EN 
DE Having your own app can bring a number of advantages. It is not without reason that more and more companies are deciding to use an app of their own.
Whether for internal communication, to present your own brand externally or to set up a mobile shop: mobile apps offer more efficient communication and make information more easily accessible.
However, creating a mobile app is not always easy. Questions that are often asked include:
How expensive is it to develop an app?
On which system should my app actually run?
Which development approach should I use to create my app?
In this detailed guide we will try to answer some of your questions. We will focus particularly on hybrid (mobile) apps. These offer a number of advantages. In the following guide we will explain what they are and what they can be used for.
Of course, you will always get help and advice from us. At Swipergy you will find efficient and powerful app development from Nuremberg tailored to your needs.
What is hybrid app development?
With the help of hybrid app development, you can build hybrid (mobile) apps. So far, so good.
A hybrid app is a software application that combines components from native apps and web applications. They therefore represent a kind of interface.
Developers use programming languages such as JavaScript, CSS and HTML to create the framework of hybrid applications. This code is then typically integrated into a native environment using open source frameworks such as Ionic or React Native.
Simply put: When you integrate web applications into a native app environment, it is called a hybrid (mobile) app.
In more detail, this means that the core of a hybrid application runs within this native app environment, using the mobile device’s browser engine for rendering and computing.
Even if hybrid apps are programmed using web applications, they still appear like native apps at first glance and offer a comparable user experience.
The unique feature is that hybrid applications are built with a single code base. Regardless of which device the app is running on, the code that drives the functionality included in the app is the same (or very similar).
Hybrid Apps Examples
Hybrid apps can be found everywhere these days. You can see some of the most popular examples here:
- Evernote
- Above
- Gmail
As you can see, hybrid apps have a wide range of application areas and can be used flexibly.
Why Hybrid App Development?
But what are the concrete advantages and disadvantages of this development approach?
If you are asking yourself this question: very good. Because you should carefully consider beforehand whether a hybrid app fits and meets your own requirements.
| Advantages of hybrid app development | Disadvantages of hybrid app development |
| Lower costs | Lower performance |
| Faster development time | Functional limitations |
| Easier maintenance and bug fixes | Long wait for new features |
| Larger market accessible | Difficulty in rendering 3D graphics |
| Simplified Cloud Integration | Hybrid app developers harder to find |
Advantages of hybrid app development
1. Faster development time
The crucial aspect here is that you can develop a hybrid app for Android and iOS devices at the same time. A finished app can be published in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. This obviously saves time, as you can “kill two birds with one stone”.
2. Lower costs
Because of the faster development time, programming a hybrid app also costs less. With one app, two markets are covered at the same time, meaning less working time is required – saving time and money. Hybrid app development for B2B and B2C companies is particularly recommended if you want to keep costs low.
3. Larger market accessible.
As already mentioned, hybrid apps cover a large part of the app stores. Users of the most common operating systems (Android and IOS) have access to the app immediately after its release, can download it and finally use it.
4. Easier maintenance and bug fixes
Fix bugs for each operating system with one patch? Hybrid apps offer this possibility.
The code usually only needs to be edited once and can then be implemented in Android and IOS. As you can see, a major advantage of hybrid apps comes from the ability to develop an app with the same code for both operating systems.
5. Simplified cloud integration
Frameworks such as Ionic, React Native and Flutter are often used. These can be easily integrated into the cloud and, thanks to their respective plugins, offer the advantage that developers can easily integrate their apps into popular cloud services such as Salesforce and AWS.
Disadvantages of hybrid app development
1. Lower performance
Compared to a native app, a hybrid app unfortunately has disadvantages in terms of performance. Native apps are based on Google’s or Apple’s own programming languages, whereas hybrid apps have an alternative code base. This creates a separation layer between the operating system and the source code.
However, smaller apps usually do not have these performance problems.
2. Functional limitations
Due to the code base, hybrid apps lack some features found in native apps. Widgets and features that are platform-specific may be lost.
Another example: you develop an app and focus on an Android user. In this case, the design, interface and user experience can suffer greatly for iOS users. So you have to be clever here and good developers are needed to get around this problem.
3. Less support from Google and Apple
One advantage of native apps is that developers get support from Google and Apple. The companies usually release “development kits” that keep developers up to date.
A hybrid app requires developers who know exactly what they are doing and which updates need to be made. This can be a bit more challenging. However, skilled developers should not have a problem identifying and implementing important updates.
4. Difficulty in rendering 3D graphics
Creating visually appealing graphics and 3D animations can be difficult. It is even more difficult in the case of hybrid apps. Here, native apps have the advantage that implementing 3D elements is usually easier.
However, third-party tools such as Unity 3D can help integrate visually appealing animations and elements into hybrid apps.
5. Hybrid app developers harder to find
Since many app developers work natively, it can be harder to find qualified developers for hybrid apps. A company that decides to go with a hybrid app should therefore do its research to get the best service for its money.
We at Swipergy can of course also help you. We also offer hybrid mobile app development from Nuremberg and Bavaria.
We would also be happy to help you in a non-binding consultation. Simply contact us.
What frameworks are there for hybrid mobile apps?
A brief overview of the most common frameworks for hybrid app development can be found here.
In the future, we will publish a complete guide and comparison of the top 5 hybrid mobile app frameworks. There you will find all the important information at a glance and you can find out about the advantages and disadvantages.
React Native
React Native is one of the most popular mobile app frameworks that can be used to create natively rendered mobile apps for iOS and Android. The framework is based on JavaScript. Renowned companies around the world such as Facebook, Instagram, AirBnB and Microsoft trust React Native. Access to large open-source libraries and the ability to significantly reduce the size of the code base make the framework very attractive for developers and companies.
Ionic
Ionic offers a number of advantages, which is why it is very popular as a framework for mobile app development. The framework is based on AngularJS, which gives the code a reliable structure and simplifies development. Ionic is also relatively easy to learn. With an understanding of CSS, HTML and JavaScript, you are already relatively well-positioned. The framework also impresses with its clear documentation.
Flutter
Flutter is a framework developed by Google and first appeared in 2017. The special feature of Flutter is that with the help of the framework you can develop cross-platform for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and web applications with one code base. Development with Flutter is based on the programming language “Dart” and so-called widgets.
Xamarin
Xamarin is an open source framework for creating cross-platform applications (for Android, iOS and UWP). This runs on a single common C# code base. This makes Xamarin extremely flexible. The framework is relatively popular thanks to support from Microsoft and the ability to reuse up to 95% of the code.
NativeScript
NativeScript is another open source framework. Like React Native, it is fundamentally based on JavaScript to render the user interfaces and ensure a native-like environment. NativeScript was used, for example, in the mobile app development of Sennheiser and Puma.
Hybrid app development for the B2B sector
We would be happy to help you with the development of your app. Let’s talk together about your expectations for a mobile app.
FAQ – your questions at a glance
How much does it cost to develop a hybrid mobile app?
That depends entirely on the scope and complexity of the app itself. However, it can be said that a hybrid app is generally cheaper than a native app. Being able to program for multiple operating systems “at the same time” saves time and work.
How long does it take to develop a hybrid mobile app?
This also depends on how many functions your app should include. As with the price, however, hybrid apps are generally quicker to program than native apps.
How can Swipergy help with app development?
We will be at your side in a consultation in which we will determine your app needs precisely. This step is very important. Then we start building and coding. We will always be in contact with you in detailed feedback loops to develop your ideal app. With a lot of transparency, we will meet your needs for your mobile app.
All information is provided without guarantee, errors and changes reserved. No liability is accepted for the accuracy and completeness. All brands and products mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
