In this age, when 95% of Americans possess a mobile device, it is important to have a successful mobile app for your business. But to do that having comprehensive knowledge about mobile app development tools is a must to give a seamless experience to your users.
So our app development experts after adequate research have come up with this blog to enlighten you.
The inception of too many mobile app development tools in 2021 might make you feel dizzy just by looking at them. Several questions might pile up in your mind, like -
Which mobile app development tools should you use?
Which OS does the mobile app development tool support?
What are the core features of the mobile app development tools that you are going to choose?
But, Don't Worry!
We have the answers for you.
Let’s plunge headlong into the pool of top 10 mobile app development tools and their key features.
Top 10 tools for developing a mobile app
Given below are the top 10 tools used for mobile app development in 2021.
1. Appcelerator Titanium
One of the most well-known open-source frameworks for building native mobile apps, Appcelerator Titanium is used for building apps on various platforms such as Android, iOS, and Windows by using a single JavaScript code.
Titanium SDK is licensed by Apache and supports ES6 features. Appcelerator was first introduced in December 2008. The core features are:
- MVC architecture.
- Hyperloop technology helps in accessing native codes.
- Cross-platform API development is possible.
- Up to 10% of all mobile apps are run on Appcelerator Titanium.
- Allows for the integration of third-party libraries.
- Angular 6 can be combined with Titanium for building mobile apps.
- You can also use the Vue.js framework for creating apps.
- Virtual private cloud for added security.
2. PhoneGap (now known as Apache Cordova)
Nitobi created PhoneGap, an open-source framework that was bought by Adobe Systems in 2011.
Adobe PhoneGap framework is an open-source distribution by Apache Cordova. It helps in providing the advantage of technology that is created by a diverse team of professionals along with the support of a robust application developers’ community. The toolkit by PhoneGap is also accessed so that developers can get going faster.
PhoneGap provides additional HTML and JavaScript features that work with ease on any device. Apps developed using Apache Cordova make use of HTML5 and CSS3 for rendering, and JavaScript is used for logic handling.
The core features of PhoneGap are given below:
- Based on HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
- Supports the hardware and native application properties of the underlying device.
- Compatible on all platforms.
- Robust backend.
3. RhoMobile
RhoMobile Suite is an open-source framework. It has a set of development tools that help in building data-based, cross-platform, native mobile applications. It makes use of web technologies such as CSS3, HTML5, JavaScript, and Ruby.
Developers will be able to implement RhoMobile Suite for writing an application once and run it on almost all of the operating systems.
You can debug, integrate, launch and maintain consumer and enterprise apps with products such as Rhodes, RhoElements, RhoStudio, RhoConnect, RhoHub, and RhoGallery.
The core features of RhoMobile include:
- Based on MVC architecture.
- The apps developed using RhoMobile possess offline functionalities with the help of the RhoSync feature.
- You can write queries on the database with the help of the in-built RhoMobile feature.
- The sync server is highly scalable.
- Hosted development.
4. Sencha
Sencha Ext JS helps in the fast development of cross-platform enterprise web apps. The JavaScript framework features a robust component library that includes powerful UI components such as the D3 Adapter and Pivot Grid.
Sencha helps the developers in creating React Apps without having to worry about the components with the help of Sencha ExtReact. The Sencha ExtReact is a toolkit professionally built, tested, and maintained with the help of React UI components.
It helps in delivering high-quality mobile apps to the target audience. It is quicker with functional and unit testing built for Sencha Ext JS apps with the help of the Sencha Test. Developers can execute and automate tests across multiple browsers.
The core features of Sencha include:
- Filter locking.
- You can add a reference to an external third-party JavaScript API.
- Helps in collapsing the Toolbox categories or the entire Toolbox.
- Class promotion.
5. Xamarin
.NET is a development platform that contains tools, programming languages, and libraries that help to build different types of apps.
Xamarin helps in expanding the .NET development tools and libraries especially for building apps for Android, iOS, tvOS, watchOS, macOS, and Windows. It will help you in getting a fully native cross-platform app that runs live on the user’s device; it helps in building apps that can run on multiple platforms.
Xamarin helps developers in fixing and detecting errors before the end-user, the program helps in delivering a lot of advanced and creative forms for creating original apps.
- The core features of Xamarin include:
- The entire app is written on C#.
- Xamarin is open-source and free.
- Native performance of the apps built using Xamarin.
- You can build for any platform while working on the operating system of your choice.
- Native and cross-platform integration with loads of third-party libraries.
6. Parse
Parse helps in building the backend of a mobile app, while you build the frontend.
The core features of Parse are included in the list below:
- Parse provides a set of APIs that help in storing data and uses push notifications to download your app.
- Helps in adding custom JavaScript to the server-side interaction at the right place on the data path.
- Helps in simplifying interaction with major social networks.
- Since you are concentrating on building the frontend, Parse will automate the process of building the backend.
7. Tabris
Tabris.js is a mobile framework that helps in creating native iOS and Android apps from a single codebase. The codebase is written in JavaScript.
Tabris.js helps the developers in creating native apps all the while building on the existing knowledge of JavaScript.
Tabris is exceptionally good for Java programmers and the developers can create apps for Android and BlackBerry. Although, Apple iOS is strictly written in Objective-C.
The core features of Tabris include the following:
- It helps in building native apps in Java for Android and iOS.
- Easy to start.
- Interactive in its usage.
- Fast and secure.
- The changes in the code are reflected instantly on the mobile device.
- Cross-platform development.
- You can create apps for iOS on the operating system of your choice; you don’t need a Mac for writing iOS applications for mobile.
8. Corona SDK
Corona is a software development kit that was built by Corona Labs Inc.
It helps in building 2D mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Kindle. You can also build desktop applications for Windows and OS X, and TV apps that are linked with Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.
The software development kit of Corona has an additional feature – a physics engine along with the usual functionalities like cross-platform development.
The apps developed using Corona are adept at taking objects and simulating them to bounce around the real world.
The core features of Corona SDK are:
- Apps are automatically compiled during build time.
- Speed and performance are at the core of Corona SDK.
- Corona is an open-source platform.
9. Icenium Mist
Icenium helps in providing two different environments for developers for building their apps. Mist is the environment for developing on the browser. The Mist helps in building, testing and launching HTML5 based apps for both iOS and Android.
Icenium then packages the HTML5 script written by developers and helps in wrapping it with the Cordova library for creating a working app.
The core features of Icenium Mist include:
- File uploading.
- Importing project files.
- Also exporting of projects is possible.
- Real devices can be used for testing and debugging.
- Simulators can also be used.
- App sharing possible with the help of a QR code.
10. Appscend
Appscend is a DIY toolkit that helps in creating apps based on content for iPhone and iPad. There’s a web interface that is used to handle a simple markup language. It's not about just drag-and-drop.
Developers with minimal knowledge of XML will be able to build a fully customizable application.
Appscend provides cloud-based development of content-based apps by using an XML markup language and/or PHP.
The core features of Appscend are:
- Bundled template-powered design system with a cloud-based CMS for handling the content.
- You can also add some advertisements, push some buttons, and upload your app to the App Store or Google Play Store.
Conclusion
To build the best apps for mobile, a developer is required to know the ins and outs of all the major mobile app development tools. The developers also need to ideate a smart business strategy, get a stunning UI/UX design and have an experienced mobile app development team.
It’s not an easy task of course!
But you can always reach out to the experts of Esolz Technologies to make things less complicated for you. With over 15 years in this field, we offer the best business solutions. Our experts can help you in achieving the pinnacle of success with our top-notch app development solutions. Come join us as we embark on a journey filled with success.
Visit www.esolz.net to talk to our experts and book a free consultation session.