What Tools Do I Need to Create My Own App?

There were 143.6 billion apps downloaded in 2021 alone. And with Zippa.com projecting a 10% download increase, being in the app store should be part of your growth strategy.

Having noticed the need, app creation platforms also continue to increase. This can make finding the right tool to create your own mobile app one giant maze.

First, you have to figure out if it is the right tool for your business. And secondly, you have to decide on the design that best represents your company.

Also wondering, “how can I create my own app”? Below you will find detailed documentation of the best tools to use to get your business closer to the app store.

Businesses have three major choices to make when it comes to completing their mobile apps: native, cross-platform and hybrid. Deciding on which framework your application will be predicated, depends on the intended look, operational speed, and overall feel you desire for your app.

Native apps are what the name suggests, applications designed with one operating system in mind. With native, you write the code once but cannot reuse it on other systems. To have the app functional on other systems, you will need to write a code consistent or native to that system.

Though these are more time-consuming and financially demanding, these apps result in the highest performance. Native apps have a high operating speed, work flawlessly offline and are masters of user experience.

Hybrid apps carry the capabilities of native apps but also with web integration. Hybrid apps are applications accessible both on the OS and the web. This is possible through the incorporation of languages like HTML or JavaScript into the existing code.

Here you write the code once but then can integrate it with a language that permits web functionality.

Hybrid apps minimise time to market, provide developers with wider app design elements that result in a rich user experience, and user interface. One other advantage of hybrid apps is that they are cheaper to develop than native apps.

Cross-platform applications wander further than the two by allowing developers to reuse code. With cross-platform, developers only have the burden of writing the code once and can reuse it on other platforms.

Cross-platform applications can run on android OS, iOS, Linux, Windows, you name it.

The greatest advantage of cross-platform is that it is a cheaper route than the two in the long run. These apps are also easy to maintain and develop.

Knowing the different types of apps you can build is only a step toward getting your application on that mobile screen. To complete the progress, you must know which tools to use and which application.
We have run down the best tools below:

Android Studio is the result of a collaboration between two tech giants Google and JetBrains. The Studio which was released in 2013, is for the Android Operating System. It is the android go-to for Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

Android Studio uses a simple drag-and-drop feature giving users an indulgent building experience. And for those seeking a seamless distribution channel, then this tool is the perfect partner providing easy distribution to Google Play Store for a small fee.

Android Studio also has an extensive Native Development Kit (NDK) integrated with C++

What we love:

Iconic is yet another tool that released in 2013. The Drifty Co. framework uses JavaScript technology to build quality applications. On Iconic, users can find Vue, Angular and React.

The beauty of Iconic is that it gives web developers a chance to appropriate their skills and use their knowledge to build stunning applications. Think web developers using their skillset to achieve what app developers can do.

Iconic has a substantial UI library that helps users create memorable mobile app experiences. Some of their paradigms include a slider, which supports navigation. The framework also has an alert which is for modes and a checkbox built for the selection process.

What we love:

Iconic is a cross-platform app development tool.

EB Pearls drifts a little from the usual development tools. It doesn’t leave the users to work on the application alone. Rather, they bring together the perfect blend of creator technology with expertise.
The app development company doesn’t leave users struggling with the product lifecycle. They are a team of experts that work alongside their clients.

The Webby Award winner follows a detailed 5-step process to assist their clients to take their ideas to the app store. These steps include discovery; which entails market research, competitor analysis and user persona. The UX and UI design steps take clients through Low-fi prototyping, usability testing and user testing.

But EB Pearls doesn’t stop at launch, that is only the fourth step. The final step starts with metrics analysis and ends with enhancement according to market needs.

What we love:

EP Pearls can help you build all three types of applications.

An offering from Microsoft, Xamarin is a cross-platform app development software created by Mono. Microsoft’s acquisition of Xamarin saw significant changes come to the platform. One such change was the app rebranding as an open-source SDK.

This app development tool operates on C#, a language formulated by the parent company. What is worth noting about Xamarin is its .NET framework which ensures your app is protected from unexpected behaviour.

Xamarin’s UI feature prioritizes user experience regardless of the operating system. It is celebrated for its ability to mimic a native layout on any screen.

Some of Xamarin’s main components include compilation. Within this feature, each assembly code differs according to the preferred OS. For example, Android Xamarin is compiled through Just-in-Time compilation while Xamarin.iOS relies on Ahead-of-Time compilation.

What we love:

The Cordova design carries the idea of building a developer’s community.

The cross-platform tool allows users to build their apps and gather feedback from other developers. This allows users to improve their products before their release.

The Adobe platform which was initially created in 2011 by Nitobi operates on HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The platform is also a free and open source.

What we love:

Designed for iOS app development, XCode was first released by Apple in 2003. The software works as a complete Integrated Development Environment for building, testing and releasing applications compatible with the brand, from iPhone to iPad, AppleTV and watch.

When it comes to using the tool, this native Apple app creator is good for both new and advanced developers.

True to Apple, the UI kit on XCode is simple yet sophisticated, allowing for the design of engaging interfaces.

On XCode, developers also have the advantage of automating their app releases to the Apple play store. Though the software is free to use, this feature comes with a $99 price tag.

What we love:

A not-so-free platform, MobiLoud is an app development offering from WordPress. The tool is more of a plugin.

But its performance doesn’t disappoint.

The tool enables developers to create iOS and android applications acceptable to both the Apple and Google Play stores.

The beauty of MobiLoud is that it allows you to connect your WordPress site to your app, ensuring that whatever changes you make to your website, the changes are also updated onto your app.

MobiLoud comes embedded with an array of features like analytics, mobile advertising integration, and performance monitoring.

The plugin also carries an exceptional app design library ranging from style to font. The major advantage of using MobiLoud is its content update features.

What we love:

When figuring out “how to create my own app”, we advise starting with a good app creation tool. Though these make our favourite app development tools, analyse them to ensure you pick the best one for your business.

At EB Pearls, we help businesses go from ideas to the app store.

Book a free consultation to see how we can help.