The Two Methods of Mobile App Development
Having an effective mobile strategy is no longer optional for any business seeking to win new customers or retain and nurture existing ones. The world has been moving to mobile devices for years, and the trend has been increasing dramatically over the decade. In a competitive marketplace, it is critical to give your customers what they want — and they want mobile apps.
There are two basic methods that can be used to develop a mobile app: custom and platform-based. Neither method is superior in every situation. There are times when you may need a complete, “from scratch,” full custom app, but there are also times when you would be better off choosing platform-based development. Here are the advantages and disadvantages to each method in the custom vs platform-based apps comparison.
Custom Apps
- Custom apps give you complete control over the features you want as they are tailored to your specific needs.
- Capabilities and features are potentially unlimited.
- Upon completion, you will own the source code.
- It often takes longer to deploy a custom app.
- Development costs for a custom app are higher.
- Managing the app can require a dedicated resource.
- User acceptance cannot be easily validated during the early stages of development, increasing your risks.
- Custom apps can require an additional investment to scale up, add new features or switch technologies.
Platform-Based Apps
- Platform-based apps can be created quickly, making them cost-effective.
- They are easier to scale.
- Reusable code facilitates deployment as well as development.
- User acceptance can be validated earlier, decreasing your risks.
- Platform-based apps can experience slow performance caused by cross-compilation.
- Other apps developed on the same platform may be quite similar.
- Predefined design elements and modules can make it difficult to engage or entice users.
- Updates, changes in technology or new features are typically easier with a platform-based app.
At PhaseAlpha, we can develop mobile apps using either method or a hybrid method that combines the best features of each. Ultimately, your goal should be to provide your end users with the best experience possible, and we can help you achieve that goal. To learn more about the difference between custom vs platform-based apps, drop us a line at info@phasealpha.com or call us at 913-648-9200.
