What Is Hybrid Mobile App Development? Definition, Benefits, Cost, FAQs

what is hybrid app development

The hybrid mobile app is considered an economical and effective solution for businesses. Many experts admit it is a potential mobile trend in optimizing sales trigger ability and customer relationship management. However, because it is a new application type, many people still wonder, “what is hybrid mobile app development?”

What Is Hybrid Mobile App Development?

So what is a hybrid app? As the name implies, Hybrid Mobile App is a combination of native apps and web apps. Its codebase is written in web technology, but its appearance is similar to a native app.

However, even though it is a web app at its core, it can still have the same features and functionality as the app technology. For example, it still has full access to some mobile features such as camera, contacts, etc., through plug-ins.

In essence, Hybrid Mobile App is written in HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS programming languages ​​- just like websites.

However, it will be wrapped in a shell of native technology (the browser bar will also be hidden). To get this cover, app developers need to use Webview to filter content before converting it from a website to a hybrid application.

Thanks to this process, users can still find, download and install hybrid apps through app marketplaces (Appstore, CH Play) like regular apps.

what is a hybrid app

The Hybrid Mobile App Key Benefits

Now you know what hybrid app development is, but why should you use it? Does it have any strong points?

Due to the unique mixed texture between the two most popular types of apps today, the hybrid has many outstanding strengths. Typically, there are four main points below:

Work on different platforms

Operating systems like iOS and Android have their own programming languages. Therefore, you must have two developer teams for a native app if you plan to offer your app on both systems. This can multiply the app-building cost by many times.

Multi-platform support is a great strength of a hybrid app. This application can run on both platforms thanks to its single web codebases. In other words, no need to use separate iOS and Android programming languages anymore. Your development budget and effort will be reduced noticeably as a result.

However, the app’s suitability for platforms depends significantly on the programmer’s framework initially set up. So it would be best if you were careful in choosing your initial companions and application frameworks.

Give consistent app-like experience across platforms

As mentioned above, despite using the same programming code as web app technology, hybrid apps can display content like a native app. Its interfaces and functions can be no different from a standard native app.

Not only that, the hybrid app only needs to be programmed once, and after launching, it can be used on multiple platforms simultaneously. 

As a result, the customer experience will remain the same as a native app across most platforms.

Short development time

Like web apps, hybrid mobile only has a single data codebase. Whereas a native usually has multiple codebases.

Therefore to develop a hybrid app, the technical staff only needs to write one codebase. Their workload during app development also becomes shorter, and fewer bugs are generated.

Besides, despite building only one app, you can publish it on both Google Play (Android) and Appstore (IOS) at once. This saves you application release time from days to weeks.

Because of those reasons, the hybrid app’s time-to-market is about weeks shorter than that of a native app.

what is hybrid app development

Easy maintenance and updates

The update process needs to be rolled out regularly to fix bugs and add new features. However, this is often quite tiring for both native app users and owners due to its complexity and time-consuming.

In contrast, the process of building and distributing updates is fairly straightforward for a hybrid app. The technical staff’s workload is significantly reduced due to the single codebase and cross-platform capabilities. You only need a single specialized team instead of two for each platform.

Besides, new versions of hybrid apps usually don’t have to be tweaked at the app’s core. So Appstore and Google Play won’t ask you for a re-submission. In particular, your updates usually won’t have to wait for Appstore and Google Play permission. No more annoying approval waiting time!

Offline mode

Offline mode is available with a hybrid app, thanks to its native infrastructure. Customers who use the application can still continue to use it even if the network is lost, as long as they have opened the content they are trying to access before. More specifically, users can locally store specific data in an offline storage format.

This makes a lot of sense for customers who are in areas with poor connectivity and who often have to travel on public transport. They can continue finding their favorite products even if there is any connection problem.

hybrid application

Simple Backend

Since the hybrid app uses the programming languages ​​of the web app, its backend is also quite simple. It won’t take you much time to learn to use it.

It’s not even an exaggeration to say that the backend of a hybrid app can give you most of what a native app can with a much simpler interface.

This advantage also comes from its ability to adapt to various platforms. So the use and interface of the hybrid backend will not change much no matter what device you access it with.

Hybrid Mobile App Development Cost

Thanks to the strengths mentioned above, the development process of hybrid mobile apps is greatly reduced in cost.

For example, the budget for cross-platform, human resources, coding, etc., are all quite large if developing native apps. But the cost is considerably smaller if you choose a hybrid app or web app.

Because of that, the app development funding you need to prepare for a hybrid is relatively low, only falling in the range of $5,000 – 100,000. This budget level is mainly for personnel, development platform options, programming language, and development technology.

A Reputation Hybrid App Development Company

Although less than a native app, a business’s cost and time to build a hybrid mobile app are not small. To make a good but affordable application, you need to choose your companion carefully.

Tigren is proud that we are fully qualified to support your business. There are two reasons that explain our confidence:

First, Tigren is a web and app design agency with over 10 years of experience in technology solutions supporting businesses. For example, hybrid app development, website design and development, and PWA development.

Second, we have an optimized app construction process. This process will reduce time to market and overall cost. In addition, the accompanying services and dedicated support will definitely not let you down.

magento e-commerce development company

Hybrid Mobile App FAQs

1. How much time does it take to develop a hybrid app?

On average, you will need between 200 and 5,000 hours to complete all the development stages of a hybrid mobile app.

2. What are the steps to develop a hybrid mobile app?

Similar to the development cycle of a native app, the first step is to brainstorm ideas after some customer and competitor research. Next comes the feasibility analysis, wireframe design, and converting it to code. Then check the code. And finally, launch the application and update it periodically.

3. Does the app need to be distributed through the store?

You can distribute hybrid mobile apps through the Appstore and GooglePlay like regular native apps. Many of the apps we use every day are hybrid apps, such as Instagram, Gmail, etc.

4. What are the differences between hybrid apps, PWA, and native apps?

  • Hybrid apps are an application with the framework of the native app and the core of the website technology. They can be downloaded from app stores.
  • Native apps are commonly written in iOS and Android programming languages, you need to make 2 apps for each operating system.
  • PWAs are combinations of regular websites and native apps. No need to download it from the app market.

Final Words

Today, mobile applications are an effective way to stimulate demand and take care of customers. But it is undeniable that a native app is costly for some businesses. Therefore, the hybrid mobile app was born as a solution that saves costs and has stable performance. The developers have tried their best to optimize its capabilities and benefits owners.

Above is all information about the hybrid mobile app. After reading this article, hope you can answer the question “what is hybrid mobile app development” yourself.

Read More:

13 Excellent Hybrid App Examples That Will Inspire You

5 Key Hybrid App Development Benefits For Your Business