A mobile app type can influence the final development costs and overall project success. With over 90% of mobile time spent in apps, mobile applications prove to be the best way to connect with customers.
In this article, we explore the main types of mobile apps. We talk about native, PWAs, and hybrid application development services. We aim to equip businesses with knowledge to make an informed choice. That’s why we applied to app development services experts to compose this article.
What Is an App?
An app is a software program that performs specific tasks or provides services on mobile devices. That can be smartphones and tablets.
Key Components of an App
- Activities. These are the screens or pages of an app where users interact. These are forms, menus, and navigation screens.
- Services. Background processes that support activities. The examples are data syncing or music playback. They are running even when the user is not actively interacting with the app.
- Broadcast receivers. Components that respond to system-wide events. These are battery changes, Wi-Fi connectivity, or incoming notifications.
- Content providers. Mechanisms that allow apps to share data with other apps. It means accessing contacts or calendars on the device.
- App resources. Assets such as images, layouts, and string files. They help to manage and display the app’s content across various screen sizes and languages.
3 Types of Mobile Apps by Technology
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
Native App Development Service
Native apps are developed specifically for one operating system. It’s either iOS or Android. These apps provide high performance and seamless integration with device features. They are popular among mobile development service providers for their speed and enhanced functionality.
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Characteristic |
Description |
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Technology used |
Developed using platform-specific languages: Swift or Objective-C for iOS, and Java or Kotlin for Android. These languages and their native development environments, such as Xcode for iOS and Android Studio for Android, offer strong integration with device capabilities. |
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Pros & cons |
Pros. High performance, better security, full access to device features (camera, GPS, notifications), enhanced user experience. Cons. Higher development cost, longer development time, requires separate development for each platform. |
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When to choose |
Best suited for apps that require high performance, graphics-intensive functionality (such as gaming), or access to advanced hardware features (like AR/VR capabilities). Ideal for businesses with the budget to support multiple platform-specific versions. |
Web App Development Service/PWA
Web apps and PWAs are applications that run through a web browser. Users don’t need to download anything to access them. PWAs can also work offline.
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Characteristic |
Description |
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Technology used |
Built with web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Developers use frameworks like React or Vue. They enhance functionality and improve the user experience. |
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Pros & cons |
Pros. Cost-effective development, universally accessible on any device with a web browser, no need for app store approval, easier to update. Cons. Limited access to certain device features (e.g., advanced camera functions), may not fully work offline depending on complexity; slightly lower performance than native apps. |
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When to choose |
Ideal for businesses looking to reach a broad audience on a budget or those needing rapid deployment and frequent updates. Suitable for applications with less need for hardware integration, like e-commerce platforms or content-driven apps. |
Hybrid Mobile App Development Services
Hybrid apps combine functions of native and web technologies. They are designed to run across multiple platforms. Hybrid mobile development services combine elements of both native and web apps. They are a balance between performance and cost-efficiency.
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Characteristic |
Description |
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Technology used |
Built using frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin. They allow developers to write one codebase. After, it can be compiled into native code for different platforms. |
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Pros & cons |
Pros. Faster development time, cost-effective for multi-platform deployment, single codebase reduces maintenance efforts. Cons. Slightly lower performance than native apps; limited access to some native features; may not deliver as seamless an experience as native apps. |
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When to choose |
Best for companies needing to target both iOS and Android users within a limited budget or timeline. Ideal for apps with moderate performance and device integration requirements, such as social media, e-commerce, or content apps. |
The Bottom Line
The right type of mobile app guarantees the balance between performance, mobile app development service cost, and target audience needs. As you go through ideation, planning, and target audience research, you will understand what type works best for you.
