Honest Comparison
Cross-Platform vs Separate Native Apps for MVP
One codebase or two? Here's how to decide for your mobile MVP.
6
Webscension Wins
2
Separate iOS & Android Apps Wins
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Feature
Webscension
Separate iOS & Android Apps
MVP Cost
$2,997 (web + responsive)
$30,000-80,000+ (two apps)
Development Time
2 weeks
3-6 months
Maintenance
One codebase
Two codebases
App Store Approval
Not needed (PWA option)
2-4 weeks review process
Updates
Instant deployment
App store review each time
Native Performance
Near-native with PWA
Full native performance
Device Features
Most features accessible
Full device access
MVP Validation
Fast iteration, quick pivots
Slow to change direction
Why Choose Webscension
- 10-25x lower cost
- 10x faster to market
- Single codebase to maintain
- Instant updates without app store
- Perfect for MVP validation
- Can add native apps later
Why Choose Separate iOS & Android Apps
- Best possible performance
- Full access to all device features
- Better for certain app categories
- Native look and feel
- Offline-first capabilities
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose Webscension if:
MVPs testing market demand, apps where web experience is sufficient, and founders who want to validate before investing heavily in mobile.
Choose Separate iOS & Android Apps if:
Apps requiring heavy device features (camera, sensors), games, or products where native UX is critical to the value proposition.
Our Verdict
For MVP validation, separate native apps are overkill. You'll spend 10x more and take 10x longer just to test if your idea works. Start with a responsive web app (or PWA) to validate your concept, then invest in native apps once you've proven demand. Webscension's web-first approach gets you to market fast and cheap.
Ready to Build Your MVP?
Get your MVP built in 2 weeks for $2,997. First paying customer within 90 days, or full refund.