Android vs iOS App Development: Which is Better for your Business Project?

Planning to create your own money-making mobile app? Choosing between iOS, Android and a hybrid solution and not sure which way to go? This post will help you understand what to pay attention to when choosing the OS for your business app.
There are two types of smartphone users in the world:
passionate advocates of iOS and no-less-avid Android lovers. Together they comprise 99% of the mobile app consumers market share.
Depending on your target audience, you should choose one of these platforms to place your bets.
Before comparing Android with iOS, which we call operating systems or OS, let’s take a look and what exactly an OS is.
A mobile operating system is pre-installed on your phone’s system software. It can be described as an environment in which all the apps run.
It bears responsibility for the proper functioning of the features available on your devices, such as keyboards, cameras, data synchronisation, text messaging and more. It also determines the third-party APIs (application program interfaces) that can be utilised on your device.
iOS is an operating system applied only by Apple. All the devices they release, including smartphones, smartwatches, laptops and computers, run different versions of this operating system.
Android, meanwhile, is an open-source OS made by Google. This means it’s being installed by various mobile phone producers all over the world.
For example: Huawei, Sony, HTC, Motorola and so on.
Both companies regularly tweak their OS to keep them agile and up-to-date. Both of them are well-supported. However, iOS has traditionally been more polished and less buggy. It is also more secure and does not allow third-party APIs to access your personal information without your permission. In the case of Android, everything is less transparent.
You can find a comparison table of different operating systems here. Let’s have a closer look at how iOS and Android differ.
Apple gadgets attract the most tech-savvy audience, and up until recently have been the first to implement the most technologically advanced digital solutions. However, following the appearance of a foldable phone built by Samsung, the iPhone’s position on the market is at risk.
According to statistics, a great number of people remain loyal to the OS they had on their first device.
This can be explained very easily:
the OS have different logic and once you’re used to Android, for example, you won’t want anything else. This simple fact motivates us to continue buying things like desktops, laptops and so on from the same brand.
An ecosystem is a cloud connection between different devices that makes the transition from one to another quick and easy. For example, if you need to upload photos from your phone to a computer, you don’t have to use a cable or even Bluetooth like in old times – just use the cloud.
Android and iOS devices don’t get along particularly well. Remaining loyal to one operating system becomes a must if you’d rather avoid downloading multiple converters onto each of your devices.
Some reasons for this:
- less complicated testing procedures. As there are very few iOS phones in circulation compared to the multi-branded variety of Android-based smartphone screens.
- some advanced functionality, such as AR/VR, can be easily integrated into iOS12-based apps.
Apple developers are constantly improving the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to keep it convenient for programmers to use. And it works.
An additional important nuance of the app stores is not so much their size or subscription fees but the process of approval.
App Store has very strict policies and will not allow you to publish your app in the event of any iOS standard guideline violations being found. Every app is checked by a person and approval takes about a week. For users, this acts as an additional guarantee of a professionally-coded and well-functioning app.
Approval in the Google App Store can take much less than one working day. The applications are tested automatically and the apps released.
Surprisingly, different monetisation strategies work better for different OS.
For example:
Read in more detail about app monetisation here.
Nobody knows your customers better than you. So, no ready answer here.
You could start from a hybrid app. Despite being cheaper and running on any OS, it’s not always the best choice – especially keeping in mind that you’ll have to pay three times if and when you settle on iOS and Android. Read about the major drawbacks of this approach here. Finally, a well-written native app for Android or iOS is, regardless, a nice acquisition for your business.
If the majority of your clients use Android, then this is the right choice. Your solution will be in demand. The same goes vice-versa: if more than half of your clients use iOS, choose to develop for it – or, at least, set your Apple app as a first priority.
If you’re getting ready to code an app, check out our step by step instructions on mobile development.
If you have any questions about your project, feel free to contact us any time.