Did you know that 96% of Americans own a cell phone? It is hard to imagine our lives before these devices even though it wasn’t very long ago. If you have a small business it is a smart idea to build a great app in order to interact more with your customers and potential customers.
We put together this guide to the top cross platform mobile app development tools to help you get started off on the right foot.
1. Adobe
One of the development trends right now is Adobe’s cross platform development tools which include PhoneGap Build and PhoneGap. PhoneGap is an open source tool and PhoneGap Build is cloud-based.
The open source used for PhoneGap is based on Apache Cordova which is an open source set of device APIs. Using this and cross-platform plug-ins will allow a developer to build and code applications if they use Java Web languages, CSS3, and HTML5.
The app hosts the languages locally which means that the developers do not have to use multiple software development kits. The developers can instead use a single codebase in order to create an app that functions across more than one platform.
Cordova really simplifies rolling out mobile apps because once an app is written it can be run on different devices from BlackBerry to iOS to Android.
2. Appcelerator
This tool is beneficial when it comes to speeding up the time to market release. It uses a JavaScript codebase and it also supports real time mobile analytics. This is an open environment and it is used to produce apps for HTML5, hybrid apps, iOs, BlackBerry, and Android.
Appcelerator also has an open source SDK that comes with support for more than 5,000 devices.
3. FeedHenry
FeedHenry not only offers a cross-platform app development but it also offers mobile as a backend service. Any apps that are created with FeedHenry for iOs and Android can be offered on-site or through the cloud.
If a developer wants to create scalable network apps they can be created with this platform using MongoDB and Node.js.
4. Alpha
Alpha Anywhere can be used to produce cross-platform apps for all the major mobile operating systems and also for Macs and PCs. Alpha uses HTML5 and JavaScript. Something that was recently added to Alpha Anywhere is the ability to create apps that can be used offline.
5. Sencha
The main product for enterprise users with Sencha is Ext JS. This can be used to create apps in HTML5 and then use Adobe PhoneGap to convert the apps into cross platform apps. One of the pros of using HTML5 is that it allows the apps that are created with the platform to run on mobile devices and browsers.
6. SAP
This is one of the oldest tools out there for cross platform development but over time it has become a bit confusing. Version 3.0 of the SAP Mobile Platform came out with the intention of clearing up the confusing aspects of SAP. Now cross-platform enterprise apps can be built from a single HTML5 codebase.
SAP decided to also team up with Cordova to leverage all of their pros. This allows those using SAP to leverage hundreds of SAP Fiori apps for both mobile devices and desktops and then optimize them to be used for mobile.
7. 5app
The 5app development platform allows cross platform apps to be created using HTML5 and JavaScript for iOs and for Android. 5app also offers an app store service which is great for IT departments. They can operate app stores that are created for employees themselves.
8. Kony
Kony has quite a few products available such as Kony Visualizer, Kony Studio, and Kony Management. Kony Visualizer is able to integrate design capabilities into the development environment. Kony Studio allows developers to add JavaScript codes for cross platforms and connect to backend APIs.
Kony Management allows for mobile device apps to be administered and also to release mobile apps. This tool is really a great fit for organizations that are dealing with large populations of different devices. It is also useful for anyone that needs their apps to also integrate with Oracle and with SAP backends.
9. Xamarin
Xamarin lets developers build Windows, iOS, and Android apps with a single shared C# codebase. The apps that are developed with Xamarin can be tested on hundreds of devices via the cloud service the company offers.
They have their own Xamarin University program that offers things such as interface development tools and online classes. Some features that are worth mentioning include their native API access, the ability to add components right from an interface, forms to share code, and backend integrations like Microsoft Azure, SAP, and Parse.
10. iFactr
Anyone looking for fast app delivery, iFactr is for you. A developer is able to start creating apps fairly quickly, around two or three days after training. Another benefit is that prototypes can be created quickly as well to get feedback from the employees to see if the app is doing what it was intended for.
Feeling Like a Cross Platform Mobile App Development Pro?
We hope that now that we shared the top cross platform mobile app development tools, you can make informed decisions when you are working on your own app. Keep in mind that the demand for these tools is expected to go up in the next few years.
Found this post helpful? Browse around this section a little more for our latest.
