Hybrid App Examples
With rising technology, the mobile industry continues to evolve and empower us every day. A variety of software and applications revolve around us taking advancement to another level. Where Android and iOS are platforms to estimate the number of online users globally, mobile apps carry great importance.
According to reports, there are more than 6.3 billion smartphone users all over the planet. Among these, an average user spends 88% of their time on the smartphone while using an app.
For this reason, developers use multiple app development frameworks to create exciting apps for users. As of now, there are three major categories of mobile apps across the web. These include native apps, web apps, and hybrid apps.
Experts believe that hybrid apps will dominate the future for their features and benefits. Therefore, we have listed down the best hybrid app examples to help you understand more about these. But before we proceed, let us start with a brief introduction of the hybrid app.
What Is A Hybrid App?
A hybrid app is a multi-platform app that is eligible for iOS and Android both. Users can easily download and install it on multiple mobile platforms from the App Store or the Google Play Store. It is created by combining the elements of both Native and web apps which allows developers to write a single code base for different operating systems.
Rather than using different coding languages to write an app for different operating systems, it uses HTML, CSS, Java, and more. Further, it uses front-end development technology, plugins, and integrations, which helps to add cross-platform functionality.
This type of development framework is beneficial for developers. It is because whenever an update is required for an app, developers can do it at once for all platforms through a single code. It results in saving the functionality and time of professionals.
Difference between Hybrid App and Native App
There are a few prominent differences between a hybrid app and a native app. While a hybrid app requires a single code base for multiple platforms, a native app can work for a single operating system at a time. Its functionality is tailored to one platform while accessing all the features of the device’s hardware like microphone, camera, and GPS.
To build a native app for Android, most developers prefer coding languages like Kotlin and Java. Contrarily, to build a native app for iOS, languages like Objective C and Swift are preferred. From a business owner’s perspective, hybrid app development is preferred over native app development due to cost and time.
When creating a hybrid app for your business, you are only required to create a single app. However, a native app must be created separately for each platform. This requires more budget and time along with an equal amount of maintenance for both apps.
| Native Apps |
Hybrid Apps
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Maintenance Requires higher maintenance because different apps are created for particular platforms. |
Requires lower maintenance as a single app may perform for multiple platforms.
|
| Platform | Operates on a single platform at a time. |
Compatible with Android and iOS
|
| Cost | High development cost due to multiple apps. |
Low development cost due to a single app.
|
| User Experience | Provides an outstanding user experience for its platform-specific features. |
Moderate user experience because it does not provide platform-specific features
|
Difference between a Hybrid App and a Progressive Web App
A progressive web app or PWA is a different type of mobile application that is built as a website to be used on a web browser. Alternatively, you can consider it as a website created using advanced technology due to which it can be downloaded as an app on your smartphone. According to studies, the PWA market is most likely to reach an estimated amount of $10.77 billion by the end of 2027.
The primary reason to compare PWA and hybrid mobile apps is their compatibility with Android and iOS. However, both apps share a set of differences in terms of development, performance, installation, and more. While a hybrid app is easier to download from Google Play or the App Store, a progressive web app can also be downloaded outside of these stores.
Moreover, a hybrid app cannot work without an active Internet connection whereas a progressive web app enables an offline mode. From a business perspective, PWAs are friendly as it is easier to integrate their functionality into an existing website. Nevertheless, hybrid app development can be expensive as it must be built from scratch.
| Native Apps |
Hybrid Apps
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher development cost as it requires more functionality. |
Lower development cost as its functions can integrate into an existing website.
|
| Performance | Performance challenges occur as it is developed to perform across multiple platforms. |
Rapid page loading function offers seamless performance.
|
| Usage | No offline mode as it requires active Internet connection. |
Can operate in offline mode.
|
| Discoverability | Can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and App Store. |
Can be downloaded from outside of the app stores too.
|
Why Create A Hybrid Mobile App?
A hybrid mobile app can be considered as the finest option for a business owner. Firstly, it operates on multiple platforms through a single code base. Secondly, it can be created for multiple platforms at the same time. As a result, an entrepreneur can easily save development costs and duration.
Moreover, hybrid application development is continuing to take over the industry. It is because major tech kings like Meta Facebook and Google have launched their languages for this type of app development. These include React Native and Flutter respectively.
Most developers are trying to shift towards these languages because of their rising popularity. For this reason, hybrid app development is considered the future of the industry.
Pros and Cons of Hybrid App
With a variety of features and differences, but hybrid mobile apps offer a variety of pros and cons. A few of these are discussed below to help you understand.
Pros of Hybrid App
Hybrid apps offer more scalability
Hybrid apps enable the addition of new features easily. For this reason, it is easier to scale them than other types of mobile apps. When upgrading a hybrid app, developers can modify it for both platforms with a single code base. However, for native apps, one must customize the code accordingly.
Hybrid apps are time-savvy
Building a hybrid app requires less time as compared to native apps. This is because a single hybrid app can perform on multiple devices including iOS and Android. As a result, business owners have to build a single app rather than spending time on multiple platform-specific apps.
Hybrid apps are budget-friendly
As discussed earlier, mobile hybrid app development takes less time than any other app. For this reason, the investment in the development process will be lower than that of any other app development. That is why hybrid apps can be a better choice for entrepreneurs.
Hybrid apps are easier to update
Being a cross-platform application makes hybrid mobile apps easier to update. In case any kind of error occurs, you can fix the issue in a single code and resolve the error across all devices. For other kinds of mobile apps, developers must look for separate solutions and apply them for Android and iOS.
Hybrid apps attract more audiences
When a single platform app is launched, many people lose interest due to a lack of compatibility with their devices. On the other hand, a hybrid app when released, makes a perfect choice for both platforms. It has increased the number of smartphone users since the beginning.
Cons of Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps cannot provide complex functionality
A major drawback of using hybrid app development is its compatibility with non-complex apps. To develop an advanced mobile app that may require more features or seamless graphics, native app development is preferred.
Hybrid apps take more time to launch
Because hybrid mobile apps are meant to comply with all platforms at once, they undergo a longer testing process. Developers must make sure whether they are compatible with Android and iOS at once. Also, app owners must stick to the rules of Google Play as well as Apple Store.
12 Best Examples of Hybrid Apps
1. Gmail
Gmail is one of the best examples of hybrid apps. It is one of the most widely used apps across the web. According to reports, more than 22% of the world population uses Gmail to send and receive approximately 120 billion emails every day. This ratio makes the total number of active Gmail users to be around 1.8 billion by the end of 2023.
The advancement of this app has taken the mobile industry to another level. It uses advanced technology to cater to users in plenty of ways. Its modification enables users to log into multiple accounts through a single app. Besides being compatible across all platforms, it supports plenty of other features like spam blocking, artificial intelligence, and more.
2. Instagram
Instagram, the third most popular social media channel all over the planet is also a hybrid mobile app. Currently, it has more than two billion monthly active users, making it the 2nd favorite social media platform globally. This viral mobile app offers users with an outstanding experience.
The most loved feature of this app is its ability to operate without an active Internet connection. It means you can share a story or upload a post on Instagram while you are offline. This process will be completed as soon as you get online. other attractive features of Instagram include IGTV, Reels, and compatibility with Threads.
3. Twitter
When talking about hybrid app examples, Twitter makes a primary choice. Though, the platform is now named as X after it was purchased by Elon Musk in 2022 for $44 billion. As per reports, the app generated an estimated revenue of 4.4 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2022.
Keeping in mind the fact that, 90% of Twitter’s current revenue came from advertisements till the end of 2022. Since Musk has renamed the app and cut half of Twitter’s staff, it faced an 11% decrease in population. Many people left the channel after it unbanned a few banned accounts like Donald Trump and Kanye West.
4. Evernote
Now on our list is Evernote, another popular hybrid app with more than 225 million active users. It is a popular note app with more than 8 billion notes created to date. People are full of its security features and vastness. Users can add attachments, upload images, record audio, and sketch in the app easily.
This note-sharing app enables account login which helps to synchronize data automatically while keeping one’s privacy in concern. Also, it uses VPNs and other apps like Google identifiers to prevent spam logins and hacking.
5. Baskin Robbins
Having Baskin Robbins among the examples of hybrid apps seems a breeze. It provides people with a chance to buy their favorite ice cream directly from their smartphones. This app has been ruling the industry for its user-friendliness and simple features.
The app offers a great performance similar to any other app that works through an HTML5 script. Because it is a hybrid mobile application, developers keep updating Baskin Robbins with different promos and discounts to attract more customers.
6. Uber
Among smartphone users, Uber makes an inspiring and appealing choice for many. It is one of the best car booking apps that offers a series of vehicles to suit customer needs. Because it is a hybrid app, accessing Google Maps becomes easier for Uber. Not falling to the rumors, this app performs accurately and quickly.
It has multiple outstanding features like sharing location, online payment, and locating the right driver with an accurate vehicle. Also, it enhances security by sharing the driver’s images with the applicant.
7. Amazon App Store
One of the biggest tech giants Amazon has developed its App Store through hybrid application development. It did so to enhance the usability and number of users of the app. The Amazon App Store can also be considered as a platform with more than 880K apps available currently.
Its source code is written in HTML making it a promising and simple app. What’s more to the app is its seamless search capabilities and customer-friendly checkout.
8. Apple App Store
The Apple App Store is another hybrid application popular for its features and performance. People are fond of using the store for its search capability which helps to find an app as quickly as possible. Also, it can recommend users the most popular products to enhance their experience.
Similar to the Amazon App Store, it is also written in HTML. Moreover, the store serves as a basic platform for application distribution and promotion. It can cater to the needs of all iOS users which may include iPhones and iPads.
9. Cryptochange
Following the latest trends of today’s digital currency world, Cryptochange is one of the most used apps that helps to monitor cryptocurrencies. The app is used to keep the latest stats of the top ten cryptocurrencies on the market. Also, it is a perfect app for trading these cryptocurrencies as you can buy digital currency here.
10. Justwatch
Now on our list of hybrid app examples is Justwatch. It is one of the best TV streaming apps that connects entertainment lovers across the world. Currently, it has more than 170 million monthly active users watching their favorite movies and entertainment shows from Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Netflix.
People can easily create a watchlist on this app and know about upcoming releases using a single click. People love this app for its accurate speed and perfect loading capability.
11. Untappd
Not limited to ice cream, hybrid apps are also used to sell beers. Untappd is such a hybrid app for buying your favorite beers and having a good time. Also, users can share beers with their friends through this app and learn about different types of beers for their next party.
To help users, the app lets you find different locations of beer distribution and search for a variety of beers throughout the planet.
12. BMW App
The last all-over list of hybrid app examples is the BMW app. Previously, it was created as a mobile app tailored for iOS users. However, due to the different challenges that Android users started to face, the company quickly transformed their app into a hybrid app.
Using the flutter technology, BMW developers updated their mobile app. Currently, it is used by plenty of drivers and BMW lovers across the world.
What Type Of App Is Best For Your Business?
A hybrid app service is the best choice for a business. It is so due to plenty of reasons among which having a single code base is the primary one. Its compatibility with multiple platforms makes it one of the finest picks in the industry.
Besides having a simple programming process, debugging hybrid apps is easier too. In comparison to native app examples, hybrid mobile apps take less time to develop. Most developers consider their development duration probably around five to six months.
For highly complex apps, the development process may be more than six months in some cases. As a result, the development cost is reduced than any other type of app development. These reasons make hybrid apps ideal for most businesses.
Final Thoughts
Mobile hybrid app development continues to boom in the market for multiple reasons. As of now, most developers consider it the fine choice for their products. Because many tech giants are moving towards hybrid apps, the future era may be the only one on these.
Besides discussing the best hybrid app examples, we have mentioned their pros and cons along with a few important details. Hope you have found this article informative enough to help you understand the importance of hybrid apps.
Let us know your reviews in the comments below. Feel free to drop some advice regarding this article.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Is WhatsApp a hybrid app?
Yes, WhatsApp is a hybrid app with a web view. Though it is embedded under a native app shell, it served as a more cost-effective solution than native apps.
What is the difference between hybrid and web apps?
Hybrid mobile apps are multi-platform apps. These are compatible to run on any device no matter which OS. Web apps, on the other hand, cannot be installed through app stores or run on any device. These are entirely browser-based apps.
Is Facebook a hybrid or a native app?
Similar to the popular social network Twitter, Facebook is a hybrid app too. However, its source code is written in its personal programming language, other than JavaScript or HTML.
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