Cross-Platform App Development: Cost and Scalability Tips

If you want a solid online presence, you can no longer afford to choose between speed, efficiency, and reach—you need a holistic approach that balances all three. This presents a real challenge for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises. Even when you manage to achieve these goals, finding the perfect balance between performance and cost without sacrificing the user experience remains difficult.

This is where the debate between native and cross-platform app development comes into play. While native development offers unrivaled performance and customization for individual platforms, it often comes with higher costs and longer timelines. In contrast, cross-platform development provides a faster, more cost-effective solution by allowing you to deploy apps across multiple platforms simultaneously, though sometimes at the expense of platform-specific optimization. Torn between the choices? Read on to get more clarity on the ideal approach for your business.

Choosing the Best Platform for Mobile App Development 

To ensure your app is easy to maintain and scalable for future updates, here are some tips and best practices for choosing an ideal platform for mobile app development.

1.  Know your Audience 

Before choosing a framework, make sure you understand where your users are. Research which platforms they use most—iOS or Android, and their demographics. For example, iOS tends to dominate in North America and Europe. This will help you decide whether to partner with an iOS or Android app development company or go for cross-platform application development.

2.  Evaluate Development Costs and ROI 

Consider the cost implications (both upfront investments and long-term ongoing expenses) of each option. Cross-platform app development can save time and money by sharing codebases and app logic for both iOS and Android. On the other hand, native development, though more expensive, might be worth the investment for complex, high-performance apps.

Pro Tip: Always weigh your budget against the long-term benefits for sustainability.

3.  Choose Scalability for Long-Term Growth

If your app requires frequent feature updates and complex technology integrations, native app development is generally the better option. However, cross-platform development is the most cost-efficient approach for simpler applications with fewer complex features and update requirements, enabling you to bring your app to market more quickly and economically.

4.  Match the Platform with your Team’s Expertise 

Before choosing between cross-platform and native development, assess your team’s expertise. If your team is skilled in JavaScript, React Native might be the best option. For teams experienced with Dart-based programming, Flutter is a great choice.

5.  Plan for Maintenance and Future Updates

For long-term success, your app should be maintainable. If you want easier maintenance with seamless updates, cross-platform development is the way to go. It allows for simultaneous updates across both iOS and Android, making it faster and more cost-effective to roll out new features, security patches, and bug fixes.

6.  Prioritize Security for Sensitive Apps 

If security is a top priority, especially for apps handling sensitive data, choose platforms that provide strong security measures. Native apps typically offer better access to device-level security features, while cross-platform development might require additional work to meet the same security standards.

Benefits of Cross-Platform App Development 

When considering mobile app development, cross-platform solutions offer several advantages. Here are some key benefits to consider.

Cost-Effective Development

Cross-platform application development significantly reduces costs by using a single codebase to create apps for both iOS and Android. This eliminates the need for separate development teams for each platform, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to hire mobile app developers while keeping their budgets in check. The shared codebase also lowers ongoing expenses as updates and feature enhancements can be replicated across multiple platforms.

Wider Reach

Cross-platform apps allow businesses to target both iOS and Android users without developing separate apps. Even if you’re outsourcing app development, you don’t need to partner with a dedicated Android or iOS app development company. By choosing cross-platform app development, you ensure that your app reaches as many users as possible from day one.

Easier Testing 

With a shared codebase, cross-platform mobile app development makes testing more efficient. Developers only need to test the app once for most functionality, which reduces the time spent on quality assurance. This speeds up the testing phase and helps ensure a smooth user experience across both platforms.

Resource Efficiency  

Cross-platform development helps reduce overall costs by allowing businesses to build for both iOS and Android without duplicating efforts. By utilizing shared resources, companies can save on hiring multiple development teams, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious projects.

Best Cross-Platform App Development Tools

Our experts have identified some of the top cross-platform app development tools and frameworks. Below, you’ll find insights into their key features, notable apps developed using them, the estimated cost of building a hybrid app, and the hiring costs for developers skilled in these technologies.

1.  React Native 

React Native is one of the most widely used cross-platform development frameworks. It allows developers to use JavaScript and React to create natively rendered mobile apps for both iOS and Android. As of 2023, React Native held around 35% market share among cross-platform mobile frameworks, according to Statista. (Source)

Key Features:

• Reusable components: Build apps using reusable components, reducing development time.
• Hot Reloading: See real-time changes in the app while coding.
• Third-party plugin support: Allows integration of native modules for added functionality.

Examples: Facebook, Instagram, and Skype are some famous apps developed using React Native.

The total cost for a typical React Native app development project can range between $25,000 to $100,000+, depending on the complexity and scope of the app.

If you’re planning to hire React Native mobile app developers, you can do so for $40 – $120/hour depending on their experience and skills.

2.  Flutter

Flutter, developed by Google, is another prominent cross-platform mobile app development framework famous for its ability to deliver high-performance apps with impressive UIs. It held around 46% market share as of 2023, putting it neck and neck with React Native, according to Statista. (Source) 

Key Features:

• Dart language: Uses Dart for high-performance execution.
• Native performance: Provides near-native performance with a rich set of widgets.
• Hot reload: Allows real-time code changes to be reflected instantly.

Examples: Google Ads, Alibaba, and BMW are famous cross-platform apps built on Flutter.

Flutter app development cost can range between $30,000 to $150,000+ for complex apps. You can also hire Flutter developers at an average hourly rate which can range from $40 – $100/hour.

3.  Xamarin

Xamarin, created by Microsoft, is a popular cross-platform framework that uses C#. It integrates deeply with Microsoft’s ecosystem, making it the ideal choice for enterprise-grade application development. Xamarin holds around 8% of the market share among cross-platform frameworks as of 2023, according to Statista. (Source)

Key Features:

• C# and .NET framework: Uses a robust and mature technology stack.
• Access to native APIs: Provides direct access to native APIs for iOS and Android.
• Microsoft support: Backed by extensive documentation and community support from Microsoft.

Examples: UPS, Alaska Airlines, and BBC are some famous cross-platform apps developed on Xamarin.

Total Xamarin development costs can range from $25,000 to $300,000+, depending on app complexity, team size, and subscription level. You can also hire professional Xamarin experts at prices ranging from $15-$40/hour.

4.  Ionic 

Ionic is an open-source SDK for hybrid mobile app development, using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It focuses on building high-quality apps with a native-like experience. As of 2023, it holds a 9% market share, according to Statista. (Source) 

Key Features:

• Web technology-based: Leverages HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create mobile apps.
• Cross-platform UI components: Includes a library of pre-built UI components that work across platforms.
• Integration with Angular, React, and Vue: Works well with popular front-end frameworks.

Examples: Sworkit, Sanvello, and JustWatch are some famous apps built using Ionic.

Typical Ionic development costs for a small-to-medium app could range between $20,000 to $150,000+, depending on the services and integrations needed.

You can also hire Ionic app developers starting from $30/hour.

5.  Cordova 

Apache Cordova, previously known as PhoneGap, allows developers to create mobile apps using standard web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While not as popular as newer frameworks, it still holds a significant role in hybrid app development. As of 2023, it held a 10% share of the cross-platform app development frameworks market. (Source)

Key Features:

• Web technology-based: Develop mobile apps with web technologies.
• Access to device APIs: Cordova plugins enable access to native device functionalities like the camera, GPS, etc.
• Broad platform support: Supports multiple platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows.

Examples: Specifica, SparkChess, and Buildr are some examples of apps developed using Cordova.

The total Cordova app development cost can range from $15,000 to $100,000+, depending on app complexity and integrations. If you want to hire experts, Cordova developer hourly rates range from $30 – $100/hour.

6.  Kotlin Multi-platform

Kotlin Multi-platform, developed by JetBrains, allows developers to write business logic code that can be shared across multiple platforms. Unlike other cross-platform app development frameworks like React Native or Flutter, Kotlin Multi-platform doesn’t aim to create a single codebase for the entire app, instead, it focuses on sharing business logic across platforms. As of 2023, it accounted for up to 4% of the cross-platform development market. (Source) 

Key Features:

• Shared code for business logic: Write shared code for business logic while building platform-specific UIs.
• Native performance: Allows you to retain native performance while using shared code.
• Kotlin-based: Uses Kotlin, a language officially supported by Google for Android development.

Examples: VMWare, Netflix, and Cash App are some examples of apps built using Kotlin Multi-platform.

Kotlin Multi-platform app development can range between $40,000 to $250,000+ depending on the scope and depth of shared and platform-specific code. You can also hire dedicated developers. The Kotlin Multi Platform developer hiring cost typically ranges between $40 – $120/hour, depending on the developer’s experience, location, and the complexity of the project.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between native and cross-platform development ultimately comes down to your app’s specific requirements, budget, and long-term strategy. While native app development excels in delivering a refined, platform-specific experience, it limits your reach unless you develop separate apps for each platform. On the other hand, cross-platform mobile app development offers a modern, efficient approach by creating apps with a unified look and feel across multiple platforms. Despite some limitations, it stands out for its cost-effectiveness, speed, and broader reach. Looking ahead, the future of cross-platform development is bright, with advancements in performance, code re-usability, and functionality. As emerging technologies continue to evolve, expect even more exciting developments in this space.