Top 7 Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks in 2023
Did you know?
Android Active users are more than 2.5 billion, while active iOS users are 1.8 billion.
Developing an app for a dedicated platform can refrain businesses from reaching more target users and expanding their customer base.
In today’s disruptive market, businesses can’t take the risk of losing their valued customers for not being available on their preferred platform.
But to create a dedicated mobile app is a hefty investment. Right?
Well, there is one solution: Cross-platform app development. By leveraging its potential, you can use a single codebase and show your presence on different platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, and more.
Before heading forward, let’s learn about fundamentals to help your business withstand the competition.
What is cross-platform app development?
It is an approach in which developers can create applications utilizing a single code system that can seamlessly run on various platforms.
It indicates that a business can quickly release its product while maintaining top-notch quality. These apps are compatible with diverse operating systems such as IOS, Android, Windows, and more. It has the potential to reach to broad customer base and cater to more target audiences.
Cross-platform mobile app development is one of the profound solutions for startups due to its rapid development, cost-effectiveness, and quick turnaround time.
Benefits of cross-platform app development
+------------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| S.NO | Benefit | Description |
+-----------------+--------------------+---------------------------------+
1 Maximize target users' exposure | It allows businesses to expand
thei reach by being present on
multiple platforms so that they
can target more qualified
users.
+------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------+
| S.NO | Benefit | Description |
+-----------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+
2 Reusable code | It works on the 'write once- runs
everywhere' concept. It means a
single code can be reused and
utilized across multiple platforms.
+------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------+
| S.NO | Benefit | Description |
+-----------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+
3 Reduce development cost | Its incredible reusable code
feature helps reduce
development costs by
utilizing one code
+------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------+
| S.NO | Benefit | Description |
+-----------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+
4 Uniform design | It allows developers to create a
consistent user experience that
delights them and encourage them
for more engagement.
+------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------+
| S.NO | Benefit | Description |
+-----------------+--------------------+----------------------------------+
5 Seamless integration with Cloud | It is seamlessly compatible
and leverages the lucrative
benefits of various plugins
with the cloud settings to
accelerate the scalability
and functionalities of the app.
7 Best Cross-platform app development frameworks
There are different frameworks that developers can utilize for cross-platform mobile app development. Some of the widely used and best-performing frameworks are listed below.
1. React Native
It was launched in 2015 by Facebook and is riding popularity at a breakneck speed which makes it one of the top frameworks. It is used to build natively rendered iOS and Android apps. This framework is preferred by large-scale enterprises and is a trusted framework for building apps worldwide.
Read More: cross-platform app development with react native
React Native Features
· While creating a cross-platform app using react native, a code base can be shared up to 80% across multiple platforms considering the complexity of an app which in turn can further amplify the development process.
· It allows easy integration of third-party plugins, which provide great usability.
· It can incredibly make an easy and compelling user interface that end users can enjoy while using an app.
Companies built on Using React Native
v Microsoft
v Bloomberg
v Tesla
v Instagram
2. Ionic
Iconic is one of the best cross-platform app development frameworks that help to create stunning user interfaces along with keeping them minimalistic at the same time. Ionic can do this by making the app native-like and dynamic. It allows the developer to accessibility to native platform controllers by leveraging the amalgamation of different languages such as CSS, JavaScript, HTML5, and Cordova Wrapper.
Features of Ionic
· It utilizes front-end technologies, including Angular, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, for cross-platform mobile app development.
· Ionic gives a magnitude of advantages: it provides a native-like app experience, works incredibly on mobile and the web, and runs seamlessly across various platforms.
· It utilizes Angular.js, which enables it to add HTML syntax extensions in a simple way, vital functionalities, rich features, and components to the software.
Companies built on Ionic
v Sworkit
v MarketWatch
v Calla
v Sanvello
v Mclaren Automotive
3. Xamarin
It is a streamlined platform founded in 2011 as an autonomous platform prior to Microsoft’s acquisition. Xamarin, an open-source framework, was intended to combat the fragmented native tech stack issues, making developing a mobile app tedious and expensive. The attractive feature that attracts developers to leverage Xamarin for cross-platform mobile app development is that it allows reusing 90% of the codebase across diverse platforms.
Features of Xamarin
· It provides “write once, run everyone” ease by utilizing 90% sharing of codebase across platforms.
· It allows developers to eliminate compatibility issues in the mobile app.
· Reusable code features accelerate the app development process, which contributes to minimizing the overall cost.
Read More: Mobile app development process — step by step guide
Companies built on Xamarin
v Fox Sports
v HCL
v BBC Good food
v Microsoft Studio
v Alaska Airlines
4. Flutter
It is an open-source framework to develop native interfaces in cross-platform app development, including iOS and Android. The intuitive advantage of Flutter is its consistent and robust approach that enables applications to work on different platforms without any performance deficiency.
Features of Flutter
· Flutter is one of the prominent cross-platform app development frameworks that utilize GPU rendering to work seamlessly under any circumstances.
· Thanks to this framework give flexibility to developers not to do any updates in the UI elements manually.
· Flutter has many advantages in comparison with other cross-platform app frameworks, including efficiency and lightning speed.
Companies built on Flutter
v BMW
v Alibaba
v Realtor.com
v BMW
v Google pay
5. NativeScript framework
NativeScript is an open-source platform launched in 2015 that enables developers to build near-native applications for Android and iOS. It is one of the intuitive cross-platform app development frameworks well-suited for developers who want to explore the WORA (write once, run everywhere) functionality. Moreover, it also provides the option to reuse the current NPM API plugins.
Features of NativeScript
· It consists of reusable plugins that minimize the overall development time and thereby release the product quickly in the market.
· It helps build Glitch free attractive, and immersive user interface that does not incorporate WebView. Additionally, it enables UI customization for nets and appliances.
· It supports components such as AndroidAresnal & Cocoapods. Also, it offers developers to conjure various local strategies from its libraries.
Companies built on NativeScript
v ActiveLook
v Daily Nanny
v Workbox
v Beachy
v GeekyAnts
6. Corona SDK
It is one of the old-decade cross-platform app development frameworks well-known for building scalable and powerful apps utilizing the Lia scripting language. It includes a variety of plugins and APIs, enabling you to build cross-platform applications with no hassle. What’s more? It incorporates open GL hardware acceleration to allow developers to build an app with appealing and superior-quality graphics and animations.
Features of Corona SDK
· The developers can quickly look for the modifications in the codebase in real time due to its quick response to modifications.
· It is a strong, high-speed framework that incorporates the Lia programming language.
· It develops stunning mobile applications due to its vast media plugins and analytics.
Companies built on Corona SDK
v Blackfriars Group
v AMC networks
7. PhoneGap
It utilizes CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript to develop impressive mobile applications. It also provides developers with an intuitive cloud solution to share their apps with other developers in the development phase to get feedback.
Features
· It allows developers to easily leverage existing web technologies like JavaScript, CSS3, and JavaScript.
· A single codebase can be used to build apps for various platforms, such as Android, iOS, and Windows.
· It allows the APIs to be extended modularly by harnessing its plugin-able architecture.
Companies built on PhoneGap
v Red Hat Inc.
v California State University
The Way Forward
Cross-platform frameworks keep gaining popularity as they allow businesses to get rid of creating different apps for multiple platforms. Therefore, cross-platform mobile app development plays a vital role in building a highly compatible app.
Many top-notch frameworks are available to build scalable and robust mobile apps. Now a question strikes your mind which framework is well-suited for my business? It depends on your business requirements and the features and functionalities needed to build an app.
Are you ready to build your mobile app? That’s great! We are an experienced mobile app development company that assists you in building immersive and best mobile apps.
