Is your current tech stack missing the mark? Rather than shipping new features or fine-tuning performance, your team is stuck dealing with the limitations of the framework or language(s) you're working with.
Whether your previous workflow involved native or cross-platform development, you can reach and retain more users with greater ease by picking the right cross-platform framework.
In this article, we've compiled a list of the top ten cross-platform app development frameworks currently on the market. We'll break them down by supported languages and platforms, performance, speed, community size and quality, use in popular applications, and more. We'll also give you the criteria you need to make the right decision for your team.
What Are Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks?
Cross-platform app development frameworks let you use the same codebase for multiple platforms. They utilize an abstraction layer that translates your code into native function calls for the system you're on.
These frameworks create a streamlined process for building apps for different platforms, enabling developers to spend their time on reducing costs and creating a more unified user experience.
Utilizing a cross-platform app development framework eliminates the need for developers to make platform-specific code for iOS, Android, and other platforms. Additionally, these frameworks also provide access to native APIs, meaning your app has a consistent performance standard and polished look across devices.
The 10 Best Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks
All cross-platform frameworks can be helpful for development teams, but some differences between them can make you choose one over the other.
Let's delve into the ten best frameworks for cross-platform app development, all excelling in their own niches.
1. Flutter
Flutter is one of the most popular frameworks for developing mobile, web, and desktop applications. It's based on the Skia 2D graphics engine, which draws each pixel on the screen under the hood.
Flutter supports both AOT and JIT compilation for Dart for optimized builds and fast iterations. It also has access to device capabilities like Bluetooth, cameras, and sensors through platform channels.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Flutter |
| Programming Language | Dart (object-oriented, strongly typed, developed by Google) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Compiles Dart to native ARM/x86 code for high performance / Mimics native behaviors; doesn’t use native UI components |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Hot reload enables rapid UI iteration |
| Platform Support | iOS, Android, web, macOS, Windows, and Linux |
| Community and Ecosystem | Vibrant, active community with robust, well-maintained documentation |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Strong integration with VS Code, Android Studio, and IntelliJ |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Wide range of plugins for device features and APIs |
| Popular Applications | Google Ads, Reflectly, and Alibaba |
Recommended use case: If you need a fast development cycle for an application with a customizable and smooth UI, as well as high performance across platforms, Flutter is the right pick for your team.
2. React Native
This framework is Flutter's primary competitor, and it has the benefit of using JavaScript as its language, which most teams are more familiar with.
React Native uses a multi-threaded architecture. The JavaScript thread handles logic, while the native UI thread is for rendering and event handling. Expo, built on top of this framework, makes it easier to prototype, test, and deploy.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | React Native |
| Programming Languages | JavaScript (often with TypeScript for type safety) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Smooth UI (~60 fps) with native components / Historically used a JavaScript bridge for communication between JS logic and native layers / Fabric architecture for calling native functions with JavaScript |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Hot reloading for rapid iteration / Familiarity with JavaScript/React makes it beginner-friendly and efficient for React-based teams |
| Platform Support | iOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, tvOS, web, UWP, and visionOS |
| Community and Ecosystem | Large ecosystem backed by Meta / Extensive libraries, tutorials, and global support |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Excellent support with VS Code, Chrome DevTools, and Expo for rapid development and testing |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Rich plugin ecosystem / Supports native code integration for deeper device access |
| Popular Applications | Facebook, Instagram, and Discord |
Recommended use case: Best for applications that need a native-like UX, fast development cycles, and shared code with web technologies. Rapid iterations and easy scalability are two of the key selling points, meaning it's great for social platforms, chat apps, e-commerce marketplaces, video conferencing tools, and content-driven applications.
3. .NET MAUI
Microsoft developed this framework for building native desktop and mobile applications using a single C# codebase and .NET libraries. MAUI handlers map declarative UI components to native ones, which results in great performance and flexibility.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | .NET Multi-Platform App UI (.NET MAUI) |
| Programming Languages | C# (optionally F# or Visual Basic for logic; XAML for UI layout) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Compiles to native binaries with AOT/JIT for smooth UI, fast load times, and native control handling |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Hot reload speeds up UI changes / Familiar for existing .NET developers |
| Platform Support | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS (via Mac Catalyst), and Tizen |
| Community and Ecosystem | Backed by Microsoft and a strong .NET community with active open-source contributions |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Deep integration with Visual Studio and VS Code, with rich debugging and profiling |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Easy integration with the .NET ecosystem and access to native APIs |
| Popular Applications | Fidelity, NBC Sports Next, and Alpha Outdoors |
Recommended use case: Great for high-performance native apps, especially for enterprises or businesses looking for a framework targeting multiple mobile and desktop platforms.
4. Ionic
Ionic allows integration with libraries and other frameworks like React, Vue, Angular, and Svelte. The Capacitor JS runtime lets Ionic apps use device features like cameras, sensors, and Bluetooth with JavaScript APIs while running inside a WebView.
It also has a prebuilt UI component library with mobile styling and web components via StencilJS.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ionic |
| Programming Languages | HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or TypeScript (with support for frameworks like Angular, React, Vue, or Svelte) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Can feel slightly less smooth than fully native approaches in graphic-intensive scenarios because it runs inside a WebView / Provides a native-like feel via prebuilt UI components, animations, and mobile-friendly styling |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Very fast development for web developers / Live reload |
| Platform Support | Mobile (iOS and Android), web (PWA), and desktop (Electron), via WebView + Capacitor or Cordova |
| Community and Ecosystem | Long-established framework (since 2013) with a solid ecosystem / Ionic 4+ supports multiple frontend frameworks / Backed by OutSystems since 2022 |
| Tooling and IDE Support | CLI tools for building, plugin integration, and debugging / Supports web dev tools and IDEs like VS Code |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Device APIs accessed via Capacitor (modern) or Cordova (legacy) / Large plugin ecosystem, though compatibility can vary |
| Popular Applications | Untappd, Instant Pot, and Sanvello |
Recommended use case: Excellent for rapid development, web-first applications with a consistent UI across mobile, web, and desktop. Teams with web development skills are more suited than those with native expertise.
5. Unity
Unlike traditional UI-focused frameworks, Unity is a game development engine for virtually any platform. Like the Unreal Engine, Unity helps developers build immersive experiences utilizing physics, animations, and rendering. It's been an industry standard since 2005.
Beyond game dev, it's also used for simulations in industries like architecture and automotive.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Unity (Game Engine) |
| Programming Language | C# |
| Performance and Native Feel | High performance with real-time rendering, physics, and optimized workflows for 2D, 3D, AR, and VR |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Rapid iteration via real-time editing and an extensive Asset Store |
| Platform Support | Mobile, desktop, consoles, web, AR/VR, and automotive platforms |
| Community and Ecosystem | Large, active community with extensive learning resources and plugins / Backed by Unity Technologies |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Unity Editor with strong integration for Visual Studio and other C# IDEs |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Huge library of assets, scripts, and plugins for quick extension |
| Popular Applications | Pokémon GO, Monument Valley, Beat Saber, and Among Us |
Recommended use case: Great for immersive, interactive experiences like games, virtual concerts, or real-time simulations. While less popular outside gaming and simulations, you can use it to make anything from a video-calling app to interactive business tools.
6. NativeScript
With the use of JavaScript/TypeScript along with libraries and frameworks like Angular, Vue, Svelte, and SolidJS, NativeScripts allows developers to make truly native cross-platform mobile applications. NativeScript translates its declarative UIs into platform-specific components like iOS UIKit and Android Views at runtime.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programming Languages | JavaScript or TypeScript, with support for Angular, Vue.js, Svelte, and SolidJS |
| Performance and Native Feel | High-performance, renders truly native UI components directly, and supports animations up to 120 FPS |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Moderate learning curve, although a bit easier for those with web framework experience |
| Platform Support | iOS and Android (native only) |
| Community and Ecosystem | Medium-sized but active ecosystem / Maintained under the OpenJS Foundation with hundreds of plugins available |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Works well with CLI tools, NativeScript Sidekick (GUI), Playground for prototyping, and standard JS IDEs like VS Code |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Direct access to native APIs / Large plugin marketplace / Can add custom native modules in Swift/Java/Kotlin |
| Popular Applications | Daily Nanny, ActiveLook, and Easy Hiragana |
Use case: Ideal for web dev-heavy teams that want to build smooth, native-like mobile apps.
7. Electron
Electron is an open-source framework that allows developers to create desktop apps, both native and web-based. It uses Chromium and Node.js to render and execute app logic, respectively.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programming Languages | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and TypeScript |
| Performance and Native Feel | Moderate performance / Heavier apps due to Chromium bundling / Near-native look with proper UI frameworks |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Fast and easy / Reuses web development skills |
| Platform Support | Windows, macOS, and Linux |
| Community and Ecosystem | Very large community / Open-source under OpenJS Foundation / Many contributors and extensive resources |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Strong support via the npm ecosystem, Electron Forge for scaffolding, and standard JS tools like VS Code and WebStorm |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Supports Node.js modules and many third-party integrations |
| Popular Applications | Slack, Discord, Figma, and Postman |
Recommended use case: Best for creating cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies, especially if leveraging existing JavaScript expertise.
8. Kotlin Multiplatform
Kotlin Multiplatform is another open-source solution that allows cross-platform development, encouraging code reuse across Android, iOS, web, and desktop. Logic sharing is fully supported, though UI sharing is only made possible with libraries like Jetpack Compose Multiplatform.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programming Language | Kotlin (interoperable with JVM) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Logic runs at native speed / UI is fully native unless you opt for Compose Multiplatform, which allows cross-platform UI in Kotlin |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Fast for shared logic / Compose streamlines UI sharing for Android, iOS, desktop, and web |
| Platform Support | Android, iOS, web, macOS, Windows, and Linux |
| Community and Ecosystem | Backed by JetBrains and officially supported by Google / Ecosystem growing steadily with increasing library and Jetpack support |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Excellent support in IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio, including a KMM plugin and native integration with CocoaPods, Gradle, and Xcode workflows |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Strong support via standard libraries (Ktor, SQLDelight, Coroutines) and native module interoperability using CocoaPods or Swift Package integration |
| Popular Applications | Netflix, Cash App, Memrise, Careem, VMware, 9GAG, and Billibilli |
Ideal use case: Ideal for organizations that need shared logic with already existing UI elements. Apps with complex backends like AI-driven software would be well-suited for Kotlin Multiplatform.
9. Tauri
Tauri allows you to make web-based apps with a JavaScript-powered frontend and a Rust-powered backend. You can use your favorite JavaScript frameworks for UI components.
The Rust backend helps Tauri compile into efficient machine code and produce lightweight binaries.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programming Languages | Rust for the backend, JavaScript or TypeScript (plus any frontend framework) for the UI |
| Performance and Native Feel | Very high performance / Efficient native binaries, uses the OS built-in webview (not bundled Chromium), resulting in fast performance and small binary size (often < 600 KB) |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Fast for web developers / Boilerplate via create-tauri-app / Hot module reloading supported / Backend in Rust may require learning for some developers |
| Platform Support | Windows, macOS, Linux; iOS and Android supported since Tauri 2.0 |
| Community and Ecosystem | Growing open-source community / Governed by the Tauri Foundation with active contributors |
| Tooling and IDE Support | CLI tools, plugin ecosystem, and scaffolding tools like create-tauri-app / Works well with frontend IDEs and Rust toolchains |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Robust plugin system / Official and community plugins (like BLE, notifications, cache, and native dialogs) allow deep OS integration |
| Popular Applications | Still emerging / No widely famous flagship applications yet, but gaining traction as a lightweight alternative to Electron |
Recommended use case: Tauri would be a great choice for developers seeking a lightweight, secure, high-performance cross-platform framework for desktop apps using web UI.
10. Qt
Qt is an open-source framework for creating applications that run across different platforms, such as Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, and even embedded systems. Although written in C++, Qt provides bindings for several programming languages, like PySide, PyQT5, and PyQT6 for Python, Qt Jambi for Java, and more.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programming Languages | Primarily C++ (with QML for UI); also supports bindings like PySide/PyQt (Python) and QtJambi (Java) |
| Performance and Native Feel | Compiles to native binaries / Delivers near-native performance with precise native styling and fluid UI via QML/QWidgets |
| Development Speed and Ease of Use | Mature framework with intuitive QML for UI, plus tools like Qt Creator and Qt Quick Designer to accelerate development |
| Platform Support | Desktop (Windows, macOS, and Linux), mobile (iOS and Android), embedded systems, and web via WASM |
| Community and Ecosystem | Over a million developers / Trusted by major enterprises (8 of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies) / Strong open-source and commercial backing |
| Tooling and IDE Support | Best-in-class tooling with Qt Creator, featuring code editors, visual UI designers, debugging, profiling, and cross-compilation support |
| Integration and Plugin Availability | Full-featured with modules for graphics, multimedia, networking, and embedded systems / Supports signal-slot event handling and QML integration |
| Popular Applications | VLC, Google Earth, VirtualBox, and Telegram |
Recommended use case: Best for high-performance, visually rich applications that need to run on desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms. Particularly good when consistent native UI and mature tooling are important.
Key Evaluation Criteria for Picking Frameworks
When making your choice from the frameworks above, it's important to consider these key criteria:
Programming Language: Consider what languages your team already knows. Dart (Flutter), JavaScript/TypeScript (React Native and Ionic), and C# (.NET MAUI) are common. Leveraging existing skills speeds up onboarding.
Performance and Native Feel: Performance is crucial for user-facing applications where speed, smooth animations, and responsiveness are expected. "Native feel" is equally important; this is how closely the UI and UX mimic what users expect from their platform.
Development Speed and Ease of Use: Evaluate hot reload, error handling, documentation quality, and setup time. These factors impact iteration speed and developer productivity.
Platform Support: Not all frameworks have the same variety of supported platforms. They can be mobile-focused, web-first, desktop-oriented, or a mixture of two or three. For instance, you wouldn't pick NativeScript for a web app.
Community and Ecosystem: A large, active community means better libraries, frequent updates, and easier debugging. They also come with more resources and a deeper talent pool from which to hire. Frameworks with corporate backing often have even greater support and longevity.
Tooling and IDE Support: Look for integrations with IDEs like VS Code, Android Studio, or Xcode. It should also have strong tooling for debugging, testing, deployment, and more.
Integration and Plugin Availability: Assess how easily you can access native features like camera, GPS, and payments. A mature plugin ecosystem reduces the need to write custom native code.
Popular Applications: Check out some popular apps made with these frameworks to see what other developers have done with them. Try them out on all the platforms you intend to release your product on to determine if there are any obvious weaknesses, like a mobile app that feels like a watered-down version of the web app.
Using these points to evaluate the frameworks you're looking at and knowing how important each point is to your team will make it easier to choose.
Making the Right Decision
There's not a single framework out there that fits every scenario. Each one brings its own strengths and challenges. For instance, if you need a highly customized UI and tight integration with device hardware and access, a native app will still win.
However, if your team prefers rapid development and broader audience reach with a shared codebase, then cross-platform frameworks really shine.
So, which framework should you pick? Go with the one that best aligns with your project goals, team's skill set, and desired user experience.
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