Cross-platform apps: one codebase, both stores, native feel
Flutter and React Native apps for iOS and Android from a single codebase
Two native apps means paying for every feature twice, forever, and explaining to somebody why the Android version is three weeks behind. Flutter and React Native let one team ship to both stores from one codebase, at a quality most users cannot distinguish from native. We will tell you when that holds for your app and when it does not.
Cross-platform done honestly
For bookings, commerce, field tools and customer portals, cross-platform is the sensible default. A feature is built once, tested once and released to both stores on the same day, and the maintenance bill halves.
The trade-offs are real, but they are specific rather than general. Demanding graphics work, AR, sustained background processing and brand-new platform APIs are the four places where native still wins. If your app has one of those, we write a native module for that part and keep the rest shared. If it has three, we will recommend building native and quote it that way.
Flutter or React Native
We choose on your circumstances, not on preference. Flutter when the interface has to look identical on both platforms and the animation work is heavy. React Native when you already employ React developers, or when there is a web app to share logic and types with.
Either way you get the repository, the store accounts and a written note on what would be involved in moving away, because knowing the exit cost up front tends to make the decision easier. If the app is one part of a larger build, see Android and iOS development.
What cross-platform development includes
Flutter development
Dart with Riverpod or Bloc for state, and platform channels written by us where a native capability is needed.
Explore →React Native development
Expo or the bare workflow in TypeScript, with validation and business logic shared with your web app rather than rewritten.
Explore →Design for both platforms
One design system that still honours the navigation patterns and back-button behaviour each platform's users expect.
Backend & integrations
Firebase, Supabase or a custom API, plus payments, push notifications and analytics wired up and tested.
Store release
Both stores on the same day, with listings, screenshots and the review process handled from our side.
Explore →Maintenance
OS releases, framework and dependency upgrades, and small improvements on a retainer with stated hours.
Fourteen weeks to both stores
Scope & frameworkweek 1–2
The jobs the app does, the integrations it needs, and the Flutter or React Native decision with the reasoning written down.
Prototypeweeks 2–4
A clickable design tested with real users, so the arguments about navigation happen before the code exists.
Buildweeks 4–12
Two-week sprints, each ending with a test build on your phone rather than a screenshot in a status email.
QA & releaseweeks 12–14
Device matrix including older Android handsets, automated tests, then submission to both stores together.
Supportongoing
Thirty days of monitoring and fixes included, then a retainer only if you want one.
From $12,000/project
Cross-platform apps from $12,000; scoped after discovery.
Cross-platform apps, answered
What is cross-platform app development?
Writing the app once in a framework such as Flutter or React Native and shipping the same codebase to the App Store and Google Play, rather than building and maintaining two separate native applications.
What are the advantages of cross-platform?
One codebase, one team, and every feature built once. Releases go out to both stores together, so nobody has to explain why Android is behind. Over the life of an app it typically costs 40–50% less than running two native codebases.
What are the disadvantages?
Heavy graphics, AR and sustained background processing still favour native. New platform features can arrive in the frameworks a few months late. Where one feature needs it, we write a native module and keep everything else shared.
Should we choose Flutter or React Native?
Flutter when the interface must look identical on both platforms and there is real animation work. React Native when you already have React developers or a web app to share logic with. Both are mature enough that team fit matters more than benchmarks.
How does the cost compare with native?
Roughly 40–50% less across the life of the app for equivalent scope, and the gap widens the longer the app lives, since maintenance rather than the initial build is where two codebases really cost you.
Can cross-platform apps use the camera, GPS and Bluetooth?
Yes, through well-maintained plugins for the common cases, and through native modules we write ourselves when no plugin covers what you need. We check the plugin situation during scoping so nothing turns into a surprise in week nine.
Ship to both stores, once.
Tell us what the app has to do and which systems it must talk to. We will recommend the framework and give you a range.