Overview: A hybrid application combines elements of both native and web applications. Hybrid app is an app that can be downloaded and installed on multiple platforms like Android and iOS. It allows Mobile App Developers to write one code that can be used everywhere. The most popular “hybrid app examples” are Instagram, Twitter, Gmail, Uber, App Store, iBooks, Evernote, etc.
Mobile Apps have been essential for businesses to reach out to their customers and create a visible brand identity. The mobile industry has rapidly expanded its range of powerful software and tools for app development. In 2012, Facebook revolutionized mobile app development services by introducing the concept of hybrid apps.
Whether you are an entrepreneur or an app developer, you have surely heard about hybrid apps. When developing a mobile app, the first decision to make is whether to create a web app, native app, or hybrid app. Each type has its own pros and cons, but hybrid apps are superior due to their advantages in areas such as cost, UI/UX, and user experience. Looking to increase code reuse and compatibility across platforms? Consider reaching out to a mobile app development company like TechnBrains.
In this blog, discover what hybrid apps are and check out the top hybrid app examples dominating the current market. These examples will help you figure out features your business’ mobile app must have and facilitate better communication with an app development company. So, without further ado, let us get into it.
What is a Hybrid Application or “Hybrid Apps”?
A hybrid application is a software app that combines elements of both native and web applications. Hybrid apps have a native app shell that connects to whatever capabilities the mobile platform provides through a browser that is embedded in the app. The browser and its plug-ins run on the back end and are invisible to the end user.
Hybrid apps allow developers to write code for a mobile app once and still accommodate multiple platforms, but they may perform slightly slower than native or web versions of the same app. To create a native app appearance, developers utilize WebView and Apache Cordova. These platforms hide the browser bar, filter website data, and create app features. Hybrid apps still connect with phone functionalities such as cameras and contacts, but plug-ins are required. You can distribute them on marketplaces like Apple App Store and Google Play Store, pending approval. We will also discuss the best Hybrid App examples for your inspiration.
Features of Hybrid Apps
The features of hybrid applications include
- Functioning offline
- Integration with the device’s file system and web-based services
- Embedded browser for dynamic online content.
Hybrid vs. native vs. web
Developers create native apps for specific platforms to utilize device hardware. These apps are written in the same language as the platform’s OS, such as Objective-C and Swift for iOS. On the other hand, web apps, which are written in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, do not require downloading and are accessed through a web browser. They cannot take advantage of a device’s hardware.
12 Hybrid App Examples to Inspire You for 2023
We recommend checking out the best hybrid app examples below before contacting an on-demand app development company. These hybrid apps prove that multi-platform frameworks can perform just as well as native apps:
1. Twitter
Twitter is a well-known social networking site with approximately 237.8 million active users. Its hybrid app handles high traffic and offers remarkable features, such as live streaming, posting tweets, and offline mode. It performs speedily and smoothly, disproving the common drawback of slow performance associated with hybrid apps.
Recently, the Bird Has Fled, New Twitter Logo Is Officially an ‘X’ still makes it the best hybrid app example. Here is what makes it one of the prime hybrid app examples:
- Twitter’s hybrid design ensures a consistent user experience across devices.
- It offers real-time updates and offline access for users.
- Cross-platform compatibility reaches a wide audience efficiently.
- Cost-effective development and easier maintenance with a single codebase.
- Adaptive design and frequent updates enhance user satisfaction.
2. Uber
Uber Technologies Inc. is also one of the hybrid app examples that operates through digital means and connects with customers through its hybrid app. Its extensive network and advanced technology enable the provision of various services, including food, grocery, mobility business, and other delivery services. The company’s application aims to bridge the gap between customers and service providers. Be it Uber Eats or Uber itself, an app like Uber is sure to be a hit in the world of hybrid apps.
It is worth mentioning that Uber’s application was one of the fastest-loading apps, even compared to native apps. This impressive feat is a testament to the company’s commitment to providing a seamless user experience. Here is how Uber makes it on the list of hybrid app examples:
- Uber is available worldwide, offering its ride-sharing services on both iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility to a global user base.
- The hybrid app provides real-time tracking of drivers and their estimated arrival times, which is essential for ride-sharing services.
- Developing a single hybrid app instead of separate native apps for iOS and Android can be more cost-effective, helping Uber allocate resources efficiently.
- Uber can roll out updates and improvements swiftly due to its hybrid approach, ensuring the app remains up-to-date and user-friendly.
Ready to create an app like Uber to revolutionize ride-sharing apps? Get in touch with us now.
3. Gmail
Powered by Google, Gmail has become the go to app for many people out there. Gmail is the essential hybrid app example that have made us surprised by being the third on the list. Seeming simple yet customizable, it is a perfect example how Native and Web features synchronize so well together. It is a whimsical app for daily professional and personal life routines.
Gmail has given the market for cross-platform applications a fresh viewpoint. This is a request for a reliable email service. It has millions of downloads right now from app stores. The HTML5 app development is partly responsible for Gmail’s success. With a variety of useful, straightforward features and functionalities, it has improved the user experience. Gmail is as one of the best hybrid app examples for these reasons:
- Gmail is accessible across various platforms, including web browsers, iOS, and Android, ensuring users can access their email seamlessly from different devices.
- It provides a consistent and familiar user interface, regardless of the platform, making it easy for users to navigate and manage their emails.
- It incorporates progressive web app (PWA) features, allowing users to access and respond to emails even when offline, which is crucial for productivity.
- It can push updates and security enhancements simultaneously across platforms, ensuring users have access to the latest features and protection against threats.
4. Instagram
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in 2023. With its hybrid approach, Instagram can analyze various types of media and support data in offline mode. It is one of the best instances of a hybrid app on the market, with more than 2 billion users. Instagram, operated by Meta, enables users to post photos and share them with their contacts. The platform has fundamentally altered both the social media landscape and the way we live. However, why is Instagram listed as one of the hybrid app examples? Here is why:
- It is available on iOS Android, and as a web app, ensuring a wide and inclusive user base.
- The app offers a uniform user interface across platforms, making it easy for users to navigate and interact with content.
- Instagram’s hybrid design allows for limited offline access, enabling users to browse content and leave comments even without an internet connection.
- Developing a single hybrid app reduces development costs and time compared to separate native apps for iOS and Android, making it a cost-effective choice.
You can create the next app like Instagram and skyrocket your sales. Why wait when TechnBrains is here to build a legacy for you?
5. Netflix
When you find Netflix on the list, you must be thinking, “Netflix is a Hybrid App?” The answer is yes. The hybrid app examples that we have are listed from every industry, so you can be inspired by everything. Netflix is a cutting-edge, over-the-top subscription streaming service and one of the best examples of a modern application. Despite the fact that Netflix does not offer hybrid app design and development, its advantages warrant notice. In addition, Netflix offers a Progressive Web App (PWA), which makes it comparable to the method used to create the previous hybrid app instances. For the following reasons, Netflix is one of the top hybrid app examples:
- Netflix’s hybrid design makes it available on a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers, ensuring users can enjoy content on their preferred platform.
- Subscribers can enjoy offline viewing due to Netflix’s hybrid capabilities.
- Multi-platform accessibility ensures users can watch content on their preferred devices.
6. Airbnb
One of the most notable hybrid app examples, Airbnb, gives users access to a virtual marketplace for lodging options like hotels and vacation rentals. Users have the option to reserve either short- or long-term stays. Users can currently book vacation experiences at their selected locations through the program. However, from Airbnb, one of the best examples of a hybrid app, what can be the reason? Let’s look at a couple of points below:
- Airbnb’s hybrid design allows it to serve a worldwide audience, accommodating travelers and hosts on both iOS and Android devices.
- The app offers a uniform and intuitive interface, ensuring a seamless experience for users, whether they are booking accommodations or hosting guests.
- Users can access booking information and communicate with hosts even without an internet connection, enhancing convenience and reliability during travel.
- Airbnb benefits from cost-effective development by maintaining a single hybrid app, reducing development and maintenance expenses compared to separate native apps for each platform.
Ready to create your own app like Airbnb? Let us start building your dream vacation rental app today.
7. WhatsApp
WhatsApp stands out as one of the most versatile and widely used messaging apps, primarily due to its hybrid app design. This app seamlessly bridges the gap between iOS and Android, offering a unified messaging experience across platforms. Beyond accessibility, WhatsApp’s hybrid approach grants users the flexibility of offline messaging and ensures cost-efficient development, making it a prime choice for both developers and users alike. So why did WhatsApp make it to the list of hybrid app examples? Let us highlight its key features and advantages:
- WhatsApp is available on both iOS and Android platforms, allowing for a broad user base globally.
- The app provides a consistent and user-friendly interface across platforms, ensuring a seamless messaging experience for users.
- WhatsApp’s hybrid design enables users to send and receive messages when offline, with messages queuing up for delivery as soon as an internet connection is restored, enhancing communication reliability.
8. Evernote
The Evernote software assistant is still thought to be a Native app by users. Of course, there are no doubts because of its flawless performance and excellent use on every device. However, Evernote is also one of the hybrid app examples. The success of Evernote today is a result of the extensive effort its developers put into building its features, security, and user interfaces. With camera capture and scanning, automated data synchronization, self-design, discussion, and note sharing, it can provide users with the most help possible.
- Synchronizes user notes across several different devices.
- Enables individuals to assist people they know by sharing notes.
- Provides a scanning function with camera access.
9. Spotify
Over 517.69 million people are Spotify users as of 2023, of which 229 million are premium subscribers. As a result, it is without a doubt one of the best hybrid app examples, as well as one of the top music streaming services. In the following ways, the app serves as a hybrid app examples model:
- Native technologies were used in the development of Spotify’s user interface to ensure a smooth user experience on both Android and iOS.
- Spotify provides optimized performance and is simple to integrate with other device functions because of this.
- For the seamless view and integration of web-based functionalities, the app combines WebView components with native app features.
- Users can continually browse and engage with the various features because of this.
10. JustWatch
A hybrid app for TV streaming services is known as JustWatch. It can stream media from a variety of well-known websites, including Netflix, Dish Network, Amazon Prime, and others. It is a fully functional hybrid app example that locates internet videos from a variety of sources and streams them to you is well understood.
Right now, JustWatch sees millions of monthly active users. It is a fantastic illustration of a hybrid app with fast performance.
- JustWatch maintains a consistent and user-friendly interface across different platforms, ensuring that users have a familiar experience whether they are using a web browser or a mobile app.
- It is accessible through web browsers on desktops and laptops as well as through native mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices.
11. Apple App Store
A hybrid app created on HTML5 is the Apple App Store. It is also one of the hybrid app examples that had people reconsider the potential of hybrid apps. Users may quickly and easily find the mobile apps they need with the search tool by following a few easy steps. Additionally, it is one of the Hybrid App examples that is the very user-friendly layout and many exceptional features. It instantly displays to users the newest and trendiest mobile apps.
12. Crypotchange
Crypotchange is a powerful cryptocurrency app, and Blockchain Development Company loves it. It was developed with the intention of tracking price changes in cryptocurrencies. In the top 100 crypto apps, it was ranked in the top 100 crypto apps, so you can say that it needs to be in the list of best hybrid apps examples. This accomplishment was made possible in large part by being the currency app that is the best Hybrid App example.
TechnBrains can build the Successful Hit Hybrid App for you
At TechnBrains, we’re dedicated to delivering excellence in the world of hybrid app development. We understand that your business needs an application that seamlessly combines the best of both native and web-based technologies. That’s why we pride ourselves on being the go-to experts in crafting the perfect hybrid app solutions tailored just for you.
Hybrid apps are the perfect blend of native and web apps, offering the best of both worlds. They provide a consistent user experience across multiple platforms while keeping development costs in check. Whether you’re a startup looking to make a mark or an established enterprise seeking to expand your digital footprint, choose from these Hybrid App examples to be the game-changer you need.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level with a cutting-edge hybrid app? Let TechnBrains be your trusted partner in this exciting journey. Contact us today to discuss your project, and together, we’ll build an app that sets you apart in the digital landscape. Your success is our priority, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.
