One of the most important decisions in mobile app development is choosing between native and cross-platform development. There's no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on your specific requirements, budget, and timeline.
Understanding Your Options
Native Development
Building separate apps for each platform:
- iOS: Swift or Objective-C, Xcode
- Android: Kotlin or Java, Android Studio
- Two codebases, two teams (or one team with both skills)
Cross-Platform Development
One codebase, multiple platforms:
- Flutter: Dart language, Google's framework
- React Native: JavaScript/TypeScript, Meta's framework
- Others: Xamarin, Ionic, Capacitor
When to Choose Native
Native development is the right choice when:
1. Maximum Performance is Critical
- Graphics-intensive games
- AR/VR applications
- Real-time video processing
- Complex animations at 120fps
2. Deep Platform Integration
- Using latest platform APIs immediately
- Complex native module requirements
- Widgets, watch apps, TV apps
- Siri/Google Assistant integration
3. Budget Isn't a Constraint
Native typically costs 1.5-2x more due to:
- Two separate codebases to maintain
- Specialized developers for each platform
- Duplicate testing efforts
When to Choose Cross-Platform
Cross-platform makes sense when:
1. Time-to-Market Matters
- Single codebase = faster development
- One team can handle everything
- Simultaneous iOS and Android launch
2. Budget Optimization
- 30-40% cost savings vs native
- Reduced ongoing maintenance costs
- Smaller team requirements
3. Business Apps
- CRUD operations
- Forms and data display
- Standard UI patterns
- API-driven functionality
Performance Comparison (2025)
| Aspect | Native | Flutter | React Native |
|---|---|---|---|
| UI Performance | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| Animation Smoothness | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| App Size | Smallest | +5-10MB | +3-7MB |
| Startup Time | Fastest | Fast | Good |
Our Recommendation Framework
Choose Native If:
- Building a game or AR app
- Need cutting-edge platform features day one
- Have separate iOS and Android teams
- Budget allows for 2x development cost
Choose Flutter If:
- Building a business/productivity app
- Need custom, branded UI
- Want desktop support too
- Team is willing to learn Dart
Choose React Native If:
- Team has strong JavaScript expertise
- Sharing code with a React web app
- Using Expo for rapid development
- Need many third-party integrations
The Bottom Line
For 80% of business applications, cross-platform (especially Flutter) delivers the best value. Native is worth the premium only when you have specific technical requirements that justify the extra cost.
Not sure which approach is right for your project? Book a free consultation and we'll help you decide.