Native, Hybrid, or PWA? A Practical Guide to Mobile App Development

Building an app starts with one critical question: native or cross-platform? Each path affects performance, scalability, and, most importantly, your budget. Pick wrong, and you could end up rewriting your entire codebase in a year.

In this article, Maksim Atiutskii, our Business Development Manager, breaks down the mobile app development process with zero fluff. You’ll learn how to choose between native and cross-platform mobile development based on real business needs, not tech buzzwords.

Let’s cut through the noise and figure out what actually makes sense for your product.

Maksim:

In this article, I will cover the main methods of developing mobile applications in 2025. I will focus on the most common options in the startup market due to two key factors: development costs and the speed of building a team. Early-stage companies need solutions that are efficient, affordable, and proven to work.

There are two basic approaches to mobile app development:

• Native
• Cross-platform.

Native App Development

The native approach to the development of mobile applications implies that the company/startup implements applications for each platform separately and in different programming languages. 

iOS Development

All native iOS apps are built using Swift or Objective-C. However, all new applications are developed exclusively in Swift, while Objective-C is used only for maintaining legacy code and libraries, which are often costly to refactor.

Many modern iOS developers have only a basic understanding of Objective-C. To work with older codebases and Obj-C classes, Swift provides bridging mechanisms.

In short, native iOS development is straightforward — you need Swift. That’s no surprise, given that Apple designed it specifically for iOS and macOS development.

Android Development

Android apps are primarily developed using Kotlin or Java. Kotlin is fully backward-compatible with Java, allowing seamless interoperability between the two languages. Developers can call Java code from Kotlin and vice versa.

While many developers still use Java, Kotlin is becoming the preferred choice for building new applications from scratch. However, unlike iOS developers, who can largely ignore Objective-C, Android developers are typically expected to have experience with Java.

Kotlin was created by Russian students at ITMO University to address Android development needs. It’s easier to learn and integrates more smoothly with the Android SDK, which is why its community is growing so rapidly.

Benefits of native development

Let’s go through the main advantages of native app development here.

• The application is integrated into the system’s UI/UX. The user of each platform has their own behavior patterns and habits. The native approach allows you to make the application as familiar and convenient as possible.
• Performance. The development uses tools for a specific platform to the maximum, thereby ensuring the app’s performance. Native code works perfectly with hardware, and even complex applications, with the right approach, will work the same way as pre-installed ones. We can guarantee maximum responsiveness of the interface and a smooth user experience.
• Quality. Typically, there are much fewer bugs and crashes in native applications. Naturally, developers are responsible, too, but developing a solution for one platform is usually much easier.
• There are no restrictions. All pre-installed applications and a large number of OS elements are developed with the same tools that the platform holder provides to you. The native code has access to the camera, microphone, GPS, accelerometer, notifications, etc., with no problems.
• Native applications are more flexible and scalable. You can safely expand the functionality without worrying about the application slowing down or experiencing failures. Native development tools have virtually no limitations.

Cross-Platform App Development

The cross-platform approach uses specialized tools that help you develop an application for several platforms at once. 

PWA 

PWA (Progressive Web Application) is a cross-platform web application. This solution can be opened on any device but needs the browser engine to work.

Google is actively promoting PWA and is quite successful in integrating this technology into Android. Android can already execute all JavaScript code and work with the capabilities of devices almost without restrictions. If Google continues to lobby for PWA at the same pace, it will take some part of the mobile app market.

BUT! I strongly advise against developing mobile applications using PWA at the moment. Here are a few reasons why:

• Unlike Android, Apple heavily restricts this technology. Without native code and plugins, you won’t be able to release a PWA in the App Store. Although Apple supports PWA in Safari, they remain largely hostile toward the technology. Your app must appear native to be accepted.
• The performance is worse. Mobile operating systems handle machine code much better than JavaScript.
• All browser restrictions apply to PWA as well. Especially in iOS.

In short, PWA is an interesting philosophy that may push native apps out of stores in the future, but so far, there are more questions than answers. Companies like Google can invest huge resources in the development and support of applications, but for everyone else, it is quite risky and unpredictable.

Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps are a cross-platform approach to native app development. These apps are built using the same technology for multiple platforms but are packaged as separate native applications. This development typically relies on libraries that include native code within them.

Hybrid App Development: Pros 

• Shared codebase for most features. For tasks like accessing the server API, developers across platforms write similar code. With a hybrid approach, this functionality can be written once and shared across all platforms, saving significant development time — often cutting the hours in half compared to native development.
• Resource optimization. For simple projects, hybrid apps are typically faster to build and can often be handled by a single developer. This is one of the main advantages of hybrid development.

Hybrid App Development: Cons

• UI/UX Design. Each platform has its own design guidelines to ensure that applications stay consistent with the platform’s style and don’t frustrate users. In cross-platform development, you either design once for all platforms or create a separate design for each OS. Both approaches require significant resources, which can diminish the advantages of going cross-platform.
• User experience. Performance, interface responsiveness, and speed are generally lower in cross-platform apps compared to native ones.
• Functionality. Almost every cross-platform solution has limitations. Some technologies struggle with features like camera access, geolocation, offline capabilities, and device memory. There’s a high risk of having to implement certain features natively.
• Quality. The cross-platform approach is a compromise between resource savings and the quality of the final product.

In a nutshell, the main problem with developing a complex product is that you’ll have to support and extend three codebases instead of two, like with native development. While the functionality and performance limitations can be addressed, it’s not easy and will likely require two more developers. There’s also a risk of hitting a dead end, and fixing it might end up being more expensive than developing the app separately for each platform from the start.

Hybrid Technologies

The most popular hybrid solutions at the moment are React Native and Flutter.

React Native was developed by Facebook and is actively used in its apps. Flutter was invented by a team inside Google.

• React Native is older; development takes longer but has fewer risks.
• Flutter is more progressive; it’s possible to build an MVP faster, but since the technology is still relatively new, the risks remain high.

In the foreseeable future, Flutter could capture a large part of the mobile app development market due to the fast-growing community and the huge support from Google. 

Both technologies come with the risk of expensive and complex support and development. As the app’s functionality grows, maintaining high quality and performance becomes harder. For example, Airbnb eventually abandoned React Native — not in favor of Flutter, but for native code. However, they used React Native for a long time and made a significant contribution to the RN community.

Conclusion

At the moment, cross-platform applications are far inferior to native ones in terms of performance, user experience, interface responsiveness, and UI/UX. On the other hand, technologies like Flutter, React Native, and even PWA can save resources on simpler projects. Founders just need to decide on their priorities — whether it’s quality or saving resources for marketing.

We always recommend considering your requirements and the situation in your market. During the discovery stage, based on your needs and plans, our team will help select the appropriate tech stack and discuss the risks associated with each option, making it easier for you to make the final decision.

FAQ: Mobile Development Approaches & Trends

1. What is the best mobile app development approach in 2024?

The best approach depends on your project goals. Native development offers the best performance and user experience, while cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native help reduce costs and development time. If you need a web-based solution, a PWA (Progressive Web App) might be an option, though it has limitations.

2. Is it better to build a native or cross-platform app?

If performance, security, and user experience are top priorities, go native (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android). If you need faster development and a shared codebase, cross-platform tools like React Native or Flutter may be a better choice.

3. What are the disadvantages of hybrid app development?

Hybrid apps can struggle with performance, UI responsiveness, and native features (e.g., camera, GPS). They may also require extra work to ensure a consistent experience across platforms, reducing the initial cost savings.

4. How does Flutter compare to React Native for mobile development?

• Flutter (by Google) offers better UI customization and performance, but it’s newer and has a smaller talent pool.
• React Native (by Facebook) is more established, has a larger community, and integrates better with existing web technologies.

5. Can a PWA replace a native mobile app?

Not entirely. PWAs work well for lightweight applications, but they have limited access to device features (especially on iOS) and may not provide the same level of performance as native apps.

6. How much does it cost to develop a mobile app in 2025?

Costs vary based on complexity, platform, and team location:

• Basic apps (e.g., MVPs) may start at $20,000–$50,000
• Mid-range apps with custom features cost $50,000–$150,000
• Enterprise-level apps can exceed $250,000

7. What are the latest trends in mobile app development?

• AI-powered apps for automation and personalization
• 5G-ready applications for faster performance
• Super apps (multi-functional platforms like WeChat)
• Low-code and no-code app development
• Increased use of Flutter for cross-platform apps