Top Mobile App Development Frameworks in 2025

• Mobile
• January 3, 2025

by Mehul Rajput

You’ve got the app idea. The features. Maybe even wireframes. But the big question is: which mobile app development framework should bring it all to life? And we get that it is more than a technical decision; it is a strategic one. This is why we decided to use our decade-long expertise in mobile app development to help you decide. The blog post has a list of mobile app development frameworks curated by our experts. Apart from the list, this blog also helps to understand which one is best for you and where it stands out.

There are many steps to building an app. Choosing the right framework is a step that would make the most impact of all.

Some frameworks are fast. Some are flexible. Others are great for building one app that works on both Android and iOS.

So, how do you know which one to choose?

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the top mobile app development frameworks. You’ll learn what they’re best for, where they work well, and how to find the right fit for your app idea.

Whether you’re starting from scratch, leveraging mobile app development services, or looking to upgrade, this blog post will help you make a smart, confident choice.

What is a Mobile App Development Framework?

A mobile app development framework is a set of pre-built libraries, components, and tools that developers can use to develop and manage mobile apps with ease. 

A framework, just as the name suggests, provides a structured environment for simplifying and accelerating mobile app development by offering pre-written code, UI elements, APIs, and debugging aids. Think of it as a template that mobile app developers can use and customize to build mobile apps without having to start everything from scratch. It allows developers to focus more on app functionality and user experience.

But why do so many frameworks exist in the first place?

It would have been better if every tech innovator had contributed to make a single platform work best for all sorts of mobile app projects.

Well, every mobile app development framework wasn’t just created to “build apps”; it was born out of a need to solve specific challenges in the ever-evolving tech landscape. 

Flutter, for instance, emerged from Google’s quest for high-performance cross-platform apps with beautiful UIs. React Native was Facebook’s answer to the need for rapid development with a native feel using a familiar web tech stack. Kotlin Multiplatform aims to streamline code sharing across platforms without compromising native capabilities, while Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI reimagine how UIs are crafted in their respective ecosystems for modern, scalable development.

They reflect the priorities of their creators, be it performance, flexibility, community-driven growth, or future-proofing, and those priorities shape how they support your mobile app development journey. 

In other words, the “why” behind each framework becomes a powerful indicator of its “when” and “how” in your roadmap.

In terms of a statistical overview, here is a detailed graph by Statista giving you insights into the mobile app development frameworks and their relative popularity: 

Types of Mobile App Development Frameworks

Making informed technology and platform choices is any way, one of the most critical mobile app development best practices, according to most CEOs who have developed mobile apps. Which is why let’s explore more about mobile development frameworks to make an informed decision. In terms of popularity, today, there are two main types of mobile app frameworks:

1. Native Mobile App Development Frameworks 

A native mobile app development framework offers a prebuilt set of tools, libraries, and components designed specifically for a single platform, such as iOS or Android. These frameworks allow mobile app developers for hire to build apps that fully leverage the operating system’s features, performance capabilities, and native user interface components.

Native mobile app development frameworks example:

• SwiftUI and UIKit are native frameworks for iOS.
• Jetpack Compose and Android SDK are native frameworks for Android.

Native mobile app development frameworks offer:

• High performance and smooth user experience
• Access to device-specific features (like camera, GPS, sensors)
• Better security and stability

2. Cross Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks 

A cross-platform mobile app development framework is a toolset that helps developers write a single codebase that can run on multiple platforms like iOS, Android, and the web. 

Popular cross-platform mobile app development frameworks include:

• Flutter
• React Native
• Xamarin/.NET MAUI
• Kotlin Multiplatform
• Ionic

Here are some benefits of cross platform app development:

• Save time and development costs
• Launch faster across multiple platforms
• Maintain consistency in app design and performance

Top Mobile App Development Frameworks

If you’re steering product strategy or growth, choosing the right app development framework could be one of your highest-leverage decisions this year. Let’s explore some of the top mobile app frameworks based on their popularity/adoption.

1. React Native

React Native is an open-source, JavaScript-based cross-platform mobile app development framework developed by Meta (formerly Facebook) to build natively rendered applications using React.

Released in 2015, it was designed to address the limitations of traditional mobile development by allowing react native developers for hire to write a single codebase that runs on multiple platforms, thereby reducing development time and costs.

Currently, developers and companies worldwide have embraced React Native for its versatility and efficiency, as it allows them to use native components instead of web components. This, in turn, helps create apps with a more native look and feel.

The platforms that support React Native include Android, iOS, macOS, Windows (via Universal Windows Platform or UWP), Web, Linux, visionOS, and tvOS.

Programming language: JavaScript

Key Features of React Native:

• Write once, run on both iOS and Android
• Offers a best-in-class JavaScript library to build UIs
• Retains a truly native user experience
• Offers a core set of platform-agnostic native components
• Huge open-source ecosystem of React Native tools and plugins
• Uses native UI components and offers near-native performance
• Integrates easily with native modules
• Hot Reload to see changes in real-time and speed up development
• Supports reusable components to build modular, scalable apps
• Rich suite of animation libraries and UI components
• Easily integrates third-party modules (e.g., maps, video, payments)
• Works with tools like Expo, Redux, React Navigation, Flipper, etc.
• Thousands of contributors worldwide
• Works well with testing tools like Jest, Detox, and Appium
• Opinionated but do offer flexibility

For a detailed perspective, explore: Why Giants like Walmart and Skype Are Choosing React Native?

When to Choose React Native as Your Mobile App Development Framework

The question remains: is it the right choice for your project? Here, we’ll explore when React Native makes the most sense:

• You want to build a cross-platform app.
• You need a faster time to market.
• Your team has JavaScript or React experience.
• You plan to continuously iterate or update.
• Your app is UI-focused.
• You plan to use third-party services.
• You’re on a tight budget.
• You expect moderate hardware integration.

Before you choose React Native, understand the cost implications. Here’s the full analysis: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a React Native Mobile App?

When Not to Choose React Native as Your Mobile App Development Framework

While it’s a powerful framework for many, there are specific use cases where react native app developer services may fall short, and forcing it could cost you time, money, and user experience. Let’s break down the situations where React Native might not be the best fit.

• You’re building a game or high-performance graphics app.
• You need complex native features or advanced hardware-level integrations (e.g., AR/VR, 3D rendering, or custom Bluetooth protocols).
• You have an existing native codebase.
• App size is a top priority.
• You need long-term support for niche native libraries.
• You want the latest native features instantly.

Curious to dive deep into why so many businesses swear by React Native, yet some still avoid it? Here is all you need to know: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using React Native as Cross-Platform App Development

Mobile apps built using React Native: Facebook, Instagram, Meta Horizon, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Messenger Desktop, Amazon Shopping, and more.

Both mobile development frameworks (Flutter and React Native) sound great, but which one’s better for your project? Find out here: Flutter vs React Native – A Complete Comparison

2. Flutter

Flutter is an open-source framework, SDK, and UI toolkit developed and maintained by Google. It empowers developers to build apps for mobile, web, and desktop using a single codebase.

Originally conceived in 2015 as Google’s internal “Sky” project. Its primary goal was to enable the development of high-performance mobile apps using the Dart programming language, overcoming limitations of the cross-platform tools available at the time. This eventually evolved into Flutter, which was then launched as an open-source initiative officially in 2017

Over the years, it evolved into a powerful UI toolkit that Flutter developers for hire now use to build natively compiled apps. The six platforms it supports are Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web.

The reason it gained popularity in a short span of time and went off the charts was due to the splendid success metrics companies were able to achieve using it in their mobile app development tech stack. Those success matrices made it the top choice for 46% of developers worldwide.

“Everyone loved Flutter — you could see the thrill on people’s faces as they talked about how fast it was to build a user interface.”

– David Ko, Engineering Director, Google Pay

Here is what the success metric of apps rebuilt or migrated to with Flutter looks like:

• Google Pay: 35% reduction in lines of code, saved 60-70% of engineers’ time
• Google Classroom: 66% reduction in codebase, 50% increase in development velocity, 98% shared mobile code
• Crownsource: 23% increase in TAM, 50% reduction in code size, 100% increase in development speed

Programming language: Dart, a modern, easy-to-learn language built for performance

Key Features of Flutter

• Dart code is compiled to machine code
• Single codebase for multiple platforms
• Hot reload for real-time updates during development
• Rich set of customizable, ready-to-use widgets library for sleek, modern design
• Performance close to native apps on any device
• Support from a large and active community of contributors
• Easy integration with existing code in Java, Swift, or Objective-C
• Built-in support for internationalization and accessibility features
• Seamless integration with Google’s app development ecosystem
• Enables high customizability for creating adaptive and responsive designs
• Offers a full suite of debugging tools
• Supports async/await for smooth, non-blocking code
• Works with Android Studio, VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA
• Third-party plugins to support payments, maps, cameras, notifications, and more
• Opinionated but not in a restrictive way

When to Choose Flutter as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Let’s break down when opting for Flutter for mobile app development is the smartest move:

• You want to build an app for multiple platforms while saving time, effort, and money.
• You’re developing an MVP or need to launch fast.
• You need a custom, beautiful UI that features animations, branding, or a unique look
• You want native-like performance.
• You’re comfortable with Google’s ecosystem and need something that integrates seamlessly with it.
• Your budget and timelines are tight.

When Not to Choose Flutter as Your Mobile App Development Framework

As much as Flutter is loved for its power and versatility, it’s not perfect for every project. In fact, choosing it at the wrong time can create more work than it saves. Here are situations where you might want to consider other options first:

• You need heavy device-specific features that rely on native APIs or functionalities.
• Your app is already built in another native framework and just needs updates, not a complete overhaul.
• You require very small app sizes (Flutter apps tend to be slightly larger than Native).

Mobile apps built using Flutter: eBay, Hamilton, CrowdSource, ByteDance, Whirlpool (Compra Certa App), Wolt, Kijiji, BMW (My BMW App), and more. If you’re thinking beyond just code and considering how Flutter impacts business goals, you’re not alone—our CEO’s guide to Flutter for enterprise app development breaks it all down.

3. Ionic

Founded in 2012, it is an open-source platform, or rather a cross-platform development kit, designed to make it easier for mobile app developers to build and manage mobile apps and micro frontend experiences. 

Max Lynch and Ben Sperry, the foundational developers, designed Ionic to offer a platform to web developers that makes it easier for them to create mobile apps for any platform using web tools and languages with which they are already familiar. 

Since then, the evolution of this platform has empowered the Ionic developer for hire to develop high-performance mobile apps for various platforms, including Android and iOS.

Programming language: JavaScript

Key Features of Ionic:

• Single codebase for iOS, Android, and the web
• Built-in support for popular JS frameworks
• 100+ pre-designed UI components
• Supports a tree-shakable architecture
• Platform agnostic(supports Angular, React, and Vue frameworks)
• Offers native-like gestures and behaviours
• Offers built-in accessibility
• Provides fast, native-like performance with the use of Apache Cordova or Capacitor
• Live reload and hot module replacement capabilities
• Wide variety of community-driven plugins
• Highly opinionated framework

When to Choose Ionic as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here are the scenarios where choosing Ionic makes the most business sense.

• You want to build high-performing cross-platform apps with a single codebase.
• Your project benefits from web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Your team has experience with Angular, React, or Vue.
• You want to speed up development time without sacrificing app quality.
• You need an app that works well on Android, iOS, and the web.
• You’re working with a limited budget and want efficient resource use.

When Not to Choose Ionic as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Let’s explore the scenarios where Ionic may not be your ideal mobile app development framework.

• You’re developing highly graphics-intensive apps (like advanced 3D games or AR/VR).
• You require deep native integrations or rely heavily on platform-specific features.
• You need ultra-high-performance animations and transitions across all devices.
• You prefer purely native performance without any compromise.

Mobile apps built using Ionic: Sworkit, Instant Pot, Shipt (a Target subsidiary), H&R Block, US Foods, Norwex, Breeze Airways, and more. 

See how Ionic stacks up against React Native in real-world performance, flexibility, and developer experience – read the full comparison: React Native Vs Ionic

4. SwiftUI

SwiftUI is Apple’s declarative user interface framework. Released in 2019, SwiftUI was created to simplify and streamline the process of building user interfaces across all Apple platforms.

With its future-facing capabilities, it is quickly becoming the go-to framework for Swift developers for hire looking to create modern, high-performance applications that leverage the full potential of Apple’s hardware and software.

SwiftUI enables you to build apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS using a unified codebase, making it ideal for creating multi-platform Apple experiences.

Key Features of SwiftUI:

• Uses a declarative syntax
• A suite of intuitive design tools for easy UI building
• Live updates of the app’s builds, runs, or displays in Xcode
• Previews of SwiftUI view on any device and orientation
• Robust built-in statement management tools
• Comes with built-in accessibility support
• Offers built-in support for animations
• Seamless integration with Apple technologies like UIKit, AppKit, WatchKit, etc.
• Ease of creating and reusing custom views throughout the app
• Interoperability with UIKit and AppKit
• Simplified gesture handling with recognizers
• Offers a built-in navigation system
• Opinionated framework

When to Choose SwiftUI as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here is when SwiftUI could be your strategic advantage:

• You’re building for the Apple ecosystem only and need a unified codebase across it
• You prefer faster development with less boilerplate code
• You want to future-proof your app for OS updates
• You’re developing with a small or agile team

When Not to Choose SwiftUI as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here are scenarios where its limitations might outweigh its sleek syntax and modern architecture:

• You need to support older iOS versions
• You’re migrating a large UIKit project
• You’re building a cross-platform app (outside of the Apple ecosystem)
• You rely heavily on third-party libraries built for UIKit
• You need pixel-perfect, custom UI designs

5. Jetpack Compose

Jetpack Compose is a modern native UI toolkit or Kotlin-based declarative UI framework for building native Android UIs with ease and efficiency.

Google created it and released the first stable version of it in 2021. It was created with an aim to simplify and accelerate UI development for Android developers for hire by replacing the traditional XML-based approach with a more intuitive, declarative Kotlin-based syntax.

Today, Jetpack Compose is setting a new standard for Android UI development.

Jetpack Compose primarily supports the Android platform, but with the evolution of Jetpack Compose Multiplatform (by JetBrains), it is now expanding to support other platforms (Android, iOS, desktop, and web) as well.

When wondering what it would be like when you use Jetpack Compose in terms of the overall impact, here are some of the instances of what companies that used it for developing mobile apps were able to achieve:

• SoundCloud: saved 45% line of code, enabled faster iteration
• Adidas: 30% increase in development efficiency
• Google Drive: 50% decrease in development times
• Dropbox: 40% less development time than anticipated, 50% less time than iOS development
• Clue: 3X increase in development speed

And the list goes on. 

Programming language: Kotlin

Key Features of Jetpack Compose:

• Simple and easy to maintain code
• Built using composable functions
• Compatible with all your existing code
• Built-in support for material design 
• Live previews & real-time editing for fast iteration
• Simplified APIs for animations
• Full Android Studio support
• Reduced boilerplate code
• Kotlin-first approach
• Suite of popular Jetpack libraries
• Opinionated framework

When to Choose Jetpack Compose as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Let’s break down the key scenarios where Jetpack Compose shines the brightest.

• You’re building a new Android app from scratch.
• Your team is already proficient in Kotlin or transitioning to it.
• You want to speed up UI development with fewer lines of code.
• You prefer a modern development stack with better scalability.
• You aim to maintain clean architecture and modular UI components.
• You want real-time previews and faster iteration cycles.
• You plan to invest in long-term Android innovation and updates.

When Not to Choose Jetpack Compose as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here’s when you might want to take a step back and evaluate alternatives before committing to Jetpack Compose:

• Your app needs to support older Android versions (below API 21) extensively.
• You’re upgrading an existing app heavily based on XML layouts and the View system.
• Your team lacks Kotlin experience and is heavily invested in Java or legacy Android codebases.
• You rely on third-party libraries that haven’t fully adopted Compose yet.
• You’re building a cross-platform app and want a shared codebase for iOS and Android (e.g., Flutter or React Native might be better fits).
• You require fine-grained UI control, where traditional View-based systems still offer more flexibility.

6. Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP)

KMP, developed by JetBrains, is an open-source technology that is designed to enable code sharing across platforms (Android and iOS). First introduced in 2017 at KotlinConf, this technology was initially designed to work exclusively for JVM (Java Virtual Machine) environments.

However, with the growing need for cross-platform development and contributions from early adopters, in 2020, JetBrains shifted KMP’s focus to enable developers to share code across iOS and Android. 

As of today, KMP supports iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, and more.

What companies using Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform were able to achieve:

• Forbes: 80% shared logic across iOS and Android
• Quizlet: significant improvement in app performance across Android and iOS apps
• Unflow: saved 2 months of development time while developing high-quality digital product
• Posten Bring: established a single source of truth by unifying complex business logic across frontend and backend apps

Programming language: Kotlin

Key Features of Kotlin Multiplatform:

• Shared UIs or Kotlin code reuse across Android, iOS, desktop, and web
• Rich ecosystem of libraries
• True native experience
• Interoperable with Swift and Objective-C on iOS, and Java/Kotlin on Android
• Supports common, platform-specific, and expected/actual declarations
• Interoperability with SwiftUI and UIKit
• Enables testing of shared code from a single test suite
• Growing ecosystem of community-supported libraries
• Seamless integration into existing Android or JVM projects
• Opinionated framework, particularly in its approach to sharing code between platforms
• Fast-growing global community of contributors

When to Choose Kotlin Multiplatform as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here’s when Kotlin Multiplatform becomes your strategic advantage for your mobile app project:

• You want to build apps for Android and iOS while sharing core business logic.
• You aim to reduce development time and cost without compromising native experience.
• Your team already has Kotlin or Android development experience.
• You plan to scale your product across multiple platforms (web, desktop, backend).
• You’re interested in progressive adoption—starting small and scaling up.
• You value future-proofing with support from JetBrains and Google.

When Not to Choose Kotlin Multiplatform as Your Mobile App Development Framework

From limited UI support to steep learning curves for certain teams, here are the situations where Kotlin Multiplatform may not align with your app development needs:

• You need one unified UI codebase (like Flutter or React Native offers).
• Your project heavily depends on third-party iOS libraries not compatible with Kotlin/Native.
• Your team lacks Kotlin expertise and is heavily invested in another stack (e.g., Swift/SwiftUI or React).
• You’re building an MVP with ultra-fast time to market and minimal engineering resources.
• You need to support complex animations or heavily customized UI in a cross-platform manner.

Mobile apps built using Kotlin Multiplatform: Netflix, Wrike, McDonald’s, 9GAG, Philips, Baidu, Instabee, Autodesk, Cash App, and many more.

Top tech decision-makers are comparing Kotlin and Flutter before making a call. Validate your choice with data and expert insights in this comparison guide: Kotlin vs Flutter for Cross-Platform App Development.

Mobile apps built using Jetpack Compose: X (formerly Twitter), Airbnb, MAX, Threads, Reddit, Lyft, the Google Play Store, Mercari, and many more.

7. NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source mobile app framework that empowers app developers to create truly native mobile apps.

Released in March 2015, NativeScript is partially inspired by or derived from Appcelerator Titanium’s Hyperloop project. This project aimed to enable direct interaction with native platform APIs from JavaScript. NativeScript adopted a similar approach by allowing mobile app developers to build mobile apps using JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular, with direct access to native APIs (Android/iOS), without using WebViews.

The mobile platforms that NativeScript supports are Android, iOS, web, and visionOS.

Programming language: JavaScript, TypeScript

Key Features of NativeScript:

• Access to native APIs for that truly native performance
• Single codebase for Android and iOS app builds
• Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, and Vue.js
• Extensive plugin ecosystem for enhanced functionality
• Access to any JavaScript npm package
• Allows use of native UI components with full access to platform-specific APIs
• Opinionated, particularly regarding its recommendation for using high-level UI frameworks like Angular, Vue, or Svelte

When to Choose NativeScript as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here’s when it’s the right choice for your app development needs.

• You have a cross-platform strategy.
• Your team is familiar with JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular.
• You need full access to native APIs.
• You plan to integrate with existing native code.

When Not to Choose NativeScript as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Let’s dive into when it’s better to explore other options.

• You need a larger ecosystem of pre-built UI components.
• You’re focusing only on one platform (iOS or Android).
• You require extensive community support and resources.
• You have a team with limited cross-platform experience.
• You need fast prototyping.

Mobile apps built using NativeScript: Activelook, Aura-CO2, Badabee, Blackout, Breethe, Daily Nanny, Jotto, and more.

8. .NET MAUI

It is Microsoft’s modern, open-source framework designed to simplify cross-platform app development.

The platforms that support this framework are Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.

Evolving from Xamarin.Forms, .NET MAUI was introduced to reduce fragmentation and streamline the process of delivering consistent user experiences across devices. The goal? To empower businesses and developers with tools that are both powerful and familiar within the .NET ecosystem.

As Microsoft states, “.NET MAUI is built for the future,” highlighting its importance in bridging the gap between productivity and native performance.

Programming languages: C#, XAML

Key Features of .NET MAUI:

• Single shared codebase for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows
• Native UI controls for each platform
• Hot Reload support (XAML and .NET code)
• Support for data-binding and MVVM architecture
• Model-View-Update (MVU) pattern support
• Built-in cross-platform UI components
• Access to native device APIs via .NET MAUI Essentials
• Native performance with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation
• Full integration with Visual Studio and .NET ecosystem
• Platform-specific customization when needed
• Comprehensive styling and theming options
• Opinionated framework

When to Choose .NET MAUI as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Here’s when choosing .NET MAUI makes strategic sense for your next project:

• Your team is already familiar with C# and .NET.
• You prefer working in the Microsoft ecosystem (Visual Studio, Azure, etc.).
• You want native UI performance with shared business logic.
• Your app requires integration with Microsoft services like Azure, OneDrive, or Microsoft Graph.
• You are looking to reuse existing .NET libraries across your app.
• You want faster development cycles with features like Hot Reload.
• You prioritize long-term support from a reliable vendor (Microsoft).

When Not to Choose .NET MAUI as Your Mobile App Development Framework

Knowing when not to choose it can save time, cost, and frustration down the road. Here are such scenarios:

• You’re building a lightweight app where using a full .NET stack may feel too heavy.
• Your app requires cutting-edge native features that may not yet be fully supported in MAUI.
• You have strict performance or memory optimization needs that are better handled with fully native development.
• You rely on third-party plugins or tools that are not yet compatible with .NET MAUI.
• Your existing app is deeply built with Xamarin.Forms and you’re not ready to migrate.

Mobile apps built using .NET MAUI: Red-Point, Civica Learning, Civica Spydus, Sports Engine (NBC Sports Next), Traking Supply, FinLocker, and more. 

Not sure what comes next? Explore our Mobile App Development Guide; it covers everything from idea to launch.

Winding Up

In today’s fast-moving digital economy, the mobile app development framework you choose isn’t just a tech decision—it’s a growth strategy. Frameworks like React Native, Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform, SwiftUI, and .NET MAUI each offer unique business advantages, from faster time-to-market to cost-effective scalability. The key is aligning your framework choice with your long-term vision, team capabilities, and user expectations.

Still, evaluating options?

Let’s connect and identify the most future-ready tech stack for your app idea—backed by data, expertise, and a business-first approach.

Questions You May Have About Mobile App Development Framework