Over the years, the popularity and usage of mobile devices have increased multiple fold. Not long ago, it was mainly a communication tool, but now it has become an integral part of everyone’s life and a strong tool for businesses. In fact, a recent study expects the total number of smartphone users to cross 7 billion in 2024. Not only that, a study predicts that mobile apps will generate over $935 billion in the same year. So, the increase in popularity of mobile app development platforms is inevitable.
Still, the applied techniques, tools, and technologies are growing, and people are experimenting to stand out and achieve success. However, choosing the right mobile app development platform for your unique app idea can be challenging. There is a lot to consider, but don’t worry; we are here to help you.
Moving forward, we will discuss how to decide on the right business app development in Dubai and address the pros and cons of popular application platforms. We are sure you will be able to decide on the best platform for your idea according to your demands.
Taking into account of Dubai app development ecosystem, you can also look into the popular video calling apps in UAE to see which platform would be ideal for developing your own video calling app.
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Table Of Contents
Deciding on the Right Mobile App Platform for Your Business
Here are the points to consider when choosing an app platform.
Cross-Platform, Native, or Hybrid Application
The first thing you must decide is the type of app you want. Mainly, there are the following types of frameworks for applications.
Cross-Platform: Using this, you can create reusable and shareable coding data and build apps for different operating systems. This helps save costs, effort, and time. Apps you create using this framework are easy to implement but may not be very high-performing.
Native: Native applications are specifically for a single platform, i.e., iOS or Android. You can utilize the OS-native programming language to create apps just for that OS. Native apps show the best performance, but you cannot use the same code twice.
If you’re looking to develop a money-lending app, check out the best instant loan apps in Dubai built on a Native framework.
Hybrid: It is a combination of native and web platforms. You can integrate code into the native app and apply native functionalities. The hybrid app code is reusable multiple times, but the overall user experience of the app may not be up to the mark. If you’re wondering about developing an app and struggling to navigate between web app vs mobile app, our blog covers all its pros and cons.
Features and Functionalities
The best platform is the one that offers multiple extra features and allows third-party plugins for extra help. Also, the platform must offer features like scalability, easy deployment, app control, and data sharing. Finally, if you want to integrate push notifications, data storage, and other features, you will need the platform to have powerful back-end services.
● Cost Breakdown
The main question many ask is: what is the total cost of app development in 2024?. Well, it depends. Expenses involved in mobile app development platforms include upgrades, maintenance, and efforts. It varies from platform to platform, and you must think about it carefully. Analyzing the total app development cost in Dubaiis essential to get an estimate of the development process and the timeline. Also, the type of app affects pricing and budget. If you are on a budget, building one app using the cross-platform framework will be better than a native app.
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● User-Experience
The best mobile app development platform must offer an intuitive and user-centric experience. A powerful platform enables a mobile app development company to create perfect applications with added features and seamless experience. Likewise, it should be easy for individual creators and developers to work on it.
● Target Market
Finally, the last and one of the most significant things to consider is the audience and market you want to target with your mobile app. In today’s times, the mobile application market giants are iOS and Android. So, you must research iOS vs Android for business apps in Dubai (or any other niche or category you want to target).
There are over 5.3 million apps in both App Store and Play Store combined (3.4 million+ in Google Play Store and 1.8 million+ in Apple App Store)
Still, don’t let the numbers deceive you; there are many differences between iOS and Android app development that come into play. You must decide which suits your app best. Also, you can take your app idea to a reliable app development company, and they will help you determine the best solution for you.
Consider these points and then finalize your choice. Also, you can look into app development trends in Dubai or take a look at the big list of app ideas for 2024.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Popular Mobile App Platform
Now, we will explore some of the popular app development platforms and point out their pros and cons. Let’s get started!
● Android Studio
Android Studio is the native platform for building Android apps solely. It offers powerful features and allows the developers to write codes, carry out debugging, and test the app after its completion. It supports several programming languages, including Java, C++, Swift, and others.
✔️ Pros
❌ Cons
● Faster coding.
● The platform itself is super fast.
● Robust testing features.
● Need a high-end PC.
● Xcode
Xcode is the native app development platform for developing apps for the App Store. It offers easy development and a powerful connection with Apple’s ecosystem. Xcode allows developers to control the whole development process, including creating the app, testing it, and sending it to Apple’s App Store. It supports various programming languages, including Swift, Objective-C, Java, AppleScript, and others.
✔️ Pros
❌ Cons
● Swift programming language, which is super fast and easy.
● Testing tools suite for extensive performance and functionality testing.
● Offers continuous integration and deployment.
● Requires a large storage space for files.
● React Native
React Native is another popular framework and platform for building apps with Java and React. It is built by Meta and allows developers to build apps, optimize them, and deploy them. React Native also allows easy integrations of third-party apps. Are you also thinking about how to make a social media app? React Native is one of the widely preferred frameworks for social media apps like Facebook and Instagram.
✔️ Pros
❌ Cons
● It is cost-efficient.
● React Native apps have a shorter time-to-market.
● Codes are reusable.
● Not ideal for complex interfaces.
● Flutter
Flutter is a solid open-source framework from Google that utilizes Dart to create powerful and intuitive apps for both iOS and Android. Flutter also provides developers the ability to work on the backend of an app.
✔️ Pros
❌ Cons
● Allows making instant changes.
● Flutter apps are smooth and better performing.
● It is quick and simple to work with Flutter.
● Requires a less popular language called Dart.
● Xamarin
Xamarin is a framework from Microsoft that makes use of .NET and C# programming languages for development. Xamarin offers several tools for building, testing, and deploying apps. These include a visual designer, debugging assets, and cloud-based services like Azure integration.
✔️ Pros
❌ Cons
● Xamarin provides forms that help build consistent UI for platforms.
● It offers great support and resources.
● All mobile app development is under one tech stack.
● A steep learning and understanding curve.
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Conclusion
We just discussed how to select the right app platform for your next app. Whether you are an individual developer or an owner of an app development company in Dubai, we are confident you will be able to choose the best app platform for you.
A mobile application is a highly valuable and profitable asset. Since mobile usage is growing with each passing day, app usage and app development needs are only going to increase, and there is no stopping it any time soon.
Sharjeel Ahmed is a passionate tech enthusiast and an expert in SEO and content strategies who thrives on exploring cutting-edge innovations in the app development world. With a rich background in software development and mobile app technology, he brings a fresh and insightful perspective to how technology intersects with everyday life. Sharjeel has dedicated his career to sharing his knowledge and experiences through engaging, informative articles that resonate with both tech novices and experts alike. His professional journey is marked by significant contributions to several high-profile app development projects, showcasing his expertise and commitment to excellence. Sharjeel's deep involvement with various app development companies further highlights his industry knowledge and leadership.