Native vs. cross-platform: which approach?
When commissioning a mobile app you face one fundamental choice: native or cross-platform?
Native development
Native apps are built with the platform's official language and tools:
iOS: Swift, Xcode
Android: Kotlin, Android Studio
Pros:
Maximum performance
Full access to every device feature
Best user experience per platform
Cons:
Two separate codebases in two languages
Double the development cost
Longer time to market
Cross-platform development
One codebase for both platforms:
React Native: JavaScript/TypeScript (Meta)
Flutter: Dart (Google)
Pros:
One codebase, two platforms
30-40% lower cost
Faster time to market
Share code with web (React Native)
Cons:
Slightly less performance with heavy animations
Limited access to some native features
Dependent on framework updates
React Native vs. Flutter
| Criterion | React Native | Flutter |
|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript | Dart |
| Performance | Very good | Excellent |
| UI components | Native components | Custom widgets |
| Hot reload | Yes | Yes |
| Share code with web | Yes (React) | Limited |
| Community | Large | Growing |
Our recommendation
For most projects we recommend React Native:
Proven technology (Instagram, Airbnb, Discord)
TypeScript — the same language as your web app
Share code between web and mobile
Cost comparison
| Approach | Cost (both platforms) |
|---|---|
| Native iOS + Android | €40,000 – €120,000 |
| React Native / Flutter | €15,000 – €60,000 |
Request a quote for your mobile app project.