Native Mobile Apps Vs HTML5 Mobile Apps

Mobile technology is evolving continuously. Ready availability of smartphones and multitasking feature phones can be attributed to the rise of this trend. Another major factor that is responsible for this continuous mobile evolution is the rise of mobile apps, which power them in addition to the high tech hardware they feature.

Mobile apps are available in many formats: native apps, web apps, hybrid apps. Amongst the different types of mobile app formats, native apps are the forerunners. These apps are readily available in app stores, hardly cost a few bucks and guarantee enhanced user experience. Native apps are designed to run on a single mobile operating system such as Android, iOS and Windows. Native apps also come pre-installed on smartphones or tablets. These apps can also be downloaded from proprietary app stores and thus manually upgrade to the next version.

Native apps are developed to leverage mobile device capabilities likely camera, GPS, games and several other multitouch features. Native apps leverage on third party or proprietary software as well as plug-ins for smooth functioning, which is one of the several downsides of these apps. This dependency on third party or proprietary software to offer optimum results and user experience led to the evolution of HTML5 apps.

HTML5 apps are another breed of mobile apps that are slowly rising in the horizon as mobile technology and software are nudging towards complex technical architecture. In contrast to native apps which are written using difficult programming languages that are specific to a particular operating system, HTML5 apps utilize HTML as building blocks, which is widely known and accepted. HTML5 apps do not require plug-ins or a network connection for multimedia and other allied services, which is a huge plus point over native apps.

HTML5 apps are device independent, platform independent and OS independent, as a result they can be instantly updated. In contrast, to get a native app updated, a user needs to go an app store for an update, which remains a barrier to offering the best, most up-to-date experience. However, a major disadvantage with HTML5 apps is the ambiguous process of monetization. A non-existent platform such as a streamlined app store for generating sure revenue is one of the many roadblocks associated with HTML5 apps.

Further, performance related issues and security issues are another area of concern for HTML5 apps. Performance and security wise native apps are far more secure and reliable than HTML5 apps, which is resulting in low developer interest in HTML5 app development, ultimately resulting in the low churn out.

Both native apps and HTML5 apps have their respective pluses and minuses, it is only a matter of time and technology, when these two types of apps can be seen which way they are treading. However, one cannot completely write off HTML5 apps nor can one ride on the splurge of native apps forever, as technology and that too mobile technology is constantly evolving and innovating itself. One can only speculate and debate on the pros and cons of each type but both native apps and HTML5 apps are here to stay, as long as mobile technology thrives.