Are you looking to build a mobile app without investing a lot of money and time but without compromising its functionalities?
Well, many would say that it is an impossible combination. But from our experience as a mobile app development company, it is a viable option.
They are called hybrid apps. They are easy to develop, cost-effective, and feature-rich. That’s why 74% of all the top retail brands in the US use hybrid apps.
We’re going to explore 6 top hybrid apps to see how you can emulate their strategy to grow your business through hybrid apps before you hire mobile app developers to help you.
What’s Hybrid Mobile App Development?
It is the process of developing a single app that can run on multiple operating systems, such as Windows, Android, and iOS. They combine both web and native mobile app capabilities to ensure a seamless experience on web browsers as well as on platforms like iOS, Android, Windows, etc.
Hybrid apps are developed using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The apps are then wrapped in a native container to render native app-like experiences to its users.
The containers also let them be easily hosted on app stores and distributed to potential users.
6 Top Hybrid App Examples You Need to Check
Looking at a few top hybrid app examples and understanding how they are developed is helpful in making your apps exceptional.
The following top hybrid app examples will tell you what works and what does not in the market in 2023.
So, let’s quickly get into them.
Who doesn’t know WhatsApp? It revolutionized instant messaging and made it available to everyone in the world. They have taken it a notch ahead with every update, adding the capabilities to send images, voice notes, videos, and now even money.
And they have expanded it to WhatsApp business to generate revenue, as well. All the capabilities were possible because the app went hybrid.
WhatsApp integrated the hybrid app model with the following.
- The interface is developed with native technologies for iOS and Android.
- It utilized WebView components to display webpages and resources.
- WhatsApp uses core native technologies with native technologies while also allowing to use it online on browsers.
- For better message delivery experiences, WhatsApp uses background processes even when the app is not actively used.
Google Maps
We all use Google Maps in one way or another. Some people regularly use Google Maps during their tours. It is used by over a billion people every month. The capabilities of the platform include route planning, street view, real-time traffic, aerial photography, etc.
The user interface of the app is created natively for Android and iOS platforms as per their native design guidelines.
- It offers diverse web-based functionalities by using WebView components within the native app to display web-based content.
- The app pulls data from web-based APIs to present information like traffic, route, etc. This renders the core features natively while relying on web technologies for data.
- The service is also available through a Progressive Web App (PWA), which users can use on mobile browsers to access the map.
Spotify
Primarily an audio content service provider, Spotify has expanded to a full-fledged audio streaming platform with podcasts, audio interviews, etc. It now houses over 100 million songs and 5 million podcasts that users can access through paid and free plans.
The platform has over 500 million active users, and their paid subscribers amount to over 210 million.
The success of the platform is their strategic approach to integrating the hybrid model into their app.
- Spotify has UI developed for Android and iOS within the native technologies, adhering to their specific design philosophies.
- When it needs to display information on artists or songs, the app leverages WebView to present the data to ensure uninterrupted app browsing.
- Spotify’s core app functionalities, such as music playback and streaming, are rendered natively in the app.
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Netflix
The biggest over-the-top (OTT) platform in the world, Netflix has changed the way content is distributed and consumed. Although it offers streaming natively as an app, its web capabilities are unprecedented.
Netflix’s apps are exceptionally well designed with a minimalist approach to elevate the user experience.
And the fact that Netflix also offers similar capabilities in its web-based version. While the app does not take a hybrid approach, it takes native design and development to its core for a better user experience on the app.
Uber
A huge technology company, Uber offers logistics, food delivery, and ride-hailing services. They are present in over 70 countries and are one of the most prominent tech startups in the world. They have over 131 million monthly active customers, and over 5.4 million drivers are associated with them.
Uber has perfected the hybrid app development philosophy by developing the app primarily for the web and then using a native container for usage in different Operating Systems.
The business has leveraged the following to deliver a consistent experience for its users throughout different platforms.
- The user interface of the application is developed using HTML and CSS. JavaScript helps the app with interactivity and logic for the app’s functions.
- To render the app natively in iOS and Android, the app uses a native container, which is WebView. This enables the app to access the hardware components of the app, like GPS, Camera, etc.
- It is the hybrid nature of the app that lets Uber distribute itself across app stores for iOS and Android. This enables users to download and use the app natively on their devices.
Airbnb
Airbnb is an American multinational company that operates in the hospitality sector. Their USP is to enable users to book short and long-term stays in hotels and properties across the world. The brand has single-handedly revolutionized the tourism industry and how users book their stays during vacation.
One of the biggest learnings from the success of Airbnb is how they effectively use a hybrid app development model to cater to diverse customers.
- The app’s UI has been developed using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, enabling it to deliver seamless UX to users across multiple devices.
- The brand also uses WebView as a native container to present its solution as a native app for iOS and Android. This enables their users to download and use the app from their iOS and Android devices like native apps.
- Although the app is developed with a hybrid app development model, they still use platform-specific APIs to interact with the device’s functionalities, like cameras, GPS, etc., to render better service to the users.
- The Airbnb app is also distributed to users through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This enables users to download and use the app like a native app on their preferred devices.
Tips for an Efficient Hybrid App Development
With careful planning and a strategy, you can develop an immersive and high-performing hybrid app.
The following tips will help you with the development.
Define what you want.
Unless you know what you want, it is hard for you to develop a top-notch hybrid app. Evaluate your target audience, what their pain points are, how your competition is doing, etc.
After understanding all these aspects, plan your app accordingly.
The app must align with your audience’s needs and preferences. Or you are setting yourself up to fail.
Discuss with your agency how to choose the framework.
Many hybrid app development frameworks are available in the market—React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, etc. All of them have advantages and limitations.
However, you must pick one that meets your requirements.
You need to discuss the same with the hybrid app and progressive web app development agency you hired to finalize the option.
Keep the design guidelines of multiple platforms in mind.
The beauty of hybrid app development is that it runs on all types of platforms. But you need to keep the design guidelines of these platforms while developing the app.
Doing this will ensure a consistent user experience for users across multiple devices and platforms.
This is also crucial for a better user experience.
Remember to optimize the app for performance.
Your app must perform well across platforms and devices without any glitches or performance issues.
The goal of putting so much effort into designing and developing an app is to render the best performance for your users. So, before you release the app, test the performance to know if everything works well.
Optimize the loading time of the app, optimize the resource utilization, avoid unnecessary network requests, etc.
All these can elevate your app’s user experience and performance.
Build a native-like user interface.
Your app’s UI must integrate seamlessly with the OS’s native UI capabilities and conventions. For this, you need to develop the UI as per the OS’s guidelines.
Doing this makes your app feel more seamless on the platform and easy to use on any device despite not using native technologies to make it.
Rely on device capabilities.
Most apps must rely on device functionalities like cameras, GPS, push notifications, etc., to perform better. Keep this in mind during the hybrid app development.
Adding these features to the app can make it more seamless for the users to interact with the app and use it.
Test your app before going live.
We know you are in a hurry to take your app to your audience. But that’s no excuse to release the app without testing it.
Thorough testing is crucial to understand that the app performs well, that the security features work well, that it responds well to the user, etc.
Failing to test the app before release can lead to reputation damage.
Always update and maintain the app.
Your job is not over once you release it. You need to keep improving the app. Get user reviews and responses and add new features as needed.
Make the app more streamlined and secure by releasing constant updates.
Related Article: What it Takes To Build a Successful eCommerce Mobile App
What Makes AddWeb the Best Mobile App Development Company?
Hybrid app development is a lengthy process that involves careful planning, strategy, and firm execution. And a regular business may not be able to do it.
That’s why you need to hire mobile app developers who are experts in the field, like AddWeb Solution.
And you may be wondering if AddWeb Solution is the right team to help you. Check why working with our hybrid app developers benefits like never before.
You get to work with experts.
Your app needs to be perfect in every sense of the word. It must work well, deliver an impeccable user experience, and be easy to use.
We have hybrid app developers who are experts in nailing all these aspects of progressive web app development.
And you get an excellent hybrid app that everyone loves to use.
Less investment for the app.
You don’t need to worry about the investment when working on a hybrid app development project at AddWeb Solution, as we price our projects based on your needs.
Pay only for the services and features that you need. This helps us reduce the cost of the development as well as the time.
This enables you to take your project quickly to the market.
Develop high-performing apps.
That’s right, we focus on delivering apps that perform exceptionally well across browsers, mobile devices, and operating systems. We use multiple quality tests to check the performance of the apps.
Our thorough quality assessment processes ensure that you get an impeccable app that works well for your audience across the board.
Resolve your concerns quickly.
When working on a hybrid app development project or any other app, you may face various challenges.
It could be regarding the app. It could be about the overall project. It could also be about the quality or the technology used.
No matter what the issue is, you can speak to us.
Our customer service team will listen to your concerns and help you resolve them in a timely manner.
Get an app developed with the latest technologies.
Our philosophy is to deliver the best and most feature-rich app that our clients need. Whether you want a complex website or a simple one, we leverage the best technologies available in the market.
As a result, your app will cater to all types of customers who want the latest features and capabilities as well as stable performance.
Quick hybrid app development.
No business wants to wait for months to get their app developed. The faster you release the app to the market, the better it is for your business.
And our hybrid app developers take that philosophy into our hearts.
We have a streamlined process that enables us to create the best app in no time. There’s no waste of time or resources.
Conclusion
Hybrid apps can transform your business for sure. It is fast to develop. It does not require a lot of investment. It can also offer diverse features to your customers. But is that enough for your business? No. You need a reliable and experienced hybrid app development agency who can help you.
As a pioneer mobile app development company, AddWeb Solution has worked with domestic and international brands on various progressive web app development projects. Thanks to our expertise and experience, we can help you, too.
