Top 10 Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks

Is it possible to instantly reach users on both iOS and Android without building two separate mobile app versions? The answer is yes, it is possible with cross-platform app development.

Businesses nowadays are rushing to satisfy consumers on a variety of mobile operating systems. That's not just a wish; it's a necessity for businesses to stay ahead of their competitors. For this reason, companies are now opting for iOS and Android cross-platform development.

This leads developers to use various types of cross-platform frameworks to build their apps. According to Statista, over 42% of developers now prefer using cross-platform frameworks to streamline their mobile development process.

Whether you’re a startup owner, a product manager, or a solo developer, finding the best way to build cross-platform mobile apps can save you time, money, and effort. However, with numerous tools available, how do you select the right one?

In this article, we’ll break down the top cross-platform frameworks, their uses, features, live apps, and more. Also, understand why cross-platform solutions are shaping the future of software development.

Let’s start by exploring some interesting statistics and facts about cross-platform development.

Cross-Platform Software Development Market

The cross-platform software development market is experiencing rapid growth. As of 2025, according to the Business Research Company, the cross-platform app market is projected to generate a revenue of $104.61 billion. Let’s explore some more interesting statistics and facts of this market:

->Verified Market Research stated that the cross-platform software market size was valued at 78.22 billion in 2023.

->The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.54% between 2025 and 2031, resulting in cross-platform development generating $212 billion by 2031.

->According to recent market research, cross-platform apps reduce development time and cost by 40%.

->Flutter is the most popular cross-platform app development framework, used by 46% of developers globally.

->After Flutter, React Native is the most popular framework, used by 28% of developers worldwide.

What is a Cross-Platform App Development Framework?

A cross-platform app development framework is a software tool that enables developers to create mobile applications that run seamlessly on multiple operating systems, such as iOS and Android. Here, the app development occurs using a single codebase.

The best thing about frameworks like Flutter or React Native is that they enable developers to write a single set of code that can be deployed across multiple platforms or devices, eliminating the need to write separate code for each platform. This saves time, resources, and ultimately money for businesses seeking to develop an app.

They include off-the-shelf components and libraries that help build, test, and maintain apps. Features of popular frameworks enable hybrid apps to run like native apps, providing a user experience nearly as good as native ones. It allows businesses to build things more quickly, spend less, and update without difficulty.

Approaching a larger target audience is possible with top cross-platform frameworks since they are flexible and efficient, making development more straightforward and faster. Essentially, these development platforms enable developers to create mobile apps that run on multiple systems.

Now, it's time to explore the top cross-platform app development frameworks, which are primarily used by developers and are in high demand by companies looking to create their own applications.

10 Best Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks

Choosing the wrong cross-platform mobile development framework could negatively impact your mobile strategy. We’ve shared with you a list of the top tools most developers and companies use to create smooth-operating mobile apps on iOS and Android. We’ll start by discussing one name that game developers know very well: Flutter.

1 Flutter

Flutter is one of the best cross-platform app development frameworks due to its efficient coding, rapid development, and high-quality results.

It’s a Google framework that enables developers to create applications for mobile, web, and desktop devices using a single codebase.

Key Features:

• Hot Reload for real-time code changes.
• Rich widget library.
• Strong support for custom UI.
• Dart programming language.

Developer: Google

Languages: Dart

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, macOS, Windows, and Linux

Famous Apps: Google Ads, Alibaba, and eBay Motors

Pros:

• Fast development with expressive UIs.
• High performance close to native.
• Strong community and documentation.
• The best way to develop cross-platform mobile apps

Cons:

• Larger app size.
• Limited support for some third-party libraries.

Developers use this platform the most because it reduces testing effort, is easy to learn, and is a cost-effective framework.

2 React Native

Meta (formerly Facebook) established React Native, which is an open-source platform that helps developers code with JavaScript and React to build cross-platform mobile apps. Codes programmed in Kotlin have the power to be used on both iOS and Android devices, providing a nearly identical high-quality experience that users expect.

Key Features:

• Reusable components across platforms.
• Live & Hot Reloading.
• Large ecosystem of plugins and libraries.
• Backed by a strong developer community.

Developer: Meta (Facebook).

Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.

Famous Apps: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Shopify.

Pros:

• Faster development with a shared codebase.
• Native-like look and feel.
• Easy integration with third-party plugins.

Cons:

• Performance may lag for complex animations.
• Requires native code knowledge for advanced features.
• Debugging can be tricky in larger projects.

React Native remains one of the best cross-platform app development tools for building scalable, high-quality mobile applications quickly.

3 Ionic

Ionic is one of the top mobile cross-platform frameworks, thanks to its fast operation, flexibility, and various user interface parts. It enables developers to create fast applications for the web and mobile devices using standard web languages, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Key Features:

• Extensive collection of pre-designed UI components.
• Integration with Angular, React, or Vue.
• Cordova and Capacitor provide support for native functionality.
• Real-time preview and debugging via Ionic DevApp.

Developer: Ionic Team (Drifty Co.).

Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, Desktop (Electron).

Famous Apps: Sworkit, Diesel, MarketWatch, and JustWatch.

Pros:

• Rapid prototyping with an extensive UI toolkit.
• One codebase for all platforms.
• Easy to learn for web developers.

Cons:

• May rely heavily on web views, which can affect native performance.
• Complex native features may require manual plugin development.
• Slightly larger app sizes compared to native.

Ionic is a cost-effective, web-first solution ideal for hybrid apps, progressive web apps, and internal business tools.

4 Qt

Qt is a robust cross-platform mobile development framework that enables developers to create native applications for multiple platforms from a single codebase. It is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer electronics due to its robust C++ architecture and extensive toolset.

Key Features:

• Rich set of customizable UI components and widgets.
• Qt Quick and QML for modern, fluid UIs.
• Integrated development environment (Qt Creator).
• High-performance native execution using C++.

Developer: The Qt Company

Languages: C++, QML

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Popular Apps: Adobe Photoshop Elements, Tesla car infotainment systems, Autodesk Maya, KDE desktop environment.

Pros:

• Rapid prototyping and development.
• Strong C++ foundation.
• Proven reliability and time-tested technology.

Cons:

• Lack of live reloading.
• Learning curve, it's challenging.
• It requires licensing and lacks web deployment.

Qt is undoubtedly an ideal framework for developers building complex solutions with demanding UI/UX requirements across multiple platforms.

5 NativeScript

NativeScript is one of the leading cross-platform development frameworks. It enables developers to build native mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript, TypeScript, and Angular. This framework provides direct access to native APIs, which allows developers to build apps with native performance and appearance from a single codebase.

Key Features:

• Direct access to native APIs (iOS and Android).
• Supports Angular, Vue.js, and vanilla JavaScript.
• Hot Module Replacement for real-time code changes.
• Built-in support for CSS styling.

Developer: Progress

Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, Vue.js.

Platforms: Android, iOS

Popular Apps: Regelneef, Strudel, BitPoints Wallet.

Pros:

• Reusability and faster development.
• Access to Native APIs.
• UI/UX consistency and cost-effective approach.

Cons:

• Smaller community and limited resources.
• Challenging learning curve.
• Slower initial testing process.

NativeScript is a suitable choice for developers looking to build high-performance mobile apps that fully leverage native platform capabilities.

Also Read: React Native vs. Xamarin vs. Ionic vs. Flutter

6 Xamarin

 

Microsoft’s Xamarin is a mainly used cross-platform tool that allows developers to build native apps for Android, iOS, or Windows using only C# code. Because it is closely linked to the .NET system, it is seen as a great option by both developers and companies.

Key Features:

• Native API access for Android, iOS, and Windows.
• Shared business logic across platforms using .NET and C#.
• Full access to native SDKs and device features.
• Integration with Visual Studio and Azure services.

Developer: Microsoft

Languages: C#, XAML

Platforms: Android, iOS, and Windows.

Popular Apps: The World Bank, Alaska Airlines, Olo, Storyo.

Pros:

• Code reusability and faster development.
• Native performance and user experience.
• Simplified maintenance and updates.

Cons:

• UI/UX consistency challenges.
• Performance bottlenecks sometimes.
• Limited access to native features.

Xamarin is ideal for developers familiar with C# and the .NET Framework. It is also suitable for businesses looking to build cross-platform apps with native performance and robust backend integration.

7 Node.js

Node.js is a versatile tool that helps in building server-side applications. While Node.js alone is not a framework, it is widely combined with others to help develop applications for all platforms. It is known for its non-blocking, event-driven architecture, which makes it ideal for creating fast and scalable apps.

Key Features:

• Asynchronous and event-driven I/O.
• Fast performance powered by a V8 engine.
• Built-in package manager: npm (Node Package Manager).
• Vast ecosystem with thousands of reusable modules.

Developer: Originally developed by Ryan Dahl, now maintained by the OpenJS Foundation.

Language: JavaScript (and TypeScript via tooling)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Popular Apps: Netflix, LinkedIn, PayPal, Trello, Uber.

Pros:

• Better scalability and performance.
• Large and active community.
• Cost-effective and a wide range of libraries.

Cons:

• Not ideal for heavy CPU-intensive tasks.
• Learning curves for some developers.
• Potential performance issues sometimes.

Node.js is a top choice for developers looking to build real-time, data-intensive, and scalable apps using a full JavaScript stack.

8 Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform is an open-source tool that enables developers to build cross-platform mobile applications. This means developers can take Kotlin code and apply it to various platforms, including Android, iOS, and the web. This framework is not a UI framework but a code-sharing technology for business logic, networking, data storage, and more.

Key Features:

• Share standard code across mobile, web, desktop, and backend.
• Write platform-specific code where needed.
• Interoperable with existing native code (Java, Swift/Obj-C, JS)
• Integration with popular libraries like Ktor (networking) and SQLDelight (database)

Developer: JetBrains

Language: Kotlin

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web (JavaScript/TypeScript), macOS, Windows, Linux, JVM (server).

Popular Apps: Philips, CashApp, Autodesk.

Pros:

• Code sharing and reduced development time.
• Native-level performance and consistent user experience.
• Enhance maintainability and scalability.

Cons:

• Not a UI framework.
• Still evolving; some libraries and tooling are in beta.
• Smaller ecosystem compared to Flutter or React Native.

This is an ideal framework for companies and developers who seek to maintain native user interfaces (UIs) while avoiding duplication of business logic across Android and iOS.

9 Appcelerator Titanium

Titanium comes in 9th place among the best cross-platform mobile app development frameworks, as it has both advantages and drawbacks.

With web components, people can create native mobile apps without having to use different tools for each operating system. A JavaScript API within the Titanium framework enables you to interact with native platform features. As a result, apps match the standard look and feel found on both iOS and Android.

Key Features:

• JavaScript-based development with access to native APIs
• Unified API for cross-platform compatibility.
• Live reload and rapid prototyping tools.
• Analytics and performance monitoring through Axway services.

Developer: Originally Appcelerator Inc., now part of Axway.

Language: JavaScript

Platforms: Android and iOS

Popular Apps: NBC Universal, Avis, Comerica Bank.

Pros:

• Truly native performance using JavaScript.
• Supports native UI components and interactions.
• Faster development with a shared codebase.

Cons:

• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to React Native or Flutter.
• Limited updates and slower feature rollouts since the acquisition by Axway.
• Not ideal for web or desktop apps, mobile-only focus.

The Titanium framework is ideal for JavaScript developers who want to build native apps without learning platform-specific languages like Swift or Kotlin.

10 PhoneGap

PhoneGap, now known as Apache Cordova, is a popular cross-platform mobile app development framework that enables developers to build cross-platform apps using technologies such as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. This framework, of course, helps reduce the time and money spent on iOS and Android cross-platform development.

Key Features:

• Cross-platform mobile development using standard web technologies.
• Access to native device features via JavaScript APIs.
• Support for a wide range of plugins.
• Easy testing and deployment via PhoneGap Build.

Developer: Originally Nitobi, then Adobe.

Language: CSS, JavaScript, and HTML.

Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone (limited), and web.

Popular Apps: TripCase, HealthTap (early versions).

Pros:

• Cost-effective and faster deployment.
• Broader market reach.
• Easy maintenance and scalability.

Cons:

• The framework is not ideal for hardware-intensive applications.
• Limited access to native features.
• Update delays.

Apache Cordova offers a powerful and flexible framework for developers seeking to create cross-platform mobile applications.

Let’s get a quick overview of these cross platform app development frameworks and what these platforms are best suited for through a table:

Benefits of Cross-Platform App Development Framework

From faster app development to lower costs to build, cross-platform frameworks offer several advantages to businesses and developers. Here are the five key benefits of a cross-platform mobile app development framework:

Easier to Update and Manage

Cross-platform apps enable developers to push updates simultaneously across all platforms, simplifying maintenance. It reduces versioning issues and ensures consistent performance and features for all users, regardless of their location.

Faster App Development

Developers can write a single codebase for multiple platforms, significantly reducing development time. This accelerates the app’s time-to-market and helps teams respond quickly to market demands or user feedback.

Reach More Users

By supporting both iOS and Android from a single codebase, cross-platform apps can reach a broader audience, increasing user base, visibility, and potential revenue without needing separate platform-specific builds.

Lower Cost to Build

Sharing code across platforms reduces the need for separate development teams, lowering labor costs. Maintenance and updates are also more cost-effective, making cross-platform development ideal for budget-conscious businesses.

Easy to Connect with Cloud Services

Cross-platform app development frameworks typically integrate well with various cloud services, enabling seamless data storage, synchronization, and access. This simplifies backend connectivity and enhances app functionality without complex configurations.

Also Read: 10 Benefits of Cross Platform Mobile App Development! 

Key Trends in Cross-Platform App Development

The most significant trends in cross-platform mobile development include the continuous dominance of two platforms, React Native and Flutter, the integration of AI and ML, and the adoption of cloud-based platforms, among others. Here are the five key trends that you must know:

Flutter Continues to Lead

Flutter is the best platform for building cross-platform apps due to its excellent performance and rapid development. This open-source framework for building native compiled multi-platform apps is set to continue leading in the coming days as well.

Easy Cloud Integration

Cloud integration is one of the biggest trends followed by developers when creating an application. Developers are utilising services like Firebase and AWS to migrate apps to the cloud more quickly and easily, which enables seamless data syncing, authentication, and scalable backends.

AI Features in Apps

There is no denying that developers must incorporate artificial intelligence into their apps to meet business demands. These days, more apps use AI-powered features to automate and optimize corporate operations, such as voice assistants, chatbots, and intelligent suggestions.

Reusable Components

Reusable components are becoming a standard approach in cross-platform development, enabling increased efficiency and consistency across platforms. Frameworks like React Native enable developers to write code once and reuse UI components across iOS and Android, significantly reducing development time and effort.

Real-Time Updates

Real-time updates are transforming the way developers deploy and test apps. With tools like CodePush and Flutter’s Hot Reload, developers can push updates instantly without needing users to download the app again from the store. This enables faster bug fixes, real-time improvements, and continuous delivery during development.

Tips to Choose the Best Framework for Developing Cross-Platform Mobile Apps

It's essential to understand the best practices for selecting cross-platform app development frameworks before concluding this comprehensive guide. The top frameworks available are Flutter, React Native, and Ionic; as you already know, it's crucial to select the one that best suits your business app's needs.

Let's find out:

Understand Your Project Requirements

One of the key steps to choosing the best cross-platform framework is to understand your project requirements. Evaluate app complexity, like a simple utility or feature-rich app, required native features, performance expectations, scalability needs, and more.

Remember, different frameworks offer different benefits; for example, Flutter excels in UI performance, while React Native is ideal for quicker development.

Evaluate Performance

After understanding your project requirements, you must evaluate performance by choosing a framework that can deliver high performance across platforms. Look for a native-like experience, an efficient rendering engine, and low memory consumption.

For example, React Native relies on a bridge to native components, whereas Flutter offers near-native performance, which can impact speed in complex app development.

Check Community and Ecosystem Support

A strong developer community ensures better support, regular updates, and a rich availability of plugins. Frameworks like

React Native: Backed by Meta (Facebook) and has a large community.
Flutter: Supported by Google and growing rapidly in popularity.
Xamarin: Backed by Microsoft with enterprise-level support.

Consider Development Time and Cost

How can you choose the best cross-platform app development frameworks without considering development time and cost? Of course, you can’t. If you need to build an MVP quickly, pick a framework that allows fast development:

• Hot reload support (Flutter, React Native)
• Pre-built UI components
• Rich third-party libraries

This reduces time-to-market and development costs.

Apart from these steps, you can assess integration capabilities and security features to choose the best cross-platform frameworks.

Why Choose Apptunix for Cross-Platform App Development?

From Flutter to Ionic or React Native to Kotlin, you have explored the best cross-platform app development frameworks. Apptunix, a leading mobile app development company, offers one of the leading cross-platform app development services worldwide.

From the United States to the UAE, the company has been developing world-class apps utilising multiple frameworks, tailored to meet the specific demands of each app or business.

With a proven track record across industries and regions, Apptunix delivers high-performance cross-platform apps tailored to your unique needs. Leveraging top frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin, our expert team ensures seamless user experiences, faster time-to-market, and cost-effective solutions.

Whether for startups or enterprises, Apptunix brings your app vision to life as a scalable reality.