As evidenced by the key statistics that we shared in our article, Why Your Parks and Recreation Agency Needs a Mobile App, the importance of offering a mobile app is becoming increasingly clear. It's no longer a question of if your agency should have an app but, rather, when should you get one and what type should you choose.

If you’re among the many agencies beginning to explore the possibility of mobile apps for your parks and recreation services, there are several critical factors you need to consider. A major one being the type of mobile app you decide to offer.

In this article, we’ll dive into the two major types of apps available—native and hybrid, what each of these applications offer, how they’re different, and, ultimately, which one is better.

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What’s a Native Mobile App?

A native mobile app is specifically designed and developed for a particular operating system (OS), such as iOS or Android.

It uses the native programming languages of whichever OS it will function on, and the entire user experience is built within the app. This means that a native app has the ability to leverage iOS or Android functionality.

Advantages of Native Apps

💪 Superior Performance:

Native mobile apps provide users with the best performance when compared to the alternative hybrid apps. They offer faster load times and heightened responsiveness, so users are not left waiting for the app to work properly.

📲 Better User Experience:

These apps must meet iOS and Android design guidelines before they are available in each operating system’s app store. This means, that native apps inherently offer a higher standard of design, often resulting in a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.

⚙️ Integrated Features:

Native apps also offer enhanced functionality through their integration capabilities. These apps will automatically sync with a phone's preferred features like push notifications, dark mode, text size, camera and microphone access, and GPS.

🔒 Higher Security:

Native apps offer peace of mind when it comes to the security of users’ mobile devices. Similarly to the iOS and Android design guidelines, there are strict standards that native apps must comply with in order to get approval from each app store. With built-in security features of the OS, native apps also tend to offer better overall data protection and security.

Disadvantages of Native Apps

🔶 Slower Development:

With more complex development, native apps can take longer to build from the ground up. This is because they often have more than one codebase, so that they can perform on a variety of platforms.

🛠️ More Maintenance:

Again, due to native applications being more complex, these apps can sometimes require more maintenance than hybrid ones.

💵 Higher Cost:

Generally, the substantial cost of developing and maintaining a native app is the number one reason agencies shy away from sourcing a native mobile application.

💡 Did you know?

The above disadvantages don’t necessarily ring true for every native app! For example, Xplor Recreation’s white-labelled Mobile App offers agencies all of the benefits of having their own custom-branded, native mobile app, without the astronomical costs or extensive timelines often associated with developing and maintaining your own.

What’s a Hybrid Mobile App?

A hybrid mobile app combines elements of both a native application and a website application. It basically provides a mobile-responsive website experience within a downloadable app.

Advantages of Hybrid Apps

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Faster Development:

Compared to most native apps, hybrid applications are often faster to develop. This is because they have only one codebase for all platforms.

✅ Ease of Maintenance:

Since there is only one codebase for a hybrid mobile application, updates can happen across all platforms simultaneously.

💰 Cost-Effective:

Building a native app from the ground up can come with higher development and maintenance costs. Often, a hybrid app is less expensive, since it is less dynamic.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Apps

⛓️‍💥 Performance Issues:

Hybrid apps do not perform as smoothly as native apps, especially for graphic-intensive tasks or complex animations.

⛔️ Limited Integration:

While hybrid apps can access some native features, they may not fully leverage all device capabilities. This can limit the integration of functionality preferences like push notifications, dark mode, and text size.

😣 Poor User Experience:

Hybrid apps must cater to multiple platforms with a single design. This can lead to an unintuitive user experience that sometimes even kicks users out to a mobile browser as they interact with the app.

🥷 Less Secure:

Typically, there aren’t the same type of built-in security features with hybrid apps that there are with native ones. Hybrid applications also don’t need to follow the same app store compliance standards that native apps do.

Xplor Recreation’s Native Mobile App

We are proud to be the first and only recreation management software provider to offer a custom-branded, fully native mobile app solution for parks and recreation agencies. The Xplor Recreation Mobile App offers our customers the same benefits of a custom, native application without the need to develop, maintain, and troubleshoot their own.

The functionality and design of our app aligns with modern consumers’ expectations. It’s not a re-direct to a “mobile-friendly” webpage or a hybrid app that lacks basic functionality—like the ability to register for your recreation programs in-app. It provides faster speeds, heightened responsiveness and improved accessibility.

Our Mobile App also integrates with features like push notifications, dark mode, text sizes adjustment, camera and mic access, and GPS, offering a seamless user experience and better security. From browsing to booking, and payment, everything unfolds within the app, ensuring a consistent end-to-end experience.

Benefits for Your Community

📱 Easy-to-Use Platform:

Your customers can easily browse, register, and pay for programs through an intuitive, user-friendly interface right from the palm of their hand.

✅ Device Accessibility:

Community members can engage with your offerings regardless of their abilities through a mobile app that adheres to DEI Accessibility standards.

🤖 Leverage AI:

Users can easily find activities with AI-powered smart search via text or voice inputs, and receive AI-generated activity recommendations based on their interests.

⏱️ Receive Timely Updates:

Your customers can get timely updates from your staff through real-time and automated push notifications.

Benefits for Your Agency

🖥 Automated Platform:

Your team can create and manage programs from the Xplor Recreation platform that will automatically show up on your mobile app.

💪 Reduce Workload:

By offering an easy-to-use self-serve experience via your mobile app, you can help limit customer inquiries to your staff and eliminate bottlenecks at your front desk.

♻️ Waste Reduction:

Community members can check into your facilities by scanning their devices—no more wasteful membership cards! And no more physical cards, means less cost and less work for your agency.

🚀 Exceeding Expectations:

Offer your customers a modern, intuitive recreation management platform—one that aligns with the online experiences that they've come to expect and deserve.

Selecting a Mobile App for Your Agency

Choosing between a native and a hybrid mobile app is a big decision that can impact your organization’s efficiency and the overall experience of your community members. By understanding the key differences, you can make an informed choice that best serves your parks and recreation management needs.

To learn more about how Xplor Recreation’s native Mobile App can help support your agency’s goals, reach out to our team to book a demo.