The Top 10 Best Cross Platform Frameworks to Consider in 2023

In the ever-evolving technology landscape, having a larger user base is crucial for businesses to thrive and generate more revenue. One way to achieve this is through cross platform app development, which allows your product to reach a wider audience in a cost-effective manner.

To meet the demands of the present day competitive digital sphere, developers are constantly searching for new app development tools that can deliver the best results with minimal effort. This is where cross platform frameworks come in, providing developers with a versatile solution that can help them build applications that run on multiple platforms.

The demand for cross platform mobile app development has surged to new heights, thanks to the wider reach and cost-effectiveness of such apps. With cross platform development, businesses can easily reach a vast number of people, making it a one-of-a-kind technology.

Cross platform mobile development has revolutionized the app development process, enabling developers to build mobile apps that can run seamlessly on multiple operating systems such as iOS, Android, and Windows. This means that a single codebase can be used to develop an app that can run on multiple platforms, reducing the time and effort required to build a native app for each platform.

Using cross platform development tools, businesses can build apps that provide a consistent user experience across different platforms, while also reducing the development cost and time-to-market. With the help of cross platform frameworks, developers can create powerful apps that can help businesses expand their reach and revenue, without compromising on the quality of the app. But which cross platform is best for mobile development?

In this blog, we will walk you through the 10 best cross platform frameworks to consider in 2023 and beyond. So, let’s get started from the basics before we delve deeper!

What is a cross-platform app development framework?

A cross-platform app development framework is a set of tools and technologies used to build software applications that can run on multiple operating systems and platforms. Cross platform development allows developers to create a single codebase and deploy it across various platforms, such as web, desktop, and mobile devices, reducing development time and cost.

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Cross-platform mobile development frameworks provide developers with the ability to create mobile applications that work seamlessly on both Android and iOS devices, and with native performance. This is achieved by using a single codebase and leveraging features such as responsive design and device-specific adaptation.

In addition, cross-platform mobile app development frameworks allow developers to use popular programming languages such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, making it easier to find qualified developers. These frameworks enable developers to create complex mobile apps with native performance, access to device-specific features, and intuitive user interfaces, all while reducing development time and cost.

Cross-platform frameworks have revolutionized the software development industry, providing developers with a way to create applications that can run on multiple platforms and devices, without compromising on quality or performance.

What are the benefits of cross-platform app development frameworks?

Cross-platform app development frameworks offer several benefits to developers and businesses that need to build applications for multiple platforms. Here are some of the main advantages of using a cross-platform framework:

1. Cost-Effective Development

One of the primary benefits of cross-platform development frameworks is their cost-effectiveness. By leveraging a single codebase, developers can build applications that work on multiple platforms, without the need for separate development teams and budgets.

2. Faster Time to Develop

Cross-platform frameworks save time and effort by allowing developers to write a single codebase that can be used across multiple platforms. This approach eliminates the need to develop separate versions of the application for each platform, reducing development time, and increasing productivity.

3. Wider Audience Reach

Cross-platform mobile app development allows businesses to reach a broader audience by deploying their applications across multiple platforms. This approach increases the potential user base and opens up new opportunities for businesses to grow.

4. Native-Like User Experience

One of the biggest advantages of cross-platform development frameworks is that they provide a native-like user experience. These frameworks allow developers to create mobile apps that look and feel like native applications, with the ability to access device-specific features, like camera and location, and support for gestures.

5. Simplified Maintenance and Updates

With cross-platform mobile development frameworks, developers can easily update and maintain their applications across multiple platforms, reducing maintenance and update costs. This approach ensures that applications are up-to-date, bug-free, and provide a consistent user experience across all platforms.

The Top 10 Cross Platform Mobile Development Frameworks in 2023 and Beyond

1. Flutter

Despite being the youngest, Flutter cross-platform app development framework is making its own distinct image in the present-day market. It is an open-source cross platform framework that was first released by Google in May 2017.

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A distinct feature that makes Flutter different is that it uses Dart programming language instead of JavaScript. Because of the hot-reload feature, the developers can see modifications in code in real-time in Flutter. Flutter cross-platform app framework develops apps that can run effectively on multiple platforms.

Also read: Why Flutter Is the Best Platform to Make Hybrid Apps?

Advantages of Flutter:

• Flutter has an inbuilt graphic engine. Therefore, the developers don’t have  to create separate interfaces for both iOS and Android.
• Mobile applications built on the Flutter cross-platform app development framework show noticeable gains on performance and are very efficient. Apart from being fast, their performance is better than the apps built on other development frameworks.
• With Dart, the developers can write more structured programming codes. Thus, it is easy to maintain synchronized hierarchical structures even while writing complex applications.
• Flutter cross-platform app framework uses GPU which provides UI power. Thus, it becomes easier for the developers to work on the latest interfaces.
• The developers can easily rebuild a widget tree automatically and understand the code modifications.

Developer's tools

• Emacs
• Android Studio
• VS Code

2. React Native Is a Star in Itself

React Native is a popular cross-platform mobile app development framework that is widely used for both iOS and Android platforms. It was created by Facebook in 2015 and has since gained immense popularity among developers. Built on JavaScript, React Native provides a native-like experience for both platforms, making it a great choice for cross-platform mobile development. With its intuitive UI interface, developers can create highly responsive and visually appealing apps.

Unlike other frameworks, React Native does not use HTML technology, WebView or CSS. Instead, it relies on CSS-like polyfills and JSX to build its components. This approach enables developers to create highly optimized mobile applications that are capable of running on multiple platforms with ease.

Moreover, React Native combines the best features of ReactJS and JavaScript, making it a versatile and powerful tool for building cross-platform applications.

Advantages of React Native:

• As React Native focusses on UI, it enables the developers to create a highly responsive UI interface.
• Being an open-source cross-platform app, React Native has a huge community because of which developers can get adequate support when coursing through their mobile app development project.
• As one of the most popular cross-platform mobile development frameworks, developers are required to code only once in React Native. The one-time coding is enough for apps to run on diverse mobile OS platforms including both iOS and Android.
• You can create mobile apps for different iOS and Android platforms such as Android TV, MacOS, tvOS, etc. In addition, React Native can be instrumental in creating immaculate applications for UWP and Windows as well.
• React Native is compatible with all the leading third-party plugins like Google Maps

Developer's tools

• Emulator, SDK, Android Studio
• JS Editor
• Xcode and it also needs $100/year developer’s account for the development and publishing of apps

Also read: React Native Cross-Platform App Development: When and When Not to Use it?

3. Ionic is ‘Iconic’ in Every Sense

Ionic is a popular open-source cross-platform mobile app development framework based on AngularJS, making it ideal for cross-platform development. Created in 2013 by Adam Bradley, Max Lynch and Ben Sperry, the framework's main components are Apache Cordova and AngularJS.

Thanks to its user-friendly features and creative UI interfaces, Ionic allows developers to create visually stunning applications that keep users engaged for longer periods. In fact, the applications built through Ionic are so native-like that the framework is also used for PWA development.

By using Ionic, developers can build apps that offer an exceptional user experience while still maintaining the ability to run on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. With its easy-to-use interface and extensive range of features, Ionic is one of the most versatile and popular cross-platform development frameworks on the market.

Advantages of Ionic:

• There are a myriad of ready-to-use UI components available in the Ionic framework.
• The developers need to be aware of CSS, HTML, Angular and JavaScript to develop applications using Ionic.
• There are a plethora of plugins available to use the native features on the smartphone.
• Ionic framework is specifically designed for mobile OS as it is based on SAAS UI framework.
• Being an open-source front-end framework, the developers can change the code structure according to the requirement

Developer’s Tools

• Visual studio code
• Ionic appflow
• Firebase

Read More: React Native Vs Ionic: The Battle of Two Cross-Platform App Development

4. Node.JS Is Incredible and Delightful

Node.JS is a V8 based cross-platform app.  What makes it the most popular cross-platform mobile development framework is it’s USP to transform JavaScript into a general-purpose language from a highly specialized language. It renders an open-source environment that helps in the development of scalable and server-side network applications.

As V8 engine compiles JavaScript to machine code instead of executing it as bytecode, the speed of Nod.JS becomes fast. The framework has a rich library of different JavaScript modules and can handle many concurrent connections together. The mobile app development projects gone through this cross-platform app development framework are highly responsive.

Advantages of Node Js

• It has a large developer’s community.
• The V8 engine in Node.JS is one of the fastest dynamic language interpreters. Thus it is constantly pushing the boundaries.
• Node.JS apps reduce response time for slow requests because of which developers can execute all the database queries simultaneously.
• With a view to deliver smooth and even-functioning apps, Node.JS implements a single-threaded model

Developer’s Tools

• Express.JS
• Socket.io
• PM2
• Babel
• Meteor

Read More: Best Node.js Frameworks For Efficient Web Development

5. Xamarin Is Distinct Yet Useful

Xamarin was developed in 2011 as an independent platform before being acquired by Microsoft. It is an open-source cross-platform app framework but has characteristics that make it different from other platforms.

Xamarin is based on the implementation of the .NET platform-Mono. In addition, the implementation process includes its own .NET libraries, C# compiler, and runtime. Xamarin allows developers to use 90% of the code to build apps for different platforms.

Advantages of Xamarin:

• Xamarin is very easy to use because the developers just need to know .NET and C# in order to use it.
• Through Xamarin the developers can easily reuse different third-party codebases. This is because it has direct inclusion of C++,Java and Objective-C libraries.
• The developers witness fewer run-time errors while working with Xamarin as it offers compile-time checking
• It has a large community of app developers and other contributors as well

Also read: Does Your Web Application Need A Front-End Framework?

Developer’s Tools

• Visual code studio
• Xamarin Studio

6. NativeScript Is Rising Through the Ranks

NativeScript is a popular cross-platform app development framework based on Java that supports not only JavaScript but also Vue.js and AngularJS, with the apps built using TypeScript.

As an open-source framework, it does not require additional plugins for various functions and is well-suited to Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) functionality. NativeScript also supports all native APIs, allowing developers to use existing plugins to streamline their workflow.

The flexibility of NativeScript has made it a popular choice for cross-platform mobile development, providing convenience to developers and the ability to create apps that run on multiple platforms. With NativeScript, developers can build apps using a variety of programming languages and frameworks, making it one of the most versatile cross-platform development frameworks available. Its support for WORA functionality, along with native APIs and existing plugins, makes it a great choice for building cross-platform mobile applications.

Advantages of NativeScript:

• The developers can write platform-based APIs in JavaScript only.
• NativeScript supports components like Cocoapods and AndroidArsenal and calls native methods from libraries.
• NativeScript comes loaded with all kinds of plugins thus eliminates the need of third-party plugins,
• It has a beautiful platform-native UI which is accessible without the WebViews.

Developer’s Tools

• CLI NativeScript

7. PhoneGap Leads in Cross-platform App Framework’s Market Share

PhoneGap was first developed in 2005 by Nitobi Software. After six years in 2011, Adobe purchased PhoneGap from Nitobi and brought it under its banner. PhoneGap also known as Cordova has the highest market share of all the cross-platform app development frameworks available in the market. Moreover, it is rated highly for mobile app development as it uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

One of the high points of PhoneGap is that it has a powerful back-end system which plays a pivotal role in increasing its speed. Thus, if you are looking to develop simple applications without any native features, PhoneGap is a perfect choice. Besides developing impressive apps, it supports all in-built device features.

Advantages of PhoneGap

• The users can use embedded payment systems like Google Play Store and App Store via PhoneGap cross-platform app development framework.
• Apps developed through PhoneGap run consistently on all the leading mobile OS platforms showing minimal differences.
• PhoneGap provides the luxury to use JavaScript or other libraries like MooTools, Sencha Touch, etc to manage interaction in the app.
• Since its architecture is plugin-able in nature, the APIs can be extended in a modular manner.
  

Also read: Native vs. Cross-Platform: How and What to Choose?

8. Corona SDK Is a Programmer's Favorite

Corona SDK is a top choice for those seeking seamless cross-platform mobile app development for leading platforms. It is an open-source cross-platform app development framework that offers 10X faster development of mobile games and applications.

Based on the lightweight programming language Lua, Corona SDK enables developers to create games for a variety of platforms such as iPads, desktops, and connected TVs. With its multi-faceted approach, Corona SDK provides a great option for those seeking a fast and efficient cross-platform development framework for their mobile applications.

Advantages of Corona SDK:

• It has a lot of plugins for media, analytics, in-app advertising and many other things.
• As mentioned earlier, Corona SDK is based on Lua programming language which makes the framework fast and powerful.
• The developers can see the code changes in real-time as the cross-platform app framework responds to changes instantly.

Developer’s Tools

• Android studio project
• Xcode

9. Appcelerator Titanium for Easier Mobile App Development

Appcelerator Titanium is an open-source cross-platform app development framework, first released in 2008. Its core features include device functionality, cross-platform API for accessing native UI, and MVC-based framework alloy.

The developers can deploy data models easily through Appcelerator Titanium as it offers a schema-less database ArrowDB. It majorly focuses on streamlining the mobile app development process with the assistance of the native components.

Advantages of Appcelerator Titanium

• The cross-platform app framework has a pre-built connector for MS SQL, MS Azure, Salesforce, and Box.
• It has various tools to facilitate faster mobile app development processes.
• The integration of the existing continuous delivery systems is done easily.
  

Developer’s Tools

• AMPLIFY
• Appcelerator CLI

10. Sencha Touch Is a Boon to Develop Large Business Apps

When it comes to cross-platform mobile app development, choosing the right framework is crucial. Sencha Touch is a popular cross-platform development framework that excels at hardware acceleration techniques. With inbuilt Cordova integration, it's a top pick for many developers.

One of the main advantages of Sencha Touch is that it simplifies the development of large business apps. It also offers a variety of interactive native-looking themes, making it easier for developers to create visually appealing applications. If you're looking to develop a cross-platform mobile app, Sencha Touch is definitely a framework worth considering.

Advantages of Sencha Touch:

• It has more than 50 in-built and customizable UI widgets apart from having a rich UI collection.
• Sencha Touch has a very impressive backend data package.
• As it supports Cordova integration, it becomes easier to access the native APIs along with the packaging/

Developer’s Tools

• App inspector for Sencha

We hope that our list of popular cross-platform mobile development frameworks was helpful in your search for the best solution for your needs. After reviewing the features and descriptions, it should be easier for you to decide which framework is the best for your cross-platform mobile app development.

Developing a cross-platform app requires selecting the right framework, which will significantly impact the success of your product and expand its user base. Therefore, it is advisable to collaborate with an experienced cross-platform application development company to assist you in your next project.

We, at Third Rock Techkno, offer an advanced and compact solution for cross platform app development that accommodates all your key requirements and helps beat the market competition. Check out our portfolio and contact us to get started today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is cross-platform mobile development, and why is it important?

Cross-platform mobile development is the process of building mobile applications that can be run on different mobile operating systems like iOS, Android, and Windows using a single codebase. Cross-platform mobile development is important as it saves time, resources, and costs while building mobile applications.

2. What are the benefits of using cross-platform frameworks for mobile development?

Cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Ionic, NativeScript, and others help developers build mobile applications that can run on multiple platforms using a single codebase. These frameworks save time, reduce development costs, and allow for faster deployment of applications across different platforms.

3. Which cross-platform framework is the best for mobile development?

The best cross-platform framework for mobile development depends on the specific needs of a project. React Native is popular due to its high performance and ease of use, while Ionic is preferred for its robust features and seamless integration with AngularJS. NativeScript is a great option for developers who prefer using TypeScript, and Corona SDK is ideal for building mobile games.

4. How to choose the right cross-platform framework for mobile development?

To choose the right cross-platform framework for mobile development, one should consider the specific requirements of the project, the size of the development team, the level of experience of the team members, and the available resources. Evaluating the framework's performance, scalability, and compatibility with the chosen technology stack is also crucial in making the right decision.

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