WHICH PLATFORM SHOULD I DEVELOP FOR FIRST: ANDROID OR IOS?
Mobile app development is among the most steadily increasing sectors in software creation. Since the explosion in the number of mobile applications few years back, the desire for speedy and convenient apps has been only increasing. In 2020 alone, it is anticipated that users allocate nearly 87 percent of the time they spend online to mobile applications.
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, mobile application development has also experienced a tremendous flood of interest, as firms were pushed to migrate online swiftly and fully. Microsoft Teams software for videoconferencing had a 1000 percent growth in users in March, exceeding 2.7 billion minutes of sessions in a single day. Telehealth, education, and countless other industries have also showed an extreme need for mobile apps to assist them adapt. Looking for Hire iOS Developers for your business needs.
When opting for native app development, there are two basic platforms to choose from: Android and iOS. Worldwide, they are the absolute leaders on the market. Both Android and iOS give fantastic development opportunities, and it’s vital to take a close look at an in-depth iOS vs. Android comparison before making the selection.
In this post, we’ll offer you an outline of the pros and risks of both these platforms and pinpoint their key distinctions to help you make the right choice for your organization.
Android development pros and cons
The benefits of designing for Android
Flexibility. Generally, Android delivers a considerably less constrained environment than iOS. In terms of distribution, these apps will run on practically any Android smartphone, and you are unlikely to have any issues with hardware compatibility. The development process is much more flexible for Android. Looking for hire iPhone app developer in London for your business needs.
This platform also allows a smoother development experience by relying on Java. Java is an exceptionally versatile programming language that Windows, Mac OS, and Linux all support, allowing developers to build Android apps regardless of the OS their machine runs on.
Learning resources
Google offers a rich knowledge base for novices, exercises, interactive materials, and full training programs for different levels of Android developers.
Publishing the app
As of 2020, Google has been less permissive towards apps that developers seek to post on Google Play. The review process that used to be done automatically within seven hours now may take up to a week for new developers. Despite this novelty, though, the majority of Android apps that don’t breach the company’s content standard get approved. Developers also have to pay a pretty inexpensive one-time registration fee of $25.
Going beyond cellphones
Developing Android apps entails building software for a complete ecosystem of devices. You may extend your app’s functionality so it runs on Daydream and Cardboard VR headsets, Wear OS devices, Android Auto, and several more platforms. While this flexibility can present design challenges, it also provides you the potential to integrate your app onto users’ automobiles, TVs, and wearables in addition to phones.
The drawbacks of Android development
Quality assurance
The fragmentation can be incredibly useful, allowing you to create for numerous Android systems simultaneously, but it makes testing extremely hard. Even in the simplest apps, developers regularly have to supply changes only because the bulk of users adhere to the older versions of the operating system instead of updating it when updates are available.
Cost
Developing for Android is typically more time-consuming than for iOS. The costs increase proportionally, both in development and subsequent quality assurance.
Users spend less inside the app
Android users tend to favor free apps, and they also spend less on in-app purchases than iOS users do.
Possible security risks
Android is an open-source platform, and therefore has a larger possibility of falling victim to cyberattacks than the far more closed-off iOS rival.
Developing iOS apps: Pros and drawbacks
The advantages of iOS development
Performance
iOS mobile app development is in such great demand because these applications always perform incredibly well. This platform is fast, dependable, and easy-to-use, with few defects lingering in the final build of any project.
Creating an Apple ecosystem
As far as the advantages and downsides of iOS app development go, this argument may belong to either group. On the one hand, having only one piece—for instance, a smartphone—that runs such a sequestered OS is cumbersome for consumers, as it may be impossible to transfer files from one device to another. On the other side, working with this family of operating systems allows developers to design for a wide ecosystem of devices, rather than for targeted phones exclusively.
Sleek and immaculate UI/UX
Apple gives developers with precise recommendations for the construction of a user interface for their apps. While it may be restricting to some, this method often offers an amazing user experience.
The drawbacks of building for iOS
Rigid development environment requirements
For native iOS programming, developers need tools, such as XCode, that only runs on Mac. Therefore, to create for iOS smartphones, you will need at least one other piece of Apple technology.
App release
The Apple App Store is often more demanding than Google Play. Even if your app doesn’t break any regulations, it can still be rejected if it’s not relevant or helpful enough.
Customization
iOS restricts your ability to change the app’s interface. Also, it may be impossible to add some features if they involve interaction with third-party software.
iOS vs. Android development comparison
Future prospects
Android devices are now holding 74.4 percent of the global market share, which makes the future of Android app development quite bright. iOS devices are getting cheaper and gaining more and more popularity due to their strong performance and ongoing innovation. Overall, it’s not constructive to base your iOS vs. Android app development selections on the future view since both platforms will not lose popularity within the next several years.
Revenue
While Android is the undisputed leader in terms of the market share, consumers who choose iOS have a greater lifetime value (LTV) (LTV). It means that these users are more prone to invest money inside the app to buy extra content and become a long-standing—rather than a one-time—source of revenue. While there is no obvious victor in the Android vs. iOS developer income competition, analysts predict that total in-app user spending for the iOS App Store will top $60 billion in the next year.
If you’re intending to create a retail app or an app that offers comprehensive additional content that a user may buy, iOS will grant you more options to make a profit.
Target audience
To identify your target audience, you should analyze the planned features for the app first. However, there are also certain intrinsic variations between iOS and Android consumers, and you can utilize them when making a decision.
Statistics show that developing apps for Android may be more successful if your target audience is predominantly in technical or medical industries. iPhones are more popular among business professionals, managers, and sales gurus. Also, on average, persons who prefer iPhones tend to hold higher degrees, seek to stay up with the latest technology developments, and have a greater family income.
Budget for development and deadlines
For present, iOS remains the winner in the Android vs. iOS app development rivalry in terms of development time and the required budget. The coding languages that the two platforms utilize become a key factor.
Android relies on Java, whereas iOS employs Apple’s native programming language, Swift. Swift frequently looks to be more convenient and customized to the needs of iOS developers. This decreases the time required on coding, thereby decreasing the expenditures.
Also, unlike Android, iOS is not an open-source platform, and it promotes substantially more uniformity for the featured software to assure the appropriate and smooth running of the app on all devices it’s created for. The submitted information saves time during the development and decreases the future expenses on bug solutions.
Post-launch maintenance
Android users usually stick with previous versions of the OS. In reality, as much as 50 percent of all Android devices are currently running obsolete versions of Android, resulting in crashes and unexpected issues in new apps that are otherwise completely functioning. This problem is far less pronounced in iPhone users, meaning the maintenance for iOS apps is often cheaper than for Android software.
Desired features
The most notable distinction between iOS and Android is how open Android is compared to iOS. The former is an open-source operating system. For developers, that means gaining access to the hardware, file systems, and functionalities that are off-limits in iOS. Android is also more user-friendly when it comes to customisation.
Note: iOS is often perceived as a more secure system due to the closed-off approach Apple employs. Android apps can be more subject to tampering and cyberattacks.
User location
iOS app development may be more profitable if your target audience is in Western Europe, Australia, or North America. The market share of iOS outweighs Android in Japan and the U.S., while it comes close in the United Kingdom.
Android has broader global coverage, and it appeals to people in Latin America, Africa, and some sections of Europe. The market share of this platform beats iOS by a substantial percentage in Germany, China, Brazil, Nigeria, and India.
Publishing on App Store
In the Android versus iOS comparison, Android is currently a more accessible platform. Despite the fact that the review process takes longer in 2020 than it did a few years ago, Google Play still accepts the vast majority of submitted apps.If you maintain all of the company’s policy guidelines, the store is extremely likely to finally display your application.
The Apple App Marketplace is more discriminating towards the apps it accepts on the store. The review procedure is currently somewhat faster, with just two days for the majority of apps, but the probability of getting rejected is higher with Apple.
Also, with Google, developers just need to pay the first charge of $25 to start putting their apps on the store, unlike the yearly $99 fee with Apple’s App Store.
Although picking the proper platform is a key decision
keep in mind that your software will most likely do well on either of the discussed platforms. Consider your options carefully but avoid prolonging the development process too much by overthinking this choice.
Most clients are used to just one unique platform, therefore, it’s absolutely possible to effectively hit the market without producing a different copy of the app for multiple platforms. Also, post-release maintenance for two platforms is substantially more expensive and time-consuming than for a single codebase. Bugs, updates, and regular adjustments are all inevitable after the original release. Delivering patches is easier for one platform.
It’s considerably easier to start with only one platform. You can construct a functional prototype, expose it to the market, and wait for feedback from your first clients. Depending on the insights you gain, you can start planning the expansion to another platform or consider designing a cross-platform software instead.
