Quick answer
A cross-platform app is built with one codebase that runs on multiple platforms. React Native and Flutter are cross-platform frameworks.
What it is
A cross-platform app uses a single codebase to ship to iOS, Android and sometimes web. React Native compiles to native UI components; Flutter draws its own UI. The trade-off is a single codebase and faster iteration; the upside is sometimes weaker platform feel and performance.
Why it matters
Cross-platform lets you ship to both stores with one team. For many apps, the user experience is identical on iOS and Android, so cross-platform is the right choice.
How to use it
- Choose cross-platform when UX is shared across platforms.
- Pick React Native if you have a web team, Flutter if design is the priority.
- Use platform-specific modules for native features.
- Test on real devices, not just emulators.
Examples
- React Native is used by Facebook, Shopify and Discord.
- Flutter is used by Google Pay, BMW and Toyota.