Published in: Mobile App Development

Which Type of Mobile App is Right for You? How Do You Choose?

Choosing between the two main operating systems, iOS and Android, and deciding which type of app to develop are crucial steps in planning your project. These decisions will impact your mobile app development UAE strategy, affecting factors like project timeline, budget, audience reach, and revenue potential. Several elements play a role in making the right choice, including required features, target users, business goals, and available resources.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between platforms and types of applications, helping you pick the best option for your project.

Let’s get started!

Types of Mobile Apps by Technology

There are four basic types of mobile applications if we categorize them by the technology used to code them:

Native Apps:  

Native Apps are built for a single platform or an operating system.  

Web Apps:   

Web Apps are mobile-optimized versions of sites that can be accessed on any mobile gadget or any operating system as they are accessed through a mobile browser.   

Hybrid Apps:  

Hybrid Apps are a blend of native and web apps, but encapsulated within a native app, thus they can have an individual icon or be directly downloaded from an app store.   

Progressive Web Apps:  

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are the next generation of web apps that also function as standalone apps with offline support and better performance.

Let’s explore deep down all the various types of mobile apps you can build and see which one fits your business like a glove. Ready to dive in?

Types of Mobile Apps

Native Apps

Let’s explore the world of native apps. These applications are designed to function on a particular mobile platform like iOS or Android. The programming language used in every device is the one in which the app is written; that is why it is called a native app. Native apps are the best-performing apps, which means that your app can exploit most of the device’s capabilities, such as the camera, GPS, facial recognition, and any device’s novelty features.

With native apps, you’re using a language that the particular OS is familiar with – Objective-C or Swift for iOS and Java or Kotlin for Android. Smoother animations and quicker loading times are two things that enhance the user experience, making native apps more straightforward to use. Apple and Google prefer that you write apps this way. The same goes for the apps you use every day, such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or Snapchat; these are all native apps. 

But here’s the kicker: it can be time-consuming to develop – Is that something to be afraid of? No, well, maybe. It’s more about understanding what goes into it. 

The resources that are spent on developing the app can be offset by the amount spent on maintaining it. You can now offer your users a fast and sleek feeling app. That’s the real perk of going native. After all, the lesson here is that opting for the native route requires resources to support numerous versions of the application, but if executed properly, the perks are hard to find in other choices. 

The bottom line is that if you’re looking to make an app that is visually as well as physically appealing, going native is the ultimate choice.

Same as above. Our reason stands valid.

Pros and Cons of Native Apps

Pros:

Native apps can run on a single mobile operating system, for instance, iOS. This implies that you can fully personalize your layout/interface to suit the primary features of the device and provide the most basic experience to the user to the utmost level. You may also exploit features like: 

Android and iPhone smart devices

• Geo Location
• Camera
• Metrics (speed, altitude, direction of travel)
• Contacts
• SMS

The speed of the app is not adversely affected by the use of multiple features because it is built to that platform. Together with other aspects like the capacity to work offline in most cases, will offer the user a great impression of friendliness to the application.

Cons:

Native applications are restricted to a specific operating system of a device. Therefore, an application developed for an iPhone or iPad will not function on any other device. If an app is wanted on Google Play, a completely different app needs to be created and coded from scratch. 

As a result, an organization will spend more time and money maintaining multiple versions of one application, which can be two or three times the original estimate for a single application.

Web Apps

Web applications function as websites designed to resemble mobile applications and can be opened using web browsers instead of needing to be downloaded. It makes accessing them easy, so businesses seeking to connect with a large audience will benefit greatly. 

Consider the example of a clothing store trying to display its catalogue. A web app allows potential customers to access the store’s website without needing to install additional software on their devices. Furthermore, as with every web application, users do not have to worry about missing features because these apps are centrally updated. 

Unlike traditional mobile applications, web apps have the added advantage of being usable across a multitude of devices, from smartphones to tablets to desktops. It is particularly beneficial for businesses because they will not have to cater to any specific operating system and will not have to deal with the complications of app store regulations. 

Despite all the advantages provided by web apps, these applications do have certain limitations, such as lacking performance and offline access. Because web apps are heavily reliant on internet connectivity, these applications may be useless in locations with low network availability.

However, this is where Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) integrate, which enhances the capabilities and dependability of web apps even more. 

Here at AtheosTech, we understand that deciding between a web app and other mobile applications is primarily determined by your business objectives and the practical value you wish to deliver to your customers. If your goal is a low-cost solution that offers excellent exposure, then a web app could be exactly what you are looking for.

Pros and Cons of Web Apps

A web application runs on browsers instead of being installed on mobile devices, it does not have to be installed on mobile devices, making it platform agnostic. Such applications are created with web technologies and are usable on any operating system. Although this provides flexibility, some features of native applications are disabled.

Pros:

• No installation required on Android and Apps iOS devices.
• Can be accessed on any device with a browser, irrespective of the Operating System.
• Easy to perform updates without user involvement.

Cons:

• Requires an active internet connection because it cannot be used offline.
• Less access to device hardware when compared to native applications.
• Might be slower in performance when compared to hybrid apps and progressive web apps.

Hybrid Apps

For organizations that value flexibility and affordability, hybrid apps are helpful. They offer native app functionality while possessing the accessibility level of a web app. To put it simply, they are developed using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, or JavaScript but placed inside a native ‘shell’ that enables them to function on various platforms such as iOS and Android. 

A hybrid app can be compared to a Swiss Army knife; both are multi-purpose and flexible. You get the best of both worlds and can save money that would otherwise be spent on creating two separate native apps for each operating system. Cross-platform hybrid app frameworks such as React Native or Ionic allow developers to create amazing user experiences and interfaces that can be used across different devices. 

Access to other device features is one of the most significant advantages of hybrid apps. Features such as cameras, GPS, and push notifications can be integrated into the app, which makes it simpler to engage users. It offers businesses rich functionality within their apps without sacrificing the wider reach offered by web apps. 

However, there are trade-offs. Since hybrid apps are not tailored to one specific operating system, they are less optimized compared to native apps.

There could be potential performance issues, especially with complex applications needing heavy integration of the device hardware. 

If your enterprise needs an application that runs across multiple platforms while controlling the cost, hybrid apps may be the solution. They provide a balanced approach by combining the advantages of native and web apps and providing a cost-efficient app development process.

Pros and Cons of Hybrid Apps

Hybrid applications blend native and web apps, offering a single codebase for both Android and iOS devices. They are developed using web technologies and encapsulated within a shell that enables the use of limited device hardware. Hybrid applications provide a balance of cost, performance, and usability in the development of mobile applications. 

Pros

• A single codebase can be utilized for multiple devices. 
• Development is faster and less expensive compared to native applications.
• Can utilize certain device hardware such as the camera and GPS. 

Cons

• Performance speed lags behind completely native applications. 
• Access to system functionalities is limited. 
• Performance issues and overall user experience problems can occur.

PWAs or Progressive Web Apps

Picture having a website and a mobile application rolled into one. It is precisely what PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) bring to the table. They are quick to load, can function offline, and can send push notifications to users to keep them engaged. If you have ever saved a website to your home screen, you have interacted with a PWA without even knowing it. 

PWAs are compelling from a business perspective. They do not require separate coding for iOS and Android, which saves a lot of time and money. In addition, they also improve user experience dramatically. Imagine that users do not have to download an application from the App Store or Google Play; this lowers friction in your user acquisition funnel.

Also, PWAs are reliable, fast, and engaging services. They are a perfect fit for businesses that want to capture a broad audience due to their unrivaled performance in shaky network conditions. Users can access your content or services even when they’re not online due to the advanced offline capabilities.   

Progressive Web Apps are incredibly beneficial in areas where internet connectivity is not stable. With the selection of a PWA, you make your business available to everyone without borders. Such accessibility is revolutionary for service-based companies and e-commerce platforms that depend on a high-quality user experience.

Pros and Cons of Progressive Web Apps

Progressive web apps effectively merge web applications and native apps userfully, providing a remarkable user interface, high-speed accessibility, and offline usage. These apps are built using modern web development techniques, yet they act like mobile applications, offering close to native modern mobile device app experience.

Pros: 

• Workability offline enhances accessibility. 
• Provides a near-native applications user experience. 
• Accelerated as compared to normal web applications. 

Cons: 

• Minimal usage of device hardware features. 
• Support is lacking from every operating system. 
• Not all functions are as effective as those of native apps.

Conclusion

Each app type—native apps, hybrid apps, and progressive web apps—has its advantages and limitations. The best choice depends on what a business needs, including the app’s features, goals, and technical requirements. It’s important to understand these differences before deciding which type to use. No matter which option is chosen, proper testing is essential to ensure the best performance and user experience. We hope this guide helps in making the right decision for mobile app development in UAE.