
Hybrid app development has several peculiarities you have to take into account. It has characteristics of native and web applications. It means you build and operate one app for numerous platforms. Hybrid apps are built adopting HTML and JavaScript. Their performance is slightly worse than native applications. However, it requires a shorter time to present the ready project. Affordability and a unified codebase are additional benefits.
There are numerous hybrid mobile app frameworks to choose from. We suggest a list of top hybrid apps frameworks to use in 2021. We also describe the peculiarities of each so that you could select the right one. Let’s dive in!
10 Best Hybrid Mobile Application Development Frameworks
The following 10 frameworks, placed in no particular order, are definitely worth your attention.
To be even more informative, we singled out their strengths and weaknesses. Keep in mind that the framework you select should correspond to the specific demands of your project.
1. Ionic
This one stands among the leading frameworks. The HTML is based on AngularJS and Cordova, applying the best APIs like Shadow DOM. Ionic is a user-friendly and easy-to-learn framework. It possesses extensive libraries that will give you insight on how to create a hybrid mobile app. It presents excellent opportunities for creating UI design.
Advantages:
- effortless to create, upgrade
- native functionality
- lots of UI elements
- employs reliable languages
Disadvantages:
- sometimes too slow for JavaScript developers
- apps have not such an outstanding performance compared with native ones
2. React Native
This framework employs React and Javascript. It has a huge, helpful community and a great reputation. It presents UX as the closest to the native apps.
Advantages:
- highly reusable code
- support Node.Js.
- automated testing tools
- lots of useful instruments to boost production
Disadvantages:
- the hardware area needs improvements
- not the best option for beginners
3. Flutter
This is an open-source mobile hybrid app framework launched by Google. It has one codebase for Android, iOS and presents many opportunities for UI and launching various prototypes.
Advantages:
- the best pick for MVP
- great UI designing opportunities
- ability to immediately see the code changes
- a wide range of customizable widgets
Disadvantages:
- restrictions towards the app size
- paid advanced tools
4. PhoneGap
This framework is considered one of the friendliest for beginner programmers. It applies web API tools for building apps. PhoneGap has powerful backup support and numerous UI opportunities. It also owns a cloud-based service called “Build” to compile with no SDKs. It operates on JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5.
Advantages:
- simple, flexible
- fast and smooth testing
- compatibility with the plugin structure
- works for numerous gadgets
Disadvantages:
- there are others in this list that create faster apps
- not so many widget options
- most suitable for small, simple apps
5. jQuery Mobile
This one follows an unusual, relatively new approach in hybrid app development. It doesn’t try to present equal functional capability to native apps. It keeps away from templates and presents generic apps that run on many platforms. It doesn’t stick to the common ones. The apps operate on a much wider variety of platforms. If you want something out-of-the-box, it is an excellent opportunity.
Advantages:
- solid, convenient
- making custom themes with no code
- ready-made app elements
- the usage of HTML5 and JavaScript
Disadvantages:
- not so good performance for complex projects
- issues related to CSS load
- unstable .NET interaction
6. Xamarin
This framework for hybrid mobile applications is presented by Microsoft. It has extensive libraries for coding languages like Java, Objective-C, and C++. Xamarin is a perfect solution if you are on a budget. The UX resembles the native applications. This framework operates on the WORA principle that implies the highly reusable code.
Advantages:
- easy and fast setup
- native UI functionality
- stable app performance
- ability to integrate APIs seamlessly
- quick creating GUI prototypes
Disadvantages:
- high price if comparing with other frameworks
- not the best option for beginners; it takes some time to learn
- certain restrictions for Android, iOS
- not the optimal pick for games
7. Onsen UI
Onsen UI enables you to build apps, elements for different OS. It runs on HTML5. It has many ready-made tools and solutions. It consists of 3 layers: CSS, Web components, bindings.
Advantages:
- highly customizable
- tools for semantic markups
- efficient performance
Disadvantages:
- lack of documentation and support
- standard templates are difficult to customize
8. Sencha Touch
Sencha Touch is one of the suitable options for eCommerce mobile app development. It provides a native-like experience. Its highlight is building custom components and keeping them in the library for usage in different apps. It offers numerous ready-made templates.
Advantages:
- best for business app development
- apps are like native
- ready-to-go widgets for many operating systems
Disadvantages:
- high price
- should be employed together with other frameworks
9. Framework7
It is convenient for building any sort of apps. It has excellent UI elements that run on all platforms. Framework7 should be applied with high-level solutions like Electron.
Advantages:
- easy to use
- libraries support
- customizable
- lots of UI widgets and components for multifunctional apps
Disadvantages:
- suitable for iOS, Android only
- has to be employed with PhoneGap, etc.
10. Aurelia
This is among the greatest tools available. It employs JavaScript and Typescript. It possesses excellent community backing and seamless coding. It is an uncomplicated but effective tool for hybrid app development. Consider it for your next app.
Advantages:
- effortless testing
- smooth coding process
- high efficiency
Disadvantages:
- challenging for beginners
- second-rate documentation
Final thoughts
This is our list of frameworks for hybrid apps. We described each of them in detail so that you can make a wiser decision on the best hybrid app framework. But it is challenging to put all the information in one article, so we recommend getting acquainted with each framework’s official documentation.