Picking the suitable tools for app creating has a strong influence on the final result. If you are searching for good cross-platform application development tools, this article will be helpful for you. We suggest tips on picking the right tools and a list of top tools to build an app in 2020.
Details about cross-platform development, and why is it so popular?
There are two main development types: native and cross-platform. Let’s have a more detailed look at the cross-platform type. It enables creating an application on many platforms simultaneously by writing a code in one coding language. When the code is written, it passes the special software that converts it into the native API for Android, iOS, Windows, and other platforms.
Pros:
- quick building speed;
- profitability;
- code can be reused multiple times;
- ideal business solution for reaching the most potential users.
If your app is compatible with various operating systems, you gain more popularity among users. What is more, only a single code is required. However, some issues may occur with cross-platform mobile development tools.
Cons:
- restricted accessing to native functionality;
- problems with user-convenience.
This type is not so feature-rich and may yield compatibility with various models and operating system versions. This is a perfect option to turn to if you are just getting started in a competitive sphere. Multiplatform development helps grasp the attention of most users and receive data about the audience in the shortest time.
Selecting the top cross-platform mobile app development tools. Key points to consider
Selecting the appropriate tools hinges on the specific needs and requirements of your company. Besides, consider that the best tools for mobile app development are constantly improving and modifying to ensure a rapid and high-grade building procedure. You should monitor their performance and only then select the most suitable solution. We suggest a shortlist of criteria to take into account before choosing the tools for cross-platform mobile development.
● Trustworthiness
Good brand image and reputation of a company need to be considered first. Inquire about the previous company projects and check them out to know what to expect. Also, if great businesses select this tool, pay attention to it. Here are the widely used development tools in 2020, according to Statista.
● Cost
Budget is a crucial factor in the mobile app building process. If you lack funds, you can hire open-source developer teams.
● Support
This point is essential for startups that may need community support or help in framework documentation. Make sure the tool you selected has all of it available.
Top 7 best tools for cross-platform development in 2021
We offer our list of the most powerful tools. We strongly recommend you to pay attention to these service providers.
1. Titanium
You can use code from JavaScript, Swift, and Objective. Its features are:
- ability to reuse from 60% to 90% of code;
- open-source tool;
- huge community support;
- fixing the system bugs simultaneously with the development process;
- great opportunities for design, especially working with templates.
2. Sencha
This system utilizes HTML5 and works great with various devices. Its highlights include:
- allows many team members to work at the same time;
- involves ready-made elements that save time;
- creating reusable design templates;
- amazing tools for testing.
3. Flutter
It enables the creation of highly-functional web applications. It is a comparatively new solution, presented in 2018 by Google. Its functionality involves:
- wide range of UI instruments;
- openly accessible SDK;
- ability to personalize an app, including the animations;
- live code changes with no saving necessary.
4. Kony
A function-rich tool that works with JavaScript codes and consists of such features as:
- several ways of product delivery (public and private cloud);
- great designing UI capabilities in a visual Kony Studio;
- can create apps for diverse device models.
5. Cordova
Cordova is suitable for HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. It incorporates:
- multiple feature sets;
- accesses powerful native app functionality;
- easy to get fast app building without learning the code;
- tools for reducing the app creating time.
6. Appcelerator
This tool focuses on high speed and launching apps in the market as soon as possible. It involves:
- open and extensible environment;
- 90% of code reusability for various systems;
- supporting real-time mobile analytics;
- 70% faster app presenting in the market;
- building hybrid apps and apps for Blackberry;
- open-source SDK with over 5,000 device models available.
7. Xamarin
This tool uses C# codes. It is a perfect opportunity for beginner developers because it offers:
- a cloud service, which has over 1,000 devices available for testing;
- a free package for junior developers;
- technologies for designing the application interfaces;
- accessing the native API;
8. PhoneGap
PhoneGap’s greatest advantage is that it’s a free tool to utilize. Besides this, it possesses the following functionality:
- easy code translation from CSS, HTML5, and JavaScript;
- maintains all the accessible SDKs;
- the option of easy sharing with other team members;
- building for Blackberry and Windows.
Conclusions
The market is crawling with cross-platform development tools for smartphone applications. We suggested only a few of them that are worth your attention. We hope our article helped you decide which one to select. Always mind the specific requirements of your project. They should be your main criteria for picking the most appropriate solution. We wish you good luck in creating a successful application.
