Introduction
Smartphone apps have become an integral part of modern people’s lives. As the number of mobile devices grows, the need for application development also increases. Different types of mobile applications help us organize work and leisure time, find out the latest news, and communicate with our friends and family. In this article, I would like to compare various mobile app categories and types to help you understand how to approach the app development process and analyze the competition by exploring products of the same type in stores.
Table of Contents
Mobile app categories
There are three main categories of mobile applications on the market. The choice in favour of mobile app categories is based on various parameters, such as timelines for development, budget, and some app’s specifications. Also, do not forget that the choice of the required category is based on the needs of your customers. Let’s take a closer look at these categories and find out what is the main difference between them all.
Native apps
These applications are called native because they are written in a programming language that is native to a particular platform. For Android, this language can be Java or Kotlin, while for iOS it is Objective-C or Swift.
Native apps are designed specifically for a certain platform and can use the full range of the device’s capabilities – camera, GPS sensor, accelerometer, compass, contact list, and so on. They can recognize standard gestures installed on the operating system by default or use completely new gestures unique to a particular solution. It’s worth saying that many native apps can work without an Internet connection.
Since native applications are optimized for a specific OS, they fit organically into any smartphone, meaning that their speed and performance stability remain the same no matter the device.
Native apps can have access to the device’s notification system, and, depending on the purpose of the application, can completely or partially act without an Internet connection.
Mobile web applications
A mobile web application is essentially a website that is adapted and optimized for any smartphone. The only thing one needs to use is a browser, as well as an Internet connection (which is necessary to access).
When working with mobile web solutions, users perform all the actions they perform when going to any website, while also getting the opportunity to “install” these apps on their desktops via creating a bookmark of the webpage.
Mobile web applications are cross-platform, which means they can function independently of the device. Them not using device-specific software is their trump card. What’s more, since they are a mobile version of a site with enhanced interaction functions, web apps do not take up any storage space on the smartphone.
Web applications became widespread around the time HTML5 began to evolve and people realized that they could access much of the native app functionality through a regular browser. It’s difficult to say exactly where the clear boundary between mobile web applications and regular web pages lies since HTML5 is becoming more advanced by the day, and more and more sites choose to use it to its full extent.
Hybrid apps
Hybrid apps are very similar to mobile apps but have their differences. Such apps are developed for different OSs at the same time in one programming language. As a result, it saves devs lots of headaches associated with developing separate app versions for every OS. In addition, like native apps, they require access to the device’s capabilities. But, unlike native apps, for stable work, it is necessary to have an Internet connection.
Mobile app types
At the moment, applications have firmly entered our lives. There are a huge number of different types of apps in the marketplace. Today, even companies that never needed apps are coming into play. While some of them go out of their way to stay on top of technology and improve their apps, many are simply meeting customer demand for an app that makes their lives easier.
There are many types of apps within which you can develop something new. You can read about many of them further.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle apps are conquering the mobile app market because they streamline our daily chores. Such mobile applications help us find and improve people’s homes and offices, take up new hobbies, look good and feel good, remind us to go to the gym or drink the right amount of water, help us find our soulmate, etc.
Example:
Social Media
Social networks are a global trend that will not lose their relevance anytime soon. Messengers, business social networks, social media storages, directories, and corporate social networks are only a fraction of what the social media industry has to offer.
Example:
Utility
Utility applications are used almost every day and by almost every person. They exist to quickly satisfy certain needs. Examples of such applications are a calculator, an alarm clock, a QR scanner, or a flashlight.
Example:
Entertainment
Nobody uses their smartphone for phone calls only – it’s also an extremely popular entertainment tool. There is a huge number of apps that are designed with this function in mind. Watching videos, reading books, and listening to music is only a small part of the services these solutions provide.
Example:
Productivity
The purpose of these applications is to organize specific processes and tasks to make them more efficient and to save the user’s time and energy. Just like utility apps, they can be simple but very useful in everyday life. Among these applications, there are task managers, to-do lists, calendars, password managers, data viewers, email services, notes creators, and cloud storage applications.
Example:
News and Magazines
A smartphone allows you to be in the center of all worldly events, as well as to stay informed on all the topics that are interesting to you specifically. A huge number of applications provide users with the opportunity to read various magazines and newspapers that cater to all possible interests.
Example:
Educational
These days there are thousands of applications that help users learn anything from foreign languages to musical instruments – the choice is nearly limitless.
Example:
Games
This type of app needs no description – every smartphone includes at least one simple game to pass the time by default.
Example:
Travel
These applications can become a great assistant not only to those who travel the world but also to those who just need to find a way to a certain destination in their city. This can include online maps, taxi apps, apps for finding and booking tickets and apartments, and so on.
Example:
Food
This type of application has become more popular than ever due to the pandemic. Food ordering apps allow you to purchase food from various establishments, find interesting recipes, get cooking advice, and so on.
Example:
Finance
These applications help users effectively organize all their finances. Such apps include budget planners, trading tools, mobile banking, etc.
Example:
Photo and Video
This type of application is a godsend to those actively involved in film and photography. These apps aggregate many different functions for editing photos and videos, allowing you to make little masterpieces of your own.
Example:
Shopping
These apps also gained more popularity during the pandemic, as they allow you to make purchases from the comfort of your home and without letting go of your smartphone. A huge selection of such applications allows you to purchase almost any goods one could need.
Example:
Conclusion
There is a massive number of applications available today, so much so that you can satisfy almost every basic need by just using your smartphone. With how many niches there are, there’s bound to be an audience for any application. Don’t hesitate, start looking for a team of professionals who can develop a perfect app for you!
Bamboo Agile is one such team of professionals. We create mobile applications by using the most renowned and powerful technologies in the mobile development industry. Contact us now by filling out the form on our website, and we will be happy to discuss your mobile application project!
