iOS or Android: Which One Should You Pick?

This is one of those questions that never seems to go away. Whether it’s online forums, Facebook groups, or developer meetups, everyone has their own opinion.

But truthfully? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Each platform brings something different to the table. Both iOS and Android have pros, cons, and their own unique cases. And since both are always growing, the balance keeps shifting.

So instead of trying to settle the debate, here’s a better question to ask: When does it make sense to build for iOS, and when is Android the smarter choice?

To answer that, we’ll first need to look at the Android vs iOS comparison and find out which is better between them.

So, let’s begin!

What is Android App Development?

Android app development is a process of creating mobile apps for devices that run on Android operating system.

Developed by Google, Android is used in many devices like mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other smart devices.

Since it is compatible with many mobile devices and provides a lot of features, Android has become the leading mobile OS in the world.

Due to this, there has been a noticeable rise in Android app development in the market.

After creating an app, developers can publish an Android app in the Google Play Store to make it available to millions of global users.

Key Features of Android

  • It’s the process of making apps for devices that use the Android operating system.
  • Android is made by Google and is found on many phones, tablets, smartwatches, and more.
  • Developers write code to build apps that work on different Android devices.
  • These apps can do lots of things, like play games, show news, help with shopping, or track your fitness.
  • Android app development is popular because Android runs on many devices around the world.
  • Developers use different but best Android frameworks like Android Jetpack, Flutter, and React Native to build apps faster.

What is iOS App Development?

iOS app development is about developing apps specifically for Apple devices like iPhones and iPads.

iOS app developers can use languages like Swift or Objective-C and tools like Xcode to develop an iOS app.

One of the biggest benefits of developing an iOS app is getting quick updates and a smooth experience. Apple users are loyal, and the App Store offers a great way to reach them.

Additionally, iOS is popular for its strong security and for protecting user privacy.

However, very few people use Apple devices compared to Android devices due to the cost factor. iOS apps tend to earn around 85% more.

Key Features of iOS

  • Especially made for Apple devices
  • It provides smooth performance on all Apple devices
  • Get regular updates from Apple to keep apps secure
  • Strong focus on privacy and data protection
  • It uses iOS app development tools like TestFlight
  • It allows developers to publish apps on the App Store
  • It has a loyal and engaged user base who prefer quality apps.
  • This helps earn more revenue compared to Android

Major Differences between Android and iOS

When you are planning a mobile application, choosing between Android and iOS is not just about the operating system.

The two platforms differ in many ways, which we are going to discuss.

ios and android difference

Understanding Android vs iOS differences can help you decide which fits your project best.

1. Programming Languages

One of the clearest differences lies in what languages are used. For iOS applications, the go-to choices are Objective-C vs Swift.

Swift is new, tends to run faster, manages memory better, and is very easy to learn.

That makes it the most favored for new iOS projects. While Objective-C is slightly older, very stable, and still used in legacy code, it has a more complex syntax and is harder to learn.

If we look at the Android side, Android app developers use Java or Kotlin. Java has long been the foundation, tried and tested, and of course supported by many people.

Kotlin builds on Java, fixes certain pain points, and allows for cleaner, more concise code.

The fact that Kotlin is almost fully compatible with Java means you can mix both in the same project. This helps during migration or when using libraries.

2. Design Philosophy

The mobile app design is yet another factor where you will see major differences. iOS apps are mainly minimalistic, clear, and elegant.

It has simple shapes, clear navigation, and a restrained color palette. The idea is to allow the content to shine and make navigation intuitive.

Android mobile apps often provide more flexibility and creativity. They have richer colors, more complex layouts, animations, and customizations are common.

Each platform has its design conventions, and users are used to certain visual and interaction patterns.

3. Development Complexity and Fragmentation

A major challenge with Android apps is device fragmentation. There are many manufacturers, screen sizes, hardware specs, OS versions, and custom Android skins.

That means more testing, more edge cases, and more effort to ensure consistent behavior across devices. iOS is much more controlled.

It means fewer device models, fewer screen size variations, and tighter control by Apple over both hardware and OS. This tends to simplify testing and reduce unexpected issues during development.

4. Development Environments

The technologies you use to develop a mobile application also differ. For iOS, the main environment is Xcode, which integrates code editing, debugging, UI building, and other tools.

It covers Interface Builder, which enables visual user interface design and helps you follow Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. This makes it so simple to keep the design consistent.

For Android, there is Android Studio, which comes with Android SDK and uses Gradle for development. It gives you tools to debug, test, and package applications for many device types.

However, both Xcode and Android Studio are powerful. An iOS or Android app development company can vary a lot depending on what native features and device compatibility is required.

5. Cost of Development

Android apps often require managing a wide variety of devices and testing in many configurations.

Due to this, they can have more development hours and increase the cost to develop an Android app.

Some estimates suggest Android development can take up to 40% more time than iOS in certain cases.

On the iOS side, there are iOS app development costs associated with developers’ accounts, complying with Apple’s review process, and possibly paying for enterprise-level distribution.

While Android has a lower entry cost, the long-term costs of maintenance across different devices and OS versions can add up.

android or ios which is better

So which is more expensive depends heavily on your app’s complexity, target audience, and goals.

Android vs iOS: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Both Android and iOS have their own pros and cons when it comes to mobile app development. To help you decide which is right for your dream project.

Let’s look at how Android vs iOS compares across a few key areas.

Factor Android – Pros Android – Cons iOS – Pros iOS – Cons
Programming Language Java & Kotlin are widely used and well-documented Java can be verbose and harder to debug Swift is modern, fast, and easy to learn Objective-C can be hard to maintain
Market Reach Larger global audience and device variety Lower average user spend per app Users tend to spend more on apps Smaller user base compared to Android
App Stores Can publish on Google Play and other app stores Less control over third-party stores (risk of fake apps) Apple App Store is secure and trusted Only one store – limited flexibility
Development Cost Open-source tools, more flexibility Higher testing cost due to many devices and screen sizes Fewer devices to test – more cost-effective Need Apple devices for development and testing
Monetization Great for ad-based revenue Ads can negatively affect user experience In-app purchases and subscriptions are common and profitable Strict rules for monetization
Design Guidelines Follows Material Design – modern and customizable Design may vary across devices Human Interface Guidelines ensure a clean and consistent UI Less flexibility in UI design
Development Tools Android Studio & Gradle – powerful and flexible Can be resource-heavy and slower Xcode & Swift Package Manager – smooth integration Xcode may be buggy or crash-prone sometimes
App Review Process Faster and easier approval May allow low-quality or malicious apps Thorough review process ensures app quality and safety Takes more time and may reject apps more often
System Type Open-source – more freedom and customization Less secure and more device fragmentation Closed system – more stable and secure Less control for developers

Android vs iOS: Which One to Choose?

Honestly, choosing between Android and iOS depends on what you are after.

For example, who your target audience is, what your app needs to do, your budget, and what you want to make from it.

If you are thinking about going for both, maybe cross-platform app development is quite worth looking into since it covers both sides at once.

Android is really huge, like you will find it everywhere, so your app can get many users. But the tricky part? Mobile phones are all over the place in different sizes and versions.

This means more work to make sure it runs right for everyone.

Plus, to maintain an Android app, you need to keep up with many devices and updates, which can cost extra time and effort. iOS feels a bit more exclusive.

Apple users usually spend more money on apps, which is nice. But App Store rules can be strict, and you will probably need a Mac to develop.

That said, it is usually smarter to start with native apps. Once your app is solid and doing well, you can think about adding the other platform later.

This way, you don’t spread yourself too thin and can focus on making a better product.

iOS vs Android

Confused Between Android and iOS? Let Nimble AppGenie Help You Make the Right Choice!

Still unsure whether to go with Android or iOS? Don’t worry, that’s totally normal! Choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to Android vs iOS.

That said, it’s not always easy to figure out which platform fits your needs. Luckily, Nimble AppGenie has 8 years of that experience.

As a leading mobile app development company, we can help you figure out what fits your goals, audience, and budget.

Book a free consultation with us and we will assist you in finding the right platform that’s right for your app.

Let’s make your dream app idea a reality.

FAQs

Yes, you can create cross-platform apps for both Android and iOS at the same time using tools like Flutter or React Native. These tools let you write code that works on both platforms.

iOS tends to be more profitable due to higher-paying users and better monetization options. However, Android has a larger user base but a lower average revenue.

For iOS, the App Store review takes about 1-2 weeks, and they’re stricter about what gets approved. On Android, the Google Play Store is faster, usually taking a few hours to a few days, and they’re a bit more relaxed with the rules.

The cost to develop an Android app can range between $25,000-$250,000. The cost can vary depending on the size of your project, feature integrations, app size, platform, voice, and other essential factors.

iOS app development cost varies based on many things, like app features, design, and complexity. Usually, it can lie between $40,000-$200,000. More features and better design usually mean higher costs, while simple apps cost less.