Kotlin Multiplatform: Is It Really the Right Choice for Your App?

In this article, we've tried to provide answers to help you make a final decision and understand why Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) stands out from other cross-platform technologies - explained for non-techies as well.

What is the difference between native and cross-platform development?

As someone with an app idea, you've surely looked into the best way to bring that idea to life and asked yourself, "Should I start with native or cross-platform?" But what’s the difference?

Native app development

Native development means building an app specifically for a single platform, such as iOS or Android, using the programming languages and tools dedicated to that platform. This means if you want to outsource a team for your app development, you’ll need to look for separate iOS and Android developers. Native iOS apps are typically built using Swift or Objective-C, while Android apps are developed with Kotlin or Java in Android studio.

Advantages of native programming

• High performance: Native apps generally offer the best performance because they’re optimized for a specific platform and don’t rely on cross-platform layers that "bridge" the differences between platforms.
• Authentic native experience: Since native apps follow each platform's UI/UX specifics, they feel more intuitive to users. This can lead to higher user satisfaction, especially for apps where design consistency is crucial.
• High security: Native development allows more reliable and secure connections to platform-specific services. This is essential for apps that require high security, like finance or healthcare apps.
• Simple platform-specific feature integration: New updates or features from iOS or Android are often available immediately for native apps, while cross-platform solutions may have to wait for the new features to be integrated.

Disadvantages of native programming

• Higher development costs: You need separate code for each platform, which is why development can require more time and is costly, especially if you want an app on both iOS and Android.
• Complex maintenance: Updating and maintaining two separate codebases means additional effort, as any change needs to be implemented twice (once for each platform).

Cross-platform development

Cross-platform apps are the ones that have shared code that works on multiple platforms, usually iOS and Android. Frameworks that are used the most for this type of app are Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP).

Instead of writing separate code for each platform, developers create a shared codebase that can be adapted to both iOS and Android. These frameworks use tools to translate shared code so it can access platform-specific features, such as GPS or push notifications. Since much of the code is shared, it generally takes less time and resources to develop, test, and maintain than native apps.

Developers can simplify code that functions smoothly on both iOS and Android by using cross-platform-specific APIs.

Advantages of cross-platform development

• Cost-effective development: By eliminating the need for separate teams, you need fewer developers and hours to build your cross-platform app. This leads to approximately 30-50% savings in development costs compared to the native approach.

You can calculate the cost of your app development here.

• Consistency across platforms: Cross-platform frameworks make it easier to maintain a consistent look and feel across both iOS and Android, ensuring a unique user experience.
• Easy maintenance: It is cheaper to maintain a cross-platform app since there is only one business logic code to keep an eye on. All updates, bug fixes, and new features are implemented in one place.
• Speedy launch process: Compared to waiting for a different MVP version for each platform, you may receive your MVP more quickly and begin validating your idea much sooner.

Disadvantages of cross-platform development

• Potential for performance limitations: If you have an app with complex features (such as AR/VR, face recognition, etc.), it might be that cross-platform frameworks do not perform as efficiently as native apps.
• Limited access to platform-specific features: While frameworks provide tools to access device capabilities, some limitations or delays may occur in adopting the latest functionalities unique to each platform.
• Design and user experience challenges: Each platform has unique UI/UX guidelines. Creating an app that feels truly native to both iOS and Android can be challenging with a single codebase.

Cross-platform development is an ideal choice if you want to get a quality app in a shorter time frame that better fits your budget. However, not all cross-platform frameworks are equal, and the choice of technology can impact your app’s performance, scalability, and user experience.

One of the solutions is Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP), which is specifically designed to help developers share common code across platforms without sacrificing the native feel and performance. KMP is a powerful option for companies that need a high-quality app with reliable business logic and a smooth user experience on both platforms. With its ability to combine the benefits of shared code while maintaining native performance, KMP can be the ideal choice if you're looking for a cross-platform approach that feels as reliable and optimized as native development.

‍

What is Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP/KMM)?

Imagine you're preparing a pizza. You have a recipe that works well in both an oven and an air fryer. The ingredients (dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings) are the same, just like the shared code in Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP). But to make sure the pizza turns out perfectly, you adjust the settings for each appliance. The oven and air fryer require different temperatures and cooking times, just as iOS and Android need specific adjustments to create a seamless user experience.

When you take the pizza out, you’ll notice that the texture might be a little different, perhaps crispier from the air fryer or more evenly baked from the oven. But essentially, it's still the same delicious pizza, modified for use to each appliance's advantage.

This is the point of Kotlin Multiplatform technology. By using KMP, the app’s core functionality remains the same across different platforms, much like the pizza recipe, while allowing for customization to make it feel native on both iOS and Android. Instead of writing separate code for each platform, developers can work from a single codebase, handling shared business logic in one place. KMP is especially beneficial if you want to save time and resources while still delivering a high-quality, "native" experience on each platform.

So, if you’re looking for a way to develop an app that feels like it was created specifically for each platform without doubling your efforts, KMP might be the perfect recipe.

Kotlin Multiplatform is great for reducing development time since you don’t need a separate developer for Android and another for iOS; one person can write shared logic in Kotlin that will work natively on both platforms. It also reduces development costs since updates and bug fixes need to be made only once and there is no duplication of work.

Native development generally incurs higher costs because it requires separate codebases for Android and iOS. If your app has very specific requirements for platform-specific features and needs to be as precise as possible (such as advanced camera functionalities, certain sensors, etc.), then native development is a good choice.

‍

Is Kotlin good for cross-platform projects?

Here’s why the Kotlin Multiplatform project could be the best solution for your app development:

1. Save on development costs
   With KMP, you don’t need separate iOS and Android teams, just one team to handle your app’s shared code. This streamlined approach reduces development costs by around 30-50% compared to building native apps separately. It’s a budget-friendly option that’s particularly valuable for startups or businesses with limited resources.
2. Faster time to market
   Want to get your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) launched quickly? With KMP, you can have basic app features, like user authentication, ready in just 2 weeks! This means you can start testing and validating your app idea much sooner than if you were developing separate versions for each platform.
3. Lower maintenance costs
   KMP keeps maintenance simple and cost-effective. Since your app’s core business logic is centralized, updates, bug fixes, and new features can all be managed in one place. This makes ongoing maintenance and improvements much cheaper and faster.
4. One shared codebase
   No need to write separate code for different platforms like iOS and Android - KMP allows you to build the core logic once and run the same code across both platforms, reducing duplicated effort and ensuring consistency in functionality.
5. Native-like features and performance
   People sometimes worry that Kotlin Multiplatform won’t provide a native experience as traditional native development. There is no need to worry - KMP allows direct access to each platform’s unique features and APIs, so your app’s functionality will be just as responsive as a fully native one.
6. Simple transition from native to KMP
   If you already have a native app, it’s easy to incorporate KMP. Our developers can reuse any existing native code where needed, and if your app is already in Kotlin, the transition is even smoother. This lets you start with KMP’s shared logic while maintaining your platform-specific UI, giving you the flexibility to gradually transition your app to a more unified codebase.

If you're trying to decide between Kotlin Multiplatform and other cross-platform frameworks, you might be wondering which one will give you the best results without overcomplicating things.

In simple terms, cross-platform frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and KMP all aim to make app development faster and more cost-effective by allowing you to write one codebase that works on both iOS and Android. But each of these frameworks approaches this goal differently, which impacts the performance, user experience, and flexibility of your app.

‍

React Native vs KMP

React Native is an open-source framework created by Facebook for building mobile applications using JavaScript and React. Developers can write code that runs on both iOS and Android from a single codebase. This framework uses a component-based structure that enables developers to build complex user interfaces by combining simple, reusable components.

Code sharing

• KMP: With Kotlin Multiplatform, shared code mainly covers the app’s core functions, like business logic, while the UI is designed separately for each platform. This approach often leads to a more natural experience on both Android and iOS applications.
• React Native: This framework emphasizes a shared user interface layer across platforms, using JavaScript and a "bridge" to connect with native code. This lets developers build cross-platform apps with a consistent look on both platforms.

Native performance

• KMP: Because the core code runs natively on each platform and only the UI is customized per platform, KMP typically delivers high native performance, especially in apps with complex or resource-heavy features.
• React Native: React Native uses native components effectively in many cases, but due to its reliance on a JavaScript bridge, it may not reach the same performance level as KMP for highly complex applications.

Ecosystem

• KMP: Although relatively new, KMP is closely tied to Kotlin, a language fully integrated into the Android ecosystem. This can be a big advantage for teams already using Kotlin, as they can use their existing knowledge.
• React Native: With a large, well-established community and a variety of third-party platform-specific libraries, React Native offers extensive resources and tools that can help accelerate development.

Flexibility and control

• KMP: Kotlin Multiplatform allows you to add platform-specific code when you need it, offering high flexibility. For instance, if your app needs advanced camera functions that are unique to iOS or Android, you can code these features specifically for each platform.
• React Native: While it supports platform-specific components as well, it may not offer the same level of fine control for highly tailored platform features as KMP does, which could limit precision in complex scenarios.

‍

Flutter vs KMP

Flutter, created by Google, is an open-source framework that enables developers to build natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase using the Dart programming language.

Code sharing

• KMP: Kotlin Multiplatform focuses on sharing the app's core functions, particularly the business logic, across various platforms. This means the UI is designed separately for iOS and Android, often resulting in a more native experience for users on each platform.
• Flutter: Flutter uses a single codebase for both the UI and core functionality. By relying on its own widget system, it creates a consistent look and feel across platforms, though the app’s interface may differ slightly from native design patterns on each platform.

Native performance

• KMP: With KMP, core code (business logic) runs natively, while platform-specific UI code is developed independently for iOS and Android. This usually leads to high performance, as the business logic integrates directly with each platform's native environment.
• Flutter: Flutter compiles to native code, which delivers good performance. However, as it uses a custom rendering engine, Flutter may not match the native performance of KMP in very complex apps or those with heavy use of platform-specific features.

Ecosystem

• KMP: Relatively new, KMP is built on Kotlin, which is deeply integrated into the Android ecosystem. This can be advantageous for developers familiar with Kotlin and allows easy integration with Android tools.
• Flutter: Flutter has a well-established ecosystem backed by Google, with a large community and an array of third-party packages and libraries. This ecosystem maturity can speed up development by offering ready-made solutions.

Flexibility and control

• KMP: Kotlin Multiplatform offers high flexibility, allowing developers to write platform-specific code for features that require it. For example, if an app needs advanced features that differ between iOS and Android, such as specialized camera capabilities, developers can create separate implementations for each platform.
• Flutter: While Flutter supports plugins for platform-specific functionality, it doesn’t provide the same level of direct control over platform-specific features as KMP. This can limit flexibility for certain custom or complex native features.

For startups looking to create cross-platform apps efficiently and affordably, Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is usually a good solution. KMP lets you use the same code across different platforms while still getting the fast, smooth performance you expect from each device. It's perfect if you already know a trusted mobile development company that offers Kotlin Multiplatform services because it speeds up how quickly you can launch your app.

Read this blog to help you make a decision.

‍

Big companies that use Kotlin Multiplatform

These are just a few of the companies you’ve surely heard of, but you may not have known that Kotlin Multiplatform is at the core of their apps. Among these are both complex and simple applications, all delivering a consistent user experience on both iOS and Android. They all use Kotlin Multiplatform to streamline their development processes while still allowing for platform-specific implementations.

Netflix

By sharing business logic between Android and iOS, Netflix can streamline updates and feature releases across both platforms. Netflix is using KMP in its app built from scratch, Prodicle, made to innovate in the area of physical production of TV shows and movies.

McDonald's

McDonald's has integrated Kotlin Multiplatform into their mobile development workflow to streamline their development process and reduce the time it takes to roll out new features and updates across mobile platforms.

Phillips

Phillips has used Kotlin Multiplatform to build cross-platform SDKs, focusing on maintaining core functionalities like Bluetooth connectivity across Android and iOS apps. This approach allows Phillips to manage multiplatform projects without duplicating efforts, ensuring consistency across devices while still respecting platform-specific needs.

Bolt

By using Kotlin Multiplatform, Bolt accelerates development time and focuses on adding platform-specific features when necessary. KMP enables them to quickly release updates and bug fixes across both platforms simultaneously, maintaining a smooth user experience on all devices.

Wrike

Wrike uses Kotlin Multiplatform as a common source of shared business logic across both its Android and iOS applications. Through KMP as a common source, Wrike efficiently centralizes core app functionalities while customizing UI elements for each platform.

‍

Should you go with Kotlin Multiplatform?

After reading about the advantages of Kotlin Multiplatform as well as other cross-platform frameworks, the final decision ultimately comes down to the type of application you want and whether you have your in-house team or are outsourcing.

If you're looking for an option that won't exceed your budget while still providing a native-like experience on both platforms and speeding up the app development process, KMP is an excellent choice. With Kotlin Multiplatform, you only need to build most of your app once, sharing the core logic across both platforms, which saves you both time and money compared to developing two separate apps. This means you can deliver a high-quality product faster while keeping your development costs under control.

Our experienced Kotlin Multiplatform developers are eager to prove their capabilities, which is why they are fully dedicated to every client. Once a team starts working on a project, that same team will be your point of contact until the project's end, as we believe it's essential for you to build trust with the person you're working with. Contact us today and let's build your app together!