Do we have over 6.3 billion smartphone users worldwide? To everyone’s surprise, the mobile app industry will make $935 Billion in revenue this year. That’s because we all love to download and use mobile applications! Naturally, the demand for responsive mobile apps is at an all-time high. As a result, application developers are seeking effective Cross-Platform App Development frameworks that can ease their development activities!
The reason behind the popularity of cross-platform apps is because they run seamlessly over Android or iOS Smartphones and any other devices.
The perfection of cross-platform app development is now winning over native application development frameworks. Gradually, application developers are choosing frameworks ideal for cross-platform development! Now, the main confusion is: Which cross-platform framework is the best?
Keep reading as we continue to explore the top 10 such frameworks that you mustn’t miss to use in 2023!
Why Is Cross-Platform Development Better Than Native Development?
Native Applications are highly platform-dependent. The developers had to write different application code for different platforms. It is very time-consuming as developers code uniquely for different devices.
On the contrary, cross-platform app development solves the problem. It offers a straightforward development approach so developers can use the same codebase to build responsive mobile apps! These applications run seamlessly across multiple platforms. That is why cross-platform application development is taking over native development.
What Is A Cross-Platform App Development Framework?
It represents a set of development tools that software developers use to build mobile applications. It focuses on designing applications that seem native. These native-like apps are flexible, operating across different OSs with the same codebase. So, the cross-platform development framework supports businesses that plan to target a larger audience spread across numerous platforms. It significantly reduces development efforts and costs.
So, what are these cross-platform application development frameworks? How are they different from native development frameworks? In the next section, we will review the most in-demand cross-platform programming languages!
Listing 10 Best Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks 2023
The more technology evolves, the more the variety of cross-platform application development frameworks gets revealed to the world! All frameworks have a preferred programming language to reduce the developers’ efforts. So, you might feel stuck while selecting the proper development framework! But don’t worry! Let’s break down the top cross-platform frameworks of 2023!
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1. Xamarin
Xamarin from Microsoft is the most popular cross-platform app development framework of 2023. With over 1.4 million developers’ support, Xamarin simplifies implementation and issue resolution.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Xamarin Framework:
a) It offers a native-like interface and controls to create robust applications.
b) It excels at compile-time verification and minimizes runtime errors.
c) Outback and Microsoft News are two popular apps built with Xamarin.
d) It seamlessly integrates Java and Objective-C libraries.
e) It follows the WORA approach to reduce development time.
f) It enhances the user experience with platform-specific UI elements.
However, Xamarin may not be suitable for graphics-intensive or gaming apps. Some open-source libraries are also not fully accessible. Still, Xamarin is free for startups and individuals.
2. React Native
This cross-platform app development framework combines the advantages of React and JavaScript. Major apps like Facebook and Instagram use the React Native framework. React Native is beneficial for designing code modules in Jave or Objective-C. Developers using React Native modules and libraries can utilize the following features:
a) Sizable community support to improve functionalities
b) WORA (Write Once, Run Anywhere) capability to maintain the codebase
c) Reduced development costs with seamless native app integration
d) Excellent user experience with minimized loading times
e) Compatibility with other tools and plugins like Google Maps
The main challenge with React Native is debugging the JavaScript codebase. It can stretch the testing time and requires a bridge between native environments. However, the React Native framework can accelerate the development by up to 30% for multiple platforms.
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3. Flutter
It is another popular cross-platform app development framework. Its native-like performance supports iOS, Android, and Google Fuchsia. In 2023, 40% of global developers preferred Flutter, and it helped developers build apps like Google Ads and GPay.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Flutter Framework:
a) Native-like performance via the Skia graphics engine
b) Hot reloading for fast debugging.
c) Easy-to-learn Dart language
d) Portability across devices
e) Code reusability for efficient development
f) Customization and integration options
g) Access to native features with third-party integrations
h) Smooth performance for excellent user experience
The reactive architecture of Flutter helps software developers automate the UI updates with Dart language. Its quick development capabilities are ideal for Minimum Viable Product (MVP) creation. Overall, Flutter boasts a built-in graphics engine to simplify UI design across Android and iOS.
4. CodeName One
CodeName One is an initiative framework from Digital Equipment. It facilitates native platform development using Java or Kotlin. It provides the advantage of code portability across multiple platforms while allowing developers to work with Java or Kotlin directly.
Here are the main feature highlights of the CodeName One Framework:
a) Do coding one time and run it anywhere
b) Cross-platform compatibility without hardware restrictions
c) Supports widespread IDE integration like IDEA and Netbeans
d) Offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface
However, CodeName One may need help scaling more extensive programs. Plus, the event controller management can impact development efficiency.
Also Read: Top Mobile App Technologies To Develop User-Friendly Mobile Applications
5. Ionic
Ionic is one of the newest cross-platform app development frameworks. This open-source framework uses web technologies like HTML and JavaScript. It supports easy integration with Angular and React to develop hybrid mobile applications. It also relies on other frameworks like Cordova and Capacitor to add native OS features to mobile applications.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Ionic Framework:
a) It integrates with Angular and React.
b) It offers its IDE called the Ionic Studio.
c) It provides code deploys with automated builds.
d) Ionic CLI has lazy loading functionalities.
e) It supports Cordova plugins for native features.
Being a compatibility new framework, Ionic still needs to gain more popularity like other cross-platform frameworks. Still, it is gaining enough attention because of its wide range of tools and plugins alongside a vibrant developer community and ample documentation.
6. NativeScript
NativeScript is also an open-source framework that enables the development of native Android and iOS apps. The libraries it uses include Angular, JavaScript, and TypeScript. It grants direct access to native APIs and native platform UI rendering.
Here are the main feature highlights of the NativeScript Framework:
a) It utilizes web technologies like JavaScript and Angular.
b) It renders platform-native UI components.
c) It supports runtimes and core modules for development.
d) It has a repository of plugins and pre-built templates.
e) It is entirely free and open source.
The only problem with NativeScript is its limited cross-platform code reusability. However, NativeScript’s plugin repository and templates contribute to faster cross-platform app development.
7. Titanium SDK
It is popularly known as Appcelerator Titanium. It is also an open-source app development framework currently in high demand. Developers can use Titanium SDK to create JavaScript-based mobile apps. The main features include:
a) Cross-platform API for accessing native UI and device functions
b) Hyperloop for direct access to native APIs
c) MVC-based Alloy framework
d) Integration with Salesforce and Microsoft Azure
e) Support schema-less database for easy data model deployment
The framework has a growing developer community. Hence, the software developers of 2023 must try this cross-platform framework for application development.
Also Read: Business Plan for Successful Mobile Apps
8. Apache Cordova
This open-source framework is another form of Adobe PhoneGap. It is ideal for web designers, developers, and researchers. It combines HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with native device frameworks to access various features.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Adobe PhoneGap framework:
a) Open platform with compatibility for third-party extensions and APIs.
b) Standard-compliant API access for device features.
c) Relatively simple development and deployment across multiple platforms.
d) User-friendly command-line skills are easy to acquire.
Overall, Apache Cordova provides an open platform for developing cross-platform applications with access to device features.
9. Adobe PhoneGap
Just like React Native, Adobe PhoneGap framework also uses JavaScript. Further, PhoneGap uses CSS and HTML5 programming languages to facilitate smooth cross-platform development. It also supports cloud-based sharing so that developers can collaborate and develop the mobile app features with ease.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Adobe PhoneGap Framework:
a) It utilizes existing web technologies, including JavaScript and HTML5
b) It maintains a single codebase for multiple platforms
c) It supports different plugins for expanding access to native device APIs
d) It has integrated payments via app stores
e) It offers strong community support with a wide range of UI libraries
f) It allows access to native OS and device features
Many developers have reported the performance latency while using PhoneGap for creating native-like polished apps. So, it’s not the ideal choice for developing gaming apps with high graphics.
Also Read: Mobile App vs Mobile Website: Which One Should You Choose and Why?
10. Corona SDK
Corona SDK is a powerful tool for creating 2D mobile apps on various devices. It offers a tenfold increase in productivity for mobile game development. It employs the multi-paradigm programming language Lua to enhance user-friendliness. The framework is cost-free and supports real-time testing. Notable apps like Zip-Zap and Designer City have used Corona SDK.
Here are the main feature highlights of the Corona SDK Framework:
a) Over a thousand APIs for audio, music, animations, and more
b) Real-time preview for responsive code changes
c) Support for 200+ plugins, including media, analytics, and in-app advertising
d) Lua-based for solid and high-speed performance
e) Fast FPS to prevent lag with built-in Corona Simulator
f) Easy code viewing to fasten the development process
Even though Corona SDK is slightly expensive, it’s getting popular day by day for mobile game development.
Conclusion
Finally, discuss the advantages of cross-platform app development frameworks in 2023! These frameworks promote code reusability and reduce the need to write separate code for various platforms. These frameworks follow the “Write Once, Run Anywhere” (WORA) approach that ultimately lowers development costs. Moreover, cross-platform frameworks save the developers’ time as they get to focus on more productive activities. These frameworks promote simplified deployment with continuous maintenance through a unified codebase. So, choose any of these cross-platform frameworks for application development!
About Us: Algoworks is a B2B IT firm providing end-to-end product development services. Operating chiefly from its California office, Algoworks is reputed for its partnership with Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Dell, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Algoworks is an expert in Mobile App Development with experience in catering to enterprises belonging to all domains. This includes: Android App Development, iOS App Development, ReactNative App Development, Flutter App Development etc. For more information, contact us here.
Rachit Agarwal
