Cross-Platform Development: When It Actually Makes Sense

Most founders approach the native vs. cross-platform decision backward. They ask "which is better?" when they should be asking "which fits our constraints?"

There is no universal answer. But there is a framework that prevents expensive mistakes.

The Numbers Everyone Cites Are Misleading

Cross-platform development can save up to 40% on development costs. You can launch 30-50% faster. Up to 90% code reuse is possible.

These statistics appear in every comparison article. They're technically accurate and practically useless.

Here's what matters: those savings assume you chose the right approach for your specific product. Pick wrong and you'll spend more fixing performance issues, writing platform-specific code anyway, and managing a smaller talent pool.

The 40% savings can easily become 60% cost overruns.

When Cross-Platform Actually Makes Sense

Cross-platform works when your app is fundamentally about information, not interaction.

Choose cross-platform if:

• Your budget is genuinely constrained - not "we want to save money" but "we have $75k total and need both platforms"
• You need simultaneous iOS and Android launch - competitive pressure or market dynamics require day-one presence on both
• The app pulls data from network and displays it - social feeds, content platforms, dashboard apps
• Real-time processing isn't core to the experience - you're not building a video editor or music production app
• - need to validate demand before investing in platform-specific optimization