Teams often frame this as a technology debate. It is more useful to treat it as a product decision: what does this app need to do, for whom, and for how long?
Start with what the app must do
If the app leans heavily on device hardware, demanding graphics, or the newest platform features, native development gives the most direct access. If it is mainly forms, content, and data from a server, a cross-platform approach can cover both platforms from one codebase.
Consider who will maintain it
The first release is a fraction of an app's lifetime cost. Ask who will maintain it in two years, and what skills they have. One shared codebase can be simpler to staff. Two native codebases can each follow their platform more closely.
Be realistic about the experience
Users notice when an app feels at home on their device. Both approaches can deliver that, but it takes deliberate design either way. Cross-platform does not mean identical on every device, and it should not.
Questions worth answering first
Before choosing, try to answer these:
- Which platforms do your users actually use?
- Which device features does the app depend on?
- How soon do you need to be on both platforms?
- Who will own the code after launch?