While developing a mobile app, a business needs to make important decisions that can help them create a successful app. One main question that a business may have is which type of mobile app to build. The three main types of apps are native, web and hybrid. There are many differences between native apps and web apps, each has its own pros and cons. In this article, we will discuss some benefits of native app development.

If you are focusing on app development and not sure about which type of app development method you want to opt for, then this article can help. We will discuss some main advantages of native app development that can help you make your decision confidently.

What is Native App Development?

Native app development involves building an app for a specific operating system such as iOS or Android, and users can download them from these platforms.

The programming language for iOS is Swift or Objective-C, and Java or Kotlin for Android. Native mobile apps generally perform better and provide a great user experience than web-based apps. Moreover, native apps can also access a device’s hardware and features like location or camera, which web apps cannot.

Let’s look at the benefits of native app development in detail.

Benefits of Native App Development

Native apps perform well

Native apps are designed and optimized for a specific platform, which makes them perform well. These apps are fast and responsive as they are built using the core programming languages and APIs. This makes them perform more efficiently with minimal errors.

As these apps are stored in the device, the software uses the device’s processing speed. Moreover, load time is quick on native apps as visual elements and content are already stored on the mobile device.

Native apps are secure

Security is one of the main concerns of any app developer. Native apps are generally more secure than web or hybrid apps. Native apps are built for a specific platform and have access to its security features. Whereas web apps are built for various browsers and can be open to Web-specific attacks. With native apps you can take security measures during development to ensure that there are minimal threats to security.

Moreover, you can implement features like biometric authentication that helps users log in to the apps securely.

Access to device features

Native apps can fully leverage the software and the features of the operating system they are built on. These apps have direct access to the hardware of the device like camera, microphone, GPS and more.

This accessibility can also help you reach your users directly on their devices. Push notifications are a great benefit in native app development. You can reach users with promotional messages or other content on their devices, even when they are not using the app. This feature can be useful for various marketing and promotional activities. It can help businesses connect and engage with their target users, while encouraging them to use the app.

Native apps are intuitive

Native apps are built for a specific platform and inherit the device’s interface. This makes them more integrated with the device. This interface can be built to provide a great user experience. App developers can personalize the app to make it more relevant to the target audiences.

Certain features that your audiences are used to can be added to make the app easy to use. Native apps have a natural flow as they are built as per the guidelines of the platform. This enables the user to better connect with the app. Sticking to the guidelines enables your users to navigate the app easily. They can interact with the app using gestures that they are already familiar with.

Enhanced user experience

User experience is an important factor that impacts mobile app retention. Compared to other app development methods, native app development offers more flexibility when it comes to user experience. Native apps enable developers to design the app in a way that is easy to use and relevant to the end user.

As discussed above native apps are consistent with the operating system, making them more reliable and easier to navigate. App developers can continue to update the app and enhance user experience based on customer feedback. Moreover, native apps can also be used offline, which helps build a great offline experience for the users.

Easy to test

Native apps are easy to test and less time consuming. If you have cross-platform apps, then you will need to test them on each platform which can be time consuming. Similarly, testing hybrid apps can also take longer as you will have to run additional tests for each app type. Hence, native apps need to be tested only on the respective platform and are not very complex.

If you are building a new app then than native app development can have many benefits. The best way to get started is to keep things simple. Starting with only one operating system is a great way to introduce your app in the market and see how it performs. Once the app is out you can update it and add features that resonate with your users.

With each update you can focus on enhancing user experience that can help improve engagement and retention rate. Other types of apps like web and hybrid have their own advantages. However, to keep things simple native apps can be more cost-effective and less time-consuming as compared to other app types.