Quick answer
A cross-platform app runs on both iOS and Android from one codebase. React Native and Flutter are two popular tools for this.
What it is
A cross-platform app is built once and runs on both iOS and Android. React Native draws native interface components. Flutter draws its own interface. The gain is one team and one codebase. The risk is a feel that does not match each platform perfectly.
Why it matters
One team can ship to both app stores with cross-platform. When the app experience is the same on iOS and Android, cross-platform saves time and cost.
How to use it
- Choose cross-platform when the app works the same on both platforms.
- Use React Native if your team knows web code. Use Flutter if design quality is the goal.
- Use platform-specific modules when you need a feature only one platform has.
- Test on real phones, not only emulators.
Examples
- React Native is used by Facebook, Shopify and Discord.
- Flutter is used by Google Pay, BMW and Toyota.