The first technical question of any mobile project is whether to build two separate apps for iOS and Android or one cross-platform app. The answer drives budget, timeline, team size and how the product evolves over the next two years. Here is how we help make that choice in mobile app development.
In short: for most business apps — portals, catalogues, bookings, services — cross-platform development offers the best balance of cost and speed. Native is justified when performance, complex graphics or deep device features are critical.
The approaches compared
| Parameter | Native (Swift, Kotlin) | Cross-platform (Flutter, React Native) |
|---|---|---|
| Codebase | Two separate ones | One shared, with platform-specific parts |
| Development speed | Slower | Faster |
| Cost | Higher: two teams or double work | Lower |
| Performance | Maximum | Sufficient for most tasks |
| Access to new OS features | Immediate | Sometimes delayed or via native modules |
| Consistent look | Harder | Easier |
When to choose cross-platform
- A business app with forms, lists, profiles, payments and notifications.
- You need to launch on both platforms quickly.
- A limited budget and one team.
- The product is still finding its model and will change often.
When native is needed
- Games, complex animation, real-time video and audio processing.
- Deep device integration: Bluetooth hardware, background tasks, AR.
- Requirements for maximum responsiveness and minimal app size.
- Resources for two specialised teams.
What matters more than the stack
- Backend and API. A mobile app is an interface to a server. A well-designed API makes a web version possible later.
- Offline mode and sync if users work without a stable connection.
- Analytics and crash reporting from the first release.
- A release process for updates and app store reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Should I start with a web version?
Often that is sensible: a responsive web app tests demand more cheaply. A mobile app is added when you need push notifications, offline mode or device features. See our web applications service.
How much does a mobile app cost?
Our projects start from $1,500 for simple solutions. The total depends on screens, roles, integrations and the backend; we fix the quote after the prototype.
Can a cross-platform app later be rewritten natively?
Yes, and the backend stays. But if native performance is clearly needed from the start, skip the intermediate step.
Choosing a stack for your mobile product? Send a request on the mobile apps page and we will review scenarios and constraints and propose a stack and prototype. The server side and links to other systems are handled through API integrations.