Different Types Of Mobile Apps? Which One is For You?

We are living in the smartphone era where everything can be possible with the use of mobile apps. Over 5 bn people use mobile apps daily for all sorts of tasks, from social media to grocery shopping to getting medicines delivered; everything is possible with just one click. This shows the outstretched demand for app development and can be a great business investment for most companies. 

So now, if you also plan to build an app for your business, there are some inevitable things that you should keep in mind. Different types of mobile apps that can be focused on? Three main platforms can be focused on- native, web, and hybrid. Since each app type has its own benefits and drawbacks, it becomes difficult to choose one that is best for your business. So, to make the appropriate decision, the blog articulated different types of mobile apps based on platforms and industries specific and which one is best for you! 

What Is A Mobile Application?

A mobile application can also be stated as a type of software designed to run on a mobile phone or tablet. Apps are often small, standalone software units with limited storage capacity. Apple Inc. offers a wide range of iPhone and iPad applications and was among the first to promote application programming. 

Mobile applications are a tool used for waving the departure from the traditional integrated software systems seen on PCs. Instead, each app offers a single, limited feature, such as a game, calculator, or mobile web browsing. Mobile apps were initially developed for general information retrieval and productivity, including contacts, email, calendars, weather information, and the stock market.

However, the growing public demand and the easy availability of developer tools marked the fit into other categories. The expansion in the number and variety of applications has spawned a plethora of new fields. Many services, such as detecting location and internet banking, monitoring, purchasing tickets, and even mobile medical services, increasingly rely on mobile application technology.

Types Of Mobile Apps Based on Platform

1. Native Apps

Overview: The native applications are developed for a specific type of device platform or operating system like IOS or Android using a particular coding language.

Native programs cannot run on multiple operating systems. To put it another way, you can’t use iOS apps on Android phones and vice versa. Because they are designed for a particular OS, the programming languages they write are also specialized. For iOS apps, Swift and Objective-C are commonly utilized, while Kotlin and Java are widely used for Android apps.

Technology Used In Native Apps

Native apps are coded with the help of various programming languages. Java, C++, Kotlin, React, Objective-C, and Swift are some examples of notable programming languages used to develop native apps.

Advantages Of Native Apps

• The singular focus in native apps makes them more reliable and faster in context to the overall performance. 
• Better usage of OS and specific functionalities like phonebook, NFC, Bluetooth, camera roll, and many more related to the device. 
• Interactive UX/UI gives users a more optimized customer experience 
• Lesser issues related to compatibility.
• Faster to configure 

Disadvantages Of Native Apps

• Time-consuming in terms of development. 
• Built with hard-to-learn OS-specific programming languages like Java and Swift. 
• To ensure stability, it requires longer release cycles
• New features can only be added through a separate codebase. 

Example Of Native Apps

1. WhatsApp 

WhatsApp was first presented as a type of native smartphone application. It is a prominent free instant chat and voice-over IP service that originated in the United States and is now owned by Meta. It is an Android and iOS-based application for smartphones and tablets.

2. SoundCloud 

It’s a free platform used to listen to and share audio files. This sound club caters to music lovers of various genres. 

3. Spotify 

Spotify is a proficient internal streaming audio service that allows users to legally read audiobooks, podcasts, and music without downloading them to the device. It is an app for all operating systems, websites, smart devices, and car media systems.

2. Web Apps/PWA

A web application is a type of app that can be accessed through a web browser. These is the software that does not require installation and can instead be accessed from a remote server via a web browser. Because they enable data transmission and consumption between the web server and the browser, web apps are designed for user interaction. 

Google first proposed the idea of the progressive web app (PWA) in late 2015. They resemble other native mobile apps in look and experience, yet they are just websites. Websites with progressive web apps enabled can provide features like push notifications, device hardware access, and offline operation.

The difference between both is just installation. One (Web App) runs inside of a web browser and cannot be installed on the device. However, PWA can be installed on a device, desktop, or mobile.

Technology Used In Web Apps/PWA

Web apps are designed using the following programming languages for web work: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, etc. 

Advantages Of Web Apps/PWA

• Reduced cost for business 
• No need for installation 
• Can be accessed from anywhere, which expands its reach 
• Up-to-date 

Disadvantages Of Web Apps/PWA

• Security risk 
• Takes a longer period for development 
• Web apps do not work in offline mode 
• A limited number of functionalities 
• Limited access to mobile device functionality 
• Decreased user awareness 

Example Of Web Apps/PWA

1. Google Office Suite

Google Workspace is one of the most in-demand collections of web apps. Google Docs is mainly used to create and automatically save documents. In addition, it also offers the features like usage without an internet connection and enabling synching once the connection is back. These workspace apps are also available in the form of mobile app downloads. 

2. Netflix 

Netflix is the leading video-streaming platform that allows users to watch tv shows and movies on demand with no fixed limitations. This platform demonstrates how web apps are the best option for content platforms. 

3. Microsoft Office 

The Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) must be installed on your computer and saved files on your hard drive. Microsoft Office, like Google Workspace, has become a tremendously popular online suite of tools, featuring web versions for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Users may securely work on shared files online, and collaborative tools like Teams are now included in the package, making collaboration simple. 

3. Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps hold the advantages of both native apps and mobile apps. It is built using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, running on mobile WebView. However, it can still use the benefits of device features like vibration, capture, GPS, camera, microphone, geolocation, address book, etc. Internet connection is a must since they download content from a server hosted by an external source. Hybrid applications, like native apps, are produced on a single platform and distributed across several app stores, such as Google Play or Apple’s app store. When one decides to create apps that don’t require high-performance or complete device access, hybrid apps are the way to go. Thus, to develop a Hybrid app the developers should have the knowledge of all the elements. These developers are often known as the Full-Stack Developers.

Technology Used In Hybrid apps

Ionic, Objective C, Swift, HTML5, etc.

Advantages Of Hybrid Apps

• Easy to build 
• Can function offline
• Cheaper option because of shareable codes 
• Needs a shorter time to market as it can be deployed for multiple OSs. 
• A single code base allows pushing new features 

Disadvantages Of Hybrid Apps

• Cannot perform OS-specific tasks 
• More expensive than web apps 
• Complex functions tend to slow down the app 
• Less interactive than native apps 

Example Of Hybrid Apps

1. Gmail 

Gmail allows the user to sort emails, share photos, work with documents, and call all within one window. 

2. Twitter 

It is a well-known social network and one of the most known hybrid apps that allow users to send short text notes. 

3. Evernote 

This note-taking app allows users to prioritize project tasks and hold ideas, maintain a to-do list, and conveniently keep life checks. 

Types of Mobile Apps Based on Different Industries 

1. Social Media Mobile Apps

Some of the most known apps nowadays available in the market are social media apps. Facebook alone reports over 1 bn active daily users. In the growing competition, businesses must focus on social media apps; these have to be fun, fast and continually integrate the expanding features of the social networks they support.

Some of the common social media apps are-

• Tiktok
• Instagram 
• Pinterest
• Snapchat

2. Utility Mobile Apps 

These are pre-installed apps on the devices and serve single functions. They fulfill the functional needs of the user by completing routine tasks that would require physical support. 

Some of the examples of these apps are- 

• Reminders
• Calculators
• Flashlights 
• Weather 

To use this app, you’ll just open an app and start doing the task, such as using a calculator in order to add or solve any numerical equation; they do not make the user feel like the apps, though they are one of them. 

3. Lifestyle Mobile Apps 

These are the apps that focus on making your daily tasks more efficient. The time you forget about the list of the products you want to buy at home, these apps can make things easier, accelerating or supporting the personal aspects that define your lifestyle. Some of the factors on which the lifestyle apps depend are Dating, Travel, Music, Food, Fitness, and many more.  

Some examples of these apps are 

• Shopify 
• Bumble 
• Tripadvisor
• Uber 

4. News/ Information Outlets Mobile Apps 

Apps for news and information are often simple. Their user-friendly structure effectively directs readers to the topics that are most important to them while providing them with the news and information they seek.

Some of the different types of popular news apps are- 

• Buzzfeed
• LinkedIn Plus 
• Google News & Weather 
• Feedly
• SmartNews 

5. Productivity Mobile Apps 

Productivity apps are among the most widely used categories of smartphone apps despite their seeming boring nature. These applications enable speedy and effective task completion for its users, turning occasionally tedious duties into enjoyable experiences.

Some of the examples are 

• Docs 
• Sheets
• Wallet/ Pay 
• Evernote
• Wunderlist 

6. Gaming Mobile Apps

Also, one of the most loved types of apps is gaming apps. These types of apps make the user addicted due to their functions and different attractive elements. These are used for entertainment purposes when people get bored; it is the best thing to consider. 

Some examples of game apps are 

• Angry Birds 
• Clash of Clans
• Subway Surfer

How to Choose The One Which Fits Best for Your Business Need?

Choosing an app type is a complex and multi-dimensional process. One must explore the ultimate factor that leads to the decision to develop an app. The answer to this query will indeed dictate the journey ahead. The developer must create a balance between the total cost invested and resources to determine the best suitable app. Some critical points that need to be considered as the decision factors are time, resources, and performance.

For instance, if you require an urgent app and do not have time to invest in building the app, then a web app is a suitable option. Is it capable of speeding the development time with the codebase, but it will also act as a great option as the users already have a mobile browser. 

In case of limited resources like time and money, hybrid and web apps are a suitable option. As the hybrid app will allow the business to perform a market test while using the minimum viable product, the apps can land in the hands of users within a limited period. As if it succeeds in grabbing attention, then one has the opportunity of building a full-fledged native version.

In terms of performance, speed, customization features, and stability, native apps are the type of mobile app one should opt for as it allows monitoring of the metrics that determine the actual brand growth. 

How can EmizenTech help to Develop a Mobile App according to the type you chose?

EmizenTech is a top mobile app development company. We have a team of experts who are well-versed in diverse technology and tools according to the trends. We have also completed some of the million-dollar projects, and you can get insights into our portfolio. 

To get the best service for your mobile app idea, feel free to contact us today and discuss the details with our experts. We are excited to transform your ideas into a successful result!

Conclusion

Native, Hybrid, and Web apps are all built on the foundation of some benefits and flaws. Based on business demands, one needs to take a final call regarding the type of app that will align with your predefined goals. If, as a business functioning in the modern business landscape, you don’t provide the new user-friendly features that your clients want, your competitors surely will.

As a result, you must regularly upgrade components and offer unique user experiences to sustain audience reach and loyalty, among other things. There are currently dozens of programs accessible for each difficulty. It would help if you created a unique or qualitatively new level of execution of an established concept to separate yourself apart from the competitors.

The key to employing various applications is to consider the features, requirements, and purpose of the app you’re creating. And each of the app kinds has its own set of benefits to provide. 

To clinch an in-depth assessment into the app development cirque and other product design nuances, feel free to contact us for professional assistance and guidance.