Introduction

With around 5 million mobile apps being developed for different platforms like iOS and Android, do you ever wonder how an app is actually made? Well, here we are to answer all your questions regarding how to seamlessly start developing your mobile apps in 2021.

First things first, while building anything, for instance, a building, where do you need to start? By creating the frame right? That is the case with a mobile app as well; you will need a mobile app development framework, to begin with. 

This framework provides the foundation for developing your code and enhances the efficiency of your development process. When you have a framework, you don’t need to create your app from scratch, making things much simpler.

With too many mobile app development frameworks available in the market, it might get difficult for you to make a decision. For that matter, we have brought you the best frameworks of 2021 along with their highlighting features so that you can choose the one that works the best for you. Go ahead and browse through our shortlisted frameworks to get started with developing your robust mobile app this year:

What is a Mobile Application Framework?

Mobile apps have become an integral part of the marketing strategy for businesses today. These apps help you reach out to your target audience while strengthening your user base. 

Mobile app development companies are, therefore booming as well as creating exceptional and creative apps. Developing an app isn’t a rocket science anymore; you don’t even need to be an expert in any complicated programming languages. 

You need a good mobile app development framework and basic command in web-based languages like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. The framework acts as a foundation or platform with all the components ranging from compilers and coding interfaces to debuggers and toolsets. 

In a nutshell, you just have to write your app’s source code, and the framework will render the app using the various components.

Types of Mobile Application and Frameworks

There are three major types of mobile app out there:

• Native Apps: These apps are developed for a specific platform such as Android, iOS, and Windows and may use the features of the device such as camera, RAM, etc.
• Web Apps: these apps function by using the interfaces of the browser.
• Hybrid Apps: these apps are the combo of both the above apps.

These apps are developed using native app frameworks and hybrid app frameworks. 

Top Mobile Application Development Frameworks 2021

We bring you the top 5 mobile app development frameworks to help you develop apps in 2021 effortlessly.

Swiftic

Swiftic tops our list for being the ultimate DIY mobile app development framework for the iOS platform that enables and empowers its users to develop customized apps for their business needs and goals. Its interface brings effortless navigation. The reason for its popularity is that it allows you to import your existing online content so that you don’t have to start from scratch. Its user-friendly approach, exceptional guidance, and simple user interface are some more reasons that render this framework versatile and favorite among users. Swiftic incorporates the latest trends, such as app promotion, push notifications, and social media feeds.

What makes it even more exceptional is it’s 30 days money-back guarantee option. Not to forget the amazing ‘6-months success guarantee scheme’, which means in case you don’t get your desired results the service for 6 months will all be FREE!

You can create, develop, and publish your app from a SINGLE control panel! What more can you ask for? Here are a few of the highlighting features of Swiftic:

• App Promotion
• Push notification
• Social Media feeds
• Menu and Ordering
• Mobile store development
• Loyalty cards and scratch cards for loyal shoppers and winning prizes, respectively.
• In-app coupons
• Effortless interface
• Straightforward Communication
• Advanced Analytics
• Customer Engagement
• Guidance for App Creation, Development and Publication 
• Third-party integration

React Native

Next on our list is the React Native app development framework launched by Facebook in 2015 for the cross-platform development. Would you like to know why it has become the most used JavaScript frameworks in the app development industry? Because not only is it cost-efficient but also time-efficient with a very smooth learning curve for the developers.

Many businesses and startups have used it for their cross-platform app development needs. Its objective ‘learn once, write anything’ hold true till today. The developers are empowered to create mobile apps for both the iOS and Android platforms with their native feel and look. The framework even has modules for specific platforms. Its low code or single code repository is what makes it a cross-platform framework. You wouldn’t need to develop different apps for different platforms; just one development team for one app and it will function across all platforms. 

Some of the highlighting features of React Native include:

• Supports both Android and iOS
• Low code
• Immaculate performance
• Reusable components
• Third-party integration
• DeclarativeAPI that supports predictive User interface

Framework7

Next on our list is the Framework7 which is an exceptional framework as it enables the developers to build all the apps ranging from iOS to Android to desktop and that too with the look and feel of native apps.

Framework7 is an open-source framework that is free and user-friendly and easy to learn and use. All you need to start developing exceptional apps with Framewrok7 is the proficiency in languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

It brings in an amazing set of the user interface elements such as the action sheet, popup, side panels, list view, layout grid, and a lot more. Not only that, Framework7 brings added support for React, Svelte, and Vue.js.

In short, the mobile app development using this framework is a piece of cake, very fast and absolutely convenient! Some of the highlighting features of Framework7 are:

• Brings in a rich set of elements with templates, icons, and plugins
• Easily customizable
• User-friendly interface and easy maintenance
• An exceptional prototyping tool

Ionic

Ionic is our next favorite mobile app framework that is employed all over the universe and has climbed the ladder as a favorite of the developers a little too quickly. The platform is free and uses a blend of the CSS3, HTML, and JavaScript languages to develop all three types of apps: native, web, and hybrid.

Ionic framework is the perfect choice when it comes to the development of hybrid apps or agile web apps that use HTML5 language. The hybrid apps created by this framework have all the qualities of both the web and native apps, from a uniform design to enhanced performance. Plus, these apps are supported across all platforms. The apps that are developed using this framework can be sent to multiple app stores and can be installed on any device using Capacitor/Cordova.

Its unique features have made it popular in the world of mobile app development so rapidly. Some of the highlighting features of Ionic include:

• A very consistent and intuitive user interface and components
• Cross-platform App development
• Optimized Performance
• Faster and convenient development
• Potent development platform
• User adaptability for ultimate control over the app development

Flutter

Last but not least, on our list is Flutter. If you are looking to develop aesthetically pleasing mobile apps, then Flutter is the ultimate framework to do it. It includes a 2D graphics library called Skia that helps to take the visual aspect of any app to the next level.

Flutter incorporates striking animations, material designs, and intuitive widgets alongside an interactive UI, ensuring an exceptional experience for mobile users.

However, the amazing aesthetics and visuals don’t compromise the performance of the app at any cost. You will feel the seamless performance of the app, similar to a native one while scrolling and navigating. The icons and fonts will all appear like that of a native app. What makes it exceptional is the coding in dart language that you can use in more upcoming tasks. Plus, the fact that Flutter is backed by Google is reason enough to go try it with trust.

Some of the highlighting features of Flutter include: 

• Faster Cross-platform Development
• Built-in material design
• Eye-catching and Interactive visuals
• High Performance like Native
• Built-in Cupertino widgets
• Supports both iOS & Android
• Excellent widget support
• Rich motion APIs

Bottom Line

Our curated list of the top mobile app development frameworks has been created after weighing in factors like development time, aesthetics, operating systems and a lot more. The mobile app development is evolving with every passing day with the introduction of cross-platform apps and single-platform apps. We need to keep up with these technological changes to stay relevant in our businesses by creating up-to-date apps. Go on and explore Rocketech for some exceptional development products and the latest news on development!