In the era of information, business people need access to valuable data at their fingertips. More and more companies are switching from desktop websites to mobile apps to control their online exposure and solve important issues on the go.
Every organization has its own unique structure and goals, and choosing the right customizable technology stack can help pave the way to your company’s success.
The recent revolution in the app development industry has led to the emergence of a large number of hybrid app frameworks. They all feature different applications, functionality, and structure. With an abundance of available innovative solutions, you can easily find the tools and technologies that are right for you.
In this post, the Clever team examines hybrid mobile app development frameworks that have gained universal recognition and are currently used by the leading software providers.
Top 10 Hybrid App Frameworks
1. React Native
React Native is underpinned by JavaScript and React, and is widely preferred for creating native products over hybrid ones. Some may think React Native is not the best hybrid mobile app framework for beginners, but don’t shy away from its challenges. You can easily find high-quality free tutorials on the Internet, and the active web community is always ready to help you overcome common obstacles faced by novices in this new industry. React Native promises to continue to evolve and gain popularity, so mastering it now is a great investment in your future.
Pros:
- Able to use the code of different native platforms.
- Offers numerous helpful instruments to automate and accelerate development.
- Provides automatic error detection.
- Features hot deployment, meaning apps can be altered on a running server.
Cons:
- React Native has certain hardware flaws.
- Navigation is somewhat complex, making the system difficult for new users to master.
2. Ionic
This platform is based on CSS and reaches its maximum potential when used jointly with AngularJS.
Pros:
- Highly reliable, due to the use of well-tested programming languages.
- Quick development, requiring minimal extra actions on the part of the user.
- When used with AngularJS, Ionic allows for the creation of complex and extraordinary apps.
Cons:
- App navigation is somewhat inconvenient.
- Since performance relies on AngularJS, this platform may be of little use to passionate JavaScript specialists.
- Low performance of end products compared to Native apps.
3. Mobile Angular UI
This framework is a good choice for anyone using Bootstrap or AngularJS. It is a full-fledged developer platform, independent from external libraries and extensions.
Pros:
- This is a completely free extension, and the developer even supplies some optional libraries as a bonus.
Con:
- Bootstrap’s internal issues often provoke failures.
4. jQuery Mobile
In contrast to many other “chameleon” frameworks, this platform does not try to adopt a native look. It defends its individuality and, at the same time, works flawlessly in a variety of platform-specific environments. JQuery Mobile is a great choice if you want to create something exceptional instead of sticking to template designs.
Pros:
- Convenient menus make apps extremely user-friendly.
- This technology is not new and can be called a veteran in the framework market. It has undergone numerous transformations and reached its ideal state, while many new frameworks are only beginning their journey to perfection.
- Developers need to make minimal efforts to create different app elements.
- Apps adapt to users’ devices and screen sizes.
- Since the framework mainly uses HTML5 and JavaScript, no extraordinary knowledge is required to master it.
- Includes addon for creating custom themes.
Cons:
- The use of custom themes may elicit CSS-related problems.
- While the platform copes well with simple projects, it may not perform as well for complex ones.
- Troublesome .NET interaction.
5. Flutter
This technology by Google can be used to create native-looking products for various operational systems. It was launched a year ago, in 2019, but is already among the top 10 hybrid app frameworks, which is an impressive achievement.
Pros:
- Open-source technology that is accessible to all interested developers.
- Real-time updates. No need to stop your product and launch it again to make changes.
- Compatible with multiple operational systems.
- Extensive choice of widgets for easy customization.
- All key features are at the developer’s fingertips.
Cons:
- Like any new platform, this framework has some flaws, which are likely to be corrected in the future. For now, very few developers are willing to risk the quality of their projects for the sake of curiosity, preferring well-tested and reliable solutions.
- Apps size must be at least 4 MB.
- Absence of free advanced tools.
- Failure to quickly adapt to changes in leading operational systems.
6. Xamarin
This solution has a good track record and a large community of satisfied followers. Businesses from various industries have found it useful for simplifying day-to-day operations. The framework allows you to create universal apps and run them on different devices without sacrificing native design.
Pros:
- Simplified testing.
- Support from Microsoft. The tech giant supplies advanced tools to enhance the framework.
- 70% of the codebase is suitable for cross-platform use, enabling developers to make alterations to create customized products.
- Interesting platform-specific options to supplement the general codebase.
- Performance is similar to native products.
Cons:
- Only internal elements are supported by the platform. You may face challenges when introducing external libraries.
- Requires laborious integration.
- Costly license, which not every business can afford.
7. Onsen UI
This technology is easily accessible in a public domain, and user-friendly. Detailed instructions help you navigate your journey from early steps to developing complex and interesting projects. You will get basic knowledge and be able to check out examples of phased app creation. Onsen UI is a great platform to sharpen your skills and get to the next level of your profession.
Pros:
- Cost-effective.
- Independent from jQuery and AngularJS, although the framework can be synced with them.
- High usability.
- Advanced features allow you to create different app elements automatically, based on high-quality and non-trivial templates.
Cons:
- Templates from this platform are not published on GitHub and other repositories.
- Much effort is required to customize standard templates.
8. Corona SDK
This engine is a good choice if you want to add bright and engaging graphics to your apps, which is often the case for the gaming industry. The framework will scale images for different screens, so your products will always have the right look. With Corona SDK, commercial software providers can count on fast monetization of their apps.
Pros:
- When changes are made to the system, a developer instantly sees the results.
- Thanks to a convenient simulator equipped with all the necessary features, you can quickly set up your working environment.
- Well-thought-out API.
- Detailed guidelines that help you quickly master all the elements of the framework.
- Stable and prompt operation.
Cons:
- Poor compatibility with external libraries.
- The key elements of the platform are written in Lua, which is unknown to many developers.
- Only a small part of the code suits multiple operational systems. The bulk must be written in several copies.
9. PhoneGap
This is another of the best programming engines for novice mobile app developers. You can download this Web API and cloud-based technology for free and follow simple guidelines to create your first projects. It is enough to know JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5 to start using the framework.
Pros:
- Low entry bar. No investments and specific knowledge needed.
- You can work closely with API, not wasting time on multi-platform validation.
- Suitable for a large variety of desktop and mobile devices.
Cons:
- Some other solutions listed here provide much better performance.
- The system could use more widget options.
10. Intel XDK
This universal engine is the birthplace of great apps and can be synced with multiple operational systems. It makes the developer experience comfortable with its drag-and-drop functionality. In addition, the platform provides easy testing options.
Pros:
- Authors of this technology constantly work to improve it, and enable synchronization with an increasing number of operational systems.
- An extensive toolkit satisfies all developer needs.
- Preview on the go. You can check out how individual elements will look, even before the project’s completion.
Con:
- Even though drag-and-drop functionality can be an advantage, it has the downside of extra code that overloads the system.
In Conclusion
As you can see, the framework market offers many worthy options. To make the right choice, you should analyze your needs, draft an image of your end product, and select the most suitable technology stack.
If you are still unsure, do not hesitate to consult with specialists from the Clever team. We have vast experience in developing mobile apps, and can provide you with relevant tips for success.