Types of applications and examples by sector

Currently there are several types of mobile applications that we can develop: native applications, hybrid or cross-platform apps and web applications. Before starting with the development of mobile applications, you need to know what type of app suits your needs.

Do you want to consult with a team of experts in application development to create your app, we also do Web Design, Online Store Creation or web improvement and optimization:

Each application is developed according to your needs, and for this, from our application development companyIf you need an app, start by studying what kind of application fits your needs.

What is a mobile application?

Before we start, we must know what a mobile application is and the differences between an app and a web.

A mobile application also called an app, is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device, such as a phone, tablet, or smartwatch. The number of mobile apps developed for Android is estimated at 87.1%, for iOS at 12.7%, Windows at 0.2%, and the rest on other operating systems.

The principal difference between an app and a website is that a website consists of browser-based HTML pages that are linked together and accessed via the Internet. The main difference for an app is that it is designed exclusively for the standard cell phone screen type, has more user interactivity than a website, and can be used without accessing the internet.

Types of Apps

We live in a world in constant evolution, changes in the technology sector occur daily. Below, you will see the main types of apps that are currently being developed.

1. Native Applications

The native applications are apps developed independently for Android and iOS. To create native apps you will need an expert team for Android app development using Android Studio and another team for iOS app development using Swift.

They are the applications that generate more costs since you need a development team for each of the platforms. They are more stable, fast, and secure.

Development time is around 6 months for a standard native application.

2. Hybrid Applications

The hybrid applications are preferred by users because they can be developed with a single team. Once the code is developed, it is compiled for Android and iOS, saving costs and work time.

Some of the most important frameworks currently in use for the design and development of hybrid applications are:

2.1 React Native: The most widely used framework to develop amazing mobile applications. Created by Facebook, it has become one of the most used by application developers. It allows to generate a framework in React to compile the work done on Android and iOS. Some of the famous apps developed with this technology are Facebook, Airbnb, WhatsApp, Instagram or Netflix.

2.2 Flutter: Google's framework generates hybrid applications of the last generation and high performance. It has been on the market for a short time so it is more difficult to find expert developers in Flutter.

Work times for a standard application can be reduced to 3 months and costs to half of a native application. This is why many investors jump in with the creation of a minimum viable project (MVP) to develop their applications.

3. Web Applications

One web-based application (Web App) is a program that is stored on a server to run in a web browser. Let's say that the internal part of control and management of any web, is a web application. Unlike apps, they do not need to be downloaded to a device since they are accessed through the Internet.

Web applications are used in business environments to create customized solutions. An example of this type of development are CRM or ERP systems for the digital management of the company.

Most web applications are built in two phases:

3.1 Front-End interface design: The visual part of the web application. A UX designer will be in charge of shaping the visible part of the platform according to a quality standard.

3.2 Back-End DevelopmentThe programmers are responsible for making the web application work. The Back-End development is the non-visible part of the application and is part of the user interface.

Some of the main uses of a web app can be found in large organizations for the control and management of business resources, e-commerce stores, or specific functionalities for data control.

4. Progressive Applications (PWA)

One of the most recently developed applications is the Progressive Applications (PWA), also known as Progressive Web App. Progressive apps are apps that can be downloaded to a cell phone or computer through a browser.

They are currently growing thanks to their performance and ease of programming. The operation is simple, starting from a web page, it detects when a cell phone connects to the web page to offer its download in the application. We will have a website downloaded to our device that does not require an internet connection, so the user experience and loading speed are unsurpassed.

Although it is a new and constantly evolving format, it has a promising future. Its current use is to enhance the user experience when connecting to online stores and websites.

As everything has its drawbacks, the main one is that you will not be able to publish a progressive app in the main app markets such as Google Play or AppStore.

Examples of applications

There are 6 types of mobile applications broken down by industry that cover all examples of app development.

1. Social Networking mobile applications

The mobile social networking applications are among the most profitable applications on the market. They are the most used applications by users and the ones with the highest retention time, Facebook alone has daily statistics with more than one billion active users every day.

Social networks allow the creation of large communities of users modifying the lifestyle of society. What to consume, what clothes to wear, what haircut to wear, and even who to vote for, everything we see daily is influenced by the big social media companies.

Some examples of the main social networking applications:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Pinterest
• Snapchat
• YouTube

They mainly allow to generate income through advertising. They also provide the possibility of giving visibility to companies or independent users known as youtubers or instagramers.

2. Fintech Apps

The Fintech application development is one of the fastest growing types of applications. We are experiencing a digitization of the world's leading banks to adapt their business to the connected society in which we live.

Fintech apps, as the term implies, are finance and technology applications. Recently, applications developed with blockchain technology such as wallets, markets, or cryptocurrency custody have been incorporated into the sector.

Examples of Fintech and blockchain apps:

• Wise
• PayPal
• Revolut
• Coinbase
• Robinhood
• Chime
• MoneyLion
• Nubank
• Tellus

3. Lifestyle mobile applications

Lifestyle apps are part of users' entertainment and have been growing in recent years.

These apps make our lives easier when it comes to finding restaurants and ordering food delivery, organizing a playlist to listen to on the way home from work, searching for travel tours in the city we are visiting, or booking a cab.

It is one of the applications with the greatest opportunity to enter the market. Any idea can be developed, you will need to differentiate yourself from the rest by creating a groundbreaking idea that differentiates you from the rest of the applications. The app delivery development is at the top of the most in-demand applications created at the moment.

Lifestyle app examples:

• Uber
• Spotify
• Tripadvisor
• Booking
• Airbnb
• Netflix

4. Utility applications

Perhaps we don't think about these types of applications as they are part of our daily life and are integrated into our smartphones.

We wake up with our cell phone alarm clock, turn on our cell phone flashlight to open a door with our key, check the weather tomorrow, and calculate the tip with the calculator app at our favorite restaurant. These are just a few of the many examples of useful applications.

Useful Apps we can find:

• Alarm
• Watch
• Calculator
• QR reader
• Weather

5. Mobile Produktivitäts-Apps

Productivity is the order of the day. We live in a world in constant motion, and we are always on the lookout for productivity tools that make our lives easier.

Productivity applications are those used in work environments. Unlike other applications that can distract us or waste our time, productivity apps help us perform tasks more efficiently.

Daily tasks are perfect to be automated by this type of applications. Having a list of daily tasks or managing documents through applications such as Google Docs can make life easier.

Some examples of the best productivity apps:

• Slack
• Todoist
• Trello
• Evernote
• Zapier
• Hootsuite
• Dropbox

6. Game applications

Gaming apps are one of the main sectors that generate more revenue. In the world of games we can find different categories according to revenue, from ad-supported gaming apps to Freemium apps where the user improves as he progresses by purchasing resources.

One of the most profitable and most popular among investors are the so-called "loot boxes" or loot apps, where the user buys surprise boxes with hidden prizes inside. The game that has taken this method to its extreme, managing to multiply annual revenues has been Fifa, with its famous purchase of players' packs.

Some examples of the most profitable gaming apps today:

• Clash of Clans
• Candy Crush
• Pokemon Go
• Roblox
• Fortnite
• PUBG
• Fifa
• Minecraft
• Clash Royale

Conclusions

What type of application is best?, As you have seen, each project must be developed in a personalized way. A mobile application development company should be responsible for consulting, studying the needs of each client to offer a proposal that best fits, optimizing costs and work times.

Do you need to develop an application and don't know where to start?, Our advice: consult with a team of application development experts with industry experience. In the long run, you will save time and money.