How to choose Hybrid vs native mobile application ?
This blog will explain the basis on which mobile application also called app development platforms (hybrid/native) can be selected
As most of the mobile applications are released for android and iOS platform, we are considering only these two options while comparing. Also we are considering hybrid frameworks ex. ionic, react-native.
Before we go into detail of parameters, let’s first understand more on hybrid and native terms in layman’s language.
Native application is the one who needs to be coded (developed) for each platform separately. That also means same application will be built twice, once for android and other for iOS. In terms of cost, development cost will be double for one mobile application. Native application has direct access to native features which makes them respond faster while assessing such features like (camera, files, contacts etc.)
Hybrid application are the one who needs to be coded once and can be build and deployed over both platforms(in ideal scenario). There is small catch in this statement. For most of the hybrid applications code need to be fixed for look and feel which involves at of the hybrid applications code need to be fixed for look and feel which involves at Native features through plugin which causes little delay in response. Also plugins restriction can
Given table gives clear idea about which way to go
| FEATURE | NATIVE | HYBRID | REMARK |
| Highly Secured Apps Like Banking Apps, Government Apps etc. | YES | NO | End-to-end Encryption is not possible using JavaScript frameworks. Most of the secured third party APIs do not provide plugin for hybrid frameworks like AadharCard, Payment Gateway etc. |
| Media Intensive Apps (Image, Video Upload/Download/Edit etc.) | YES | NO | Hybrid frameworks gives many issues while image editing, image display especially on cross platforms. Like Image/Video uploaded from Android and Displayed on iOS. There functionality is restricted by plugin which many a time not available for latest OS versions. |
| Payment Gateway Integration | YES | YES / NO | Hybrid frameworks gives many issues while image editing, image display especially on cross platforms. Like Image/Video uploaded from Android and Displayed on iOS. There functionality is restricted by plugin which many a time not available for latest OS versions. |
| Developer Availability | NA | NA | In case of Native, we will need developer with expertise of Android and iOS which is difficult to find. In case of Hybrid, one developer is sufficient. |
| Code Quality Analysis Tools | YES | NO | Native frameworks provide code quality analysis tools inbuilt in Developer IDEs. In case of Hybrid, Code quality analysis is manual work also requires expert person to do the same. |
| Code | X + Y | X+0.5X(FOR IOS) | X for Android, Y for iOS. In case of hybrid, 50% cost is saved as code is reused. 50% is still required for deployment, ui fixing, testing efforts. |
| Simple UI (Forms, Lists etc.) | YES | YES ++ | Hybrid frameworks are suitable for simple apps, prototypes |
| OS Upgrade | YES | YES -+ | Most of the times OS upgrade are easy in Native Apps. In case of Hybrid apps, plugins needs to be modifying to suit new OS. Also plugin API can change which eventually requires change in mobile app code. |