What Are Native Apps? Complete Guide to Native Mobile Development

Discover everything you need to know about native apps, from what makes them different to how you can build them without extensive coding knowledge.

What Are Native Apps?

Native apps are mobile applications built specifically for a particular operating system (iOS or Android) using platform-native programming languages and frameworks. Unlike web apps that run in browsers or hybrid apps that use webviews, native apps are compiled to machine code that runs directly on the device's operating system.

The term "native" refers to the fact that these apps are designed to be native to a specific platform, leveraging platform-specific capabilities, design patterns, and performance optimizations.

How Do Native Apps Work?

iOS Native Apps

Native iOS apps are traditionally built using:

• Programming Languages: Swift (modern) or Objective-C (legacy)
• Development Environment: Xcode IDE
• Frameworks: UIKit, SwiftUI, Core Data, and other Apple frameworks
• Distribution: Apple App Store

Android Native Apps

Native Android apps are traditionally built using:

• Programming Languages: Kotlin (modern) or Java (legacy)
• Development Environment: Android Studio IDE
• Frameworks: Android SDK, Jetpack Compose, Room, and other Google frameworks
• Distribution: Google Play Store

Cross-Platform Native Apps

Modern frameworks like React Native and Flutter allow developers to build native apps for both platforms using a single codebase. These apps still compile to native code and provide native performance, but they don't require separate codebases for iOS and Android.

React Native uses JavaScript/TypeScript and compiles to native components, making it a popular choice for teams who want native performance without learning Swift and Kotlin.

Key Characteristics of Native Apps

1. Platform-Specific

Native apps are designed specifically for iOS or Android, following each platform's unique design guidelines, navigation patterns, and user interface conventions. This creates a familiar, intuitive experience for users.

2. Superior Performance

Because native apps compile to machine code and run directly on the operating system, they offer the fastest possible performance. Animations are smooth, interactions are instant, and the app feels responsive.

3. Full Device Access

Native apps have complete access to all device features and capabilities:

• Camera and photo library
• GPS and location services
• Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint)
• Push notifications
• Contacts and calendar
• Health and fitness data
• Bluetooth and NFC
• Device sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.)
• Apple Pay / Google Pay

4. Offline Functionality

Native apps can function fully offline, storing data locally on the device and syncing when internet connectivity is restored. This is crucial for apps used in areas with poor connectivity or for features that must work regardless of network status.

5. App Store Distribution

Native apps are distributed through official app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play Store), which provides:

• Credibility and trust from users
• Built-in discovery mechanisms
• Secure payment processing
• Automatic updates
• Quality standards and review processes

Benefits of Native Apps

Popular Examples of Native Apps

Most successful mobile apps you use daily are native apps:

• Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook, Snapchat
• Communication: WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord
• Transportation: Uber, Lyft, Google Maps, Waze
• Entertainment: Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, Twitch
• Productivity: Slack, Notion, Todoist, Evernote
• Finance: PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, banking apps
• E-commerce: Amazon, eBay, Shopify apps
• Health & Fitness: MyFitnessPal, Strava, Headspace

Native Apps vs. Other App Types

Native Apps vs. Web Apps

Web apps run in browsers and are built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While easier to develop and deploy, they:

• Have slower performance
• Limited access to device features
• Don't work as well offline
• Feel less like "real" apps

Read our full comparison: Web Apps vs Native Apps →

Native Apps vs. Hybrid Apps

Hybrid apps use web technologies wrapped in a native container (webview). They combine the worst of both worlds:

• Slower than native apps
• Feel like web apps, not native apps
• Limited access to device features
• Harder to maintain than true native or web apps

React Native: Best of Both Worlds

React Native apps are true native apps, not hybrid apps. They use JavaScript for logic but render real native components, providing:

• Native performance and user experience
• Full access to device features
• Single codebase for iOS and Android
• Large community and ecosystem
• Used by major companies (Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Shopify)

How to Build Native Apps

Traditional Approach

The traditional way to build native apps requires:

• Learning Swift (iOS) and Kotlin (Android)
• Setting up Xcode and Android Studio
• Building separate codebases for each platform
• Managing different UI frameworks and patterns
• 3-6 months of development time
• $50,000 - $500,000+ in development costs

Modern Approach with React Native

Using React Native and Expo:

• Write JavaScript/TypeScript instead of Swift/Kotlin
• Single codebase for both platforms
• Hot reload for faster development
• Large library of pre-built components
• Still requires coding knowledge

AI-Powered Approach with Natively

With Natively, you can build production-ready native apps without any coding:

When Should You Build a Native App?

Choose native app development when you:

• Need the best possible performance and user experience
• Require access to device features (camera, GPS, biometrics, etc.)
• Want offline functionality
• Are building a complex, feature-rich application
• Need push notifications
• Want to monetize through app stores
• Are targeting mobile-first users
• Need platform-specific design patterns

In other words: almost always. Native apps consistently outperform other approaches in user satisfaction, engagement, and retention.

Conclusion

Native apps represent the gold standard for mobile development, offering superior performance, user experience, and capabilities. While traditionally expensive and time-consuming to build, modern tools have dramatically democratized native app development.

With React Native and Expo, developers can build true native apps with a single codebase. And with Natively, anyone can create production-ready native apps using AI, without writing a single line of code.

If you're building a mobile application in 2025, native development should be your default choice—and Natively makes it more accessible than ever.