It is hard to imagine something more devastating for a company than a primary framework used in their software product becoming outdated, like the Apache Cordova case. As you know, today, many businesses that have relied on Cordova have to face the painful process of migrating their products or rebuilding them from scratch. Drawing from our extensive experience, this process can be streamlined if you know where to look and search for guidance. Based on our rigorous research, we can now highlight several platforms that can be perfect alternatives for Cordova in 2024, including Flutter, React Native, and Ionic/Capacitor.
But what buzzes for most tech and business leads, is not only how to make the migration smooth from the functional point of view, but also how to make it financially profitable in the long run. When our clients come to us with such worries, we do a comprehensive analysis to give them a solution, and in this article, I would like to share our expertise.
What’s Wrong With Apache Cordova?
Before we dive any deeper, let us remind you of the Cordova case and why it is crucial for your business to consider alternatives for existing and future projects.
Cordova has long been the first choice for developers to use web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create cross-platform mobile applications. It has acted as a link, saving time and resources for developers by enabling them to write code only once and distribute it across several platforms. But times are changing, and other, better, and more modern alternatives appear on the cross-platform mobile programming scene, causing a stir.
Since 2021, when App Center made a statement about Apache Cordova Retirement, there has been a significant drop in the number of weekly downloads of the command line tool to build, deploy, and manage Cordova-based apps, according to npm (Numbers Probably Matter). Only in the last year did the decrease rate reach 25%.
Another indicator that you need to consider a framework change is that, according to Statista, Cordova’s popularity is declining fast. The number of software developers who used Apache Cordova in 2019–2023, fell from 29% to 10%. Also, Cordova scored only 1% of developers’ voices in 2024 among the most wanted frameworks worldwide. So, there is a high chance that your competitors have already moved on from Cordova to something more efficient and suitable for them.
As MobiDev has vast experience operating on various cross-platform frameworks for mobile app development, including Cordova, Flutter, and React Native, we offer you our knowledge and experience to deal with a few pressing questions when you face the need to switch from Cordova.
QUESTION №1: IS CORDOVA DEPRECATED OR STILL RELEVANT?
When replying to the question of whether or not Cordova is deprecated or still relevant, we want to start with the allegation that Apache Cordova is still alive. The concrete markers comprise new updates with improvements and fixes. Although more and more people are using modern frameworks like Flutter and React Native, Cordova is still in constant use. Some of Cordova’s supporters are interested in using their web development and programming knowledge to create mobile applications. However, you need to note that the gap between the latest updates of Cordova and versions of operating systems becomes more significant every year. That implies that you can still use Cordova for your old projects, but if you plan on starting a new one or perfecting existing ones, there are better options than this one.
QUESTION №2: WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF CORDOVA?
It is high time to review alternatives to Apache Cordova and highlight the competitors for the framework. Flutter, React Native, and Ionic/Capacitor may be a good substitute for Cordova in cross-platform app development. These cutting-edge technologies can be the best option for your hybrid app, though there is no reason to perceive any of them as a silver bullet, since all technologies have both pros and cons.
QUESTION №3: WHAT IS THE BEST MODERNIZATION APPROACH FOR MY CORDOVA APP?
With over 14 years of experience in building, scaling, and modernizing software products at MobiDev, we developed our own methodical approach to modernizing legacy applications. After meticulously studying the Cordova perspectives and comparing them to the other industry-leading frameworks, we can suggest the following general steps:
- decide whether app modernization efforts are more economically and technically profitable or it is more reasonable to rebuild it from scratch
- choose the framework that works best for your goals, and will be your next go-to solution
- diversify your tools – use several of the most trusted mobile frameworks for your future projects
- consult with an industry expert to create an efficient roadmap for implementing the above steps
Regarding Cordova, at MobiDev, we consider that application migration to another similar framework like Ionic/Capacitor, for instance, is possible if it runs on version 7 and above, if you don’t need to add new features, and don’t have strict security requirements. When it is the opposite – the Cordova app uses a version below 7, and you want to add new features and extend functionality or provide a higher level of security – it is better to rebuild it from scratch. In that case, it’s recommended to use something new, like Flutter, one of the top mobile app frameworks, whose popularity among software developers grows yearly and hit the top ten this year.
Top 3 Alternatives To Migrate Your App From Apache Cordova In 2024
Maintaining the competitiveness and relevance of your mobile applications depends on knowing when to switch to a new technology. Given Cordova’s decline, it’s critical to recognize the warning indications that call for looking into other options.
Knowing when to switch to a new technology, given Cordova’s decline, is extremely critical. But what will give you a headstart from your competitors is choosing the right way to do it, and by selecting the perfect alternative that will cover all your tech, performance and financial basis. According to our comprehensive analysis, the following three frameworks will work best as alternatives to Cordova:
- Flutter
- React Native
- Ionic/Capacitor
But what will you choose? Of course, you can spend hours researching who will win the fight. Or you can lean on our experience and, as we already established that Cordova would lose in any case, focus on comparing the main features of said Apache Cordova alternative frameworks.
We highlighted several criteria for comparing technologies competing with Apache Cordova: UI, performance, customizability, native modules and plugins, community, and sustainability. For your convenience, we created a visual representation of each group below, you can download it in the PDF.
Comparison of Flutter vs React Native vs Capacitor as alternatives to Apache Cordova
DownloadApache Cordova vs Flutter
Choosing Flutter over Cordova may be obvious today, but let’s have a closer look at all of Flutter’s key winning points.
Flutter is the most flexible technology for building UI at the moment, as you can see from the data given above. It has a complete set of material and Cupertino widgets that aren’t provided by other cross-platform app development frameworks. The UI is consistent across different devices and vendors, and conceptually, it is similar to React.js. Flutter’s UI is highly flexible and allows you to build UI the same way native platforms do. Users can define custom-painted views and custom layouts without the need to opt into native platforms.
What is more, Dart-based Flutter currently shows the best performance indicators. Performance is the same as that of native Android or iOS apps. Flutter architecture enables apps based on it to work with the same performance or sometimes even faster than Java or Kotlin Android apps.
Flutter also enables developers to build modules and views from native views, and the possibility of reusing native libraries is derived from this. At the moment, the Dart and Flutter developers community is much larger than the NativeScript community and almost as large as the React Native one.
Releases in Flutter are stable and don’t break apps – Google and Apple make changes promptly. Stable released versions for creating web applications and desktop applications are also notable. As you can see, you can rest assured that in the case of Cordova vs Flutter – the latter is the better.
Apache Cordova vs React Native
Developers may create mobile applications with React Native as well as with Cordova, but considering all the latest trends, of these two, only React Native will help your businesses stand out in the rapidly expanding mobile development environment.
The UI is flexible enough to cover the majority of cases required for developing an app. It doesn’t have a full set of native components counterparts, as they are usually substituted with community plugins, and the UI framework is React.js.
There is no way to define custom layouts without using a native platform. The functionality that allows for building modules and views from native views and reusing native libraries is the same as in the case of Flutter.
When considering the stability of React Native – it is in Beta. The framework occasionally has some breaking changes and issues related to new changes in native platforms. But overall, it has good stability. Maintainers are not always able to address issues promptly, and often, the community helps fix issues in third-party libraries. In React Native app development, it is possible to share between OS or platforms with only the logic part of the application.
As you can see, there may be some drawbacks if we are comparing React Native to Flutter, but in the case of Cordova vs React, the latter definitely wins, leading many businesses to migrate their product from one to another.
MobiDev worked for an energy retail company not so long ago. Their pain point was the outdated technology of their project – a cross-platform Cordova-based application for iOS and Android that allows users to monitor, predict, and optimize energy consumption. The client asked us to migrate the app from Cordova to React Native in order, and after we followed through, here’s what they got:
- modernized app with the ability to add new cutting-edge features
- higher security level
- reduced costs and damage risks due to a more stable, secure, and easily upgradable framework
- boosted app performance
- optimized current and planned functionality
As you can see, you can find the right solution for any challenge if approached with knowledge, experience and skill.
Apache Cordova vs Ionic/Capacitor
Every framework has its unique benefits, depending on the situation. But if the question is Cordova vs Capacitor, Capacitor is amongst the industry’s best and prevails in several essential areas. Ionic/Capacitor is an open-source mobile toolkit for building cross-platform apps, and it hasn’t been Cordova-based since May 2021.
In Ionic, it is possible to use any UI library for the web. Unfortunately, the patterns for web and mobile devices are different, so these libraries usually need to be optimized for mobile devices, which causes many issues with UX & performance.
Based on JavaScript, Ionic/Capacitor uses wrapper architecture for the whole application. This leads to lots of issues when implementing heavy computing or working in hidden mode. The UI is highly flexible and allows the building of UI, just like in Javascript applications. It is possible to define custom layouts without the need to opt into native platforms and write native plugins.
JavaScript has an extensive community, and the platform enables the reusing of JavaScript libraries. The main problems are security restrictions and the huge amount of time required to polish the application for each individual device.
Can You Still Use Cordova In 2024 And Beyond?
Let us paint you a scary picture – you are demoralized by compatibility plugins and outdated security plugins, you constantly need to add or remove platforms when errors occur, you cannot operate smoothly, and you have no support.
Things may not be that dramatic right now, but from our hands-on investigation, even if Cordova is still not dead, it definitely is on its way to being sunset. Cordova covers only about 1% of popularity among other mobile frameworks, and new tools like Flutter or React Native are on the rise.
Of course, there are still a number of apps operating with Cordova, and maybe for some old projects, it works just fine, but if you are seriously considering migrating your product, here is your final push:
- with Cordova, you must always think about the performance and responsiveness of your app
- supported “zoo of devices” would lead to platform- and device-specific issues
- third-party native plugins can have limited platform support or be outdated with Cordova
- you will need native development expertise in case of a custom native integration
- the Cordova app will eventually experience performance problems
- you will waste resources on fixing UI bugs and security flaws
- it is not rational to start a new project with Cordova, according to industry experts and a community of users.
There is one clear conclusion – if you still want to use Cordova, prepare to face a series of not only technical issues, but also operational, financial, and even reputational ones. But if you have made up your mind to move on – we can be your trusted consultants in the Cordova application migration to a new tech stack.
Unlock The Potential Of Your Product With Mobidev’s App Modernization Services
Let MobiDev be your shield from outdated technology that holds your business back and your guide through the painful and confusing migration or modernization processes. We have the resources to conduct your application audit, create a clear migration plan and provide dedicated teams or augment your team with engineers to implement it.
What is more, MobiDev has an experienced in-house development and DevOps team to provide you with the best practices for creating your app and integrating CI/CD into your existing product. We can be your trusted partner on any level, starting from the idea and finishing by helping you meet compliance regulations, such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, GLBA, and PCI DSS. With MobiDev, you can rest assured that all your flanks are covered.
So, if you are looking to boost your business by employing modern frameworks like Flutter or React Native, keep in mind that app modernization services are our expert core, combined with improved performance, reduced costs, and future-proof solutions. Contact us today to start transforming your app and securing your competitive edge.
