In this app-dominated era, the choice of a mobile operating system is crucial, with Android and iOS being the dominant players. Given Android's substantial global market share, projected to surpass 70.93% in 2023, businesses and individuals seeking app development services should consider partnering with a reputable Android app development company to capitalize on this widespread user base. Choosing the right development team can significantly impact the success and reach of your app in the competitive market.

In the realm of Android app development, the prominence of the Android OS in the smartphone industry underscores the lucrative potential of custom Android development services. Navigating the diverse landscape of available frameworks is a crucial aspect of building a successful Android application. In this blog, we delve into the top 9 Android frameworks, shedding light on their key features to assist developers in making informed decisions and optimizing their business intelligence for application development.

What is an Application Framework?

An application framework is a tool that offers pre-made components, templates structure for app development. It’s mainly focused on making different types of app architecture, including:

• Native apps (the OS-specific applications for Android iOS)
• Hybrid apps (multi-platform applications, written on HTML5, JavaScript CSS)
• Web apps

Custom development software plays a pivotal role in leveraging frameworks to simplify the application development process. These frameworks, with their customizable interfaces and component structures, not only facilitate easy modification and bug fixing but also enable the reuse of application design and code. By centralizing the base code, custom development software enhances efficiency in managing and maintaining applications.

Attributes of The Best Android Development Framework

Choosing the right framework for Android app development is quite challenging for developers stakeholders as so many mobile frameworks are available. Here are some criteria that help you find out the framework for your app development. 

1. Cross-platform capability:

Cross-platform application frameworks allow developers to utilize the same code across any OS. This means the app will have the same appearance and offer the same user experience on every device. Cross-platform capability saves development time and reduces expenses.

2. Framework’s features:

Developers always prefer to work with Android application frameworks that streamline the overall process, with fewer speed bumps along the development path. They usually want to work with a feature-rich framework that helps them test troubleshoot bugs in a very time-efficient and easy way.

3. Speed consideration:

Cross-platform and native mobile applications should function efficiently just like websites. It’s crucial for any app but quite critical for gaming applications that involve measuring performance and speed. So, while choosing a framework, it’s important to consider its optimum speed and efficiency. 

Top Android App Development Frameworks

1. Ionic Framework

Ionic is one of the best open-source free frameworks for Android app development. As the MIT-certified framework, this enables developers to develop progressive hybrid applications by using CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript. It has become a very popular choice for developers as it has cross-platform functionalities and it can also integrate AngularJS. 

Moreover, the Ionic framework can host Command-line Interface that streamlines many features like live reload, logging, and emulators. Till now, 4M+ mobile apps were developed through Ionic and more than 5 million app developers use this framework worldwide. In addition, it also combines many services such as Google Play, Instagram, etc.

Key Perks of The Ionic Framework:

• Cross-platform app development framework
• Best mobile app development framework with a default user interface
• Cordova plugins and JavaScript components
• MIT certified
• Compatibility with AngularJS

2. Flutter Framework

This is a cross-platform mobile application development framework designed and developed by Google. Developed in 2017, the Flutter framework is used to create multi-platform apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows. This framework is written in Dart, C, and C++ and it utilizes a 2D rendering engine known as Skia for visuals. 

Apart from that, Flutter is also a great framework for testing, it allows developers to implement UI functionality tests on the applications. It enables seamless testing processes without the application restarts. Some of the best examples of flutter-based applications include Google Ads, Hamilton, KlasterMe, Postmuse, etc.

Key Perks of The Flutter Framework:

• Single codebase
• Massive widget library
• Well-optimized code development time
• Enhanced time-to-market speed
• The 2D rendering engine for creating graphics
• Helps in code sharing among the targeted platforms

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3. Corona SDK

Launched in 2009, this is one of the most advanced cross-platform frameworks used for games and speedy applications. As compared to other frameworks, Corona SDK enables 10 times faster development. 

This is a great choice for game developers and it’s available on Windows and MacOS with testing support. Moreover, this framework has 100 APIs and native UI support. Corona SDK has gained massive popularity among app developers because it’s very easy to understand. 

Key Perks of The Corona SDK Framework:

• It’s very easy to understand
• More than 1000 APIs plugins
• Cross-platform app development framework
• Real-time device testing and native UI supports
• Ability to use APIs call any native libraries, including Java, Obj-C, C, C++, etc

4. Framework 7

If you have an idea about CSS, HTML JavaScript – you’re close to making mobile applications with Framework7. Being one of the newest Android UI frameworks for app development, Framework 7 is a highly effective MIT-licensed open-source framework that comes with a number of useful features and functionalities. 

This is ideal for making progressive web apps and it easily combines with Cordova to develop hybrid apps through  CSS, HTML JavaScript conveniently. Moreover, Framework 7 is known for its user-friendly interface and it’s frequently updated to maintain a strong non-disruptive workflow.

Key Perks of Framework 7:

• Features a range of easy-to-use UI elements plugins
• Easy customization
• Simple and user-friendly interface
• Offers a jQuery syntax
• Zero license fees
• Built-in libraries

5. React Native

This is one of the most preferred and powerful MIT-licensed open-source Android frameworks that provide huge support to other IDEs and development tools. Tech giants like Tesla, Airbnb, and Walmart use this framework to build native mobile applications. 

React Native has cross-platform APIs so that developers write a single code structure and run it on any platform accelerating the development speed reduces unnecessary expenses. The native-like user interface and useful features make the app development process faster and easier.

Key Perks of The React Native Framework:

• Open source platform with MIT licensed
• Speeds up the development process
• Ability to share non-UI dependent codes
• Supports using external third-party plugins
• Modular intuitive architecture
• Max code reuse and cost-saving

6. jQuery Mobile Framework

This is an HTML5-based cross-platform framework used as a straightforward tool for developing mobile web apps. jQuery enables experts to “write code once” run it on different platforms, like iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows, Blackberry devices, etc. 

This is an MIT-licensed Android framework launched in 2010. Several android app development companies or tech giants like Accenture, Bukalapak, Yext, Cyta, and Qlik use the jQuery framework in their tech stacks. Moreover, it comes with too many plugins that make web pages user-friendly, simpler, and interactive.

Key Perks of The jQuery Mobile Framework

• Comes with different plugins such as Image Slider, Pop-Up Boxes, Content-Slider, etc
• Compatible with Windows, mobile iOS, Android frameworks
• ThemeRoller feature makes drag-and-drop functionality easier
• Streamlines the manipulations with JavaScript
• Lightweight option than other frameworks

7. Appcelerator Titanium

Appcelerator Titanium is an open-source platform used in native app development. Titanium has become a very popular framework as it helps in making multi-platform mobile applications with a single JavaScript code base. It offers access to native APIs for operating systems such as iOS, Android, Universal Windows, Blackberry, and HTML5. 

Appcelerator Titanium framework comes with a number of useful built-in tools that help to build apps with a minimal look efficient working. Moreover, it has hardware-specific features such as OS-centric controls, Android menu buttons, platform-centric notifications.

Key Perks of The Appcelerator Titanium Framework

• Runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS
• Excellent code reusability (60 to 80%)
• An open-source and free software development kit
• Apps are built-in JS language
• Instant support for the OS releases
• Flexible and rapid prototyping that streamlines the app development process

8. Xamarin

Xamarin is one of the most-preferred Android frameworks used by more than 1.4 developers. This framework is developed by Microsoft and it provides a highly advanced toolset that helps to build native applications for several mobile platforms. 

Apart from that, the code-sharing feature of the Xamarin framework helps to minimize coding time. Some of the best Xamarin-based apps include Storyo, The World Bank, Just Giving, Olo, etc.

Key Perks of The Xamarin Framework

• Native user interface
• Single C# language
• Enables 60 to 95% sharing code
• Provides comprehensive testing approaches
• Quick problem resolving with Microsoft support

9. NativeScript

This is an open-source free app development framework that allows developers to develop applications using TypeScript, Vue Angular. With NativeScript, top Android developers can directly reuse a range of plugins, From CocoaPods to Gradle. This framework is the best choice for developing progressive apps. 

As one of the best frameworks for app development, This framework offers component APIs and abstracted UI to access native Android iOS hardware UI components. This speeds up the development process because developers can write a single UI logic code for Android and iOS, thus saving more time. Several B2B tech giants like Xerox, Symantec, Microsoft Dell extensively use the NativeScript framework.

Key Perks of The NativeScript Framework

• Quick authentication with too many sign-on options
• Simultaneous usage of Webpack LiveSync
• Employing different types of frames
• Auto-generating splash screens icons
• Cordova plugins

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Final Words

Application frameworks work as a driving tool for developing successful and robust mobile applications. The above-mentioned Android framework development tools offer a set of unique features, capabilities, and functionalities that you can utilize for all kinds of Android app development projects. Planning to build a feature-packed Android application? Stay in touch with Sphinx Solutions.