Cross-platform mobile app development is an increasingly popular approach to building mobile apps.
And for a good reason, too – it’s a fast, cost-effective way to build apps that can reach a wide audience.
But, you need to do it right – and to do that, you need the right tools for the job.
That’s why we’ll discuss the top 6 cross-platform mobile app development frameworks you should use in 2025.
If you’re an engineer looking to get into cross-platform development or a cost-conscious CTO looking to build an app with a wide reach, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Why choose cross-platform app development?
Cross-platform apps can run on multiple operating systems, like Android and iOS, and are written from a single codebase, which means you don’t have to write separate code for each platform.
The eBay Motors app is a great example. The team had under a year to build new fully-featured apps, from concept to launch, for both Android and iOS.
Since they were a small team, building 2 native apps in that timeframe was nearly impossible. But with Flutter, they managed to launch the beta version in 3 months and a full production app just a few months later.
And in an internal survey, 100% of developers on the eBay motors team said they enjoyed Flutter development more than iOS/Android and 70% thought it was at least twice as fast.
The top 6 cross-platform frameworks currently out there are:
Flutter
React Native
Kotlin Multiplatform
.NET MAUI
Ionic
NativeScript
Out of these, Flutter is the most popular, with React Native a close second.
Flutter is an open-source front-end framework used to develop cross-platform apps.
Built by Google, Flutter compiles to native code, so your app will look and feel just like a native app – at a fraction of the cost it would take to 2 native apps.
It’s ideal for graphics-intensive applications with complex user interactions.
Under heavy computational loads, Flutter can consistently maintain 60fps performance while competing frameworks may drop to 45fps.
Since it compiles to native ARM code, it ensures optimal performance on both iOS and Android devices.
And Flutter’s widget-based approach means every element of your app’s interface is a widget, from layout structures to visual elements like buttons and text.
This consistency makes Flutter particularly powerful for creating custom, brand-specific user experiences that maintain visual consistency across platforms.
Important features
Hot reload
In Flutter, you can see code changes in real-time and you don’t need to restart your app – this can save you a lot of time.
Expressive UI widgets
Flutter has a rich set of customizable widgets with per-pixel Skia rendering for adaptive, polished designs, so you can quickly create great-looking UIs for your app.
Firebase integration
Flutter easily integrates with Firebase, which simplifies back-end development for your app.
Fast performance
Compiled ahead-of-time to ARM/native code for smooth animations and swift startup.
Native feature access
Platform channels and an extensive plugin ecosystem help you tap into device APIs (camera, sensors, etc.) for native-like performance.
Strong support network
Flutter has a very active community and a huge package library (pub.dev) with a wide range of plugins and pre-built solutions for common app requirements.
React Native is an open-source front-end framework used to develop UIs for mobile apps.
Built by Meta and based on React, React Native combines React, a top Javascript library for UIs, with native mobile app development features and components.
This means that you can create cross-platform apps that feel and look like native apps.
React Native uses a bridge to connect JavaScript code with native platform APIs. That means you can tap into device-specific features without giving up code portability.
It also makes it easier to work with existing iOS or Android code – great if you’ve already invested in native development.
React Native is backed by Meta and has one of the biggest developer communities out there.
That means it has tons of third-party libraries, quick fixes for most issues, and well-written docs that make onboarding much easier
And that’s why it’s a good choice.
Important features
Native components
React Native allows you to use native components to create high-quality UIs for your app, making your cross-platform app feel and act like a native app.
Hot reloading
In React Native, you can instantly see the results of any code changes without restarting your app which speeds up development.
Extensive ecosystem
React Native can integrate with a huge number of libraries, tools, and frameworks to extend its functionality.
Declarative component model
You can use React paradigms (JSX, props, state) to build a clean, modular UI.
Continuous updates
Hermes engine support, auto-batching, Suspense, TypeScript default, improved bridging – just to name a few.
.NET MAUI uses a single project structure that targets multiple platforms at once.
That means less time managing separate codebases and more time building. You can still use platform-specific APIs when needed, so the end result feels native.
It integrates tightly with Visual Studio and VS Code, giving you powerful debugging, testing, and deployment tools.
Hot reload makes iteration fast, and support for MVVM patterns helps keep your codebase clean and testable.
.NET MAUI plays nicely with Azure, Microsoft 365, and existing .NET backends. It’s built for enterprise needs – security, compliance, and large-scale deployments are all baked in.
Important features
Single-project structure
You can use one C#/.NET project targeting Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Tizen – no need for platform-specific projects.
Native UI rendering
Uses each platform’s native UI controls under the hood for a true native look and feel.
Cross-platform UI and graphics engine
Includes layouts, controls (via XAML/C#), drawing canvas and shape support in a unified API.
.NET hot reload
You can modify XAML or C# code during runtime and instantly see changes without restarting the app
Blazor hybrid support
Hosts web UIs using BlazorWebView or HybridWebView to share web/native logic.
Visual Studio and .NET integration
Full IDE support, debugging tools, and extensive open-source libraries .
Kotlin Multiplatform doesn’t prescribe a specific architecture or framework for UI development, so you can use native UI technologies.
This lets you modernize your tech stack without starting from scratch.
You can share core logic across iOS and Android – things like data models, networking, and business rules – while still building fully native UIs.
It’s a great fit if you want to move toward cross-platform but keep your existing native apps and teams in place.
And you can plug Kotlin Multiplatform into your current codebases with minimal disruption.
It integrates directly with Gradle, which makes managing dependencies and builds a lot simpler. That means faster setup, cleaner workflows, and no headaches during deployment
And that’s why it’s a great choice.
Important features
Code sharing across platforms
With Kotlin Multiplatform, you share code and business logic for multiple platforms without sacrificing your app’s user experience
Interoperability with native code
The code you write in Kotlin Multiplatform can seamlessly integrate with your existing iOS and Android codebases
Gradle support
Kotlin Multiplatform supports Gradle, a build automation tool, which simplifies dependency management and improves productivity.
Flexible code sharing
You can choose what to share – UI, logic, or partial modules, with optional Compose Multiplatform for shared UIs.
Production-ready framework
Backed by JetBrains and Google, Kotlin Multiplatform is a stable framework for mobile app development and expanding to web/desktop.
NativeScript is an open-source framework used to build native mobile apps on multiple platforms using JavaScript and TypeScript.
NativeScript gives you direct access to native iOS and Android APIs while still letting you write apps in JavaScript or TypeScript.
Unlike frameworks that rely on a bridge, there’s no extra layer, so you get better performance and tighter control over how your app runs.
And since the code is written in JavaScript or TypeScript and compiled to native code, you only need to write it once and deploy it on multiple platforms.
How to choose the right cross-platform mobile app development framework?
Picking the right framework isn’t just about performance or popularity.
It’s about choosing what actually fits your team, your project, and your long-term plans.
The first thing you need to look at is your and your team’s expertise. The more familiar your are with the tech, the faster you can move. Here’s a couple of examples:
JavaScript teams will feel right at home with React Native or NativeScript.
.NET teams may prefer .NET MAUI since it builds on what they already know.
Flutter’s performance is solid, but it comes with a learning curve.
Then, there’s performance.
Not every app needs to push the limits. Focus on what it actually needs to do.
The more demanding the use case, the more carefully you need to match the framework.
For example, if you need complex animations or real-time updates, Flutter is likely your best bet.
You also need to think about maintenance and future-proofing – you don’t want to choose a framework that will leave you hanging a year from now.
Flutter (backed by Google) and React Native (backed by Meta) have strong communities and clear roadmaps for future development.
And .NET MAUI ties into Microsoft’s long-term enterprise vision.
The bottom line is this: you should pick the framework that best fits your team, your app, and your plans – not just the one with the loudest hype.
Top cross-platform mobile app development frameworks: FAQs
In most cases, very close – especially with frameworks like Flutter and React Native.
Flutter compiles to native ARM code and renders UI using its own Skia engine, which means performance is highly predictable and consistent across platforms.
This makes it a strong choice for apps that need pixel-perfect UI or handle frequent UI redraws, like dashboards or animations.
React Native relies on a bridge between JavaScript and native modules.
While this can introduce slight overhead in apps with a high volume of async operations or frequent UI updates, in real-world business apps (think forms, API-driven UIs, CRUD-heavy workflows), performance is nearly indistinguishable from native.
That said, for performance-critical use cases – like 60 FPS animations, real-time media processing, or complex 3D rendering – true native (Swift/Kotlin) or game engines (e.g., Unity) are still the better fit.
It depends on your priorities and setup.
Flutter is often faster at runtime thanks to ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation and its fully custom rendering engine. It also avoids reliance on OEM components, which gives you more UI consistency across platforms. But it comes with trade-offs:
You’ll need to learn and adopt Dart, which has a smaller hiring pool and ecosystem compared to JavaScript.
Flutter apps can be larger in binary size due to bundled rendering logic.
Native platform integrations (especially for iOS) sometimes require custom platform channels, which adds complexity.
React Native, on the other hand, is built around JavaScript, uses native components, and has a massive community and plugin ecosystem.
It’s more mature in terms of third-party integrations, particularly with platform SDKs. However, it suffers from performance bottlenecks if you’re pushing the bridge too hard with complex interactions or animations.
In short, choose Flutter for full control over UI, better runtime performance, and a modern toolchain. And choose React Native if you’re invested in JavaScript, want a lower barrier to entry, and care more about development speed than full UI customization.
React Native is the most natural fit. You can build native mobile apps using the same language, libraries, and tooling you’re already using for web – plus a massive ecosystem of packages.
If you’re working in a TypeScript-first environment, this also translates well to React Native and NativeScript.
NativeScript allows you to access native iOS and Android APIs directly from JavaScript or TypeScript without going through a bridge. It’s great for teams that need fine-grained control over native features, but it comes with a steeper learning curve and a smaller community.
Ionic is also worth mentioning – especially if you’re building apps that are more UI/content-focused than performance-critical.
It uses standard web technologies and can share code across web, iOS, and Android, but may struggle with high-performance requirements.
Need a cross-platform app?
Do you have a great idea for an app but want to make it fast, and cost-effective?
Don’t worry, we can help you make it a reality.
We’ll handle your app’s development from start to finish, from validating your idea to post-launch maintenance and updates.
If you want to learn more, check out our approach to mobile app development and feel free to get in touch with us.
And if you’re an engineer just browsing for insights and best practices – we’ve got you covered, too.
Check out our engineering hub for deep dives, practical guides, and real-world lessons we’ve learned during our 13+ years in business.
When something unusual happens, Vlado is the man with an explanation. An experienced iOS Team Lead with a PhD in Astrophysics, he has a staggering knowledge of IT. Vlado has a lot of responsibilities, but still has time to help everybody on the team, no matter how big or small the need.
His passions include coffee brewing, lengthy sci-fi novels and all things Apple. On nice days, you might find Vlado on a trail run. On rainier days, you’ll probably find him making unique furniture in the garage.
Before developing an app, it’s important to note that there are different technologies you can employ, and be aware of the differences between them
Whether you choose to build a native, hybrid, or cross-platform app, each of these technologies has its own pros and cons, depending on the nature of your project.
In this article, we’ll offer you some insight into native and cross-platform technologies.
