13 Best Cross Platform App Development Frameworks for Mobile Apps

Building mobile apps for both iOS and Android can be expensive and time-consuming if done separately. Instead of writing two different apps, businesses today prefer solutions that allow them to create one app that works seamlessly across platforms. That’s exactly what cross platform app development frameworks help with. They simplify mobile app development, save costs, and speed up launch.

The demand for such solutions is rising rapidly. In fact, the global cross platform software market was valued at around USD 78.22 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 202.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.45% from 2024 to 2031. This growth shows how businesses are increasingly turning to cross platform frameworks to reach wider audiences efficiently.

In this blog, we’ll explore what cross platform frameworks are, the top frameworks available, their features, real-world use cases, and how to choose the right one for your app.

What is a Cross-Platform App Development Framework?

A cross platform app development framework is a set of tools that allows developers to build applications for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS) using a single codebase. Rather than building two different apps with two different languages (for example, Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android), developers can write the app once and the framework adapts it to each platform.

In simple terms, it means you don’t need to duplicate effort. The framework takes care of translating your shared code into platform-specific code, while still allowing access to native features when needed. This approach not only speeds up development saving a substantial amount of time but also reduces cost and makes future maintenance much easier.

Top Cross Platform App Development Frameworks

Let's break down some of the most popular and reliable cross platform frameworks available today.

1. Flutter

Created by Google, Flutter is a modern and one of the fast-growing frameworks. It doesn’t translate its code to native components. Instead, it paints its own custom UI on the screen, which leads to highly consistent and smooth visuals across devices.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Flutter: Google Pay, Alibaba, BMW, eBay Motors, Dream11.
• Popularity & Market Share: Extremely high. According to the 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Flutter is the most popular cross-platform framework, with 46% of cross-platform developers using it. It's also the #1 most loved framework (75.4% loved). A Statista report confirms this, showing Flutter as the top-used cross-platform framework globally in 2023.

Features of Flutter: 

• Uses the Dart programming language. 
• Offers a rich set of pre-designed widgets, leading to a beautiful and highly customizable user interface. 
• Known for its excellent performance with smooth animations, often matching that of native apps.
• Hot reload for instant code updates.

Use Cases of Flutter:

Flutter is the ideal framework for projects where a custom, highly-branded user interface is a priority. It delivers the smooth performance needed for data-rich dashboards, highly interactive applications, and rapid prototyping of MVPs. This makes it a powerful choice for a wide range of industries, including ecommerce platforms, social networking apps, and fintech solutions.

2. React Native

Developed by Facebook (Meta), React Native is one of the most established frameworks. It allows developers to use JavaScript and React to build apps that use actual native components (like iOS buttons and Android menus), providing a truly native look and feel.

• Examples of Apps Built Using React Native: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Shopify, Bloomberg, Airbnb (earlier), Walmart..
• Popularity & Market Share: Very high. React Native is the second most popular cross-platform framework. The 2023 Statista shows 35% of cross-platform developers use it. It has a massive market share and is a safe, reliable choice for many businesses, especially those with web development teams.

Features of React Native: 

• Based on JavaScript, one of the world's most popular languages. 
• Large ecosystem and a massive community. 
• Allows for a lot of native code integration for performance-heavy tasks when needed.
• Hot reloading.

Use Cases of React Native: 

React Native is great for building apps that demand an authentic native look and feel, making it a top choice for social network apps, lifestyle products, and on-demand service apps. It's also a particularly practical option if you have a team of web developers familiar with JavaScript, as it allows them to contribute to mobile projects effectively.

3. Xamarin

Now a part of Microsoft's .NET ecosystem, Xamarin uses C# and .NET to create apps. It compiles into native code, offering performance close to truly native applications.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Xamarin: UPS, Alaska Airlines, BBC Good Food, The World Bank apps.
• Popularity & Market Share: Moderate but solid in an enterprise environment. The 2023 Statista Survey shows usage by 8% of cross-platform developers. Its popularity is steady, especially among companies invested in Microsoft technologies, but it has been overtaken by Flutter and React Native in overall adoption.

Features of Xamarin: 

• Shares code across platforms and can also share logic with backend services if they are also built on .NET.
• Offers deep integration with native APIs for complex tasks.
• Native-like performance.

Use Cases of Xamarin: 

Xamarin is a powerful fit for developing enterprise-level and internal business applications, particularly those requiring high security and performance. It is most effective for organizations and development teams that already have strong expertise in C# and are invested in the Microsoft technology stack.

4. Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform, developed by JetBrains, takes a unique approach to cross-platform development. Rather than being a full UI framework, it's a technology focused on sharing core business logic such as data processing, network calls, and authentication across iOS, Android, and other platforms. The key advantage is that developers can write the user interface natively for each platform using SwiftUI or Jetpack Compose, ensuring a 100% native look, feel, and performance while still maximizing code reuse.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Kotlin Multiplatform: Used by Philips, Netflix, and VMware in parts of their applications.
• Popularity & Market Share: Rapidly growing. While overall usage is still a smaller percentage (~3-5% in various industry reports), its adoption is accelerating significantly, especially among Android-first teams and Kotlin developers looking for a pragmatic balance between code sharing and native UI.

Features of Kotlin Multiplatform: 

• Write the core logic once in Kotlin and use native UI (SwiftUI for iOS, Jetpack Compose for Android). 
• This offers a 100% native user experience with the code-sharing benefits of cross-platform.
• Strong interoperability with existing native code.

Use Cases of Kotlin Multiplatform: 

Kotlin Multiplatform is ideal for development teams that want to achieve the best of both worlds: the pristine performance and fully native user experience of separate iOS apps and Android apps, combined with the efficiency of sharing core business logic. It is the perfect solution for applications that require a custom, platform-specific UI but can benefit from a single, shared codebase for backend operations like networking, data persistence, and authentication.

5. Ionic

Ionic focuses on building apps using standard web technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ionic apps run in a "web view" inside a native app container.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Ionic: MarketWatch, Diesel, Sworkit, Pacifica.
• Popularity & Market Share: Moderate. The 2023 Statista shows usage by 9% of cross-platform developers. It is popular among web developers looking to enter the mobile space and has a strong community, but it is less used for high-performance apps.

Features of Ionic: 

• Primarily used for building Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and hybrid mobile apps. 
• Offers a huge library of UI components. 
• The look and feel is very consistent, like a website, but it can sometimes miss the perfect native feel.
• Works with Angular, React, or Vue.
• Easy for web developers to transition.

Use Cases of Ionic: 

Ionic is an excellent choice for turning a website into a mobile app, creating simple content-focused applications, and building Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). It's also ideal for quickly prototyping an idea, developing hybrid applications, and for projects where a web-based user interface is preferred or sufficient.

6. SwiftUI for Multi-Platform Apps

It's important to understand that SwiftUI is not a cross-platform framework for Android and iOS. Instead, it's Apple's modern toolkit for building user interfaces across all Apple platforms like iPhone (iOS), Mac (macOS), Apple Watch (watchOS), and Apple TV (tvOS) using a single, shared codebase.

• Examples of Apps Built Using SwiftUI: Many of Apple's own built-in apps and features are now developed with SwiftUI. It is also rapidly being adopted by developers building new apps for the App Store.
• Popularity: It is the present and future of Apple development. While it's still maturing, it is incredibly popular and growing rapidly within the Apple developer community. For businesses targeting only Apple users, it is often the default and most natural choice.

Features of SwiftUI:

• SwiftUI uses declarative syntax, meaning you describe what the UI should do rather than writing step-by-step instructions for how to build it. 
• This leads to cleaner, more maintainable code. 
• It has seamless integration with the entire Apple ecosystem and is designed to work perfectly with Xcode, Apple's development environment.

Use Cases of SwiftUI:

The ideal choice if your goal is to build an application exclusively for Apple's family of devices. It is not used for creating Android applications.

7. Unity

Unity is the world’s most popular game development framework with a powerful game engine, not a general-purpose app framework. It is designed for creating high-quality 2D and 3D interactive experiences.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Unity: Countless games, including "Monument Valley", “Call of Duty Mobile”, and "Pokémon GO," and non-game apps like the IKEA Place AR furniture app.
• Popularity: Dominates the game development industry, with a massive market share for 3D and mobile games.

Features of Unity: 

• While its primary output is games, it can be used to create any app that relies heavily on 3D graphics, simulations, or augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). 
• It does not use native UI components; it renders everything itself.
• Supports 2D and 3D.
• Cross platform support beyond mobile (PC, consoles, AR/VR).

Use Cases of Unity: 

The #1 choice for creating mobile games, AR/VR applications, architectural visualizations, and complex 3D simulations.

8. Node.js

It's important to clarify that Node.js is not a mobile app development framework. It is a runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript code on a server. However, it is a critical backend technology for many cross-platform mobile apps. Developers often use Node.js to build the API (the brain of the operation that handles data and logic) that a Flutter, React Native, or Ionic app then communicates with.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Node.js: LinkedIn mobile backend, Uber.
• Popularity: Extremely popular and is one of the most widely used technologies for backend development globally.

Features of Node.js: 

• Enables fast, scalable server-side development using JavaScript. 
• Has a massive ecosystem of libraries (npm) that accelerate backend development.
• Works well with real-time applications.

Use Cases of Node.js: 

Node.js is the foundational technology for building the backend services and APIs that power modern applications. It is exceptionally well-suited for data-intensive, real-time applications that need to handle many simultaneous connections, making it the go-to choice for chat applications, collaboration platforms, and streaming services.

9. NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source framework similar to React Native. It uses JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular to build truly native iOS and Android apps. Its key feature is that it provides direct access to all native APIs from JavaScript, meaning you can use any native library without needing to write "glue" code.

• Examples of Apps Built Using NativeScript: PayPal, Strudel, Daily Nanny, Regelneef.
• Popularity: It has a dedicated and loyal community but operates in the shadow of the larger React Native ecosystem.

Features of NativeScript: 

• Offers a "write once, run anywhere" approach while rendering native UI components. 
• Strongly integrated with the Angular and Vue.js frameworks.
• Access to native APIs without wrappers.

Use Cases of NativeScript: 

A solid choice for developers who want the power of native performance and UI with the code-sharing benefits of web-friendly languages, especially if they are already familiar with Angular.

10. Framework7

Framework7 is a bit different. It's a free and open-source framework for building web, desktop apps, and mobile apps with a native look and feel, but it is not a standalone tool like the others. It's often used with tools like Cordova or Electron to package the web app into a native container.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Framework7: Custom enterprise solutions.
• Popularity: It has a small but active community. It's a good niche option for web developers but doesn't have the broad adoption of the major frameworks.

Features of Framework7: 

• It provides a rich library of UI components that look and behave like native iOS and Android elements. 
• You can build your app using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and then deploy it as a website, PWA, or a packaged mobile app.
• Easy to use for small apps.

Use Cases of Framework7: 

A great choice for web developers who want to build a prototype or an app-like website/PWA very quickly without learning a new language or complex tooling.

11. Appcelerator Titanium

Appcelerator Titanium is an older but established framework that uses JavaScript to create native mobile applications. Unlike some frameworks that render a web view, Titanium translates your JavaScript code into native UI components, which helps the app feel more like it belongs on the device.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Appcelerator Titanium: Used by companies like Merck, Mitsubishi Electric, and NBC.
• Popularity: While it still powers many existing business apps, its market share and community activity have significantly declined compared to leaders like Flutter and React Native.

Features of Appcelerator Titanium: 

• It provides direct access to native APIs, allowing for deep integration with device-specific features. 
• The development environment is centered around its own Studio IDE.
• Alloy MVC framework.

Use Cases of Appcelerator Titanium: 

It was historically popular for building data-driven enterprise applications and prototypes. However, its popularity has waned in recent years with the rise of newer alternatives

12. Apache Cordova (PhoneGap)

PhoneGap was the original name for a project that later became the open-source Apache Cordova. It uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Think of Cordova as the engine, and PhoneGap as a set of tools built on top of that engine by Adobe. These frameworks were pioneers in cross-platform development.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Apache Cordova: Used in many early mobile apps, such as previous versions of Health Canada and Wikipedia.
• Popularity: While still maintained, they are considered legacy technology. Their performance and user experience limitations have led most new projects to choose more modern frameworks like Ionic (which actually uses Cordova under the hood) or Flutter.

Features of Apache Cordova: 

• They work by embedding a web application (HTML, CSS, JS) into a native mobile app "container" or "web view." 
• This allows web developers to create mobile apps using the skills they already have.
• Large plugin ecosystem.

Use Cases of Apache Cordova: 

Best for converting existing websites into simple mobile apps or for building very basic prototypes that don't require complex native performance or UI.

13. Corona SDK (Now Solar2D)

Corona is a framework laser-focused on one thing: building 2D mobile games and apps quickly. It uses the lightweight and easy-to-learn Lua scripting language.

• Examples of Apps Built Using Corona SDK: Angry Birds, The Lost City, Bloons TD 6.
• Popularity: It has a strong niche presence in the 2D game development community but is not used for general business or consumer apps.

Features of Corona SDK: 

• It is known for its incredible speed in prototyping and development. 
• The framework is optimized for graphics and game physics, making it very performant for 2D games.
• Lua-based.
• High-performance 2D rendering.

Use Cases of Corona SDK: 

Almost exclusively used for creating graphics-heavy apps, 2D games, interactive books, and educational apps for mobile and desktop.

Cross Platform App Development Frameworks Comparison

Choosing the right framework depends on several factors such as the type of app you’re building, your team’s skill set, performance requirements, and long-term scalability. The table below gives a quick side-by-side comparison of the most popular frameworks, their languages, common use cases, and popularity levels.

Framework	Language(s) Used	Best For	Examples	Popularity
Flutter	Dart	High-performance apps, rich UI	Google Ads, Alibaba, Dream11	Very High
React Native	JavaScript, React	Social, lifestyle, on-demand apps	Facebook, Instagram, Walmart	High
Xamarin	C#, .NET	Enterprise apps, secure solutions	Alaska Airlines, World Bank	Moderate
Ionic	HTML, CSS, JS	Hybrid apps, prototypes	MarketWatch, Diesel, Sworkit	Moderate
Kotlin Multiplatform	Kotlin	Shared business logic, native UI	Netflix, VMWare	Growing
Appcelerator	JavaScript	Apps with native APIs via JS	Avis, Comerica Bank	Declining
Node.js	JavaScript	Real-time apps, backends	Uber, LinkedIn	Very High
NativeScript	JS, TS, Angular	Native apps with JS/TS	Strudel, Daily Nanny	Niche
Cordova (PhoneGap)	HTML, CSS, JS	Simple apps, prototypes	Wikipedia (earlier)	Declining
Corona SDK	Lua	2D Games	Angry Birds, The Lost City	Niche
Unity	C#	Games, AR/VR, 3D apps	Pokémon Go, COD Mobile	Dominant
Framework7	HTML, CSS, JS	Small apps, PWAs	Custom enterprise apps	Moderate
SwiftUI	Swift	Apple ecosystem only	Apple apps	High (iOS)

How to Decide on a Cross Platform Framework for Your App

With so many options, selecting a framework can feel overwhelming. You don't need to be an expert in the technology itself, but thinking through these key questions about your project will guide you toward the right choice. Here are some key factors to consider that we use at Softices to help our clients find the perfect fit.

1. What are your primary business goals?

• Speed & Cost: Is getting a functional app to market quickly and cost-effectively your top priority? Frameworks like Flutter or React Native are excellent for building a robust MVP fast.
• Performance & Feel: Does your app need to feel 100% native, with buttery-smooth animations and complex interactions? Flutter, React Native, or the logic-sharing approach of Kotlin Multiplatform are strong contenders.
• Leveraging Existing Assets: Do you have a well-functioning website that you want to extend into a mobile app? Ionic or similar web-based frameworks can be a very efficient path.

2. What is the nature of your app?

• Simple, Content-Driven Apps: For apps focused on displaying information, forms, or news (e.g., a restaurant menu, a company info app), a web-based framework like Ionic can be perfectly sufficient and fast to build.
• Data-Heavy & Enterprise Apps: For internal business tools, dashboards, or apps requiring high security and integration with Microsoft services, Xamarin is a powerful, mature choice.
• High-Fidelity UI & Branding: If your app's success hinges on a unique, custom design that looks exactly the same on every device, Flutter's widget-based rendering is a standout.
• Games & 3D Experiences: For anything graphically intensive, a game engine like Unity is the only suitable choice. For 2D games, Corona SDK is a niche option.

3. Who is your target audience and what platforms do they use?

• iOS and Android: This is the most common scenario and where all the major cross-platform frameworks (Flutter, React Native, Xamarin) excel.
• Apple-Only Users: If your product is tailored specifically for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, SwiftUI is the native and most powerful tool for the job.

4. What are your team's skills and long-term plans?

• Existing Expertise: Do you have in-house developers? If they are strong in JavaScript, React Native will have a gentler learning curve. If they come from a .NET (C#) background, Xamarin will feel familiar. This can significantly impact development speed and maintenance costs.
• Long-Term Maintenance: Consider not just building the app, but also updating it. You need a framework with a strong community and long-term support. Flutter (backed by Google) and React Native (backed by Meta) are very safe bets here.

The best framework is the one that best aligns with your specific business objectives, technical requirements, and resources.

Our advice? Don't make this decision alone.

The team at Softices has experience with all these technologies. We can help you weigh these factors and recommend the most efficient and effective path for your unique idea.

Key Takeaways for Cross Platform App Development Frameworks

The world of cross-platform development is rich with options, each designed to solve different challenges. There is no single "best" framework, only the best framework for your specific project.

Whether you need the high-performance, branded UI of Flutter, the native feel and vast community of React Native, the enterprise power of Xamarin, or the rapid prototyping of Ionic, the right choice depends entirely on your business goals, your app's requirements, and your team's expertise.

The most important step is to move forward with a partner who can guide you. At Softices, we listen to your vision, assess your needs, and recommend the technology that will deliver a high-quality, scalable, and successful cross-platform application.