Cross-platform app development: build once, ship everywhere.
Separate builds for iOS and Android mean duplicate code, duplicate costs and duplicate sources of error – with every single update. Cross-platform app development flips that around: your app is built from one shared codebase and runs on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. We rely on Flutter, Google's cross-platform framework, to make it happen.
~50% less effort
Code is written and maintained once – not separately per platform.
Native performance
Flutter compiles to native machine code – no “website in a wrapper”.
Simultaneous releases
New features ship on all platforms at the same time.
What cross-platform development does for you.
The business case is simple: same app, less code, lower running costs. In detail:
- One team, one codebase – Instead of an iOS team and an Android team, one team works on one project – faster alignment, consistent quality.
- Half the maintenance effort – Every bug fix, every feature, every OS update: implemented once instead of twice. Over the app's lifetime, that's where you save the most.
- Consistent user experience – Flutter draws the interface with its own rendering engine – your app looks exactly as designed on every device.
- Faster time to market – One project, one schedule, one release – you reach both stores at the same time instead of one after the other.
- Desktop included – Windows and macOS versions grow out of the same codebase as an expansion stage – not a separate project.
Framework
Flutter (Google, open source) with the Dart language – AOT-compiled to native machine code.
Used by
Google Pay · My BMW App · eBay Motors · Nubank · Alibaba (Xianyu) · Toyota
Our practice
Our own app Pauly also runs on iOS and Android from one Flutter codebase.
Cross-platform or native – the honest answer.
Cross-platform is the economically better choice for the vast majority of business and consumer apps. But not for all of them – and we'll tell you when it isn't.
When cross-platform wins
Business apps, e-commerce, booking, data capture, dashboards, consumer apps: practically every app whose value lies in features and UX – in other words, the vast majority.
When native makes sense
Very deep integration with platform-specific hardware (e.g. special sensors, AR frameworks) or extreme graphics loads. Even then, native code can be combined with Flutter where needed.
Why not a “web app in a shell”?
Hybrid approaches based on WebViews often feel sluggish. Flutter compiles to machine code and renders at 60+ fps – the difference is noticeable.
Flutter vs. React Native
Both are established. Flutter scores with its own rendering engine (identical look everywhere), strong desktop support and Dart as a robust, typed language. We work with Flutter daily – and we'll tell you openly if your case is different.
Native or cross-platform – still undecided?
Send us your requirements – we'll tell you honestly whether Flutter fits or whether your case is one of the exceptions. Free, and without any sales pressure.
Cross-platform in practice: our own app.
We don't recommend anything we don't use in production ourselves.
Pauly – dictate your shopping list
Pauly, our voice-controlled shopping list app, runs from one Flutter codebase on iOS and Android: on-device speech recognition, real-time synchronization, offline operation. One team, one codebase, two stores – and every update reaches all users at the same time.
How you get to your cross-platform app.
Technology check
We honestly assess whether cross-platform fits your requirements – including the edge cases.
Concept & architecture
Feature scope, backend, interfaces and platform roadmap (mobile first, desktop later?).
Design & development
One codebase, short cycles, testable builds on your devices.
Multi-store launch
App Store and Google Play simultaneously, desktop builds as needed.
Operations
One update process for all platforms – plannable and inexpensive to run.
Let's run the numbers on your project.
One codebase instead of two: in an initial call, you'll get a concrete assessment of what that means for your budget and your time to market.
Frequently asked questions about cross-platform development.
Can you tell a cross-platform app apart from a native app?
With Flutter, practically not: the code is compiled to native machine code and the interface is rendered at 60+ fps. Production apps like Google Pay or the My BMW App show that this holds up even with millions of users.
How much do I save compared to two native apps?
As a rule of thumb: 30–50% in initial development, and even more in ongoing maintenance – because every change is implemented and tested only once. The exact savings depend on the feature scope.
Can Windows and Mac versions be added later?
Yes – that's one of Flutter's biggest advantages. Desktop support lives in the same codebase; the desktop app is an expansion stage, not a new development.
What about platform-specific features like push or camera?
Standard features (push, camera, GPS, biometrics, payments) are covered by mature Flutter plugins. For special cases, we write native modules and integrate them into the shared codebase.
Is Flutter future-proof?
Flutter is open source, actively developed by Google and used in production by companies like BMW, eBay, Nubank and Toyota. It has ranked among the most widely used cross-platform frameworks for years.
Read on.
One app, all platforms?
Let's find out whether cross-platform is the right choice for your project – honest, concrete, no strings attached.
Enquire about a cross-platform project.
Describe your project – we'll get back to you with an assessment of technology, effort and approach.
We usually reply within 24 hours.
Remote & on site – working across the DACH region (DE, AT, CH), with international project experience.