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Android Vs iOS: Which is Better for Mobile App Development

Entrepreneurs always face this dilemma when choosing the platform for their first mobile app i.e. between Android and iOS. Both platforms might have some architectural similarities, yet use different development and maintenance approaches. As per a survey done by StatCounter in December 2020, desktops account for 41.46% of internet traffic, while mobiles capture 55.73% of the same. 

But developing a mobile app for any requires time and resources. Hence, we decided to write this blog that brings you a comparison between Android vs iOS. Hope this eases your confusion on which platform you should select for your next mobile app. 

Pros & Cons of Android App Development

Benefits of Creating an Android App

Learning Curve & Resources

Android is widely used all over the world and hence has a huge community. Even if you search for it on Google, one can find many tutorials for beginners, interactive material, exercises, online training programs, crash courses, and more. 

Flexibility

IOS has a restricted environment as compared to Android. These apps will practically run with any android device. And you also won’t be facing any issues relating to hardware compatibility. Apart from these technical betterments, Android also offers a flexible development process. 

Android relies on Java and renders a smoother development experience. Java offers a versatile programming experience and also has the support of other OSs such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS. This allows developers to create Android apps irrespective of the OS their device runs on.

App Extensibility

Today, an app is not limited to your phone. Today, to stay in competition your app has to support an entire ecosystem of devices. You can extend the usability of Android apps to VR headsets, wearable devices, Daydream, Android Auto, and many other platforms. You would have to be proficient in design to offer functionality over various devices. But using the same, your app can make way to a user’s TV, smartwatch, cars, and more while being in their phone anyway. You would need to seek Android app development service to extend your app’s functionality on other devices.

App Publishing

Like prior times, it isn’t an easy task to post apps on Google Play. News is that Google has become a bit strict with its rules for publishing apps. Earlier the review process used to be complete within 7-8 hours and your app would be up and running. Nowadays it can also take days for new developers to get their apps published. Yet, if your app adheres to the company’s content policy, it will surely get approved. Upon first-time registration, one would have to pay a one-time fee worth 25 USD.

Limitations with Android Development

Quality Assurance

The upside to using Android is that it allows you to create an app for almost all the other Android platforms. Though, these apps are extremely difficult to test thoroughly. Developers would have to design fixes at regular intervals. This is also because users would stick to using older versions of your app even when updates are available.

Less In-App Revenue

Android users are prone to using Freemium apps. In addition to this, as compared to iOS users, Android users spend less on in-app purchases. 

Development Cost

Developing an Android app is more time-consuming than an iOS app. An Android app development service would charge you on an hourly basis. More development time will result in more cost both in development and subsequent testing. 

Security

iOS is much ahead in terms of security. Android being an open-source platform, can be prey to cyberattacks. 

Pros & Cons of iOS App Development

Benefits of Creating an iOS App

Performance

Users are huge fans of iOS apps because they offer seamless functionality. Apps are easy to use, fast, and reliable. There can be a few bugs in the app that you create but they can be solved easily by an iOS app development service.

Offering an Entire Apple Ecosystem

There are two sides to a coin. At times it can prove challenging for users to use a phone with a secluded OS. For instance, it’s difficult to transfer files to different devices. On the other hand, one can design complete apps, that work over an entire ecosystem of devices rather than for a particular phone.

Intuitive & Seamless UI/UX

iOS offers software that can help you create an intuitive and seamless UI/UX. If you have detailed guidelines on how you want your app to be, you can create them with exceptional user experiences. You can hire iOS app developer to develop exciting UI/UX for your mobile app.  

Limitations with iOS Development

Development Requirements

Developers need software such as XCode that runs only on Mac and is essential for native iOS development. So, to create iOS apps you would certainly need one more piece of Apple technology. 

Restrictive

iOS doesn’t offer as varied UI customization options as Android. Also, it’s very difficult to integrate your apps with much third-party software. 

App Launching

Your app launch won’t be a smooth ride as compared to Google Play. Apple has its own rules, your app can be rejected if Apple feels your app isn’t relevant or good enough. 

Android or iOS? Which to choose

You can weigh the pros against the cons to make your final choice. But apart from that, you should also consider factors such as a business idea, budget, market time, and other such factors to make a sound decision. 

Choose Android when 

• You wish to create a customizable app.
• You don’t have much time and want the app on the store ASAP.
• You want your appeal to a wider consumer base.

Choose iOS when

• You don’t want to choose a tedious development process.
• User data, security, and privacy are high priorities for your app.
• You want to earn more revenue per user.

Android vs iOS: Develop an App for a Single Platform

As we discussed above, factors such as your targeted audience, demographics, budget, development timeline, and more are crucial factors to determine if you should create an Android or iOS app. 

However, if you don’t have enough budget and are planning to create a Minimal Viable Product you should with iOS. Apart from this, if you’re creating an eCommerce app or want to make money from your app from the go, you should opt for iOS.

But if you want to create an app with features Apple doesn’t support or you want to target emerging markets such as Latin America and Asia, Android would work best for you. 

There is more to it, the app is just a way, your aim should be to offer the best UX and develop an initial loyal user base. Once your app gains its desired recognition you will observe that users on the other platform start demanding their OS version app. If this happens you should believe that your app is successful.

Cross-Platform App Development 

If we talk about emerging techs, hybrid/cross-platform apps have made their market. We being a Flutter app development company can tell this with confidence that cross-platform tech does hold the future of app development. 

It’s natural for a business to not have large funds to invest in developing 2 separate apps for Android and iOS. Here’s where techs like React Native and Flutter come in. It allows you to create an app for multiple platforms using a single code base. 

This helps in the following ways:

• Saves time and prevents dual coding writing and testing for different platforms.
• Due to a decrease in the development time, there will be an evident decrease in development cost.
• Gives your app more time to market.
• More time gives you an edge over your competitors.
• Apps created are easier to debug due to a single code base.

Final Word

There is no final verdict on which platform you should choose for your mobile app development. But your decision depends on what plans you have for getting your app on the market. You can seek assistance from an iOS app development company and create an iOS app in 3 months. You can also hire Android app developers and develop a fully functional Android app. 

Your aim with your mobile app should be to do it right without investing all of your budgets. We – Technource a mobile app development company would also recommend you develop an MVP first. This would be the perfect way to validate your business idea by making minimal investments. 

Our goal is not to offer you the costliest and unnecessary software solutions but something that caters well to your business requirements. We have been doing the same for 9+ with our clients around the globe. If you have a business idea or if you already own a business and are thinking about creating an app for the same, we would very much like to be a part of this venture. Get in touch with us today by signing up for a free consultation on our website. Thank you for reading.