Introduction
In recent years, the importance of mobile applications has grown more and more, becoming a key element for companies in any industry that want to take full advantage of them.
Knowing the size and great opportunities that the iOS and Android ecosystems offer, one of the most frequent questions we are asked by our clients is: “Which platform is best for my business?“.
As you can imagine the answer is not unique, however, we can explore together the pros and cons of both platforms and the elements that can help you in your choice.
Finally we will explain our preferred choice for developing applications for both operating systems so that they are developable at half the time and easily maintainable.
Target Users
iOS: iOS users tend to be willing to pay for apps and in-app content, that is, content that, once purchased, allows you to unlock additional features in your app or subscriptions of various kinds.
If your business targets a more exclusive audience or one with greater spending power, iOS may be the right choice.
Android: Android apps and, more generally, Android devices are used by a wider and more diverse audience. On this ecosystem for example, apps with ads within them are less rare.
If your goal is to reach a wider and more diverse audience, Android might be the better choice.
Customization
iOS: Apple has strict control over the apps in the App Store, which limits app customization.
If your app requires a standardized user interface but follows guidelines designed for visual-tactile ergonomics, iOS might be the right choice.
Also keep in mind that an iOS app can only be installed on Apple products.
Android: Android offers more flexibility and customization of apps.
If your business requires a highly customized experience or advanced features, Android might be the best choice. In addition, Android has the advantage that it can be installed not only on smartphones and tablets, but on many other devices such as product scanners in supermarkets, automated checkout machines, and many others.
Security
iOS: Apple has a reputation for high security and applies strict controls on the App Store to protect users from malicious apps.
If security is a top priority for your business or if you handle sensitive user data, iOS may be the best choice.
Android: While Android has made great strides in security, its openness and fragmentation make it more vulnerable to attacks.
This is also affected by the large number of companies that use it as the operating system for their devices, thus deciding to customize it but risking introducing vulnerabilities.
However, if your app does not deal with sensitive data or if you have solid security measures in place, Android could be a viable option.
Ease of Distribution
iOS: Apple has a demanding approval process for apps in the App Store, which can take up to a few weeks to get approval. However, once approved, the App Store offers a more controlled and curated environment for app distribution.
Android: Google Play Store has usually a faster and less restrictive approval process than the App Store.
This allows for faster app distribution, but can lead to a higher presence of lower quality or potentially dangerous apps.
In-App Conversion Rate
iOS: iOS users are known to be more likely to spend money in-app and make in-app purchases.
If your business relies on in-app transactions or e-commerce, you may get a higher conversion rate on iOS.
Android: Android users are less likely to spend money in-app than iOS users, but this depends on the type of app and the target audience.
If your app focuses on other revenue models, such as advertising or subscriptions, you might get similar results on both platforms.
Bonus: The Third Choice
There is a third option we haven’t told you about yet: Flutter.
Flutter is Google’s open-source framework that offers the ability to develop native iOS and Android apps with a single source code, reducing development and maintenance costs.
With its highly responsive user interface and high performance, Flutter apps provide a consistent, high-quality experience for your users.
What’s more, if you are experienced and know the strategies to take full advantage of its potential, you speed up the development process, allowing you to reduce the time it takes to bring the app to market.
Conclusions
The choice between Android and iOS for enterprise app development depends on the specific needs of the company and its target audience.
Both platforms offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice will depend on factors such as target users, customization, security, and in-app content conversion rate.
If you want to know more about apps, read the different types of apps to find out the differences between Native Apps, Hybrid Apps, and Web Apps.