Mobile apps Types
When we talk about mobile app types, there are three. The type determines the target audience. For example, if you want to target the native market, Native apps would be useful. The native apps are of native OS, so they cannot operate on other OS.
- Native mobile app: These apps are tailored to the requirements of a platform or OS. Like Native Android or IOS.
- Web apps: They are compatible with every mobile phone or OS because of their responsiveness on mobile browsers.
- Hybrid mobile app: It is a mixture of a web app and a native app. Also, it is a package inside a native mobile app. The hybrid app has its specific icon.
Native Mobile Apps
We develop Native mobile apps, particularly for the OS of a particular type. Therefore, it is possible to create native apps for either iOS or Android. You are unable to combine different platforms. It is because its creation is specifically for a single OS. Just for eg, you cannot use a native android app on Windows mobile. You can use a wide number of scripting languages for developing these apps. React Native, Java, Swift, Kotlin, Python, Objective C are some of the languages. Some native apps can operate without the internet.
When compared to other categories of mobile apps, they make better use of the facilities available on the phone. The performance of native mobile apps is reliable. They are quicker, require less storage, and consume less battery life. This is due to the main sole focus of the applications. Native applications take advantage of the UI that is native to the phone, which provides consumers with a better optimal UX.
But, there is also the disadvantage of native apps. Once you begin the development, you have to repeat for each of the OS. This is a significant time and resource waste. It is not possible to duplicate the code that you develop for one platform upon other. This results in an increase in expenses. Additionally, to maintain the codebase and for each update; an amount of work is necessary. Popular apps like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Whatsapp are native mobile apps.
Hybrid Mobile Apps
Hybrid Apps are web apps that have the appearance and functionality of native apps. You may see the app icon on the home button, fast performance, and responsiveness. Additionally, you can use it offline. But, in reality, they are web apps that seem like a native apps. Hybrid applications make use of a combination of development tech and native application programming interfaces. Ionic, React Native, and more are a few languages used in their development.
You can complete the development of a hybrid app in a fraction of the time. Also in significantly low cost. Due to their constant loading, they are of good use in slower internet regions. Last but not least, they only utilize one code base. Thus, maintaining the code is not a problem. Still, they are not faster than native apps. It is because of the continuous downloading of each element. Also, some features are not accessible on some devices. Gmail, Twitter, and Evernote are some of the popular hybrid mobile apps.
Progressive Web apps
Web apps function in a manner that is related to that native applications, but they are accessible on the smartphone with the use of an internet browser. They are in fact adaptable sites, which means that their UI changes depending on the gadget that the user is using. These are not independent applications since you do not need to install any program on your phone to use them. You can use scripting languages like Ruby, CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript to develop PWAs.
Because it is web-based, it is not necessary to tailor it to a certain operating system. This reduces the overall expenses of construction. They will not use up storage space or device memory. This also makes maintenance simpler. You don’t have to update the app from the store. But, visitors may have different experiences depending on the browsers they use. They will not function entirely without the internet. Netflix, Uber, and Starbucks are some popular PWAs.
Conclusion
As you now know the types of mobile apps, choose the type wisely. If you want to launch an app in a very small time frame, then you should build a PWA. Similarly, if your demand is an app with a fast pace and stability; you should invest in developing native apps. In case you don’t have sufficient money, then you can go forward with building web apps or hybrid mobile apps.
FAQs
What are mobile apps examples?
Why mobile apps are used?
How does a mobile app work?
Is Instagram a hybrid app?
Is Snapchat a hybrid app?
Shivangi is a passionate Copywriter at Alian Software with expertise in technical copywriting. She shares information that is easy to understand regarding business, technology, and trends.