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Over the years, a large segment of developers has prioritized cross-platform app development to build high-performing, compatible, and affordable applications. They also use a wide range of cross-platform frameworks and tools to make the process faster and seamless.   

There is a rising demand for these frameworks and tools in the market; hence, top mobile app development companies are always looking for the right frameworks to create a proficient solution.

The reason is that businesses want to be present on every platform to grab users’ attention in this highly competitive world. Also, they don’t want to have a budget issue while going for native app development.  

Therefore, we are here to assist you in looking for the best cross-platform app development frameworks! The guide below will provide a detailed comparison between some of the best frameworks and tools to help you understand which one you should choose based on your requirements.

Before going through a detailed comparison, have a look at the market growth of the most popular library, framework, and tool among worldwide developers as of 2024. The graph below shows that .NET is used by 21.9% of developers worldwide, followed by Numpy (18.2%), pandas (17.7%), etc.

It also includes Flutter (12.4%), React Native (11.7%), Ionic (2%), Xamarin (1.8%), Cordova (1%), and many other frameworks. 

Look for the basics here:

What is a Cross-platform Development Framework?

Mobile app developers use cross-platform app development frameworks to build software that can run on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, etc. These frameworks enable programmers to not write separate codes for all the platforms. Instead, they can use one shared codebase to deploy the app on multiple platforms. Basically, it follows the approach “write once, run everywhere.”

It has become one of the most used methods by any mobile app development company or coders to save development costs and time while ensuring a seamless user experience across different platforms.  

Top Cross-platform App Development Frameworks to Consider in 2025

Choosing the best cross-platform development framework to conduct a faster and flawless development process is significant. Have a look at this comparison table to comprehend about which framework you should go for:

Framework/ToolCurrently Owned ByFounded YearLanguages UsedPlatform SupportPerformanceNotable Apps BuiltLearning Curve
FlutterGoogle2017DartiOS, Android, Web, DesktopNear-native (with Dart)Google Ads, eBay MotorsModerate
React NativeMeta (Facebook)2015JavaScript, TypeScriptiOS, AndroidHigh, but depends on JS bridgeInstagram, Airbnb, Uber EatsModerate
XamarinMicrosoft2011C#, F#iOS, Android, WindowsNear-native (compiled C#)Alaska Airlines, MRWSteep
Node.jsOpenJS Foundation2009JavaScriptCross-platform backendHigh for backend servicesLinkedIn, Netflix, PayPalModerate to steep
IonicIonic Team2013JavaScript, TypeScriptAndroid, iOS, WebModerate (WebView-based)MarketWatch, SworkitSimple
NativeScriptProgress2014JavaScript, TypeScriptiOS, AndroidHigh (uses native components)SAP, StrudelModerate
JavaScriptOpen Source1995JavaScriptWebHigh for web appsYouTube, Gmail (for Web)Simple
Sencha TouchIDERA, Inc.2010JavaScript, HTML, CSSAndroid, iOSHigh-performanceIBM, Swiss Federal Railways appModerate to steep
KotlinJetBrains2011KotlinAndroidNativePinterest, TrelloModerate
Apache CordovaApache Software Foundation2009JavaScriptAndroid, iOS,  WebModerate (WebView-based)Localeur, UntappdEasy

Know about the best cross-platform app development frameworks:

1. Flutter

Flutter

Flutter is a Dart-based development environment; it is one of the cross-platform app development frameworks developed by Google. The language exploited by Flutter, Dart can be compiled natively on Android and iOS platforms. This feature allows developers who choose Flutter to create applications with performances very similar to those written directly in native.

Flutter provides a number of predefined widgets that can be used to create interfaces that maintain the native look.

The fact that Google promotes Flutter is an advantage thanks to the enormous support that Google gives to developers who choose Flutter (also for obvious marketing reasons). Moreover, the developer community orbiting around Flutter is already rich and full of supporting documents. The reference programming language gives a critical issue, Dart, which is still not widespread today and little known by developers.

Pros:

  • Cross-platform deployment due to a shared codebase
  • Flexible customization and rich UI elements
  • Quick development via hot reload

Cons:

  • The large size of the app
  • Restricted native integrations
  • Smaller developers’ community

2. React Native

React Native

React-Native is a top framework cross-platform released and promoted by Facebook Inc. that allows you to create multi-platform mobile apps. Applications are developed using the JavaScript language in combination with the native React library. This enables the creation of applications that use GUI components similar to those used by native development processes.

The strength of React Native is its ability to write code in JavaScript and compile it in a native project, achieving performance very close to that achieved by applications written directly in the native language.

In addition to the JavaScript components, the framework offers new components and functionality that can be created using the native code of the platform on which it is being developed and integrated into the JavaScript part of the framework.

Pros:

  • Code reusability for Android and iOS
  • Supports an extensive community
  • Rich UI elements and native-like performance

Cons:

  • Intricate animations need extra libraries
  • Hard to debug for complex apps
  • Dependency on third-party plugins for native functions

3. Xamarin

Xamarin

XamarinMicrosoft is the best cross-platform framework software, also known as an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). It is used for mobile app development across platforms, using the C# language, and then compiled in native code. The compilation and translation process means that the final product is, in all respects, a native application.

In the typical Xamarin project, three main parts of the application are developed:

  1. The business logic, developed in .NET style and 100% reused
  2. The iOS interface, developed with the specific SDK for Apple
  3. The Android interface was developed with the particular SDK for Google.

The need to develop graphical interfaces separately stems from the approach indicated by Xamarin himself to deal with cross-platform programming: the graphic libraries are mounted directly above their native counterparts, functioning in all respects as simple connectors. This design decision forces developers to write ad-hoc pieces of code for individual platforms.

To overcome this limit, Xamarin has been available to developers for some years as a library for creating multi-platform interfaces. However, the greater rapidity of development allowed by this approach is paid for with retaliation: lower component flexibility, exacerbated by the lack of supporting documentation.

Pros:

  • Shared code for Android, iOS, and Windows
  • Easy access to native APIs
  • Strong support from Microsoft

Cons:

  • Large-app sizes
  • Restricted free features and third-party libraries
  • Higher licensing costs
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4. Node.js

Node.js

Node.js is the most preferred cross-platform mobile app framework. It is popular as an open-source, free, and java-script runtime environment that supports Linux, Windows, MacOS, etc. This platform is used mainly for server-side and script development. For example, Apache Cordova and React Native can create multi-platform apps, and Node.js can build cross-platform desktop apps that leverage technologies like Electron.

This framework is simple to learn, depending on the “JavaScript Everywhere” approach. Applications built with Node.js are faster, seamless, and simple to scale. Developers can get support from a large community to solve issues.  

Pros:

  • High performance for event-driven apps
  • Full-stack development with JavaScript
  • Huge ecosystem with NPM packages

Cons:

  • Not Suitable for CPU-intensive tasks
  • Less built-in scalability features
  • Hard to maintain callback-heavy code

5. Ionic

Ionic

Ionic is known as an open-source SDK that develops cross-platform applications. Being a leading and versatile framework, it offers a complete toolkit for hybrid mobile app development, leveraging front-end technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. This cross-platform framework highly relies on Apache Cordova and enables developers with rich UI elements, a strong command-line interface, and pre-built themes, making the process of building intuitive UIs easier.

Ionic offers Ahead-of-Time and lazy loading compilation to ensure smooth and flawless performance. It also helps alleviate start-up times and improves the app rendering speed. It is a component-based architecture where every UI element is reusable and customizable. 

Therefore, developers can build and reprocess UI components for different app components.    

Pros:

  • Simple-to-learn for web developers
  • Supports progressive web apps
  • Pre-designed UI elements for faster development

Cons:

  • Poor performance with heavy or graphical apps
  • Dependent on WebView for rendering
  • Restricted access to native features

Read More: Top 10 Best Cross Platform Mobile App Development Companies

6. NativeScript

NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source, cross-platform app framework for building applications with a native look and feel. It refers to applications built with NativeScript that will provide high-performance like native apps for Android and iOS. Mobile app developers use JavaScript to communicate with similar native APIs to create apps on platforms like Android Studio or Xcode.

This is why it is the best cross-platform app framework for programmers looking for WORA functionality. It also combines native APIs, allowing developers to reuse available plugins from NPM in app development.    

Pros:

  • Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, and Angular for flexibility
  • Direct access to native APIs
  • Provides native-like performance

Cons:

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Smaller community support
  • Slower updates for new features

7. JavaScript

JavaScript

JavaScript is considered a programming language because it has the ability to function across platforms like Android, iOS, and the Web. It is a structured, pre-written assortment of JavaScript code abridging web app development with reusable components and tools. JavaScript is helpful in managing general tasks like DOM manipulation, event management, and API integration, enabling developers to emphasize features rather than reinventing the wheel.

This is one of the best cross-platform development frameworks that use programming languages like React, Vue.js, Angular, etc. Moreover, it follows an MVC (model-view-controller) or similar architecture, encouraging maintainable codebases.     

Pros:

  • Universal language for mobile, web, and backend
  • Support from large developers’ community
  • Versatile and lightweight framework

Cons:

  • Low security
  • Less suitable for high-performing or CPU-heavy tasks
  • Uneven behavior for different browsers

8. Sencha Touch

Sencha Touch

Sencha Touch was introduced a decade ago. It assists in web-based cross-platform app development. Developers use it more often to create efficient apps using hardware acceleration approaches. Further, it is useful for creating well-tested UI elements and libraries that are securely integrated.

It combines built-in native-like themes for all popular platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, phones, etc. Additionally, the most used feature of Sencha is that it supports Cordova integration for native API access with packaging.  

Pros:

  • Cross-platform development with web technologies
  • Easy customization using SaaS
  • Pre-built, custom widgets for UIs

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • Limited compatibility with modern JS libraries
  • Restricted community support

9. Kotlin

Kotlin

Kotlin enables mobile app developers to write reusable code that runs seamlessly on iOS and Android. This framework cross-platform is gaining attention gradually as it provides users with a smooth shared codebase experience, alleviating development time and costs. Developed by JeyBrains, the Kotlin framework allows you to maintain native-like performance for Android and iOS apps.

Kotlin helps to focus on sharing business logic between different platforms, so developers can choose to create UI using any framework, comprising SwiftUI for iOS and native Jetpack compose for Android. It maintains a perfect balance between native and cross-platform development.

Pros:

  • Highly supportable for Android developers
  • Modern, concise syntax alleviating boilerplate code
  • Fully interoperable with Java

Cons:

  • Restricted to Android
  • Small community support compared to Java
  • Steep learning curve

10. Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova is an open-source, hybrid-web, cross-platform app development framework. It combines platform-native WebView elements to run web apps in native environments. This framework was originally known as PhoneGap to bridge the gap between phone-based native environments and web apps.

This is one of the best cross-platform frameworks. It is mainly used for hybrid mobile app development, leveraging standard technologies like HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. This framework binds your HTML/JavaScript app into a native container to access all the functions of the device. Hence, it enables you to write code only once and target multiple platforms.    

Pros:

  • Large plugin support for native device features
  • Simple to learn for developers
  • A shared codebase across platforms

Cons:

  • Performance issues with rigorous apps
  • Slower experience due to dependency on WebView for rendering
  • Less popular due to other modern frameworks
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In Essence

While looking for the top cross-platform mobile development frameworks, businesses must consider every aspect as it will help them achieve their future goals. Since there are various best cross-platform frameworks, sometimes, businesses get confused about which one to choose. With the above guide, they can compare the best cross-platform app development frameworks to deliver a seamless user experience and stay competitive in the market.

In context, Octal IT Solution is a top mobile app development company that has been working in this sector for years, providing satisfactory results to a worldwide clientele. Our team of professionals helps us deliver cost-effective solutions to businesses by leveraging the latest cross-platform app frameworks and tools. You can engage with us further to get assistance!     

FAQs

What are some of the most used cross-platform development tools?

To support the best cross-platform development frameworks, here are a wide range of tools:
Firebase, Unity, Xamarin, Sencha, Back4App, and others.

What is cross-platform app development cost?

The overall cost of cross-platform app development will range between $20,000 and $100,000. Further, factors such as features, complexity, development team size, etc., can fluctuate the cost.

Which languages are used for cross-platform app development?

Some of the top languages used for cross-platform app development are Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Python, and React Native.

THE AUTHOR
Project Manager
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Dinesh Shilak, a tech enthusiast and dedicated writer, provides fresh insights into technology through his engaging blog posts. His keen interest in the latest advancements & passion for the field are evident in his writing.

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