Mobile app development

Native vs cross-platform: which should you build?

If you need both iOS and Android quickly and cost-effectively, cross-platform usually wins. If you need maximum performance or deep device features, native has the edge. Here's the honest trade-off.

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  • Fixed-scope quoteA written price and milestone plan before any work starts.
  • From $4,999 CADTypical single-platform apps $5,000 to $12,000.
  • You own the codeSource, designs and store accounts are yours.
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Side by side

NativeCross-platform
CodebasesOne per platformShared
Time to two storesLongerFaster
Performance ceilingHighestExcellent for most apps
Device/OS featuresImmediate accessVia plugins
Best forGames, heavy graphics, platform-specific UXMost business & consumer apps

When to choose native

  • Performance-critical apps (AR, graphics-heavy, games).
  • Deep, immediate access to new OS features.
  • A single-platform product where sharing code adds no value.

When to choose cross-platform

  • You need iOS and Android from one team and budget.
  • Faster iteration and a single codebase to maintain.
  • Standard business/consumer functionality (the majority of apps).

Frequently asked questions

Is React Native production-ready?
Yes. It powers many well-known apps. For the majority of business and consumer products the performance is indistinguishable from native to users.

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Senior iOS, Android, React Native and Flutter engineers. Tell us about your project. No obligation.

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Tell us about your app

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  • Written, fixed-scope quote before any work starts
  • You own the code, designs and accounts
  • Typical apps from $4,999 CAD
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