Top Mobile App Development Frameworks for 2025

So you have an app idea. You already know the features you want. Maybe you’ve even sketched them out. That’s a fantastic start!

But turning that idea into a real, working app? That takes a smart approach. One of the most important choices you’ll face is picking the right mobile app development framework. Think of it as the foundation your entire app will stand on.

Choose the right framework, and you’ll build faster, control costs, and deliver an experience your users will love. Choose poorly, and you risk delays, extra costs, or an app that just doesn’t work right.

In 2025, you’ll have more options than ever. From trusted favorites to exciting new contenders, there’s a framework out there for almost every project and team.

This guide will help you understand what the most popular mobile app development frameworks do best and how to choose the one that sets your app up for success.

What Are Mobile App Development Frameworks?

A mobile app development framework is a set of tools that helps you build apps faster. It gives you the structure, tools, and resources you need so you don’t have to start from scratch or hand-code every detail.

Think of it as a ready-made template with all the essentials built in. Frameworks usually include things like the app’s core structure, software development kits (SDKs), pre-built UI components, libraries, and debugging tools. This way, you can focus on designing features and creating a great experience instead of reinventing the basics.

For example, Google’s Flutter lets you build fast, attractive apps for both Android and iOS with one codebase. Facebook created React Native, which does something similar but uses familiar web-based technologies. Jetpack Compose (for Android) is constructed on Java frameworks and simplifies screen designing, as SwiftUI accomplishes for Apple apps.

In short, knowing the "why" of every framework helps to direct you on "when" and "how" to apply it in your schemes.

Types of Mobile Application Development Frameworks

Choosing the right technology and platform is vital. Many CEOs with mobile apps know this well. To simplify your decision, let's explore the three main types of mobile app development frameworks: native, hybrid, and mobile web app frameworks. Your choice ensures a smooth app experience across all devices.

Native Frameworks

Native frameworks provide optimal performance and all device capabilities. They're tailored for a particular platform, such as iOS or Android, so you'll be required to create different versions for each. This typically costs more time and money, but the payoff is a seamless, high-quality experience for your users.

Mobile Web App Frameworks

These frameworks let you build apps that run in a mobile browser. They’re perfect if you want to reach a wide audience without making separate apps for each platform. Development is faster and cheaper. Just keep in mind that they can’t use every device feature, and the experience may not feel fully “native.”

Hybrid Frameworks

Hybrid platforms take the best of web and native. You can write a single app that can run on both Android and iOS from a single codebase. When resources are tight and you want to reach more users, many development teams choose hybrid or cross-platform app development frameworks. This helps them balance cost and coverage.

That is cost-effective and time-saving, and great for most projects. Remember, performance may not match native apps, especially with complex features.

The size of the global mobile application market was estimated by Grand View Research to be USD 626.39 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 14.3% from 2024 to 2030.

Now is the ideal time to choose the appropriate framework for your app. Being smart about it can ensure you capitalize on this rapidly expanding market and thrive in the digital landscape.

Top Most Popular Mobile App Development Frameworks

Now that you know the main types of frameworks, let’s talk about some of the best options you can choose from.

There are lots of mobile app frameworks out there, but a few stand out. Among all, we have mentioned the best mobile app development frameworks. 

Let's now examine several mobile application development frameworks in detail below:

NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source framework that helps you build fully native mobile apps for both Android and iOS using a single codebase. It was developed by Progress and is supported by Telerik.

You can use JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, or Vue to build your apps. NativeScript even supports building for the web and VisionOS.

Programming Languages: JavaScript, TypeScript

Key Features of NativeScript:

• Direct access to native APIs for high-performance
• One codebase for both Android and iOS
• Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, and Vue
• Large collection of plugins
• Can use any npm JavaScript package
• Let you use native UI components with all platform features

When to Use NativeScript

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

• You want a cross-platform approach with near-native performance
• Your team knows JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular
• You need full access to native APIs
• You plan to integrate with existing native code

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

Let’s break down the situations where NativeScript might not be the best fit.

• You only need to target one platform
• You prefer a larger library of pre-built UI components
• Your team is new to cross-platform development
• You need to prototype very quickly
• You want very strong community support and resources

Examples of Apps Built with NativeScript: are Activelook, Aura-CO2, Badabee, Blackout, Breethe, Daily Nanny, Jotto, and many others.

React Native

React Native is a popular open-source framework created by Facebook. It lets you build native apps for both iOS and Android using a single JavaScript codebase. This means you can ship your app faster, save money, and manage just one codebase instead of two.

Big brands like Instagram, Facebook, Walmart, Airbnb, and Tesla all use React Native. It solves many of the problems of traditional native development by letting you write one set of code that runs on many platforms. Plus, it offers near-native performance along with a huge selection of tools and plugins.

Programming Language: JavaScript

Key Features of React Native:

• One codebase for both iOS and Android
• Built on a strong JavaScript library for UI
• Near-native performance with native UI elements
• Hot Reload for fast development and testing
• Large ecosystem of tools, plugins, and libraries
• Easy integration with native modules if needed
• Supports modular, reusable components
• Works well with tools like Expo, Redux, and React Navigation
• Strong community support and resources

When to Use React Native

Here are the situations where React Native is a great choice.

• You need to build a cross-platform app quickly
• You want to launch faster and keep costs down
• Your team is comfortable with JavaScript or React
• Your app is focused on UI and needs frequent updates
• You plan to use many third-party services or APIs
• You want a consistent look and feel across platforms

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

Let’s look at times when React Native might not be the right choice.

• You’re building a game or a graphics-heavy app
• You need advanced native features or custom hardware integrations
• Your existing project is already fully native
• App size is a major concern
• You need access to the latest native features as soon as they’re released

Examples of Apps Built with React Native: Facebook, Instagram, Meta Horizon, Skype, Microsoft Teams, Messenger, Amazon Shopping, and many others.

Flutter

Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit from Google that lets you build beautiful, high-quality apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop using a single codebase. It uses the Dart programming language, which is designed for speed and efficiency.

Flutter started as an internal Google project called Sky in 2015 and became open-source in 2017. One of the features developers love most is "hot reload." This lets you see changes to your code instantly without restarting the app. Flutter’s widget approach also makes it easy to create custom, responsive UIs that look and feel native on any platform.

Programming Language: Dart

Key Features of Flutter:

• Hot reload for instant updates during development
• Rich library of customizable widgets
• Near-native performance
• Easy integration with existing Java, Swift, or Objective-C code
• Supports internationalization and accessibility
• Smooth animations and modern UI design
• Active community with plenty of plugins
• Comprehensive testing and debugging tools

When to Use Flutter

Here are the situations where Flutter is a great choice.

• You want to launch your app quickly on multiple platforms
• You need a consistent look and feel across devices
• Your team is familiar with Google’s tools and environment
• You need a custom UI with advanced animations or branding
• You have tight deadlines or budgets

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

Let’s look at cases where Flutter might not be ideal.

• You need a very small app size
• You rely heavily on platform-specific APIs and device features
• You have an existing native project you don’t want to rebuild
• You’re building an app with very high-performance or hardware-level needs

Examples of Apps Built with Flutter: are eBay, Hamilton, Alibaba, ByteDance, BMW (My BMW App), CrowdSource, Google Ads, Reflectly, Wolt, and many more.

Ionic

Ionic is a cross-platform, open-source framework that lets you build mobile apps for iOS, Android, and the web all from a single codebase. It’s widely used for creating hybrid apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that look and feel like native apps.

Ionic was first introduced in 2013 by a company called Drifty. It uses familiar web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

Ionic’s strength lies in its extensive library of ready-made UI components, allowing for quick, polished app development. It also supports access to native device features like camera, GPS, and push notifications, making hybrid apps function like native ones.

Programming Language: JavaScript (supports Angular, React, and Vue)

Key Features of Ionic:

• Single codebase for iOS, Android, and web apps
• Native support for Angular, React, and Vue
• Large library of pre-built UI components
• Platform-agnostic layouts
• Smooth gestures and animations
• Big community and strong plugin ecosystem
• Optimized for PWAs and mobile apps

When to Use Ionic

Here are the situations where Ionic could be your strategic advantage:

• You want to build cross-platform apps with one codebase
• Your team knows web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• You need to develop quickly without sacrificing design quality
• You want to reach iOS, Android, and web users at once
• You have a limited budget and want to maximize your resources

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

As much as Ionic is loved for its power and versatility, there are some situations where you might want to consider other options first:

• You’re creating a graphics-heavy or highly interactive game
• You need deep native integrations or access to advanced device features
• You want ultra-high-performance animations on all devices
• You need full native-level performance with no compromises

Examples of Apps Built with Ionic: Sworkit, Instant Pot, Shipt (a Target company), H&R Block, US Foods, Norwex, Breeze Airways, and many more.

SwiftUI

SwiftUI is Apple’s modern, declarative framework for building user interfaces across its entire ecosystem. This includes iOS, macOS, watchOS, and even visionOS. You simply tell SwiftUI how you want your UI to look, and it renders it on each device automatically.

Apple designed SwiftUI to make UI development easier with clean, easy-to-read code. Instead of writing lots of repetitive boilerplate, you focus on defining views and their states. SwiftUI also works smoothly with UIKit, so you can easily add it to existing projects.

Programming Language: Swift

Key Features of SwiftUI:

• The declarative syntax for simpler UI development
• Live previews and updates in Xcode
• Compatible with all Apple platforms (iOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS)
• Works with UIKit, AppKit, and WatchKit
• Built-in accessibility support
• Powerful animation tools
• Easy gesture handling
• Supports reusable, modular components
• Simplifies navigation and data flow with modern patterns

When to Use SwiftUI

These are the situations where SwiftUI is a smart choice for your project:

• You want a single, consistent codebase across all Apple devices
• You need to speed up UI design and reduce boilerplate
• You plan a brand-new app or a complete redesign
• Your team is already comfortable working with Swift

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

As powerful as SwiftUI is, there are some situations where you might want to consider other options first.

• You need to support older iOS versions that don’t fully support SwiftUI
• You’re migrating a large UIKit project and don’t want to rewrite everything
• You’re building a cross-platform app that includes Android
• You rely heavily on third-party libraries built for UIKit
• You need pixel-perfect, highly customized UI beyond what SwiftUI offers

Examples of Apps Built with SwiftUI: Most newer Apple apps and many independent projects use SwiftUI thanks to its modern approach and smooth integration with Apple’s entire ecosystem.

Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP)

Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is an open-source framework from JetBrains that lets you share code across multiple platforms. You can write your app’s business logic once and use it on Android, iOS, web, desktop, and even backend systems.

KMP, introduced at KotlinConf in 2017, started with JVM targets and now supports many platforms. Known for its concise syntax, null safety, and strong interoperability. KMP offers flexibility, allowing code sharing while maintaining native UIs for each platform, saving time and reducing costs.

Programming Language: Kotlin

Key Features of KMP:

• Share business logic across Android, iOS, web, desktop, and backend
• Delivers native experiences on each platform
• Supports common, platform-specific, and expected/actual declarations
• Works with Swift, Objective-C, Java, and Kotlin
• Rich library and tool ecosystem
• Strong null safety and expressive, concise syntax
• Backed by JetBrains and Google, with a large community

When to Use Kotlin Multiplatform

If you want flexibility without giving up native quality, Kotlin Multiplatform is worth a close look.

• You need to build Android and iOS apps that share business logic
• Your team already know Kotlin or has Android experience
• You want to reduce development time and cost while keeping quality high
• You plan to expand your app to web, desktop, or other platforms
• You want control over which parts of the codebase you share

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

Even though KMP is powerful, there are cases where other solutions might make more sense.

• You want to share your entire UI codebase like Flutter or React Native allows
• Your app relies on iOS libraries that don’t work with Kotlin/Native
• Your team lacks Kotlin experience or is committed to another stack
• You need extremely fast prototyping with minimal engineering time
• You have highly customized UI needs on both platforms

Examples of Apps Built with Kotlin Multiplatform: Netflix, Wrike, McDonald's, 9GAG, Philips, Baidu, Instabee, Autodesk, Cash App, and many more.

.NET MAUI

.NET MAUI (Multi-platform App UI) is Microsoft’s cross-platform framework for building native apps using a single, shared codebase. It evolved from Xamarin.Forms to make app development easier and more consistent across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.

It’s a perfect fit for teams already invested in the .NET ecosystem, especially those who use C# and Visual Studio.

MAUI also supports modern design patterns like MVVM and MVU, making your code easier to organize and maintain. Hot Reload is another big plus, letting you see changes instantly while you’re developing, which speeds up your workflow.

Programming Languages: C#, XAML

Key Features of .NET MAUI:

• Native UI controls on each platform
• Hot Reload for faster development and testing
• Supports MVVM and MVU architecture patterns
• Access to native device APIs with .NET MAUI Essentials
• Ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation for high-performance
• Seamless integration with Visual Studio and other .NET tools
• Platform-specific customization where needed
• Ability to reuse existing .NET libraries

When to Use .NET MAUI

If your team already works with .NET, here’s when MAUI can shine.

• You want to target multiple platforms with a single codebase
• Your team knows C# and the .NET platform well
• You need solid native UI performance without building separate apps
• You want to leverage existing .NET libraries and resources
• You value faster development cycles with Hot Reload and familiar tools

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

While MAUI is powerful, it’s not the best fit for every project. Consider other options if:

• You’re building a very simple app that doesn’t need the full .NET stack
• You need advanced native features that aren’t yet supported
• Your app has tight performance or memory requirements best handled with fully native code
• You rely on third-party tools or plugins that don’t yet work well with MAUI

Examples of Apps Built with .NET MAUI: Red-Point, Civica Learning, Civica Spydus, SportsEngine (NBC Sports Next), Trakking Supply, FinLocker, and more.

Mobile Angular UI

Mobile Angular UI is an open-source framework that combines the strengths of AngularJS and Bootstrap to help you build responsive, mobile-first web apps. It’s designed to make it easier to create rich user interfaces that work smoothly on smartphones and tablets.

Mobile Angular UI provides pre-styled UI elements like navbars and models, along with libraries like fastclick.js for better touch responsiveness. It’s lightweight and modular, and allows you to include only the necessary components, ensuring efficiency and flexibility for a solid user experience across devices.

Programming Language: JavaScript (based on AngularJS and Bootstrap)

Key Features of Mobile Angular UI:

• Mobile-optimized UI components are ready to use
• Combines AngularJS and Bootstrap for faster development
• Built-in responsive layouts
• Touch-friendly interactions with fastclick.js and overthrow.js
• Cross-browser support
• Open-source and backed by the community
• Easy to customize with CSS

When to Use Mobile Angular UI

Think about using Mobile Angular UI if these needs sound like yours.

• You want to build a hybrid mobile app that also works well in desktop browsers
• You like AngularJS for its two-way data binding and dependency injection
• You need a mobile-first UI with ready-made Bootstrap components
• You want to prototype quickly using pre-built elements
• Your project needs a responsive design for different screen sizes
• You plan to connect with cloud services for scalability

When It Might Not Be the Best Fit

While it’s a handy framework, there are times you might want to look at other options.

• You need advanced native features or high-performance graphics, such as games or AR/VR apps
• You want strong, long-term support with an active developer community
• You need modern JavaScript features like TypeScript or RxJS that aren’t available in AngularJS-based frameworks

Examples of Apps Using Mobile Angular UI: Gmail, Google, Xbox, Forbes, PayPal, and many others.

How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Framework for Your Project

The reality is that no individual engineer can deliver every one of the goals of an organization. Selecting an appropriate mobile app framework is an important choice that can make a dramatic difference in the success of a mobile app project.

The selection of frameworks relies on a multitude of factors such as the target environment, the development team's technical skill set, the application requirements, the budget, and the project timeline.

Considerations for Choosing a Framework

There are a few considerations to keep in mind when selecting a mobile app framework. 

One of the largest is the platform. If your app is for only one kind of phone, such as only Android or only iPhone, a native framework may be the way to go. However, if your app must work on both, a hybrid or web framework may be more suitable.

Another thing to consider is the skills of your team. Different frameworks are built with different coding languages. In the event that your team has JavaScript skills, then employing a JavaScript-based framework such as React Native or Ionic would be a good consideration.

Evaluating Frameworks

When comparing various frameworks, consider what they offer and also how much support you can receive. A large and involved community will be able to assist you when you need it or want more information. It's also beneficial if the framework comes with useful instructions and examples. This is simpler to use and quicker to develop your app.

Launch Your Next App with 7Span’s Mobile Development Experts

This is the list of popular mobile app development frameworks you should consider for your business application development in 2025. Each one has its strengths, and the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and what your team is comfortable with.

As a leading mobile app development service provider, we understand the trade-offs of every platform. That’s why we’re here to help you choose the right mobile app framework for your goals and budget.

If you’re still exploring your options, let’s talk. We’ll help you find the right tech stack for your idea using solid data, real expertise, and a business-first approach.