In today's world, a cross-platform approach to app development has become the standard. Users expect software to be available everywhere: on smartphones, computers & in a web browser. IT giants such as Facebook, Google & Microsoft are actively developing technologies that allow a single solution to be built for multiple platforms (e.g. Flutter, React Native, .NET MAUI, Kotlin Multiplatform).

But when is it worth using them, and when is it better to opt for native apps?

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Why choose cross-platform?

The main argument for a cross-platform solution is business efficiency. A single code base means faster deployment times for applications on different platforms, lower development costs and easier operation and maintenance. Startups and companies that want to get to market quickly definitely benefit from such a solution, as they can quickly validate their idea and avoid large investments.

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Other important arguments for a cross-platform approach are:

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• Easier code maintenance - one common code base makes it easier to manage changes and implement updates.

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• Faster development iterations - changes and new functionality can be quickly deployed to all platforms simultaneously.

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• Easier integration with existing code - for example, an existing code base in .NET can be used in .NET MAUI-based applications.

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• Simpler team management - developers work with one, single project - it simplifies collaboration

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It is important to pay attention to the community support of a particular multiplatform framework when choosing it. There are many frameworks whose creators claim that it is the fastest way to build an application, but they may have very few ready-made resources such as libraries, tools, etc. Also, if the multiplatform framework has an active community, it gives us the confidence that troubleshooting will be easier.

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When is cross-platform not the optimal solution?

Although today most applications are developed cross-platform, there are still situations when the native approach is better:

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• Advanced applications requiring high performance: Mobile applications with advanced functionality requiring direct access to the platform's native APIs. In such cases, cross-platform can cause trade-offs in performance and implementation time (native APIs are usually usable in cross-platform applications, while there is an additional overhead depending on the framework and platform). Also, native solutions will be a better choice when UI performance is the key.

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• Integration with unique APIs or hardware: If an application makes heavy use of native operating system features or specialised hardware (e.g. device sensors, health functions, specific system services), a native application will provide better stability and accuracy.

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• Better debugging tools: Native apps offer access to advanced diagnostic and profiling tools, such as the memory profiler, making it easier to identify performance issues or memory management errors.

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• Specific UI/UX requirements (close to OS native UI): When user experience and unique interface play a key role, native apps give you more control over the visual details, animations and behaviour of the app according to the conventions of the platform.

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Popular cross-platform frameworks in 2025

Currently popular cross-platform frameworks are:

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• Flutter - mobile, desktop and web applications.

• React Native - mobile and desktop applications.

• .NET MAUI - mobile, desktop and web applications (.NET MAUI Blazor Hybrid).

• Kotlin Multiplatform - mobile, desktop and web applications.

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Security of cross-platform and native applications

Security should be a very important factor in the application design process. However, it depends mainly on the quality of the implementation, not on the choice of technology. A well-designed cross-platform application can be as secure as a native one, but requires a conscious approach to the specifics of this approach.

Key things are data encryption, secure HTTPS communication, code obfuscation, library updates and security testing. This allows for a combination of efficient development and a high level of user data protection.

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Summary

The cross-platform approach is a very good solution in most cases. It allows for quick time-to-market, cost savings and easier maintenance of applications. The choice of the right cross-platform framework depends on the specifics of the project, the technical requirements and the capabilities of the development team. Properly implemented cross-platform applications guarantee high quality with a balance between cost and speed of project implementation. However, there are still some cases, where native apps are irreplaceable.