Quick Summary
Hybrid mobile apps can easily help you mix web and native technologies to increase the operational efficiency of your business. These applications use only a single code to run across multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android. Many customers prefer hybrid mobile app development services because they can easily minimize the cost and time of making a mobile application. In this guide, we will take a look at the 7 best hybrid mobile app development frameworks for 2025, including their benefits.
Introduction
Ralph Johnson, a computer scientist and author of the GoF book on design patterns, once said, “Before software can be reusable, it first has to be usable.” So, if you want to gain the best of both – native and web applications, use a hybrid mobile app. According to a study, 90% of businesses are adopting hybrid app development to fulfill development needs across multiple platforms.
While the traditional native applications are designed uniquely for iOS and Android platforms, with separate codes and functionalities, hybrid apps offer developers the flexibility to design and use one code across different platforms. This helps minimize the time-to-market, optimizes costs, and provides an enhanced user experience.
What is a Hybrid Mobile App Development Framework?
Using a hybrid app development framework allows you to design an application that is easily compatible across multiple mobile platforms like iOS, Windows, or Android. In this realm, it differs from native application development, where the developers are bound to use platform-specific languages to build mobile applications. In contrast, a hybrid app leverages a single code base for all operating systems.
For example, for building a hybrid mobile application, the developer might combine some code of Java, CSS, and HTML to create a hybrid mobile application that can be run on a mobile device and a web application.
What are the Important Factors for designing a Hybrid App Framework in 2025?
A well-known or the best hybrid app development company in 2025 may offer frameworks that may include key factors such as:
Reusable codes: A single code that works seamlessly across multiple OS and web platforms is one of the key factors of a hybrid application framework.- Cross-platform capability: One of the important factors when building a hybrid mobile application is to ensure that it can be used across iOS, Android, and other web applications..
- Easy to customize: The ability to customize UI features to offer an enhanced experience to the users should be among the exceptional quality features.
- Highly secured: Reusable codes and deployment across multiple platforms should not mean the app data is easy to breach or lacks security. In 2025, the hybrid mobile application should be launched after troubleshooting bugs and mitigating risks. Also, it should be secured with key features like encryption, antivirus, and multi-factor authentication.
- Cost-effective: As there is no requirement to create multiple codes, the cost of development of hybrid apps automatically comes down.
- Speed & scalability: A hybrid mobile application should be able to operate in complex environments without any lags and also be ready to modify and scale according to future requirements.
Top 7 Best Hybrid App Frameworks in 2025
The world of mobile apps often keeps changing, and the best way to develop better-functioning apps is by working with an efficient hybrid mobile app development company. Meanwhile, here, you can find a few good frameworks that are already making it easier to build hybrid apps in 2025:
1. Ionic
It uses Angular and Apache Cordova to build the most flexible hybrid apps. It leverages regular programming languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, and functions well with various Web Components. That’s why developers can easily make UI pieces that work anywhere and can be reused with Iconic.
Features:
- Extensive UI component library.
- Built-in PWA support.
- Active community support.
- Capacitor for enhanced native access.
Advantages:
- Rapid prototyping.
- Familiar web technologies.
- Extensive documentation.
Trade-offs:
- Heavy reliance on WebViews.
- Performance is limited for complex apps.
- Limited direct access to native features.
2. React Native
Supported by Facebook, the React Native framework allows users to develop mobile applications using JavaScript and React.React Native also renders real native UI components, so it matches apps built with Kotlin or Swift.
Features:
- Renders native UI components (not WebViews).
- Hot reloading for rapid development.
- Vast plugin ecosystem.
- Large, active developer community.
Advantages:
- Near-native performance.
- Offers components that can be reused.
- Provides easy third-party integrations.
- Widely popular among platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Tesla, etc.
Trade-offs:
- Users might have to face challenges related to native module integration.
- May require a steep learning curve for beginners..
- Sometimes users may encounter version compatibility issues.
3. Flutter
Flutter is a Google framework that uses the Dart language for designing hybrid applications. One of the import features of Flutter is that it does not use platform-specific UI components or web views. Instead, the framework leverages a rendering engine to draw pixels on the screen and makes sure that everything looks and works similarly across all devices.
Features:
- Single codebase for mobile, web, and desktop.
- Custom widgets for pixel-perfect UI.
- Advanced animations.
- Native performance and access.
Advantages:
- Beautiful, customizable UI.
- Hot reload for fast iteration.
- Strong Google backing.
- Used by Google Ads, BMW, and Alibaba.
Trade-offs:
- Requires learning Dart.
- Larger app sizes.
- The ecosystem is newer but growing fast.
4. Xamarin
Xamarin integrates the C language with the .NET framework. However, today it is no longer supported by Microsoft. The Xamarin Forms have evolved into .NET multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI), which allows developers to create applications for iOS, Android, Windows App, and macOS.
Features:
- Shared C# codebase.
- Deep Visual Studio integration.
- Enterprise-grade security.
- Direct access to platform APIs.
Advantages:
- Near-native speed and performance.
- Strong enterprise tooling.
- Used by Microsoft apps, UPS, and Fox Sports.
Trade-offs:
- High learning curve for C# newbies.
- Larger app sizes.
- Licensing costs for advanced features.
5. NativeScript
NativeScript makes use of TypeScript or JavaScript. This framework allows developers to call native APIs directly from JavaScript.. Its compatibility with Angular and Vue.js makes it highly usable for front-end developers.
Features:
- Native API access from JavaScript/TypeScript.
- Strong plugin ecosystem.
- Native UI without bridges.
- Angular and Vue.js support.
Advantages:
- True native performance.
- Rich integration ecosystem.
- Used by Aura CO2, Starbucks, and SAP.
Trade-offs:
- Smaller community.
- Steep learning curve for complex use cases.
- Gaps in documentation.
6. Framework7
It’s an excellent framework that allows developers to make iOS and Android apps with a native look, especially when building progressive web apps (PWAs). Framework7 also offers a combines set of UI components that are perfect for both iOS and Android.
Features:
- Pre-styled UI components mimicking native iOS and Android.
- Built-in routing and navigation system.
- Supports Vue.js, React, and Svelte integrations.
- Flexible theming and customization options.
Advantages:
- Easy to learn for web developers.
- Rich set of ready-to-use UI components.
- Ideal for rapid prototyping and small-to-medium apps.
- Active open-source community and regular updates.
Trade-offs:
- Performance may lag compared to fully native frameworks.
- Less suitable for highly complex or large-scale enterprise apps.
- Smaller ecosystem compared to React Native or Flutter.
7. Apache Cordova (Phonegap)
Apache Cordova remains a classic choice for web developers moving into mobile. It integrates JavaScript, CSS, or HTML in a native container and provides access to device features through plugins.
Features:
- Large plugin ecosystem.
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript development.
- Broad cross-platform compatibility.
Advantages:
- Easy entry for web developers.
- Flexible architecture.
- Strong documentation.
Trade-offs:
- Performance may lag behind newer frameworks.
- UI can feel less “native.”
- WebView dependency may offer limited native experiences.
Read also: How to Choose the Right App Development Company in 2025 for Maximum ROI?
Quick Comparison Table
| Framework | Language(s) | Ideal For | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionic | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | Creating cross-platform apps using web development skills | Plugin library, web-first approach, PWA support |
| React Native | JavaScript, TypeScript | General mobile apps with near-native performance | Native-like UI, large developer community, hot reloading, backed by Meta |
| Flutter | Dart | Multiplatform, UI-rich | Beautiful UI, strong performance, backed by Google |
| Xamarin | C# | Enterprise, .NET shops | Native speed, Visual Studio integration, upgraded to .NET |
| NativeScript | JS/TS, Angular | Mobile, native APIs | Direct API access, Angular/Vue support |
| Framework7 | JS, HTML, CSS | Web-style mobile apps | Native-like UI components, fast prototyping |
| Apache Cordova | JS, HTML, CSS | Simple hybrid apps | Easy for web devs, plugin-based features |
How to choose the Right Hybrid Framework?
If you are looking for a hybrid mobile app development framework, then there are some considerations to keep in mind before choosing the one that suits your needs. These include:
- Performance Needs: Consider Flutter, React Native, or NativeScript for demanding, high-performance applications.
- Developer Expertise: Choose a hybrid mobile app development agency that provides frameworks to match your team’s skill set.
- Community: Choose frameworks with active communities for easier troubleshooting and rapid development.
The Future of Hybrid App Development
Hybrid frameworks have already bridged the gap between the flexibility of web development and the power of native platforms. Meanwhile, a few traditional frameworks like React Native and Flutter still serve valuable roles for specific needs. However, with improvements in integrated tools and ecosystem expansion needs, you must work with only the most efficient hybrid mobile app development services that fulfill your business application requirements. This also involves making sure that they remain the fastest and offer the most economical path for building applications that reach users everywhere.
Still confused about your framework choices? Rainstream Technologies experts can help you out!
FAQs:
- Is hybrid app development cost-effective as compared to native application development?
Yes, hybrid app development is usually less expensive as the developers do not need to write separate code to allow the app to function across different platforms; a single code base can be reused for iOS, Android, Windows, or web applications.
- Name the most popular framework that can be used to develop a hybrid mobile app in 2025?
Flutter is the most popular choice for developers when building a hybrid mobile application. With its customizable widgets, extensive UI features backed by Google, and developer-friendly features such as hot reloading, it has gained wide popularity in 2025.
- Why should enterprises use hybrid applications?
As compared to native applications, hybrid apps offer less time to market, are less costly, and use a single code for multiple platforms. Moreover, they offer consistent performance across multiple platforms.
