If you want an app for both Android and iPhone, the first technical question is how to build it. There are three main options: React Native, Flutter and native development. Each can produce an excellent app; the right choice depends on your budget, timeline and features.
Native apps
Native apps are written separately for each platform: Kotlin or Java for Android, Swift for iOS.
Pros
- Full access to every device feature on day one
- Best possible performance for heavy graphics or complex animations
Cons
- Two codebases, so roughly double the build and maintenance effort
- Two teams or a team skilled in both
Best for: games, apps with advanced camera or AR features, or apps where every millisecond counts.
React Native
React Native, created by Meta, lets one JavaScript/TypeScript codebase run on both Android and iOS while still using native interface components.
Pros
- One codebase for both platforms
- Large ecosystem of libraries
- Easy to share logic with a React web app
Cons
- Some advanced native features need extra native code
Best for: business apps, customer apps, e-commerce and apps that sit alongside a web platform.
Flutter
Flutter, created by Google, uses the Dart language and draws its own interface, so the app looks identical on every device.
Pros
- One codebase for both platforms
- Smooth animations and a consistent design
- Fast development with hot reload
Cons
- Slightly larger app size
- Dart is less common than JavaScript
Best for: design-led apps, apps with custom visuals and projects that may also target desktop.
Our recommendation
For most business apps (order taking, field staff, customer self-service, bookings, loyalty) a cross-platform framework gives you both stores for close to the price of one, with performance users cannot tell apart from native. We choose between React Native and Flutter based on your existing systems and the features you need.
Features most business apps need
- Secure sign-in and user roles
- Push notifications for orders, reminders and offers
- Offline support so staff can work without signal and sync later
- Payments, maps, camera and barcode scanning
- A connection to your existing web application or billing software
- Publishing to Google Play and the App Store
Frequently asked questions
Can one app be published on both the Play Store and the App Store?
Yes. With React Native or Flutter, one codebase produces both apps, and we handle publishing to both stores.
Will a cross-platform app feel slow?
Not for typical business apps. Modern frameworks compile to native code and feel smooth on mid-range phones.
Planning an app?
Read about our mobile app development service or contact us to talk through your idea.
