Web apps on iOS vs android
Executive summary
iOS and Android remain distinct strategic choices in 2025: Android dominates global device share (~70–72%) and is the best route for maximum reach and cost-efficiency, while iOS delivers higher app revenue and stronger monetization from wealthier user segments, making it the preferred first platform for premium or subscription products [1] [2] [3]. Cross‑platform frameworks and PWAs have matured, letting teams reduce time and cost by targeting both ecosystems from a single codebase when native parity isn’t mandatory [2] [4].
1. Market realities: reach vs. revenue
Android’s global install base and device diversity give developers the largest audience — reports cited across the industry put Android’s share roughly above 70% worldwide, making it the clear choice when raw user numbers or reach in developing markets matter [1] [5] [2]. That reach, however, does not translate evenly into revenue: multiple analyses show Apple’s App Store generates a larger share of global mobile app revenue (reports cite roughly ~65% of revenue to iOS in recent years), so apps that rely on subscriptions, IAPs, or premium pricing often launch first on iOS to validate monetization [3] [6].
2. Who to target first: product-market fit dictates platform
Sources advise mapping platform choice to your target audience and business model. If your product targets affluent users in developed markets, enterprise customers, or subscription-heavy verticals (wellness, premium tools), iOS offers predictable hardware and higher ARPU. If your priority is scale, low-cost distribution, or supporting rugged and diverse device classes, Android is the pragmatic first stop [7] [5] [8].
3. Development trade-offs: native polish vs. cross‑platform speed
Native iOS or Android development remains preferable for pixel‑perfect UI, advanced camera or hardware integrations, and the tightest performance. But modern cross‑platform tools — Flutter, React Native, Kotlin Multiplatform — have matured enough to cut development time substantially (often quoted as 30–50% faster in industry commentary) and to make single‑code strategies viable for many products that don’t require deep native features [3] [9] [2].
4. App store dynamics and release friction
Apple’s App Store is described as more curated and stricter in review, which can delay launches but also supports a more controlled UX and perceived quality. Google Play gives broader distribution and easier submission pathways but presents more device fragmentation and QA complexity to manage [10] [11]. These platform governance differences should factor into timeline and QA budgets.
5. Device predictability and technical friction
iOS provides a narrower set of devices and faster OS adoption, which simplifies testing and optimizations like camera or sensor features. Android’s fragmentation across chipset performance, form factors and OEM customizations increases QA burden but enables creative opportunities across price tiers and form factors not available on iPhone [7] [1] [10].
6. Monetization strategy and user behavior
Multiple pieces note that iOS users historically pay more for apps and subscriptions, and enterprises skew toward iOS deployments — factors that push some developers to “iOS first” for validating monetization before porting to Android [3] [8] [6]. Conversely, ad‑based or reach‑driven monetization often favors Android because of its sheer user volume [11] [5].
7. Where web apps (PWAs) fit in 2025
Progressive Web Apps and modern web platforms have closed gaps in offline capability and notifications, offering an attractive compromise when a single codebase and instant updates matter more than deep native integration. Several sources recommend PWAs or hybrid approaches to avoid building separate iOS and Android versions when the app’s core value is content or lighter interactions [4] [2].
8. Practical recommendation and risks
The prevailing industry pattern is: pick the platform where your early adopters and revenue prospects live, build native if you need deep device features or premium UX, or choose mature cross‑platform/PWA approaches to save cost and hit both ecosystems quickly. Hidden trade‑offs include Apple’s stricter review potentially slowing time‑to‑market and Android’s fragmentation raising QA costs [7] [3] [11]. Available sources do not mention long‑term maintenance cost comparisons in exact dollars; teams should run their own TCO estimates (not found in current reporting).
Limitations: this synthesis relies on the cited industry analyses and blogs above; numbers like “~65% of revenue to iOS” and “~70% Android market share” are drawn from those sources and reflect their referenced reports, not raw primary datasets [3] [1] [2].