seamless user experience across desktop, iOS, and Android devices. By contrast, an e-commerce app might prioritize a mobile platform experience on web, iOS, and Android, with less emphasis on the desktop experience. Some frameworks are better suited to specific platforms. For example, Flutter and ReactNative work beautifully on iPhones and Android mobile phones alike, while Xamarin might be a good fit for a web app geared toward desktop use. 

Performance

Native apps represent the gold standard of app performance, so cross-platform frameworks aim to deliver native-like performance. Recognizing that any cross-platform framework has some performance tradeoffs, it’s important to understand your performance goals. This is especially true of apps involving complex interactions, animations, or dynamic data. Many developers turn to Flutter for impressive mobile performance. Other options, like React Native and Ionic, still offer good performance but may be better suited to apps with fewer performance requirements. 

Development Speed

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a cross-platform framework is reducing development times. Instead of writing a native app for each platform, developers can deploy a single codebase to multiple platforms. While all cross-platform frameworks offer this compelling benefit, some excel in terms of their ability to support faster development times. 

Built-in features can make the process of building and launching an app even faster. For example, Xamarin’s robust compile-time checking helps prevent runtime errors and facilitates a smoother launch process. Likewise, Flutter and React Native offer hot reloading, which means changes to the code show up immediately on the front end, cutting down on the time it takes to make changes. 

Community and Support

Regardless of the development team’s experience, choosing a platform with a strong development community is a good idea. Ample resources and a vibrant development community make troubleshooting and resolving challenges easier. Choosing a popular cross-platform framework with a large community also means greater access to helpful resources, like how-to videos, forums, libraries, and creative solutions for common roadblocks. 

Maintained by tech giant Facebook, React Native boasts a strong developer community, as well as regular updates and plentiful documentation. Flutter, with Google’s backing, has a similarly robust community behind it and boasts growing adoption and documentation. Xamarin and Ionic each have a smaller but still dedicated developer following that offers a safety net of support and resources.  

Cost

Many cross-platform frameworks are open-source, meaning they’re free to use. However, be sure to investigate any hidden costs associated with each option. Some frameworks have licensing fees, especially for commercial purposes or premium features.

Depending on the development project, accessing a compatible third-party library might also be helpful. However, these resources often come at a cost. Third-party plug-ins, learning materials, training, and maintenance costs are potential fees to consider when weighing your options. Think of development costs through a holistic lens to avoid surprises and stay on budget. 

Learning Curve

Even with development-boosting built-in features, a cross-platform framework is only useful if you know how to use it. Prior experience is an important consideration in your framework choice. If your team has limited experience with your preferred cross-platform framework, consider how easy the framework will be for your development team to learn and adopt.

Note that some frameworks are more beginner-friendly than others. Ionic, for example, can be relatively simple for developers with front-end experience to pick up, while a framework like Xamarin has a steeper learning curve. 

TopCross-Platform Frameworks

When it comes to cross-platform frameworks, there’s not a clear winner. Each has its own strengths and ideal use cases. To find the right choice, it’s important to weigh the top options and consider which best fits your project goals and needs. Be sure to include these leading frameworks in your evaluation of options. 

React Native

Developed and maintained by Facebook, React Native is one of the most popular cross-platform frameworks. The framework is open-source and written in JavaScript, a key benefit that allows developers to move seamlessly from backend to front-end mobile app development. React Native offers a mix of structure and flexibility, enabling developers to create custom mobile iOS and Android applications from a single codebase. 

Strengths: 

• Large and active developer community with extensive documentation, external libraries, and learning resources 
• Regularly scheduled updates mean the framework never stagnates 
• Designed to support code-sharing across iOS and Android 
• A hot-reloading feature facilitates real-time code changes to the front end 
• Uses a virtual DOM for efficient updates

Weaknesses: 

• Fast pace of change and updates can mean less thorough documentation 
• Component-based structure isn’t well-suited to large applications, which often require more architecture 
• Not all native features are available, meaning some features could require developing additional native modules 
• Apps with heavy graphics or animations might be a performance challenge, as compared to native apps 
• There can be limitations with certain device features

Ideal Use Cases

React Native supports real-time data and fast loading, making it ideal for social media, e-commerce, and messaging apps. The framework is also easy to learn, making it an ideal choice for startups with speedy launch timelines. 

Learn more about the benefits of React development for your business →

Flutter

A Google brainchild, Flutter is known for custom rendering that lets developers design highly customized, layered UI. Unlike other cross-platform frameworks, Flutter is written in Dart, a less prominent but relevant programming language tailored to app development. Because Flutter offers excellent performance, it’s a popular pick for startups looking to support complex animations or similar needs. 

Strengths:

• Supports fast, native-like performance, even in apps with significant interface complexity
• Custom UI rendering supports exacting design standards
• Hot-reload feature with real-time changes to the front end, enhancing efficient iteration
• Large collection of pre-made visual, motion, and behavioral widgets that make coding a new app even faster. 

Weaknesses:

• Fewer third-party libraries compared to React Native due to a smaller but growing community
• Learning Dart can take time and slow down your project without pre-existing familiarity
• Custom rendering engine bulks up the size of the app, meaning more code to manage 

Ideal Use Cases:

Flutter is a popular choice for apps that demand high performance due to UI or animation complexity, such as gaming or finance apps. This framework is also a solid choice for startups looking to launch on both web and mobile platforms. 

Learn more: Flutter App Development: Pros, Cons, and Examples →

Xamarin

Xamarin is a cross-platform framework that uses C# and the.NET framework. Xamarin also offers compelling design advantages, supporting truly native UIs and integrating directly with Microsoft’s Visual Studio. As part of the Microsoft suite of tools, it’s also particularly well-suited to Windows platforms, but it also supports Android and iOS. Xamarin is a great choice for enterprise apps looking to use Windows APIs. It’s also a compelling choice for teams with existing .NET experience. 

Strengths:

• Microsoft support offers the tools and stability enterprises need
• Facilitates access to Windows APIs for nearly native performance
• Gives teams with C# and .NET experience and added development efficiency
• Supports iOS, Android, and Windows 

Weaknesses:

• Less popular than other cross-platform frameworks, meaning a smaller community
• Highly custom or complex apps may require some native coding for certain elements
• Heavier app size in comparison to more lightweight frameworks 

Ideal Use Cases:

Xamarin is a natural fit for enterprises looking for trusted security and deep integration with Windows tools and services. The platform is especially well-suited to enterprise apps in Windows-dominated fields, like finance, healthcare, and business services. 

Ionic

Ionic is an open-source framework that leverages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for building mobile apps. Because it uses web technologies, it’s popular with front-end developers who want to expand into mobile app development. Ionic also allows developers to access native features and run code in WebView, a browser within the app, creating a strong app experience.

Strengths:

• Uses popular front-end technologies, offering accessibility for web developers
• Pre-built UI library simplifies design and functionality 
• Ideal for apps sharing code across web and mobile platforms
• Well-suited to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Weaknesses:

• Performance lags are possible, especially with resource-intensive apps
• Security can be an issue due to reliance on WebView
• Other frameworks offer greater access to native features
• Live reloading, instead of hot reloading, can slow down development

Ideal Use Cases:

Because Ionic uses web technologies, it’s a natural choice for teams with web development expertise. If speed to launch is a priority over native-like performance, Ionic might be the right fit. It’s also a good choice for apps with a small footprint, like fitness or health apps, that must be deployed on both web and mobile platforms.

Other Notable Frameworks

While React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, and Ionic are among the top cross-platform frameworks, many others exist. Here are a few additional frameworks you may want to consider in your search. 

Cordova  

Cordova is a legacy hybrid framework. While it’s still used, more modern frameworks tend to offer better features. Apps built with Cordova are often upgraded. 

Kotlin Multiplatform   

This relatively new framework lets developers share business logic on different platforms while retaining native code if needed. It could be a good choice for apps that need to use native UI or for developers with existing experience in the tool. 

NativeScript 

NativeScript uses web technologies and offers deep native API integration. Because it has a steep learning curve, it’s not the right choice for every team. 

3 Successful Examples of Cross-Platform Apps

There’s a time and place for native apps, but you don’t have to look far to find examples of prominent companies across industries relying on cross-platform frameworks to support a native-like experience. 

Netflix (React Native) 

Video streaming giant Netflix trusts React Native for its cross-platform experience. Performance is a top priority for Netflix and companies like it since slow loading and data lags are enough to lose customers to competitors. React Native’s performance capabilities and ability to handle large volumes of dynamic data made the framework a standout choice for Netflix. 

Google Ads (Flutter) 

Since Google maintains the Flutter framework, it’s no surprise that the Google Ads application is built with Flutter. The framework helps Google create a seamless Google Ads experience, across platforms. Flutter's custom UI rendering supports the beautiful design standard synonymous with the Google brand. 

Untappd (Ionic) 

Untappd is a social media app built for beer lovers. The app allows users to engage with one another and create a digital environment to learn about and discover new brews. Untappd’s leadership turned to Ionic to build its consumer-facing features for its easy-to-use UI elements and dynamic binding features. 

Choosing the Right Cross-Platform Framework

Landing on the right cross-platform framework means juggling a number of tradeoffs and getting clear on your top priorities. For a larger enterprise app, reliable performance might be a top concern, while for apps with a smaller footprint, speed to market might be the main concern. Regardless of your industry and goals, it’s worth considering React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, and Ionic cross-platform frameworks carefully. By choosing the right framework, you can balance performance and quality, all while reducing development costs and timelines. 

Learn more about the Designli approach to Cross-Platform Development 

Looking for a partner to help you build a cross-platform app? Let’s talk. We’re skilled at helping startups embrace the lean development methodology and make the most of limited resources. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our unique development approach and track record of success. 

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• How to Decide on a Platform to Launch Your App On
• Should I Choose Cross-Platform or Native Development for My App?
• Native App vs. Web App. vs. Hybrid App: Which is Best?