Planning on building a mobile app but confused with choosing between native and hybrid technologies?

While evaluating this across different products that I have managed, led or consulted, I find these 10 factors useful. While there maybe other factors too, I prioritize these 10 key factors or rephrasing them as questions while making / suggesting the technology choices.

LFG!

Cost Considerations
Native apps typically cost more because they necessitate separate codebases for each platform, iOS and Android. However, hybrid apps use a single codebase that considerably lowers the development cost and effort.

Time Lines (of course!)
The single codebase of hybrid apps allows for quicker development and faster market launch compared to their native counterparts.

Available Expertise
Your team's technical skills can guide the decision. Native app development demands proficiency in Swift (for iOS) and Kotlin or Java (for Android). On the other hand, hybrid app development leans more towards JavaScript (React Native) or Dart (Flutter).

Performance Parameters
With their platform-specific build, native apps usually perform better and offer superior integration with device features. If your app is complex or performance-intensive, native apps may be preferable.

User Experience
Native apps often deliver a superior user experience as they seamlessly integrate with the device's OS, offering smoother transitions and animations. If your app has a simple design, a hybrid version could provide a satisfactory user experience.

Native Device Feature Access
If your app heavily relies on native device features like GPS, camera, accelerometer, etc., native apps could provide more efficient access and performance. Yet, hybrid frameworks have also significantly advanced and offer extensive device feature access.

Maintenance and Updates
Maintaining and updating two separate codebases for native apps can be quite a chore.

User Demographics
If your users span across both Android and iOS platforms, a hybrid app could help you reach both audiences more quickly. But if your user base leans heavily towards one platform, a native app for that platform could be a better choice.

Design Considerations
Native apps can more readily adapt to the specific design guidelines of their respective platforms (Material Design for Android, Human Interface Guidelines for iOS). Achieving a similar result with hybrid apps can be more challenging, though not impossible.

Scalability
If you plan to scale your app in terms of complexity, starting with a native app might be a more sustainable decision, despite the initial investment.

Choosing between a native and hybrid app depends on a balance of several factors. Analyzing these considerations based on your unique circumstances and product requirements can significantly streamline your decision-making process.