In today’s competitive and fast-paced digital landscape, businesses aim to serve a broader customer base with maximum efficiency, which is a significant reason why they’re increasingly turning to mobile apps. However, what powers these apps is a framework —a set of tools that developers use to build applications quickly and effectively. These mobile app development frameworks streamline the development process by offering ready-to-use components, reusable code, APIs, and a rich set of libraries.
From designing user interfaces to managing how data is stored and retrieved, and handling connections with other devices, developers utilise these frameworks to build apps that can keep pace with evolving user expectations.
These tools significantly reduce the complexity of the mobile app development process, making these frameworks accessible to businesses of all sizes and developers with varying skill levels. As you reach the end of this article, you will find a summary of important aspects to consider when you pick the best mobile app development framework that aligns with your business goals.
What are Mobile App Development Frameworks?
A mobile app development framework is a blueprint that offers a collection of software development toolkits, enabling developers to craft mobile apps from scratch. It comprises a series of development tools and testing environments, as well as a series of steps ranging from architectural design to bug fixing for streamlining the app development process.
This type of development approach ensures that the mobile apps are reliable and user-friendly, while also driving business growth. Let’s explore various categories of mobile app development frameworks used in the industry today.
Web App Framework
This framework is used to design applications built using standard web-based technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These apps run only in a web browser and do not require a separate installation from app stores. It offers limited functionality and may have performance issues. It is best suited for content-centric or informational purposes.
Native App Framework
Native App Frameworks are tailored to build applications for a particular platform. They use platform-specific tools and languages, such as Kotlin or Java for Android, and Swift for iOS. This framework is well-suited for projects where factors such as performance, security, and user experience are top priorities.
Hybrid App Framework
Hybrid App Framework, as the name suggests, is a combination of native and web app frameworks. Developers need to write code for the app only once, and the same app can efficiently work on both Android and iOS platforms. Such a streamlined approach leads to substantial savings in both time and money. This framework is ideal for startups or businesses looking to enter the market and rapidly expand their customer base.
Top 10 Mobile App Development Frameworks
Let's go through the top mobile app development frameworks listed below. Having a thorough understanding of these frameworks can help you make informed decisions for your business.
Flutter
Flutter is mobile app development framework developed by Google. It is used for building cross-platform applications using a single codebase, primarily written in the Dart language, which consists of a rich set of libraries for building user interfaces, managing animations, and rendering. It features a hot reload capability, allowing developers to quickly identify changes as soon as they make code updates, which significantly accelerates the development process.
Benefits:
- Rich & customizable UI widgets
- Hot reload for quick development
- Consistent performance across all platforms
- Open source, which means free to use
- High performance due to native ARM code compilation
- Cross-platform support
Examples: Google Ads, Alibaba, Reflectly, Hamilton
React Native
React Native is an open-source app development framework developed by Facebook, allowing developers to craft mobile applications using JavaScript as a programming language and the React library. It features a large ecosystem of GUI components and a reusable codebase for both Android and iOS platforms, making it a preferred choice for cross-platform app development.
Benefits:
- Near native performance
- Vast developer community
- Faster development cycle
- Cost-effective development
Examples: Instagram, Tesla, Airbnb, Skype
Xamarin
Xamarin is an offering from Microsoft and is used for building native apps for Windows, iOS, and Android. It utilizes the .NET Framework and C# as the programming language. It enables developers to access platform-specific APIs and supports code sharing of up to 90% to enable a more efficient development workflow. It is highly suitable for teams familiar with .NET and C#, as it integrates effectively with Visual Studio.
Benefits:
- Native app-like performance
- Higher code reusability
- Faster development cycle
Cost-Effective
Examples: Alaska Airlines, World Bank, Siemens, Pinterest
Ionic
Ionic is a reputed open-source development framework owned by OutSystems. It utilizes standard web-based technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to build cross-platform applications. It features a rich library of pre-built UI components that mimic native app experiences. It also enables rapid prototyping and supports the development of apps that don’t require heavy native-like functionalities.
Benefits:
- Faster development using standard web technologies
- Vast plugin ecosystem
- Supports multiple libraries (Angular, React, Vue)
Examples: JustWatch, MarketWatch, Sworkit
Apache Cordova
Apache Cordova, formerly known as PhoneGap, is an open-source framework used to create cross-platform applications using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It compiles web code into a native language for each platform. It is ideal for both simple apps and those that require rapid deployment across multiple platforms.
Benefits:
- Single codebase for deployment across multiple platforms
- Access to native device APIs using plugins
- Cost-efficient development process
- Excellent community support
Examples: Wikipedia, Untappd
Snecha Ext JS
Snecha Ext JS is an enterprise-grade framework used for building data-intensive applications. It utilises JavaScript for creating cross-platform mobile and web-based apps. It consists of more than a hundred pre-integrated UI components that deliver excellent performance. This framework is renowned for its extensive ecosystem of UI components, making it ideal for complex business operations that demand high performance.
Benefits:
- Excellent data handling & analytics support
- Support for responsive design
- Best-in-class development tools
Examples: Nielsen, Ticketmaster
Swiftic
Swiftic is a low-code/no-code development framework designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It is also known as a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) development platform, as it empowers individuals to access pre-built components that help them build custom applications for Android and iOS platforms without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Benefits
- Faster app creation
- Extensive coding knowledge is not required
Quick deployment
Examples: Spa cafe, Remix Coffee Co, The Clubhouse
Titanium
Titanium is an open-source development framework by Appcelerator Inc. It utilizes JavaScript as a programming language, enabling developers to build feature-rich mobile apps for various platforms using a single codebase. Applications built on this framework deliver performance similar to that of native apps. It is ideal for businesses and enterprise apps requiring a native-like user experience on both iOS and Android.
Benefits
- Code reuse support
- Rich community support
- Access to native APIs and device features
- Native-like user experience
Examples: GetWorth, Joyride, CarMax
jQuery Mobile
jQuery Mobile is a lightweight framework used to buils applications for a wide variety of devices and browsers. It utilises HTML5, CSS3, and jQuery to create touch-friendly user interfaces. It is well-suited for mobile applications and websites that don’t require the same level of performance as native apps.
Benefits
- Easy to learn if familiar with HTML5 & CSS3
- Faster development process
- Cross-platform capabilities
- Compatible with other development frameworks
Examples: OpenTable, Dodge, IBM, Oracle
Native Script
NativeScript is an open-source development framework used for building native applications. It utilises programming languages such as JavaScript, Angular, TypeScript, and Vue.js. It relies on a single codebase for both Android and iOS platforms, and delivers performance comparable to that of native apps.
Benefits
- Direct access to native APIs
- High performance with native UI
- Supports multiple JavaScript frameworks
Examples: Strudel, Daily Nanny, Dwitch, BitPoints Wallet
Conclusion
The frameworks discussed above are among the most widely used mobile app development frameworks recommended by experts, enabling businesses to make informed decisions. These frameworks provide developers with right tools and libraries to build scalable apps.
However, the ecosystem is still evolving, as new frameworks and development tools continue to emerge. Choosing the best mobile app development framework begins with identifying the long-term business goals, understanding target users' expectations, and assessing the technical capabilities of each framework.
So, if your vision is clear and market conditions are favourable, now is the time to start your development journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can I identify the best mobile app development framework for my project?
Selecting the best framework for your project depends on several factors, including the target platform, performance requirements, user experience, timeline, and budget. If you want to serve a broad range of customers, select those frameworks with cross-platform capabilities. Consulting a trusted tech partner can help you make an informed decision.
Q. What are the key distinctions between native and cross-platform mobile app development frameworks?
Native frameworks are used to build apps specifically tailored for a particular platform (e.g., Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android). These apps deliver excellent performance and support platform-specific user experiences.
Whereas apps built on cross-platform mobile app development frameworks allow developers to create applications using a single codebase that can run smoothly on both Android and iOS platforms, significantly cutting down development costs and time.
Q. Which is the most used app development framework?
Currently, React Native and Flutter are the most widely used frameworks for mobile app development. Both have their unique strengths and capabilities, but they are both industry-leading cross-platform mobile app development frameworks.
Q. Can I use one framework for both Android and iOS app development?
Of course. There are several frameworks that allow you to craft applications for both Android and iOS platforms using the same codebase. Leading examples include Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, and Ionic.
Q. What mobile app development frameworks are best suited for e-commerce applications?
For e-commerce purposes, Flutter and React Native are highly preferred, thanks to their ability to deliver visually pleasing applications that are scalable and offer best-in-class performance. If you have an existing workforce skilled in C# or web-based technologies, then Xamarin and Ionic are also ideal options.
Gaurav has 19+ years of experience building and managing scalable web and mobile apps end-to-end, including product design, frontend/backend development, deployment, server management, uptime, performance, and reliability.
