What is a Native App & How to Build a Native Application?

In the digital era, mobile applications are necessary for businesses to enhance customer engagement, boost sales, and streamline operations. However, when it comes to developing a mobile app, choosing the right type of application is crucial. The three main types of mobile applications—native apps, hybrid apps, and web apps—each have distinct advantages and drawbacks.

Among these, native apps stand out for their high performance, superior security, and seamless user experience. These apps are specifically built for a particular operating system, such as iOS (Swift, Objective-C) or Android (Kotlin, Java), leveraging platform-specific capabilities for better functionality.

While native apps provide the best user experience, they often require significant time and resources to develop. This is where FAB Builder steps in, offering an innovative solution that simplifies native app development without compromising on quality.

In this blog, we will explore:

• What a native app is and how does it differ from Hybrid and Web Apps
• The key benefits of native apps
• The challenges of developing native apps
• How to build a native app
• How FAB Builder streamlines native app development

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether a native app is the right choice for your business and how FAB Builder can help you bring your app idea to life efficiently.

What is a Native App?

A native app is a type of mobile application that is developed specifically for a particular operating system (OS), such as iOS or Android. These apps are built using platform-specific programming languages and development tools, ensuring optimal performance, enhanced security, and seamless user experience.

Native apps are downloaded and installed directly from app stores like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and can take full advantage of a device’s hardware and software capabilities. This includes access to features like GPS, camera, push notifications, sensors, biometric authentication, and more.

Unlike web apps or hybrid apps, which rely on a browser or a web framework, native apps are deeply integrated with the OS, providing a smooth, fast, and responsive experience tailored to the platform.

Key Characteristics of Native Apps

1. Platform-Specific Development

Native apps are built using programming languages and frameworks that are designed specifically for a particular operating system:

• iOS Apps: Developed using Swift or Objective-C with Apple’s Xcode IDE.
• Android Apps: Developed using Kotlin or Java with Google’s Android Studio IDE.

Since they are coded specifically for an OS, native apps can fully utilize system resources and ensure the best possible performance.

2. Optimized Performance and Speed

One of the biggest advantages of native apps is their high performance. Since they are developed with platform-specific SDKs, they:

• Execute code directly on the device’s hardware, leading to faster processing speeds.
• Utilize optimized rendering engines, ensuring smooth animations and UI transitions.
• Provide better memory management, reducing crashes and lag.

Unlike hybrid or web apps that rely on cross-platform frameworks, native apps do not suffer from performance bottlenecks caused by additional abstraction layers.

3. Enhanced User Experience (UX/UI)

Native apps are designed to follow platform-specific design guidelines, ensuring a consistent and intuitive user experience.

• iOS Apps use Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, ensuring a sleek and uniform interface across iPhones and iPads.
• Android Apps follow Google’s Material Design principles, which focus on responsiveness and fluidity.

Because native apps adhere to these design standards, users experience:

✅ Familiar Navigation Patterns – Reducing the learning curve.

✅ Smooth Animations & Gestures – Providing a natural interaction experience.

✅ High Responsiveness – Ensuring a lag-free experience, even on complex apps.

4. Full Access to Device Features

Native apps have direct access to a device’s built-in features and APIs, making them more powerful than web or hybrid apps. They can utilize:

• Camera & Microphone: For video calls, barcode scanning, and AR applications.
• GPS & Location Services: For navigation apps, ride-hailing services, and geotagging.
• Biometric Authentication: For Face ID, Touch ID, and fingerprint login.
• Push Notifications: To keep users engaged with real-time updates.
• Bluetooth & NFC: For device pairing, mobile payments, and IoT connectivity.

This level of integration makes native apps the preferred choice for applications that require extensive hardware interaction.

5. Offline Functionality

Unlike web apps that require a constant internet connection, native apps can store data locally on the device, allowing them to:

• Run smoothly in offline mode without relying on cloud services.
• Store user preferences and cache data for faster loading times.
• Sync data with the cloud once an internet connection is restored.

This is particularly useful for apps like note-taking apps, music streaming services, e-commerce platforms, and navigation apps that need to function seamlessly even when offline.

6. Increased Security and Reliability

Native apps are considered more secure compared to web and hybrid apps because they:

• Leverage built-in security features of the OS (such as end-to-end encryption, Face ID, and two-factor authentication).
• Have access to the latest security patches and updates provided by Apple and Google.
• Follow strict app store security guidelines, reducing the risk of malware and unauthorized access.

This makes native apps ideal for banking, healthcare, and enterprise applications, where data security is a top priority.

Examples of Popular Native Apps

Many of the world’s most successful mobile applications are native apps because they offer top-notch performance and reliability. Some well-known examples include:

• Instagram - a social media app that allows you to effortlessly share photos and videos with your followers
• Facebook - a popular social network app that lets you connect with your friends, share updates, and explore content
• Google Maps - a navigation app that provides you access to detailed maps, real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn directions
• Spotify - a music streaming app that allows you to immerse yourself in an extensive range of songs, create playlists, and discover new music
• WhatsApp - a messaging app that enables you to send texts, make video calls, and share media files in real time
• Uber - a ride-booking app that allows you to connect with drivers, enabling you to request and pay for rides
• Airbnb - an app that enables you to book accommodations, including homes, apartments, and rooms, for your travels
• Snapchat - a multimedia messaging app that enables you to send photos and videos that get removed after being viewed
• Evernote - an app that allows you to create and organize digital notes, memos, and to-do lists
• Candy Crush Saga - a popular mobile game that entices you with its challenge of matching colourful candies to complete levels

These applications highlight why businesses opt for native app development to provide users with a smooth, secure, and feature-rich experience.

Benefits of Native Apps

1. High Performance

Native apps are directly compiled into machine code, allowing them to leverage the device’s hardware and software optimally. This results in faster execution times, smoother animations, and better responsiveness compared to web or hybrid apps.

2. Enhanced User Experience (UX)

Because native apps adhere to platform-specific design guidelines, they provide a user experience that feels more natural and intuitive. Users can interact with familiar gestures, layouts, and navigation patterns, enhancing usability and engagement.

3. Improved Security

Native apps benefit from the built-in security mechanisms of the operating system. They can integrate two-factor authentication, biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID), encryption, and secure storage solutions, making them more resistant to cyber threats.

4. Offline Functionality

Unlike web apps that require an internet connection to function, native apps can store data locally and operate in offline mode. This makes them ideal for applications that need to function in areas with poor connectivity, such as travel apps, note-taking apps, and productivity tools.

5. Full Access to Device Features

Native apps have direct access to the device’s hardware, including GPS, camera, microphone, Bluetooth, and sensors. This allows them to deliver advanced functionalities such as augmented reality (AR), real-time tracking, and high-quality multimedia processing.

6. Greater Scalability

Because native apps are developed specifically for an OS, they can handle larger workloads and complex functionalities better than hybrid or web apps. This makes them suitable for enterprise applications, fintech solutions, and large-scale mobile services.

Challenges of Native App Development

While native apps provide numerous benefits, they also come with certain challenges:

1. Higher Development Costs: Building separate apps for iOS and Android requires expertise in different programming languages and frameworks, increasing costs.
2. Longer Development Time: Developing and maintaining two separate codebases can be time-consuming.
3. Frequent Updates and Maintenance: Native apps require ongoing updates to stay compatible with new OS versions and security patches.
4. App Store Approval Process: Publishing an app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store involves meeting strict guidelines and approval procedures.

Given these challenges, businesses often look for faster, cost-effective solutions for native app development. This is where FAB Builder comes in.

How FAB Builder Simplifies Native App Development

FAB Builder is an advanced low-code/code generation platform that helps businesses build high-quality native apps faster and more efficiently.

1. Pre-Built Templates for Faster Development

FAB Builder provides a range of pre-configured app templates for various industries, reducing development time and effort.

2. One-Click Deployment to App Stores

Publishing an app on Google Play or the Apple App Store is streamlined with automated deployment tools, eliminating manual submission errors.

3. Seamless API Integration

FAB Builder enables easy integration with third-party APIs like Stripe for payments, Firebase for authentication, and Google Maps for geolocation services.

4. Cross-Platform Support with Native Performance

Although FAB Builder specializes in native apps, it also supports cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter, allowing businesses to build apps that run smoothly on both iOS and Android.

5. Cost-Effective Development

By automating repetitive coding tasks, FAB Builder reduces the need for large development teams, making native app development more affordable.

How to Build a Native App?

Step 1: Define Your Native App

Begin by outlining your app’s purpose, features, and target audience using FAB Builder’s AI-assisted entity creation tool. This step helps you clearly define:

• App Name: Choose a unique and brand-relevant name for your app.
• Target Audience: Identify whether your app is for consumers, businesses, or niche markets.
• Core Features: List functionalities such as push notifications, user authentication, in-app purchases, GPS tracking, camera access, and offline mode.
• Platform Selection: Decide whether you want to develop a native iOS app, a native Android app, or both.

FAB Builder’s AI will assist in structuring your app’s requirements and generating a tailored development blueprint.

Step 2: Choose Your Tech Stack

Unlike hybrid or web-based solutions, native apps require platform-specific development stacks. FAB Builder allows you to choose from pre-configured tech stacks optimized for native development:

Frontend Development:

• Swift, Objective-C (for iOS apps)
• Kotlin, Java (for Android apps)

Backend Development:

• Node.js (lightweight and scalable)
• Java (enterprise-grade applications)
• .NET (secure and robust for enterprise solutions)

Database Options:

• MongoDB (NoSQL for flexibility)
• PostgreSQL (SQL for complex queries)
• MySQL (for structured relational data)

FAB Builder automates the setup and integration of your selected tech stack, reducing manual effort and ensuring optimized performance.

Step 3: Define Your Data Model

Every native app relies on structured data to store and manage information. With FAB Builder’s visual data model designer, you can:

• Define entities and relationships.
• Use pre-built fields (text, numbers, dates, images) or create custom fields tailored to your app’s functionality.
• Set up authentication models for user logins, roles, and permissions.
• Enable offline data storage, allowing the app to function without internet access.

This low-code approach ensures a well-structured database without requiring deep backend expertise.

Step 4: Preview and Iterate

Before deployment, testing is crucial to ensure smooth performance and a flawless user experience. FAB Builder provides:

• Live preview mode to see how your native app looks and functions on iOS and Android devices.
• Automated UI testing to catch design inconsistencies.
• Performance analysis to optimize speed, battery usage, and load times.
• Iterative updates to refine design, improve responsiveness, and enhance features.

By iterating based on real-time previews and user feedback, you can perfect your native app before launching.

Step 5: Deploy Your Native App

Once your app is polished and ready, FAB Builder streamlines deployment with its one-click publishing feature. You can:

• Deploy your app to AWS, GCP, or Azure with minimal configuration.
• Generate platform-specific builds for iOS and Android, ensuring compliance with App Store and Play Store guidelines.
• Automate code signing and submission, reducing the complexities of manual deployment.
• Manage app updates effortlessly, enabling you to roll out bug fixes and new features quickly.

Why Choose FAB Builder for Native App Development?

1. Faster Time-to-Market: Automates repetitive coding tasks, reducing development time.
2. Cost-Effective: Eliminates the need for large development teams.
3. No Coding Required (for Beginners): Non-developers can create fully functional apps.
4. Seamless Scalability: Supports businesses as they grow.
5. Secure and Reliable: Built-in security features to protect user data.

What is the Difference Between Native Apps, Hybrid Apps, and Web Apps?

Native Apps

A native app is a mobile application built specifically for a particular operating system (OS) using platform-specific programming languages and frameworks. These apps are downloaded from app stores and installed directly on devices.

• iOS Native Apps: Built using Swift or Objective-C
• Android Native Apps: Built using Kotlin or Java

Characteristics of Native Apps

• Platform-Specific Development – Designed for either iOS or Android, ensuring maximum compatibility and performance.
• Optimized Performance – Runs faster and smoother compared to hybrid or web apps.
• Full Access to Device Features – Uses the device’s hardware (GPS, camera, notifications, sensors) efficiently.
• Offline Functionality – Many native apps can function without an internet connection.
• App Store Distribution – Available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Examples of Native Apps

• Instagram – Provides a seamless user experience with native media-sharing capabilities.
• Spotify – Uses advanced audio streaming features optimized for mobile.
• Uber – Uses real-time GPS tracking for ride-hailing.

Hybrid Apps

A hybrid app is a mobile application that combines elements of both native and web applications. It is built using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and runs inside a native wrapper that enables it to function like a native app on multiple platforms. Hybrid apps are developed using frameworks such as React Native, Ionic, or Apache Cordova.

Characteristics of Hybrid Apps

• Cross-Platform Compatibility – A single codebase can run on both iOS and Android.
• Lower Development Cost – More affordable than native apps since only one app needs to be developed.
• Basic Access to Device Features – Can use some native features (camera, GPS, notifications) through plugins.
• Faster Development – Reusable code speeds up development.
• App Store Distribution – Like native apps, hybrid apps can be published on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Examples of Hybrid Apps

• Twitter – Uses a hybrid approach to optimize performance across platforms.
• Instagram Lite – A lightweight version of Instagram, built using web technologies.
• Airbnb – Uses React Native for seamless cross-platform performance.

Web Apps

A web app is an application that runs inside a web browser and does not require installation. It is built using standard web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and is accessible through URLs rather than app stores.

Characteristics of Web Apps

• No Installation Required – Users can access the app directly from a browser.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility – Works on any device with a browser, including desktops and smartphones.
• Cost-Effective Development – A single app serves all platforms.
• Automatic Updates – Users always have access to the latest version without needing to download updates.
• Limited Offline Functionality – Requires an internet connection for most tasks.

Examples of Web Apps

• Google Docs – A browser-based document editing tool.
• Spotify Web Player – Allows users to stream music without installing the app.
• Gmail – A fully functional email service accessible via a web browser.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Native Apps If:

• The app requires high performance (e.g., gaming, multimedia, financial apps).
• A seamless user experience and better security are priorities.
• The app needs deep integration with device hardware (camera, GPS, sensors).

Choose Hybrid Apps If:

• Faster development and lower costs are required.
• The app needs to launch on both iOS and Android simultaneously.
• The app does not require complex animations or advanced device integration.

Choose Web Apps If:

• A cost-effective, easy-to-maintain solution is needed.
• The app does not require access to device features.
• Avoiding app store approvals and ensuring instant updates is a priority.

Conclusion

Native apps offer unmatched performance, security, and user experience, making them the preferred choice for businesses looking to build high-quality mobile applications. While they come with challenges like higher development costs and longer timelines, the benefits—such as full access to device features, offline functionality, and platform-optimized performance—outweigh the drawbacks.

With FAB Builder, businesses can overcome these challenges by streamlining native app development through AI-driven automation, pre-built templates, one-click deployment, seamless API integration, and cost-effective solutions. Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, FAB Builder simplifies the process, allowing you to create feature-rich, scalable, and high-performing native apps without the complexity of traditional development.

Ready to build your native app? Explore FAB Builder today.