Many people who plan to build an app for solving their individual and business purposes always face the biggest question: which type of mobile app should I make? There are lots of mobile apps available in the competitive market that allure potential app development enthusiasts. The world is going mobile, and you also need a mobile app to solve your selfish purpose. There are three types of mobile apps: native, web, and hybrid apps. Mobile apps are software designed and developed for modern mobile devices with many features and a few restrictions. Each mobile app delivers specific functionalities. Some mobile devices offer you pre-installed apps. Mobile users can also pick up apps from the Apple App Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android, and the Amazon App Store. Read the content to find out more about different types of mobile apps for diverse industries.
Mobile App Marketing Statistics and Cost Factors
Selecting a mobile app platform matters the most for building an app, and it depends on specific business needs and budgets. Organizations with a successful and long-term strategy should go with customized mobile app development to ensure good ROI. Find here some factors that directly influence mobile app development costs.
- App upgrade & maintenance services
- Choosing a Native or a Hybrid Mobile App Platform
- Feature list and functionality of the mobile app
- Nature of the app with innovative features
- Testing and backend
- Which mobile app company is developing the app
Statista, a popular marketing data research company, exhibits that mobile apps are expected to generate 935+ billion U.S. dollars in revenues in the year 2023. This revenue will come via paid downloads and in-app advertising. Right now, iOS captures a 26.91% market share. On the other hand, Android dominates the market with a 72.48% market share. Other operating systems, including Windows, hardly cover 0.61% share. That is why Android apps and iOS apps are big players in the mobile market. The number of mobile app downloads worldwide was 218 billion in 2020. The number of apps available in the Google Play Store is about 3.15m apps. The Apple App Store and Windows Store have about 2.09m and 669,000 apps, respectively.
Also Read: AI Programming Languages
Know Mobile-Based App Types by Technology
Mobile apps are categorized into three types based on technology:
1. Native apps are built for a specific platform or OS.
2. Web apps are responsive websites that work on any mobile device or OS.
3. Hybrid apps combine features of native and web apps and are available in app stores.
A Guide to Mobile App Technologies: Native, Web, and Hybrid Explained
1. Native Apps
Native mobile apps are used for specific platform operating systems (Android, iOS, Windows, Blackberry, or KaiOS). Native mobile app development means the development of native apps by using modern tools and writing codes.
- Technology Used: Python, Swift, Java, Kotlin, Objective-C, C++, and React
- Pros: Reliable to develop mobile apps for a single OS; faster and stable performance; smart debugging tools for logic issue solutions; exceptional community support, and the wider spectrum of libraries
- Cons: Expensive; separate code needed for app development, longer development cycle, and separate resources needed for app development
2. Web Apps
Web apps can run on Android and iOS apps very well. So, it is called responsive web app development. These apps render you the feeling of native mobile apps due to their nature. Modern technologies make web apps responsive with a great user interface.
- Technology Used: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, and similar programming languages
- Pros: Single codebase for various platforms; no customization required; faster development; saving apps as a bookmark, and no updating needed
- Cons: Limitation of browser compatibility, inconsistent user experiences, lack of consistency between web and mobile, slow access to hardware features, and mobile platform-related issues with debugging tools all hinder user experience modernization.
3. Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps are a mix of native APIs and web technologies. A single code can be used across various platforms. These apps work well on React Native, Flutter, and Ionic app development frameworks. These unique mobile apps are good for those who need to offer multiple device access.
- Technology Used: Ionic, Objective C, Swift, HTML5, and other languages
- Pros: Faster and affordable development cycle; easier development and testing process with HTML; less code maintenance; better compile-time checks; and working well with slower internet access
- Cons: Compromised speed, limited functionality, and dependence on debugging tools for individual platforms.
Remember that B2B and B2C needs are different when it comes to mobile applications for your phone. Phone apps for iOS and Android systems can do wonders. Choosing a particular mobile app is not a one-and-done decision; it is all about satisfying specific needs. The last way to get a business-oriented app for mobile is to hire a competent and skilled mobile app development company.
For more information on technologies for mobile apps in businesses or a free app consultation, contact the experts at Binmile Technologies.
