10+ Best Hybrid App Development Frameworks in 2024

Hybrid app development frameworks streamline the process by allowing developers to write a single codebase that works across multiple platforms.

The shift from desktop applications to mobile applications wasn’t incidental but gradual. And as tech evolved, developers started transitioning from native mobile apps to hybrid apps. With too many hybrid apps in existence, it has become critical to have your grasp on the right set of hybrid app development frameworks to choose from. 

With comprehensive insights into each framework's capabilities, thanks to our analysis of the industry, you'll be well-equipped to make an informed decision that enhances both functionality and user experience. 

Begin crafting exceptional hybrid apps that not only captivate your users but also set a new standard in digital innovation.

List of Best Hybrid App Development Frameworks

Here is the list of the best hybrid mobile app frameworks that make app development simple -

1. Ionic for Hybrid App Development

Ionic still maintains its reputation as one of the best hybrid mobile app frameworks in 2024, thanks to plenty of its USPs. Its integration with technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular, React, and Vue.js speeds up the development of high-quality apps and desktop apps. 

The front-end HTML is built on top of the most upbeat APIs like Shadow DOM and Custom Elements. With Ionic, you’ll find it quite easy to create top-notch Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) thanks to the rich front-end library and premier UI components.

The framework also enables developers to create fantastic designs and graphical representations in apps. The Ionic mobile hybrid framework will help a developer achieve UI design aspects like image design and placement, typography, innovative themes, etc.

Moreover, the Ionic CLI (Command Line Interface) is a medium/tool that differentiates Ionic from alternative hybrid app development frameworks. It helps you develop hybrid apps built with TypeScript and Node.js, build a hybrid mobile app, and get regular updates. The Ionic CLI provides you with a built-in development server and debugging tools, as well as catalyzing other pit facilities.

Pros and Cons of Ionic

Website: https://ionicframework.com/

2. React Native for Building Native-like Apps

React Native was officially launched to develop hybrid mobile applications in 2015 by Facebook (Meta). Between 2019 and 2023, As Statista suggests, Flutter and React Native were two of the best hybrid app development frameworks that gave each other toe-to-toe competition in terms of popularity. The same is expected to continue throughout 2024 and beyond as well.

Due to the similarity in major components, many also pit React Native against ionic as they consider them as common alternatives of each other. While experts argue that Ionic leads to better UI and performances among apps, React Native, on the other hand, gives users an almost native-like experience among apps with more stability.

React Native has the ability to integrate JavaScript with native platform components. This unlocks rendering to native APIs instead of having to depend on web views. 
React Native is also among the application development frameworks using DOM for rendering and update optimizations. Developers find it easier to identify UI changes and manage native views more efficiently. 

Brands like Facebook, Instagram, 2048 Discovery VR, Gyroscope, etc., are massively dependent on hybrid app development frameworks like React Native to remain relevant in the rapidly evolving digital market.

Pros and Cons of React Native

Website: https://facebook.github.io/react-native/

3. Flutter for High-quality App Performance

There has been a lot of hype regarding Flutter in the last two years. Google’s premier open-source SDK has earned the respect of developers worldwide. Flutter uses the powerful language Dart, another magnum opus of Google’s and the C++ rendering engine. The hybrid mobile app framework also uses Skia, a 2D rendering engine to make visuals. It is quick and aids in creating superb foundation libraries and widgets. 

Flutter enables developers to create apps with high-productive value as it has a single codebase for Android and iOS. It makes room to create highly creative UIs with flexible designs and allows compelling interactions that lead to the creation of brilliant Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). That’s why big brands want Flutter as their hybrid web app framework.

There is something about Google’s innovations because every new development is a hot topic of discussion among tech forums. Big names like Alibaba, Birch Finance, Hamilton Musical, etc., have adopted Flutter instead of its hybrid app development frameworks to create powerful, engaging apps. 

And since it allows learning the programming language (Dart), it has created a lot of hype and jobs in the market. The popularity of the framework has resulted in a rapidly multiplying number of flutter development companies to fulfill the demands of hybrid apps.

Pros and Cons of Flutter

Website: https://flutter.dev/

4. Apache Cordova to Leverage Web Technologies

With so many great hybrid mobile app development frameworks out there, why would a developer prefer Apache Cordova? 

With this, apps can be written with JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5. Cordova provides reliable cross-platform compatibility with just one code for all platforms. This reduces a developer's efforts and makes it easier for him/her to progress. 

Apache Cordova also has maintained its place among the top hybrid app frameworks that are cost-effective. As the tool is open-source, and one code can be deployed on multiple platforms, it is a great development companion to have during humble beginnings.

Cordova has some other worthy features as well that make it competitive in the race of hybrid app development frameworks. It includes greater access to Native APIs, strong backend support, notable UI libraries that can upgrade the interface, and a lot more. Above all, it has Adobe’s trust.

An interesting feature of Cordova is ‘Build.’ Build is its cloud compiler that can compile apps even without any SDKs installed. With this predecessor of the PhoneGap mobile development framework, a developer can mold a feature-heavy and fully customized hybrid mobile app. 

The framework supports a plugin architecture, which means that developers can extend the capabilities of their applications by adding native code packaged within plugins. These plugins can access platform-specific features that are not available through JavaScript APIs in the browser environment, enabling more complex and feature-rich applications.

Pros and Cons of Apache Cordova

Website: https://cordova.apache.org/ 

5. .NET MAUI

After Xamarin's discontinuation, Microsoft’s .NET Multi-platform App User Interface (.NET MAUI) is a framework developers are moving towards. The framework lets you build apps that are deployable on multiple platforms including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. All that, from a single codebase. So, the tool is great for cheaper and faster development strategies.

The framework supports some of the most common languages, such as C# and XAML. This also makes it easier if you are looking for external help for the development. You can easily find developers to help you speed up the development process using hybrid app development frameworks such as .NET MAUI.
In additional perks, .NET MAUI offers smooth integration with Visual Studio, and powerful tools such as XAML Hot Reload, IntelliSense, and Live Visual Tree. 

As .NET MAUI is new, some developers are noticing a few challenges. On GitHub, while some users have displayed their dissatisfaction due to the bugs in the framework, others are hopeful as the tool is constantly evolving. 

Pros and Cons of .NET MAUI

6. NativeScript for Direct Access to Native APIs

NativeScript lets you develop cross-platform apps to be coded in JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular. Standing among the top hybrid app development frameworks, it allows users to access the APIs for both iOS and Android devices. NativeScript enables this by allowing smooth integration of JavaScript, with native platform APIs, mirroring the functionality found in native development environments like Xcode or Android Studio.

The apps created in NativeScript are completely native and use the same APIs as used in Xcode or Android Studio. The apps can be integrated with popular package managers such as CocoaPods, Maven, and npm.js. 

Another notable feature is the use of reflection to handle native API endpoints. In place of requiring separate binding layers between NativeScript and the mobile platform API, NativeScript uses reflection to gain information and metadata about the native platform APIs. All the features added to any native platform API can be used immediately for React Native apps.

Moreover, the introduction of NativeScript 2.0 has made use of Angular to build cross-platform mobile applications possible. When you are using Angular with NativeScript you can share large chunks of code between your mobile and web apps.

Pros and Cons of NativeScript

Website: https://nativescript.org/

7. Kendo UI to Streamline UI Components

Kendo UI offers the best collection of JavaScript UI components with the libraries of Agular, React, jQuery, and Vue. Using Kendo UI allows you to quickly build high-performance, eye-catching, and responsive applications regardless of which javascript framework has been opted by you.

Kendo UI allows you to easily add advanced UI components to your existing design and take advantage of your existing libraries. A bunch of features like advanced data grid components, charts, spreadsheets, schedulers, and more are why Kendo UI is preferred over its hybrid app development frameworks.
The framework is open-source, but usually, it is developed for enterprise customers. The app does not have free versions.

There are many different aspects on which Kendo UI is one of the popular hybrid app development frameworks and one reason is its world-class support. Also, it guarantees that their strict QA process has tested every component. Kendo UI’s clients include NASA, HP, and over 140,000 other companies worldwide.

Last but not least, Kendo UI is used to develop mobile apps with HTML5 and works efficiently across all major smartphone platforms. It is considered as the best hybrid platform for mobile apps. With all these features and functionality, it is counted as among the most popular hybrid app development frameworks. You can also consider the framework if you are looking for an enterprise-grade solution with dedicated support.

Pros and Cons of KendoUI

Website: https://www.telerik.com/kendo-ui

8. Framework7 for HTML Abilities

Framework7 is an open-source and free hybrid web app framework which is used for creating desktop, mobile, and web-based applications with a native feel and appearance. This best hybrid app development platform offers UI components that will run seamlessly on any platform.

Framework7 can be paired with advanced tools like NW.js, and Electron. This best hybrid mobile app framework allows you to use any tools of your choice, except HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Additionally, the framework allows you to develop hybrid mobile apps, web apps, and progressive web apps (PWAs) with a native look and feel. It can also be paired with extra tools like Electron and NW.js and allow you to build native desktop apps.

Counted as one of the most famous hybrid app development frameworks, Framework7 can be an indispensable prototyping tool to show working app prototypes as soon as possible, in case you need to. Framework7 offers a rich ecosystem of components for popular JS frameworks like Vue, React, and Svelte.

This hybrid web app framework gets more interesting when we come to know that Framework7 mainly focuses on iOS and Google Materials. It also provides you with the best and easy-to-understand experience.

Pros and Cons of Framework7

Website: https://framework7.io/

9. Aurelia to Build Modern Apps

Aurelia is one of the great and powerful top hybrid mobile app frameworks that allow users to create components using vanilla JavaScript or TypeScript. This hybrid mobile app framework supports an extensive online community with effortless coding and unmatched extensibility.

The framework is a simple, powerful, and easy-to-use framework that allows users to create multi-platform apps with better routing, composition, and progressive enhancement.

It is considered to be one of the most hybrid app development frameworks for building browser, desktop, and mobile applications as well. Additionally, Aurelia can be used in any JavaScript or Node.js project. Also, this hybrid app development framework strictly follows web standards and can be readily integrated with any framework or library out there.

The most notable Aurelia modules include metadata, dependency injection, binding, templating, and routing. The ecosystem of this hybrid app development includes plugins for state management, internationalization, and validation, as well as tools like a CLI, Chrome debugger, and VS Code plugin. It is 100% free to use and licensed under the MIT license.

Pros and Cons of Aurelia

Website: https://aurelia.io/

10. Onsen UI for Scalable Interfaces

Onsen UI is a great hybrid web app framework choice that allows you to create applications and components for various operating systems. It is one of the fastest ways to develop HTML5 hybrid applications. It is one of the most effective open-source hybrid app development frameworks for formulating complicated mobile applications.

Onsen UI is known to be the best hybrid framework for mobile apps because the technologies it uses to develop apps create brilliant HTML apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It offers a native look and feel to its users, a lot of ready-to-use components, and automatic styling.

You can develop native-feeling Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and hybrid apps easily with Onsen UI. It is an open-source framework. The important archive is written in complete JavaScript and context skepticism. It means you can use it with your favorite hybrid app frameworks and tools.

The platform optionally auto-styles the mechanisms, making it possible to support both iOS and Android with the same source code. Onsen UI has been perfectly optimized for mobile use and is easy to learn. The apps developed on Onsen UI will have a smooth experience even on lower-end devices.

Pros and Cons of Onsen UI

Website: https://onsen.io/

11. Quasar

The vue.js-based framework, Quasar, is an open-source technology focused on making hybrid app development more accessible than ever. Giving tough competition to alternative hybrid app development frameworks, Quasar lets developers build high-quality Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), responsive websites, and mobile apps using a single codebase. 

To speed up development, Quasar is equipped with the ability to write code once and deploy on more than one platform which might include iOS and Android, several web browsers, etc.
The architecture of this framework includes a suite of high-quality UI components with the ability to offer responsiveness and customization. Such privileges enable high-quality, consistent, and faster development of interfaces.

The integration of Quasar with Vue.js remains smooth. Additionally, you get access to tools such as Vue Router for navigation and Vue-i18n for internationalization. There’s a CLI as well, designed for project configuration, scaffolding, enhanced development productivity, and management.

Pros and Cons of Quasar

Website: https://quasar.dev/

Hybrid App Development Frameworks Comparison

A comparison table of the mentioned frameworks can clarify their differences in performance, ecosystem support, and learning curve & developer experience. Here's a brief overview:

Native vs. Hybrid app framework - Know the difference 

When we talk about the hybrid app development frameworks, it comes down to native apps vs hybrid apps. Developers who are aware know which one to root for. However, for those who do not know, the following explains the differences between the two.

Native- Native apps are singularly developed for their inherent platforms, either iOS or Android. A native Android app will be written using Java or Kotlin and a native iOS app with Objective-C or Swift. 

The Android ones can be compiled by Android Studio and iOS apps with Xcode. Native apps are the fastest but, at the same time, expensive. The app written for one platform cannot be used by the other. For e.g., An app written in Kotlin cannot run on iOS platforms and vice versa. 

Hybrid- Before proceeding to the real discussion, let’s understand “What is a hybrid app development framework?” First, Hybrid app development can be defined as an amalgamation of native and web app developments, thus the name hybrid. Since hybrid apps are developed for more than one platform, you will need the best cross-platform framework. 

These apps are developed using web technologies, including HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. They are easier and quicker to build than natives but aren’t faster than them. A few advantages of hybrid app development frameworks include cost-saving and a single code base with which you can develop each app for multiple platforms.

There are many other aspects to Native vs Hybrid apps, but the key points above are the key points to distinguishing the two. 

How to Choose the Right Hybrid App Framework for Your Project?

Selecting the best hybrid app development frameworks for your project entails taking into account to make sure it fits your needs, the capabilities of your team, and your expectations for future maintenance. Here’s a structured approach to help you make an informed decision:

1. Project Requirements and Goals

• Type of Application: Determine if your project is a simple app with basic functionality or if it requires native features, high performance, and smooth animations for its complex application.
• Platform Coverage: You need to decide which platforms (iOS, Android, Web) your app should support and determine if a natively developed experience is required on each one.
• Performance Needs: Your app's performance is crucial. High-performance frameworks are more effective for graphics-intensive games and data-heavy applications.

2. Development Time and Cost

• Speed of Development: Some hybrid app development frameworks offer faster development cycles due to hot reload capabilities, a wide range of pre-built components, or easier learning curves.
• Resource Availability: Consider the development cost, including the availability of developers skilled in the framework and the salary expectations for those developers.

3. Ecosystem and Community Support

• Libraries and Plugins: Third-party libraries and plugins in a rich ecosystem can significantly speed up development by offering ready-made solutions.
• Documentation and Learning Resources: An active community and high-quality, up-to-date documentation can help resolve issues faster and improve the learning curve for users.

4. Scalability and Maintenance

• Framework Stability and Updates: Actively maintain and update a framework to ensure its long-term viability and support for the latest platform versions.
• Codebase Maintainability: To maintain and update the app easily, a well-structured and documented codebase is essential.

5. Team Expertise and Preferences

• Existing Skills: Align the framework choice with the existing skills of your development team. A familiar framework can reduce the learning curve and accelerate development.
• Developer Experience: Consider the overall developer experience with the framework, including tooling, debugging, and testing capabilities.

6. Long-term Viability

• Community Activity: A vibrant, active community and strong corporate backing can be indicators of a framework’s long-term viability.
• Adoption Trends: Research the adoption trends and feedback from other companies or developers. A good indicator of a framework's success and longevity is its high adoption rates.

7. Try Before You Decide

• Prototype Development: Consider building a small prototype or proof of concept with the shortlisted frameworks. This can give you a practical understanding of how well each framework meets your needs.

Future Trends in Hybrid App Development

The landscape of hybrid app development is continually changing and is driven by technological advancements. Due to this, it changes consumer expectations and helps businesses in their growing need to have a strong mobile presence.

1. Increased Adoption of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Users find Progressive Web Apps more popular due to their ability to deliver a user experience. It is similar to native apps and is easily accessible through web browsers. Offline capabilities, fast load times, and easier development and maintenance make these apps more advantageous than traditional mobile apps in development and use.

2. Rise of Cross-Platform Development Frameworks

Multiple platforms can run apps produced by frameworks like Flutter and React Native using a single codebase. It is gaining popularity for these frameworks. These cross-platform development frameworks not only speed up development but also reduce costs. The performance of apps built with them continually improves, narrowing the gap with native apps.

3. Integration of AI and Machine Learning

The use of AI and machine learning will increasingly be incorporated into hybrid apps. Intelligent chatbots and voice assistants provide personalized content and recommendations. Users can engage more deeply with these technologies and have more personalized app experiences.

4. Focus on App Performance and Optimization

Developers emphasize optimizing hybrid apps for improved performance, achieving faster load times and smoother animations. Developers use advanced techniques and tools for performance profiling and optimization. This ensures that hybrid apps provide a user experience that rivals native apps.

5. Enhanced Support for AR/VR

AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) technologies become more mainstream. Soon hybrid apps will start to integrate these features for more immersive experiences. This could be particularly impactful in the eCommerce, education, and gaming sectors.

6. More Sophisticated Security Measures

Hybrid apps are expected to incorporate more robust security features in response to increasing data privacy and security concerns. Standard practices will include encryption, secure storage, and secure communication protocols to protect sensitive information.

7. Expansion of Cloud Integration

In hybrid app development, cloud services will offer more significant benefits, including scalability, reliability, and the ability to do something. Large amounts of data can be processed efficiently with cloud integration. It facilitates features such as cloud storage, real-time data syncing, and backend processing.

Statistics and Market Insights

According to a Statista survey, as of 2023, 46% of developers used Flutter while 35% users were dependent on React Native showcasing the overall dominance of these two cross-platform technologies over the hybrid app development industry.

The global mobile app market size is projected to grow significantly, with forecasts suggesting it will reach several hundred billion dollars in revenue by 2025, underlining the expanding opportunity for hybrid apps.

PWAs are seeing increased adoption rates, with companies reporting higher conversion rates and engagement metrics after implementing PWA versions of their websites or apps.

Conclusion

After going through all the hybrid app frameworks, picking one is near to impossible as the winner. So we are going to highlight two names that, according to us, dominate the hybrid app development market.

Flutter is new, powerful, compatible with Fuchsia, and allows learning the new language Dart (It’s a BIG thing). It also gives a single code base for iOS and Android. Flutter could likely be the future of all frameworks. 

But then we also have the super-efficient React Native. 

It makes coding an intriguing job for developers and simplifies it for them to make interactive apps. Moreover, it supports Node.Js and saves a lot of time and space. Both Flutter and React Native have stockpiles of the best hybrid apps. We suggest you study what the best Hybrid App Development Companies would use and recommend for your case.

Now that you have an open book for the best and trending hybrid app development frameworks for 2024, open up your systems and start creating.

Happy Coding!