Mobile Apps
What is a native app?
Quick answer
A native app is a mobile application built specifically for one platform — iOS using Swift or Android using Kotlin — with that platform's own tools. It installs from the App Store or Play Store and delivers the best performance and the fullest access to device features like camera, GPS, biometrics, and push notifications.
Because it's written in the platform's native language, a native app tends to feel the smoothest and handle demanding tasks — heavy graphics, real-time features, offline use — better than other approaches. The trade-off is that iOS and Android are separate builds, so a true native project usually means maintaining two codebases.
Native makes the most sense when performance, device-hardware access, or a flawless user experience is critical, such as fintech, gaming, or apps that lean heavily on the camera and sensors. When budget and speed to market matter more, a cross-platform build is often the pragmatic choice.
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