9 Powerful Tools for Cross-platform Mobile App Development

These days, a mobile application becomes inevitable for business in every sector. When it comes to developing a mobile app for your business, you need to focus on developing in multiple platforms especially, in both iOS & Android platforms because developers and businesses mostly target them. With the advent of modern technology, now developers no need to develop separately for multiple platforms, thanks to the arrival of cross-platform mobile app development. Yes! In recent years, the growth of cross-platform mobile app development is so popular around the globe.

Here in this article, we are going to elaborate on why cross-platform mobile app development is so popular and the list of powerful tools for the developers to develop mobile apps in cross-platform.

Cross-platform Mobile App Development: What is it?

In simple words, cross-platform mobile app development can be termed as developing a mobile app that can be suitable to run on multiple platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, and so. In other words, it can be illustrated as the development of compatible software applications that can be functional on multiple mobile OS.

The cross-platform mobile app development does carry pros and cons in it. However, when compared with the advantages of using cross-mobile app development the cons would be negligible. Here we have briefly discussed the benefits of developing mobile apps in Cross-platform.

Benefits of Cross-platform Mobile App Development

• Mobile app development codes can be reused instead of creating new codes for making the same software compatible with other mobile OS.
• With the aid of cross-platform mobile app development, companies or business owners can save a lot of money.
• Developers are able to complete the app development project in the quick time since they don’t need to develop the same app suitable for other platforms.
• The cross-platform app development solution utilized by the developers is easier to implement on multiple mobile operating systems and easy to sync with the mobile devices running on the various operating systems.
• The cross-platform mobile app development gives the advantage of easy maintenance of mobile apps in various platforms at once. Besides, the mobile app will have the same UI and navigation across multiple platforms so users would not find any difficulties accessing those.

How Cross-Mobile Apps Are Developed?

As far as the experts’ advice it’s better to hire a reputable cross-platform mobile app development company for developing a highly reliable and highly functional cross-platform mobile app. Because to match the ongoing fast-paced mobile marketing world, you need to ensure the creation of a mobile app that can be successful by following all those systematic development processes with the latest app development features. By doing so, the visibility of your mobile app will achieve your goal and can reach potential users across the world.

List of Steps Involved in the Development of Cross-Platform Mobile App

• Defining Process of Mobile App Objective
• Illustration of Mobile App Functionality & Features
• Picking Potential Business Competitors
• Creating Wireframes & Use Cases Scenarios for Mobile App
• Wireframes Testing
• Fixing Errors & Testing
• Choosing Right Platforms for App Development
• Creating Codes for Mobile App
• Testing
• Launching

Apart from those main things, you should notice when it comes to developing a cross-platform mobile app is the development tool. Make sure, your app developers pick the best cross-platform mobile app development tools for developing your cross-platform mobile app.

List of Top 9 Best & Powerful Tools for Developing Cross-Platform Apps

1. React Native

It is an open-source framework based on Facebook’s library ‘React’. React Native allows developers to develop a cross-platform mobile app much faster than any other framework. Moreover, React Native gives the advantage of Learn Once & Write Anywhere to the developers. In addition, it utilizes the old and most popular open-source programming language Java. Owing to that, it is highly popular among the developers for developing a cross-platform mobile app.

2. Flutter

Flutter one of the releases by the Internet giant Google. Flutter framework launched in 2018 and it gained slow pickup among the developers and now it’s one of the most preferred frameworks for developing cross-platform mobile apps by the developers across the world. Flutter framework uses dart programming language, though it is still new it can be learned easily since it is almost similar to C/C++ and Java programming language.

3. NativeScript

NativeScript is another framework well known for developing a revolutionary cross-platform mobile application other than React Native and Flutter. The NativeScript launched in 2015 and gained the attention of so many developers across the globe because of its open-source model and allows developers to access 700 plugins for developing mobile applications.

4. Xamarin

Xamarin owned by Microsoft and uses C# language for developing cross-platform mobile apps. The feature of code sharing and cloud service testing makes this Xamarin framework a robust tool for developing cross-platform apps. Features like native API access, high performance, easy testing, and so leads developers to prefer the Xamarin tool for developing a cross-platform mobile application.

Do you want to create a mobile application which can run on various platforms? Choose cross-platform mobile app development.

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5. PhoneGap

PhoneGap now owned by Adobe, this framework allows developers to create native applications using popular languages like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and so. By using this framework, app developers can develop applications suitable for android, iOS, windows, and blackberry mobile operating systems. Now, Adobe is trying hard to make this framework popular among the developers for making cross-platform mobile apps by adding more features and vast community support.

6. Appcelerator

Appcelerator is another open-source framework tool for developing cross-platform software. The Appcelerator using single JavaScript as its programming language owing to that app developer won’t feel difficult on the coding process. By the way, the Appcelerator allows developers to develop better real-time analytics, and MBaaS enriched mobile applications much faster than any other tool.

7. Unity3D

Unity3D specially used by the app developers to develop cross-platform gaming applications. Unlike the other framework tools, this Unity3D allows developers to develop mobile applications with high-quality graphics. The gaming applications developed by using Unity3D tools can be capable of playing in the various platforms including PlayStation and Linux OS. The strong community support offered by the Unity3D framework acts as a big plus and that’s the main reason developers prefer this tool for developing an impressive mobile gaming application.

8. 5App

This 5App framework tool is peculiar when compared with all other existing tools because of its design and functionality. HTML5 and JavaScript are the primary languages used by this 5App framework, moreover, this framework tool is specially designed to satisfy the needs of the companies and consulting firms for developing a mobile application for their business operation. Moreover, this 5App framework gives high-security options; owing to that developers prefer this framework for developing apps with high data security provision.

9. Rhomobile

The Rhomobile framework is one of the popular app developing tools that allow developers to create a cross-platform and enterprise-level mobile application. Also, this framework suits well to develop native mobile applications. The presence of the Eclipse plug-in allows developers to generate coding at ease and also this plug-in makes the debugging and testing process quickly and easily.

In addition, there are several other editors and IDEs which can be utilized by the developers to develop a reliable and functional cross-platform mobile app.

Bottom Line

Guess the answer to your query about how to develop cross-platform mobile apps end with this article. The year 2020 is going to be the year for cross-platform apps, moreover, the ongoing pandemic will suit well for stepping into the development of a cross-platform mobile app. Start thinking and pick the right theme & category for developing a mobile app. At the same time, make sure you engage with the right cross-platform mobile app Development Company for making a better cross-platform mobile app.

Frequently Answered Questions on Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

1. Is It True! Cross-platform is the Future of Mobile Apps?

Yes! The future of mobile app development will be based upon the cross-platform frameworks. Cross-platform frameworks will act as a tool for developers to develop potential cross-platform apps.

2. Is there any difference in-between native and cross-platform apps?

Yes! There are notable differences between native and cross-platform apps in code usability, device access, UI consistency, and Performance. Well, native apps will deliver high performance than cross-platform apps. However, cross-platform gives the upper hand on code usability, device access, and UI consistency.

3. What is the best framework for cross-platform app development?

Since each framework has its own set of pros and cons. It truly depends upon for what purpose the app is going to be developed and the goals to be achieved by the app.

4. How long will it take to develop a functional cross-platform app and how much will it cost?

The cost of developing a functional cross-platform mobile app development starts from $5,000 and the maximum limit would depend upon the features. By the way, professional developers can develop a fully functional cross-platform mobile app in a few months mostly by around 4 to 5 months.