There is a common misconception that hybrid and cross-platform apps are the same. So, let’s clarify this first. Both hybrid and cross-platform apps have a common code base (code shareability & reusability). As the name (hybrid) suggests, these are the perfect blend of web and mobile elements where you can easily develop hybrid apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and wrap them inside native containers. However, hybrid apps have limited access to a device’s hardware and OS features, depending on the kind of tech stack used to develop it. Still, we don’t recommend hybrid apps for large-scale organizations looking forward to targeting a huge audience. The post elaborates on some uncharted benefits of hybrid apps and why they soon became a top choice for global start-ups and emerging businesses.
Table of Contents
The Myths Regarding Hybrid Apps
Unknown Benefits of Hybrid App Development
- Improved User Experience
- Speed
- Cost-Effective
- Lower Maintenance Costs
- Offers a Competitive Edge with Faster Development
- Offline Accessibility
Endnote
The Myths Regarding Hybrid Apps
Most businesses consider hybrid apps of poor quality and low performance, but innovations in hybrid app development have completely transformed the scenario. Twitter, Gmail, Instagram, Crypto change, and Just Watch are some of the most renowned hybrid mobile apps that are being used across the globe.
Another common myth is that hybrid apps are slow. There can be various reasons behind the slow performance of hybrid apps, but with constant innovations in technologies like HTML5 and CSS standards, things have changed for the better.
The next rumor about hybrid apps is security. Most businesses don’t consider these apps to be very safe. Moreover, using a web view inside an app using JavaScript makes it highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. However, hybrid apps can be as secure as you want them. You just need to approach the development process with an apt plan to make hybrid apps more secure.
Unknown Benefits of Hybrid App Development
Now that we have clarified that app development has got completely transformed by the changing technologies and constant innovations, let’s discuss some little-known benefits of hybrid apps:
1. Improved User Experience
Smartphone users are getting smarter day by day. If you want to please mobile users, you have to deliver an outstanding experience, and for that, you have to consider hybrid mobile app development. You might have seen that you can easily figure out significant changes when you open a specific website on two different browsers. This is also applicable to mobile applications. However, you can overcome this issue by considering hybrid mobile app development and offering your audience a consistent UI across all browsers and devices.
2. Speed
People use mobile applications to access information on the go. However, if a mobile application takes a long time to respond, users will get annoyed and not feel like using it. This is where a hybrid mobile application scores over a native mobile app. It is no more surprising that hybrid applications are faster than native or mobile web apps. Hybrid mobile apps work at lightning speed unless it needs to load heavy graphics. The best part of a hybrid mobile app is that it doesn’t even require network communication, which is one of the common reasons behind the slow performance of an app.
3. Cost-effective
When you invest in hybrid app development, you will get a robust, and scalable application that works seamlessly across multiple platforms. This is done with the help of a common code, which will work on all devices and platforms (iOS, Android, Windows). This approach saves significant time, effort, and money for SMEs that want to save big and gain more revenue. Furthermore, Hybrid mobile app developers can reduce time to market by leveraging a set of libraries and development frameworks like PhoneGap and Xamarin and speed up the development process.
4. Lower Maintenance Costs
Since hybrid apps are developed using a single codebase, the ease of maintenance comes as a by-product. Irrespective of the multiple platforms on which a hybrid app runs, you just need to maintain a single database. Moreover, HTML codes can be much more easily maintained when compared to other technologies.
5. It Offers a Competitive Edge with Faster Development
The use of a single codebase allows mobile app developers to pacify their development process and deliver results in the quickest turnaround time. In fact, it takes almost half of the time that is taken to develop a native app. This allows startups to launch their apps in the market as soon as possible and gain an edge over their competitors.
6. Offline Accessibility
This is one of the greatest benefits offered by a hybrid app. This makes it a good option for businesses targeting audiences from remote areas with unstable network connectivity. As these apps can store data locally, users can benefit from the offline accessibility of hybrid apps.
Endnote
Experts from the mobile app industry predict that hybrid apps have great potential to grow and expand in scope and nature. The way hybrid apps are gaining popularity and technologies are evolving, we can conclude that hybrid apps will be the future of mobile apps.
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