Best Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks of 2025

There are approximately 26.4 million mobile app developers in the world. Approximately 33% of these developers use cross-platform frameworks in their day-to-day work.

Cross-platform app development is the process of creating mobile apps that can run on multiple mobile operating systems. These mobile apps can run on both Android + iOS, on a single codebase. The method allows developers to write code once and deploy it across different platforms

But why do we need to go the ‘cross-platform’ way and what makes this type of app development popular?

Well, There are over 2 billion 5G smartphones worldwide. On these phones, there are over 8.93 million mobile apps.

We are living in the age of mobile apps and learning how to create them is something all business owners and developers should prioritize. But, creating these apps is a challenge, mainly for one reason:

• Apple and Google dominate the mobile app market
• The Android Operating System (OS) has a market share of 71.65%
• Android Play Store has over 3.9+ billion users
• Apple’s iOS has a market share of around 28% and
• Apple’s App Store is set to generate $124 billion in revenue this year

That means to be a mobile app developer, one has to master each platform’s specific development language:

• Objective-C or Swift if you are creating iOS-based applications
• Java if you are creating Android-based applications
• Targeting both iOS and Android would require your app to be written twice, once for Android and then again for iOS
• This leaves  you with two separate codebases to maintain

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a solution that allowed for one shared language to be used across multiple platforms? This is where cross-platform app development frameworks come in.

Multi-platform production has been a crippling bottleneck for businesses with small development budgets for a long time. It is in the best interest of every developer and business owner to master cross-platform frameworks and build resource-efficient, multi-platform mobile apps.

• The cross-platform method saves time, reduces costs, and makes mobile app development a much easier process for developers
• Cross-platform app development frameworks provide sets of flexible components, libraries, and APIs
• These frameworks enable developers to build apps for Android + iOS without needing to write separate code for each one
• So, cross-platform app development is gaining popularity among businesses as well

• Managing multiple teams for different platforms can be costly and drain resources
• It used to make projects harder to complete
• With cross-platform frameworks, businesses can develop applications for mobile, web, or desktop without needing separate teams for each platform
• This approach saves money and helps projects stay on track

But, which cross-platform framework is right for your project? In this blog, we’ll help you answer that question. We’ll explain:

• Why Choose Cross-Platform App Development?
• Key Factors to Consider When Choosing A Cross-Platform Framework
• Top Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks in 2024
  1. Flutter
  2. React Native
  3. Ionic
  4. Xamarin
  5. Unity
• Other Emerging Cross-Platform Frameworks to Watch in 2025
• Choosing the Right Framework for Your Project
• Future Trends in Cross-Platform Development

Let’s start our journey across platforms!

Why Choose Cross-Platform App Development?

High performance and low barriers to entry have led developers and businesses worldwide to embrace cross-platform app development frameworks.

Here are the main reasons why you should consider doing the same:

Cost Efficiency

• Cross-platform app development significantly reduces costs     
• Instead of maintaining separate codebases for iOS and Android, you can develop a single codebase
• This eliminates the need for two distinct teams, one for each platform
• For instance, using React Native allows developers to share up to 90% of the code between platforms
• This can lower development costs by 30%-35% compared to traditional methods
• Minimal coding requirements = fewer resources required for salaries, project management, and testing

Wider Reach

• Targeting both iOS and Android users at the same time maximizes your audience
• In the US iPhone has a market share of 58.81%, while Android holds 40.81%.
• By using cross-platform development, you can launch your app on both platforms simultaneously
• You can ensure that no potential users are missed

For example, Flutter is a relatively new cross-platform app development framework:

• Since the first stable release of Flutter in December 2018, it has experienced steady growth in popularity and adoption worldwide
• Its usage rate among developers increased from 30% in 2019 to 42% in 2021 to 46% in 2023
• In that time Toyota, eBay, and Alibaba have all used Flutter to build their apps
• Today, there are over 500k Flutter-based applications on the Play Store alone
• Flutter apps have had 11 billion downloads across operating systems
• Flutter apps now constitute 3.55% of all the mobile apps in the world

Just because a mobile app development framework is relatively new, does not mean that apps built with it won’t achieve escape velocity!

Increased Development Speed 

• Cross-platform development accelerates the app creation process
• Managing only one codebase = less time spent on development
• For example, Crowdsource experienced a 50% reduction in code size when they transitioned their Android app to Flutter
• This transition doubled their development speed
• It also enabled them to expand to iOS way ahead of schedule

Consistent User Experience

• When users interact with an app, they expect the same look and feel regardless of whether they are using iOS or Android
• Using cross-platform app development frameworks helps achieve this consistency
• Apps built on this framework maintain the same design and functionality on both iOS/Android
• Users have similar experiences on cross-platform apps, irrespective of the device
• Maintaining a single codebase is another significant advantage
• With cross-platform development, updates, and bug fixes can be implemented in one place
• Developers do not have to make changes across multiple codebases for each platform
• This simplifies the maintenance process
• When a new feature is added or a bug is fixed, developers can deploy the update simultaneously across all platforms
• It ensures that all users have access to the latest version of the app at the same time
• This adds to the consistency of their overall experiences

Key factors to consider When Choosing A Cross-Platform Framework

While cross-platform development is no doubt very appealing – it has one drawback:

• The type of framework you use to develop the app dictates everything
• Project cost, timeline, app’s UX – all of this depends on the cross-platform development framework you choose
• Therefore, selecting the right framework is important

Here are the main points to consider when choosing a cross-platform mobile app development framework:

Performance

• Evaluate how well the framework optimizes app performance
• Look for metrics that demonstrate the framework’s ability to handle complex functionalities efficiently
• Frameworks like Flutter are known for their near-native performance due to Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation
• So, apps built with Flutter can achieve frame rates of 60-120 fps and compete with native apps

Ease of Use

• Assess the learning curve associated with the framework
• Check if the framework provides comprehensive tools for debugging and testing, which can simplify the development process

Community Support

• A strong community means better support and more resources
• Ensure there are thorough documentation, plugins, and troubleshooting assistance  available online
• All these help developers work with the framework more effectively

Scalability

• Consider how well the framework supports scaling your app as user demand grows
• The framework should efficiently manage increasing user loads without compromising performance
• For instance, Xamarin is designed to handle increased loads effectively, making it suitable for apps that anticipate growth

Third-Party Integrations

• Check if the framework integrates well with popular APIs and plugins
• This compatibility can enhance your app’s functionality
• For example, Flutter supports various third-party libraries that can be easily integrated into apps

Built-in Security Features

•  Ensure the framework has robust security measures in place
• The framework of your choice should protect against risks like insecure data storage and authentication vulnerabilities
• Review the framework’s issue tracker for security vulnerabilities and how promptly they are addressed

Expertise of Your Team

• Ensure your team has the necessary skills to work with the chosen framework

Vendor Reliability and Support

• Research the companies behind the frameworks you are considering
• Reliable vendors continue to support their frameworks long-term
• The support ensures stability for your projects
• Find out how often updates occur and whether they introduce breaking changes
• A mature framework has a stable API that minimizes disruptions during development

UI Customization

• Depending on your app’s needs, assess how easily you can customize the UI using a particular framework
• For instance, Kotlin Multiplatform allows for extensive UI customization across platforms while maintaining shared code 

Top Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks in 2024   

We have already name-dropped quite a few cross-platform app development frameworks so far. Now, let us dive deep into the most highly-rated ones of 2024.

Flutter

• Google created Flutter
• It was first released in May 2017 (first stable release in December 2018) 

Google’s engineers had four goals for their own cross-platform framework

• Increase developer productivity
• Allow for an object-oriented paradigm (like React Native)
• Create an app development framework that can handle short-lived allocations quickly and efficiently in memory
• Create a framework that facilitates the creation of apps that deliver high-performance results

From its initial stable release, Flutter has enjoyed a flurry of updates. These helpful updates have made this framework gain immense popularity among developers:

• Flutter’s usage rate surged from 30% in 2019 to 46% in 2023
• It is now the most-used cross-platform framework among mobile app developers 
• There are over 500k Flutter-based applications on the Play Store alone
• Flutter apps have been downloaded 11+ billion times across operating systems
• They now constitute over 3.55% of all mobile apps in the world

Key Features

Fast Performance

• Flutter is designed for high-performance
• It targets a frame rate of up to 120 Hz
• This makes Flutter apps highly responsive, even when processing animations

Rich UI Components

• The framework provides a wide array of customizable widgets
• These widgets adhere to both Google’s Material Design and Apple’s Cupertino guidelines
• The feature makes it easy for mobile app developers to create visually appealing interfaces for their apps

Hot Reload

• One of Flutter’s standout features is hot reload
• It allows developers to see code changes instantly without restarting the app
• Changes are typically visible within 100 to 200 milliseconds while maintaining the app’s state

Pros

Developers are increasingly choosing Flutter for several reasons:

Simplified Development Process

• Setting up a new Flutter application is straightforward
• A simple command (flutter create) initializes a project
• Running the app (flutter run) provides immediate feedback through hot reload

Robust Tooling

• Flutter includes powerful tools like Dart Fix and Flutter Analyze
• Dart fix automatically updates code when new versions are released
• Flutter analyzes scans for issues and provides solutions – saving developers time

Cross-Platform Flexibility

• Flutter allows developers to create apps that adapt to different platforms seamlessly
• It can automatically switch between design languages, such as Material and Cupertino, based on the user’s device

Great for Custom UI

• Flutter excels at building unique user interfaces due to its extensive library of widgets

Wide Community Support

• A strong community surrounds Flutter
• Receiving resources, plugins, and troubleshooting assistance online is very easy

Cons

Larger App Sizes

• Applications built with Flutter can have larger file sizes compared to native mobile apps

Still Maturing

• Some features are still evolving, which may present challenges for specific use cases

Use Cases

• Flutter is particularly well-suited for startups and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs)
• Its rapid development capabilities allow businesses to launch quickly and efficiently
• Developers can target both iOS and Android simultaneously without spending too much time or resources

In summary, Flutter offers a powerful (probably the most powerful in the market today) solution for cross-platform app development.

Its combination of performance + flexibility + community support makes it an excellent choice for developers aiming to create high-quality yet cost-effective mobile apps

React Native

• React Native is an open-source cross-platform app development framework
• It was developed by Meta in 2015
• It allows developers to use JavaScript to build mobile apps for Android/iOS
• JavaScript is one of the most widely used programming languages
• So, using it for scalable cross-platform mobile app development is an exciting prospect for many JavaScript developers

In 2012, Mark Zuckerberg admitted that relying on HTML5 for Facebook’s mobile app was a mistake:

• In 2013, Facebook engineers created native UI elements for iOS using JavaScript
• The basic React Native framework was introduced at the React.js Conference in January 2015
• By March of ‘15, RN was open-sourced and available on GitHub

Since its launch, React Native has streamlined the development process for millions of mobile app developers:

• Companies like Microsoft, Instagram, and SoundCloud use React Native to accelerate their development cycles
• 35% of mobile app developers who use cross-platform frameworks use React Native in their day-to-day work
• 8.4% of ALL software developers in the world use React Native in 2024

Key Features

Reusable Components

• React Native allows developers to create reusable components that can be shared across platforms
• This promotes consistency and speeds up development

Live Reload

• Developers can see changes in real-time without losing the app’s state
• This feature enhances productivity during development

Strong Community

• A large community supports React Native, providing free resources, libraries, and plugins

Pros

Code Reuse

• Developers can write about 90% of their code once and use it for both Android/iOS apps
• This significantly cuts development costs

Fast Development Cycles

• The ability to see changes instantly with live reload allows for quicker iterations

Large Ecosystem

• The extensive library of third-party plugins and resources enhances the functionality
• They also reduce the need for manual development effort

Cons

Performance Limitations

• React Native apps may require additional optimization or manual integration with native modules for heavy computational tasks

Use Cases

• React native is ideal for building social media apps due to its fast development cycle and ability to handle user interactions smoothly
• Many eCommerce platforms leverage React Native to provide a seamless shopping experience across devices

React Native is a robust cross-platform framework that anyone interested in creating premium-grade mobile apps should consider.

Ionic

• Ionic is an open-source framework cross-platform framework
• It is based on ANgular and Apache Cordova
• It allows developers to build hybrid mobile apps using HTML + CSS + JavaScript
• Ionic also provides a user interface (UI) layer that integrates well with native device capabilities

Ionic ranks as the third-most popular cross-platform app development framework globally:

• It had an average of 9-11% developer adoption rate between 2022-23
• Sites like G2 have recognized Ionic as one of the easiest frameworks to master
• In 2023, nearly 150k apps were published using Ionic

Key Features

Hybrid Approach

• Ionic combines web technologies with native device capabilities through Cordova
• It allows for native-like experiences across platforms – whether you use it to build iOS, Android, desktop, or progressive web apps

Extensive Plugin Library

• Ionic supports numerous plugins
• These plugins facilitate easy access to device features like the camera/GPS

Easy Testing

• The framework comes with a variety of app-testing tools
• These tools drastically enhance development workflows

Pros

• Supports quick prototyping
• Offers a wide array of customizable UI components
• All Ui components adhere to material design principles

Cons

• Over-reliance on web technologies
• May face performance limitations when handling heavy graphics or complex animations

Use Cases

• Ionic is ideal for developing enterprise apps that require robust workflow management
• Its capabilities make it suitable for building Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that function seamlessly across devices

Overall, Ionic’s combination of a hybrid approach, an extensive plugin library, and ease of use makes it a strong choice for fast and cost-effective hybrid mobile app development.

Xamarin

• Xamarin is a Microsoft-backed framework
• It uses C# and .NET to facilitate cross-platform mobile app development
• It enables developers to create a single codebase that can be deployed across iOS, Android, and Windows

Xamarin remains a popular choice for cross-platform apps

• It has a usage rate of approximately 8% among cross-platform mobile app developers
• In 2023, Xamarin was integrated into the .NET ecosystem
• It is evolving into .NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI)

Key Features

Native Performance

• Xamarin compiles code into native binaries
• This method ensures optimal speed and responsiveness on each platform

Hardware Acceleration

• Xamarin apps are compiled to native code 
• You also get to implement platform-specific functionality with custom-rendered and dependency services
• All this gives you the flexibility to leverage native features as required
• It also allows for hardware acceleration
• That means you can categorically enhance the performance of apps on certain devices

Unified UI Toolkit

• Xamarin provides a unified User Interface (UI) toolkit
• It allows developers to create a single UI that works across multiple platforms
• The framework also offers an extensive library of UI controls
• This library allows you to build feature-rich apps without extensive custom development.

Pros

• Provides direct access to native device features
• Allows developers to leverage platform-specific functionalities
• Integrates seamlessly with Visual Studio which gives developers access to powerful development tools for debugging/testing

Cons

• Developers unfamiliar with C# or .NET. may face a steep learning curve  
• Despite all the built-in features and libraries – it lacks many of the third-party libraries that are easily available in other frameworks

Use Cases

• High-performance finance, fintech, and healthcare apps, wherein speed and reliability are critical
• Internal business apps
• Employee management systems
• Field service apps
• Sales and CRM applications

Unity

• Unity is a popular cross-platform game engine
• It was developed by Unity Technologies
• It is widely used for mobile game development and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) mobile apps

As of 2024, Unity is one of the most widely used game engines globally:

• It has 2.5 million registered developers
• It powers approximately 50% of all mobile games

Key Features

Powerful 2D/3D Rendering

• Unity provides advanced rendering capabilities for 2D + 3D graphics
• It allows developers to create visually stunning games

Support for Most Gaming Engines

• Unity supports various gaming engines and tools
• It allows developers to integrate additional functionalities easily

Pros

• Ideal for building visually intensive mobile apps
• The Unity Asset Store offers a vast library of models, scripts, tools, and all types of assets you need to accelerate development

Cons

• Not suited for non-gaming apps

Use Cases

• All types of gaming apps from mobile to console to PC
• AR and VR apps

In summary, Unity is a powerful game engine that most developers use to create mobile games.

Other Emerging Cross-Platform Frameworks to Watch in 2025

In addition to the top 5 we just listed, here are some cross-platform frameworks that are on the rise and deserve our attention

Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM)

• KMM combines Kotlin’s versatility with native performance
• It is gaining a lot of traction among developers who are familiar with Kotlin
• KMM supports interoperability with SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose
• It allows for flexible code sharing, i.e., developers get to choose how much code they share between platforms (including UI components) which drastically enhances code reusability
• It is one of the most exciting Android app development frameworks in the market

SwiftUI + Jetpack Compose

• SwiftUI and Jetpack Compose are modern UI frameworks from Apple and Google, respectively
• These frameworks allow for declarative UI development
• That means developers get to describe the UI as a function of the app state
• This feature makes it super-easy to build responsive UI
• SwiftUI continues to evolve with new features introduced in each iOS release
• Jetpack Compose has also built a strong developer community since its launch in 2020
• This combo is ideal for developers specializing in IoS programming languages

WebAssembly

• WebAssembly enables near-native performance on the web for cross-platform solutions
• It allows developers to run code written in multiple languages on the web at near-native speed
• It executes code at high speed
• It is ideal for rapidly developing performance-critical apps and MVPs
• Developers can write code in languages like C++, Rust, or Go, compile it to WebAssembly, and use that code in web apps
• WebAssembly is gaining traction as more developers recognize its potential for building high-performance web apps

Choosing the Right Framework for Your Project

With so many frameworks to choose from, how do you make your decision? Here’s how:

Project Scope

• Assess your project’s scope
• Check which framework excels in your app’s category
• Go check the ‘Use Cases’ section in each of our reviews
• Unity is a strong choice for gaming apps
• Xamarin is ideal for high-performance apps
• RN is for social media and eCommerce
• Flutter is great for rapid MVP development

Budget & Timeline

• Consider the costs associated with each framework
• Open-source frameworks like Ionic have lower initial costs
• Frameworks like RN allow for quick iterations and faster development cycles

Developer Skillset

• Assess your developers’ expertise before selecting a framework
• If they are proficient in JavaScript – RN or Ionic is suitable
• If they excel in C# then Xamarin would be a natural fit

Align these factors with the strengths of different frameworks. Then, make a common-sense decision. 

Future Trends in Cross-Platform Development

Before we sign off, here are some things everyone in the cross-platform mobile app development company is excited about:

Rise of AI and ML Integrations

• Cross-platform frameworks are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create smarter apps
• These cross-platform apps can learn from user interactions, personalize experiences, and automate processes
• React Native and Flutter are leading the way in AI integration
• They support libraries such as TensorFlow.js and Firebase ML Kit that allow developers to implement AI features easily

Focus on Performance Optimization

• Performance optimization is a critical focus for most cross-platform frameworks
• Developers aim to reduce app size and improve load times to enhance user experience
• Frameworks are evolving to include performance-enhancing features
• Flutter’s new “tree-shaking” capabilities help reduce the size of the final app by eliminating unused code
• Frameworks like Ionic and RN also provide tools to optimize assets and minimize file sizes

Growing Support for IoT and Wearables

• Cross-platform frameworks are adapting to support the growing ecosystem of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wearables
• Frameworks like Xamarin and React Native are increasingly being used to develop smart apps
• Many frameworks now provide APIs that facilitate communication with IoT devices
• For example, Fitbit’s new mobile app was built using Ionic

Conclusion

There we have it – the ultimate guide to cross-platform app development frameworks as you approach 2025! We hope this blog encourages you to choose a framework and build your next, world-changing multi-platform app. If you’re still exploring the best mobile app development frameworks for your project, feel free to reach out. contact us at Itobuz. We offer free consultations and detailed quotes to help you understand how we can bring your multi-platform app vision to life!