In 2025, mobile apps remain a key tool for businesses, with 57% of internet traffic generated through them and mobile market revenues exceeding $500 billion. However, the choice between native and cross-platform development has become more complex due to the growth in technological capabilities and new frameworks. For example, Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) and Flutter 4.0 have narrowed the performance gap between approaches, and AR/VR and AI integration have become standard for many applications. This article aims to help businesses consider key factors and choose the best development path.


1. What are native and cross-platform development?


Native development


Native development is the creation of apps that are developed specifically for a particular operating system, be it iOS or Android. For iOS, the Swift language and Xcode development environment are used, while for Android, Kotlin and Android Studio are used. This approach gives developers full access to all the features of the device, including the camera, sensors, ARCore (for Android) and ARKit (for iOS). This makes native apps an ideal choice for projects where maximizing performance and deep integration with the operating system are important.


Benefits of native development:

  1. Maximize performance. Native apps are faster and more stable, especially when it comes to resource-intensive tasks like gaming, AR/VR, or complex animations. For example, apps like Pokémon GO or heavy-duty banking services (e.g., Sberbank or Tinkoff) use a native approach to ensure smooth performance even on weak devices.
  2. Better OS integration. Native apps can utilize all OS features, including Face ID, Apple Pay, Google Pay and other features that are not available or limited in cross-platform solutions. This is especially important for applications where security is critical, such as fintech or enterprise solutions.
  3. High level of security. Native apps are easier to protect against vulnerabilities because they use standard tools and APIs provided by Apple and Google. This makes them the preferred choice for projects where protecting user data is important.

 

Disadvantages of native development:

  1. High cost. Native app development costs 30-40% more than cross-platform apps, as it requires creating two separate code bases for iOS and Android. This increases not only the budget, but also the development time - from 4 to 12 months on average.
  2. Support complexity. Two codebases means that any changes or updates need to be made twice. This can be a problem for small teams or startups that want to adapt quickly to changes in the market.
  3. High security. Native apps are easier to protect against vulnerabilities because they use standard tools and APIs provided by Apple and Google. This makes them the preferred choice for projects where user data protection is important.

Cross-platform development


Cross-platform development is an approach in which an app is created using a single code base, which is then adapted for different platforms (iOS, Android, web, and even desktop). In 2025, the most popular tools for this are Flutter (Dart), React Native (JavaScript), and Kotlin Multiplatform (KMM). These technologies allow developers to write code once and run it on multiple platforms, saving significant time and budget.


Benefits of cross-platform development:

  1. Budget and time savings. Thanks to a single code base, cross-platform applications are developed faster and cheaper. For example, creating an MVP (minimum viable product) can take only 2-4 months, and the cost will be 30-40% lower than a native solution. This makes a cross-platform approach ideal for startups and small businesses.
  2. Flexibility. Cross-platform frameworks like Flutter and React Native allow you to develop apps not only for iOS and Android, but also for web and desktop platforms. This is especially useful for projects that want to reach the widest possible audience.
  3. Fast MVP launch. If you need to quickly test a hypothesis or go to market with minimal costs, cross-platform development is your choice. For example, food delivery apps or news aggregators often use this approach to quickly gain an audience.

 

Disadvantages of cross-platform development:

  1. Limited access to device features. While cross-platform frameworks are constantly evolving, they can still be inferior to native solutions in accessing some device features, such as NFC or sophisticated biometrics. This can be a problem for applications that require deep integration with hardware.
  2. Performance. Cross-platform apps can be 15-20% slower than native apps, especially when it comes to resource-intensive tasks such as graphics processing or AR/VR. However, in 2025, this gap has narrowed significantly thanks to improvements in Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform.
  3. Fast MVP launch. If you need to quickly test a hypothesis or go to market with minimal cost, cross-platform development is your choice. For example, food delivery apps or news aggregators often use this approach to quickly gain an audience.

 

2. Choice factors for businesses in 2025


2.1 Goals and Audience


The first and most important factor is the goals of your project and your target audience. Who do you want to offer your app to? What tasks should it solve? The answers to these questions will help you determine which approach will work best for you.


Cross-platform: If you are a startup or small business that wants to get to market quickly with minimal costs, cross-platform development is your choice. It is ideal for creating an MVP (minimum viable product) that will allow you to test hypotheses and gather feedback from users. For example, food delivery apps, table booking apps, or online catalogs often use a cross-platform approach to quickly gain an audience.


Nativ: If you are a large company, such as a bank or corporation, and security, performance, and integration with modern technology are critical, native development is the way to go. Native apps are better at handling performance-intensive tasks such as AR/VR, complex animations or working with AI algorithms. For example, virtual fitting room applications or financial services where every millisecond counts, choose a native approach.


2.2 Budget and deadlines


Budget and timing are two key parameters that influence the choice of approach. In 2025, the difference in cost and development time between native and cross-platform solutions remains significant.


Cross-platform: The average cost of developing an MVP on cross-platform technologies like Flutter or React Native is 20-50k and timelines are between 2-4 months. This makes the cross-platform approach ideal for projects with limited budgets and tight deadlines. For example, a food delivery app on Flutter can be developed in 3 months and cost 20-50k, with timelines of 2 to 4 months.


Nativ: N ative development requires more resources. The cost of creating an application for two platforms (iOS and Android) starts from $100 thousand, and the development time can reach 6-12 months. This is justified for projects where maximum performance and integration with modern technologies such as ARKit or ARCore are important.


2.3 Technology Requirements


The technology requirements of your project are another important factor that cannot be ignored. In 2025, applications are becoming more and more complex and the choice of approach depends on what features you want to implement.


Cross-platform: Cross-platform solutions are great for integrating with cloud services and standard APIs. For example, if your app uses Firebase for data storage or Google Maps for navigation, a cross-platform will handle this without a problem. However, there are limitations: working with Wear OS, smart devices, or complex sensors can be difficult.


Nativ: Native apps provide full access to all device features, including Wear OS, Apple Watch, and IoT. If your project requires deep integration with hardware, such as for NFC or complex biometrics, native development is the only option.


2.4 Long-term support


Long-term support is something that many people forget about when choosing an approach, but is critical to the success of a project. In 2025, technology is evolving faster than ever, and your choice should consider not only current needs but also future needs.


Native apps: Native apps are easier to scale and update thanks to stable SDKs from Apple and Google. This makes them an ideal choice for projects that plan for long-term development and regular updates.


Cross-platform: Cross-platform solutions depend on frameworks that may become obsolete or lose support. For example, Microsoft discontinued support for Xamarin in 2024, which created problems for many projects. However, frameworks such as Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform are actively evolving and remain viable options in 2025.


2.5 Trends for 2025


Technology doesn't stand still, and there are several trends emerging in 2025 that may affect your choices.

  • The rise of low-code/no-code platforms. These tools allow you to build prototypes and even full-fledged apps without deep programming knowledge. They are ideal for startups and small businesses that want to test ideas quickly.
  • Strengthening the role of Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM). KMM is becoming increasingly popular in enterprise environments due to its ability to combine business logic with native UI. This makes it a great choice for projects that want to save time without sacrificing performance.
  • PWAs (Progressive Web Apps). PWAs continue to gain popularity as an alternative to traditional apps. They allow you to bypass the limitations of the App Store and Google Play, making them attractive for projects that want to get to market quickly.

 

3. 7BE Recommendations


At 7BE, we understand that choosing between native and cross-platform development is not just a technical issue, but a strategic decision that affects the success of your project. Based on our experience and analysis of the 2025 market, we have prepared recommendations to help you make the right choice.


Choose native development if:


Your project requires AR/VR or complex animation. If you are creating an app with augmented reality, virtual fitting room or interactive 3D elements, native development is the only option. For example, apps like Pokémon GO or IKEA Place use native code to maximize performance and integrate with ARKit and ARCore.

Budget allows you to invest in a long-term product. Native development requires more resources, but it pays off for projects that plan for long-term development. For example, banking applications like Sberbank or Tinkoff choose a native approach to ensure the highest level of security and performance.

Integration with modern technologies is critical for you. If your project requires working with NFC, complex biometrics or smart devices (like Apple Watch or Wear OS), native development will give you full access to all device functions.

 

Choose cross-platform development if:


You need a quick MVP launch.If you are a startup or small business that wants to quickly test a hypothesis and get to market, cross-platform development is the perfect choice. For example, food delivery or online booking apps often use Flutter or React Native to reduce development time to 2-4 months.

The app doesn't require deep integration with hardware. If your project is limited to basic functionality such as catalogs, reservations, or news feeds, a cross-platform approach will save you budget and time. For example, news aggregators or hotel booking apps often choose this route.

You want to cover multiple platforms with minimal effort. Cross-platform frameworks such as Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform allow you to develop apps for iOS, Android, web, and even desktop platforms using a single codebase. This is especially useful for projects that want to reach the widest possible audience.

 

4. Examples of popular apps


To better understand which approach is right for your project, let's look at examples of popular apps that utilize native and cross-platform development.


Native Apps:


Banking Apps. These apps use Swift (for iOS) and Kotlin (for Android) to provide the highest level of security and performance. They support biometric authentication, NFC payments, and other features that are critical to fintech.

Pokémon GO. This app is a great example of native development for AR projects. It uses ARKit and ARCore to create immersive experiences that would not be possible on cross-platform technologies.

SpotifySpotify uses native code for deep integration with iOS and Android. This allows the app to run in the background, support voice commands, and provide a smooth streaming experience even on weak devices.

 

Cross-platform apps:


Google Pay uses Flutter to create a unified interface across all platforms. This allows the company to quickly update the app and support it on iOS, Android, and the web.

Instagram makes heavy use of React Native for quick feature updates. This allows the company to test new chips and quickly adapt to changes in the market.

Alibaba uses a hybrid approach, combining Kotlin Multiplatform for business logic and native UI to maximize performance. This allows the company to save development time without sacrificing quality.

 

5. How to make the decision?


Choosing between native and cross-platform development is a complex process that requires careful analysis. Here are a few steps to help you make the right decision:

  1. Audience Analysis: Determine which platform your target audience prefers. For example, if 71% of your users use Android and 28% use iOS, this may influence your choice.
  2. Feature Assessment: Make a list of your app's key features. Do you need access to NFC, ARKit, or sophisticated biometrics? If yes, native development is your choice.
  3. Comparing frameworks: If you choose a cross-platform approach, compare the available frameworks. Flutter is great for animation and customization, while Kotlin Multiplatform is great for business logic with native UI.
  4. Scaling Plan: Consider the long term. If you plan to scale your app or add complex features in the future, native development may be more beneficial. Switching from cross-platform to native will cost more and take longer.

In 2025, the choice depends on the balance between speed, budget and functionality. Cross-platform is suitable for startups and MVPs, while nativ is for high-volume projects. Technologies like KMM and Flutter blur the lines, but key differences remain.