Quick answer
A native app is an app built specifically for one platform using that platform's tools: Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android. It uses the platform's UI components and has the best performance.
What it is
A native app is written in the platform's preferred language and uses the platform's UI components. iOS apps use Swift and SwiftUI; Android apps use Kotlin and Jetpack Compose. Native apps have the best performance, the best UX and the best access to platform features.
Why it matters
Native apps feel right on the platform. They have the best performance, the best UX and the best access to platform features like camera, biometrics and offline storage.
How to use it
- Choose native when UX, performance or platform features matter most.
- Use platform-specific UI conventions: iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material You.
- Test on real devices, not just simulators.
- Use platform-specific distribution: App Store for iOS, Play Store for Android.
Examples
- Spotify and WhatsApp are native apps.
- A high-performance camera app should be native.