The cost of creating a cross-platform app can range from $10,000 to $300,000 depending on the features, design, and complexity. That’s a hefty amount of money to spend, so the choice of whom to give the money is extremely important.
As a cross-platform app development company needs to handle critical aspects like the UI/UX design, coding, testing, deployment, integration, and maintenance, you must choose a company that has mastered the art of cross-platform development.
Besides the expertise and experience of the company, you should analyze the testimonials from past clients and have a clear understanding of the development methodologies the company uses. But, it can be overwhelming for newbies to find all the factors to consider when choosing the best app development company.
In this guide, we will discuss the essential factors when choosing the best cross-platform app development company and guide you on how to make the best use of your money. Let’s get started.
Understanding Cross-Platform App Development
You might have already assumed what the term ‘cross-platform’ means. Yes, it indicates apps that can run on different platforms without any issues. Take Android and iOS, for example. Many apps are exclusively built for either Android or iOS devices.
Some apps can run on both Android and iOS. These apps are called cross-platform apps. But, what is cross-platform app development, and why is it beneficial? The process of building these apps is known as cross-platform app development.
Previously, businesses used to target any of these platforms and build platform-specific apps. That required expertise in platform-specific languages and frameworks. Nowadays, cross-platform development has become popular due to its convenience and potential. You will get a clear idea of why cross-platform app development is beneficial below.
Advantages of Cross-Platform Development
- Code Reusability: Unlike native development, developers work with a single codebase to develop apps that run on different platforms. From that single codebase, platform-specific functionalities can be developed by sharing and reusing the code.
- Faster Development Lifecycle: According to SPDLoad, the average time to develop a native app is about 2 to 9 months or even more. But cross-platform app development cuts the time down to half or less than that. So, the development lifecycle is much shorter here.
- Budget-Friendly: As we have already mentioned, app development can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the app’s complexity. Many factors, such as the tools used, the availability and expertise of developers, etc., impact the development cost. Cross-platform development is more affordable due to available tools, the abundance of experienced developers, and code reusability.
- Better Reach: Consider creating an app only for Apple’s App Store. The whole Android user base will remain untapped if you choose native development. Cross-platform development lets businesses access a huge market.
Challenges and Complexities of Cross-Platform Development
Even though cross-platform development has many benefits, you need to keep the following challenges in mind.
- Performance Considerations: As cross-platform apps struggle to access all native features, it is tough for them to compete with native apps in terms of performance. This can frustrate users and make them uninstall the app.
- Platform-Specific Requirements: Android and iOS will demand cross-platform apps to follow different guidelines. Developers need to strictly follow the guidelines regarding the design, features, and functionality of the app. This makes cross-platform development more challenging.
- Third-Party Integration: Cross-platform development requires integration with third-party resources. App platforms often have specific regulations regarding the integration, which makes cross-platform development more complex than native development.
Choosing a cross-platform developer for your app is a challenge in itself. With the rise in popularity of cross-platform apps, numerous companies are providing this service. But you should only rely on companies that have top cross-platform app developers, designers, and managers to execute your vision. Let’s get into more detail about the essential factors.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cross-Platform App Development Company
What makes a company eligible for transforming your visionary idea into a functional app? How do you know that the company is capable of delivering exactly what you want? Or, are you spending more than what you need to develop a cross-platform app?
Most people have these questions in mind when they want to go the cross-platform way. Find the answers to these questions below that will help you choose the best cross-platform app development company.
1. Expertise and Experience
Cross-platform development is a vast area where the company needs to handle UI/UX design, coding, frameworks, libraries, resources, and a lot of other things. The tools and frameworks in this industry are always evolving. To have a good grasp of all the elements, companies need to work on diverse projects constantly.
A company that has been in the industry for a decade will definitely know the nitty-gritty of cross-platform development than a company that launched a year ago. The developer team of a company also impacts the expertise level as developers are the ones handling the core elements of the process.
The familiarity of the company with different cross-platform app solutions is another important consideration here. If a company isn’t experienced in the top tools and frameworks, it might not understand the approach you want to take. The company can also lure you to a journey that it has never done itself.
2. Portfolio and Track Record
Do you ever doubt the capability of the team that developed Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? You don’t because the result of the team’s effort is clearly visible. Similarly, the capability of the company you choose should have a mentionable appearance.
We are talking about the portfolio and track record of the company that will help you understand what app development services have the company gone through. Reviewing past projects will also help you determine whether the development approach of the company matches your vision.
The best way to analyze the portfolio is to assess the performance and success rate of previous cross-platform apps the company has developed. Go to various app stores and try the apps they built. Check if the apps have got any mentions by top magazines or user forums.
3. Client Reviews and Testimonials
The company’s claim about its expertise might not reveal the full picture. You must hear from its clients to be certain about the credibility of the company. When visiting the website of a mobile app development firm, you will find reviews and testimonials from clients.
As these reviews and testimonials go through moderation, you shouldn’t solely depend on the reviews shown on the website. Instead, find user reviews of the apps the company has developed on app stores. Those reviews will tell you how the app is performing.
Here are a few tips on where to find genuine client feedback.
- Check out the social media channels of the company. See the comments on their Facebook or Instagram.
- Find threads on the apps developed by the company on Reddit or similar platforms.
- Check platforms like Trustpilot or G2 to find reviews of the company.
4. Development Process and Methodologies
Each company has its own development procedure. You need to know about the development methodology the company follows. For example, some companies can follow the Waterfall methodology to develop cross-platform apps, while others will go for agile development.
Weigh the benefits and challenges of each methodology and determine which methodology suits your needs the best. How the company communicates with you throughout the development process is also important. Discuss factors like the frequency of communication, update schedule, feedback management, etc.
The company should be transparent in terms of keeping you updated about the development progress. In each step of the development, the company should take your inputs and implement them into the development. These factors show the company is committed to its clients.
5. Customization and Scalability
Some app development companies tend to follow certain formats to build cross-platform apps for all clients. If you want a successful app, it must contain unique features and functionality. Such an app can only be built by experienced developers with versatile skill sets. The company needs to understand your business needs and provide customized solutions, not just imitate other apps or businesses.
Scalability is another important factor, especially when your app starts doing well. Popular apps may need to incorporate new features and functionality, handle more integrations, and keep up with the market trends. The company you choose for multi-platform app development should have the ability to scale your app if necessary.
If you have a visionary idea, future-proofing your app can only be done by cross-platform development experts who can handle development, deployment, and maintenance on a large scale.
With the growing demand for cross-platform apps that seamlessly run on different devices or operating systems, many cross-platform app development tools entered the market in recent times. You may wonder, what are some popular cross-platform development tools available?
According to Statista, Flutter, React Native, Ionic, Xamarin, etc., are some of the top frameworks for cross-platform development.
- Flutter: This cross-platform framework was launched in 2017. It has become popular due to its dynamic UI updates, built-in graphic engine, rich libraries, etc. Flutter also has great community support.
- React Native: React Naive is based on JavaScript and uses native modules to build cross-platform apps. This framework is especially popular for building performance-heavy apps.
- Ionic: Ionic combines web technologies with mobile app development frameworks. Developers commonly use this framework to build progressive web apps.
- Xamarin: Microsoft acquired Xamarin in 2016 and developed it as a cross-platform framework for building versatile applications. It uses C# and .NET to build applications for platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, etc.
Factors to Choose the Right Cross-Platform Tools and Frameworks
- Performance: Consider the performance parameters of the frameworks to find one that can access native features the most.
- Flexibility: If multi-platform compatibility is the main requirement, choose tools that focus on compatibility over features.
- Support: Choosing a framework with a large community helps you gather resources easily.
Cost and Budget Considerations
You have already got an idea of how much cross-platform app development can cost. Let’s see what factors impact the overall development cost and how you can optimize the budget.
Cost Factors Associated with Cross-Platform App Development
- Expertise of the Company: Hiring expert developers doesn’t come cheap. Managing all the necessary tools doesn’t come cheap. When you hire a renowned company, your development budget will go up.
- App Complexity: Small apps with minimal features and simple design may cost $10,000 or $20,000. But if you want to build a complex app that contains unique features, complex functionality, and high-level integrations, the cost can be a few hundred thousand dollars.
- Testing and Maintenance: Extensive testing can skyrocket the expenditure. Multi-platform testing, beta testing, etc., will add to the development budget.
Tips to Optimize Cost without Compromising Quality
- Avoid unnecessary aesthetics. Focus on core features and functionality to optimize the development cost.
- Choose agile methodology to reduce the development time.
- Leverage reusable components as much as possible.
Support and Maintenance
A successful cross-platform app will require a lot of post-deployment support in the long run. From tweaking the existing features to creating new functionalities, from improving the design aesthetics to fixing bugs, the app development company should provide the necessary support after the app goes live.
You need to talk about the support offerings before starting the development with the company. Learn what support they offer after deploying the app and discuss the post-deployment support cost. Figure out the maintenance cost for the app and the additional cost the app can incur in various situations.
Keep the following factors in mind while selecting a cross-platform development partner.
- The company should be responsible for regular updates of the app.
- The bug reports should be analyzed promptly and the fixes should be delivered accordingly.
- A proactive maintenance approach should be in place. The company should run routine checks to determine if the app has any issues.
- If the app violates any app store policies, the development company should address the issues and ensure the app runs as expected.
- The company should suggest improvements where necessary to make the app successful in the long run.
FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about choosing the best cross-platform app development company. Check them out.
Q: How do I know if a company is experienced in cross-platform development?
You can check the design, functionality, and navigation of the cross-platform apps previously built by the company to assess its experience level.
Q: What should I look for in a cross-platform app development portfolio?
Check how many cross-platform apps the company has built, how many categories they have covered, how the apps are performing in real-world scenarios, and what technologies were used to develop the app.
Q: Where can I find genuine client reviews for a development company?
You can use online directories and software review platforms to find genuine client reviews for an app development company. Visit platforms like Clutch, Trustpilot, etc., to find genuine client reviews.
Q: How can I estimate the cost of cross-platform app development?
Consider the standard hourly rate of about $50 for cross-platform development. Determine how much time the project might take and calculate the estimated cost of the development project. The cost can vary depending on whether you hire an app development company or freelance developers.
Q: What kind of support can I expect from a cross-platform app development company post-launch?
After launching the app, the app development company should provide regular maintenance, bug fixes, updates, etc. Ensuring the app doesn’t face any violation should also be included in the support package.
