Technology

Top 5 Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks You Can Use in 2021

Cross-platform app development is on the rise – and there’s a pretty good reason behind it. As opposed to native applications, cross-platform apps allow companies to target a wider audience and generate better revenue. Not to mention, the development cost for a cross-platform application is much lower than native apps, which makes them perfect for even small-scale organizations.

This is the reason why enterprises are gradually switching to cross-platform app development in every corner of the world. While you must consider several factors to build a successful cross-platform app, choosing the right framework should be at the top of your priority list. The framework you choose for app development will impact the future of your mobile application.

But, since there is a flux of options to choose from, app publishers may find it challenging to pick the right cross-platform app development framework for their idea. Of course, if you have already hired a team of Indian app developers, they’ll utilize the most suitable framework for the job.

However, if you are executing DIY development, we are here to help. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the top 5 cross-platform app development frameworks and their applications. Read this guide and you’ll be able to choose the best app development framework for your app idea without any hassle.

  • Flutter

Despite being a relatively new technology, Flutter has already seeped into the app development world and acquired a decent fan following. According to Statist, nearly 42% of developers use Flutter for cross-platform app development. The truth is there are several reasons behind this growing popularity of Flutter.

For instance, Flutter promotes code reusability. It means developers can use the same codebase to build apps for both iOS & Android and speed up the entire development process. Another reason behind Flutter’s short-time success is its ability to deliver a native-like experience across all platforms.

It offers a wide range of built-in add-ons that you can integrate into your mobile app to add the required functionality. In addition to this, Flutter uses Dart as its official programming language.

If you already don’t know, Dart is an official programming language released by Google that has a comparatively easier learning curve than JavaScript. In short, the combination of Flutter and Dart will allow developers to build scalable mobile applications more rapidly and accelerate the time-to-market for app publishers.

  • React Native

Before Flutter became the #1 cross-platform app development framework, React Native was the preferred choice of many Indian app developers to build powerful mobile solutions. React Native is the brainchild of Facebook, which was first released in 2015. As of now, many tech giants including Facebook, Tesla, and Airbnb use React Native to support their mobile applications.

React Native uses JavaScript as its programming language. It means if you decide to choose React Native, the developers don’t have to learn a new technology from scratch. They can implement their years of accumulated knowledge and write scripts that’ll bring your idea to reality.

React Native is an ideal choice for brands that want to launch high-end mobile applications with advanced features. Since the framework has built-in tools, your development team will find it much easier to design visually engaging and easy-to-navigate UI for your mobile app.

  • Unity3D

Unity3D is the most popular development technology that many gaming studios use to build state-of-the-art games. Though the framework is not marketed as a cross-platform technology, it’s no secret that developers can use Unity 3D to build games for 17 different platforms. Some of these platforms include Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and even Playstation.

Unity 3D is an ideal option for app publishers who want to launch action-packed games across different platforms. Thanks to its multiplatform support, you can deploy the same codebase to launch games for different devices. This makes game development a less tedious task and developers can build feature-rich games in no time.

The framework is also popular for its fast rendering speeds. With Unity 3D, developers can render 3D scenes and advanced graphics more conveniently. It has several built-in features that’ll also help you integrate different elements into your game and deliver remarkable gameplay to the end-users.

  • Ionic

Ionic is among the most reliable cross-platform development frameworks that any developer can use for free. This open-source technology is based on AngularJS, which makes it highly versatile. You can build a visually enticing UI by implementing AngularJS principles, and launch user-centric mobile solutions.

One of the major benefits of choosing Ionic as the cross-platform app development framework is its ability to deliver a native-like experience on both Android and iOS. The framework offers a plethora of built-in plugins that you can integrate into your app to add native features. This enhances the overall usability of the mobile app and keeps the users engaged.

Another USP that separates Ionic from other technologies is its ready-to-use UI components. It has several UI components that developers can directly integrate into their projects to speed up the development process. Ionic is a suitable choice for small-scale app development where brands deal with budget constraints.

  • PhoneGap

PhoneGap is another popular cross-platform framework that has garnered the attention of many app developers in India. PhoneGap was initially released in 2005 by Nitobi Software but was later acquired by Adobe in 2011. Since then, Adobe has released several stable versions of PhoneGap to make it more practical for developers.

With PhoneGap, you can reuse the same code to build applications for different platforms. This results in rapid app development and developers can release user-centric mobile solutions more quickly. In addition to mobile, developers can also use PhoneGap to develop web solutions. Basically, if you are looking for a feature-packed and beginner-friendly cross-platform app development framework for small-scale app development, PhoneGap is the right answer.

The Bottom Line

It’s worth understanding that each cross-platform development technology has pros and cons of its own. Choosing the right tool for your mobile app will mainly depend on factors such as the type of app, your target audience, and the features you want to integrate. So, discuss with a team of skilled app developers in India and make the right decision accordingly.

Author Bio:

Ranjit Singh is the founder and managing director at RV Technologies. With his interest in mobile app development, he always stays on top of the latest technology trends and enjoys penning down his knowledge to share valuable insights on different topics. Over the years, he has helped many companies grow their digital presence with customer-centric mobile & web solutions.