The Ultimate List of Mobile Developer Tools

The mobile development industry is rising exponentially with a wide range of open source frameworks and tools. Knowing the best available mobile developer tools is crucial if you are looking to grow your career in native and cross-platform development for mobile devices. They can help you write lines of code and enter the mobile app market more quickly.

In this guide, we’ve created a curated list of the top mobile developer tools that companies use to develop apps. We’ll break down each effective tool and how it can help you create an excellent app interface for optimal user experience. We will also include mobile developer tools cost and availability to help you become a mobile app developer in 2022.

The 10 Best Mobile Developer Tools

1. Android Studio
2. AppCode
3. AppSheet
4. Ionic
5. MobiLoud
6. NativeScript
7. Ninox
8. React Native
9. Xamarin
10. Xcode

What Are Mobile Developer Tools?

Mobile developer tools are software that eases the process of app development by offering software solutions and automation processes for native and cross-platform development. Depending on the type of cross-platform tool, you can use it for rich user interface code, software testing, integrated development environment, and productivity-boosting features.

Mastering the best mobile development tools will help you develop optimal mobile apps and build a lucrative career within the broader mobile app development market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for software developers is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2020 to 2030, and mobile developers fall under this category.

What Are the Main Types of Mobile Developer Tools?

The main types of mobile developer tools include native tools and cloud-based tools. They are essential to an efficient, productive, and seamless mobile app design and development journey. Below are the five main mobile developer tools and cross-platform libraries to develop apps for desktops and real devices.

Native Mobile Development Tools

Native mobile development tools are software that helps you create mobile applications for a custom device. It will help you build mobile applications specific to Windows Mobile, desktop devices, iOS devices, or Android devices. These native development tools are perfect for those who want to become an iOS developer, an Android developer, or a game developer.

Examples of Native Mobile Development Tools

• Android Studio
• AppCode
• MobiLoud
• React Native
• Xamarin
• Xcode

Cross-Platform or Hybrid Mobile Development Tools

Cross-platform mobile development tools are apt for those who want to become mobile app developers. Unlike native code development tools, these hybrid mobile apps tools do not develop an app for a custom device.

Still, they allow developers to program a multi-mobile app platform-friendly application. As a mobile developer, you will execute a single codebase for several major platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and other popular operating systems. You can create mobile games and get them ready for app stores in no time.

Examples of Cross-Platform or Hybrid Development Tools

• Ionic
• NativeScript
• React Native

No Coding Mobile App Development Tools

Suppose you are a programming novice looking to create a mobile application with high-performance UI components and an integrated drag-and-drop interface using your own data. In that case, a non-coding development tool is worth looking into. These tools don’t require any CSS knowledge or knowledge of how to code across platforms.

However, keep in mind that using these “no coding tools” is best suited for creating a generalized version of a mobile app design and development. Adding a custom collection of features will require you to learn to code for the specific mobile platform. If you are new to coding, Enki and CodeHub are some of the best coding apps for beginners. Additionally, there are numerous code-sharing communities and platforms online to learn the basics yourself.

Examples of No Coding Mobile App Development Tools

• AppSheet
• MobiLoud

Mobile Web Application Development Tools

The development of apps includes the development of mobile web applications, and hybrid or cross-platform mobile app development tools help create these progressive web apps. These tools allow professionals to create a custom app with an integrated and responsive web design, layout-specific adaptive design, and cross-platform-friendly features to boost customer satisfaction.

Examples of Web Application Development Tools

• AppCode
• Ionic
• NativeScript
• Ninox
• React Native
• Xamarin

Cloud-Based App Development Tools

Mobile developers also build cloud-based applications similar to mobile web applications. A cloud-based app integrates an external application interface and an Internet connection to offer app services without catering to a custom device. These development tools provide several cloud support services to automate the development process.

Examples of Cloud-Based App Development Tools

• NativeScript
• Ninox
• Xamarin

Mobile Development Cheat Sheet: A Tabular List of Mobile Developer Tools

The Best Mobile Developer Tools, Explained

Mobile app development requires a powerful tool to make high-quality apps quickly. Read more about some of the best cross-platform mobile app development tools. Based on the size and scale of your application, the development time may vary for your project. However, each of these tools is an excellent resource to grow your skills.

Android Studio

• Type: Android Native App Development
• Companies That Use Android Studio: Target, JPMorgan Chase
• Android Studio Cost and Availability: Free and open source

Android Studio is a development tool that helps create native applications for Android mobile devices. Many reputable companies utilize this popular tool, including Target and Capital One Bank. This is an open-source tool for business users and individuals alike with helpful key features.

It offers visual layout editing, APK analysis, intelligent code editing, real-time profiling, and flexible build system features. Though Android studio prefers Windows operating systems, it has options for access across platforms and can be used on Windows, Linux, and Chrome operating systems.

AppCode

• Type: iOS and Web-Based App Development
• Companies That Use AppCode: Code Cooler Solutions, Bruce
• AppCode Cost and Availability: Individual: $89 for the first year, Business: $199 for the first year, open source

AppCode is another native development tool used to develop iOS applications. You can also use the tool to build web-based applications. It offers code automation, debugging, auto-completion, and IDE support features to ease the cross-platform development journey. AppCode is only compatible with macOS.

AppSheet

• Type: No Coding App Development
• Companies That Use AppSheet: Google, Rocket Internet SE
• AppSheet Cost and Availability: Starter: $5 per user per month, Core: $10 per user per month, contact the company to find prices for Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus, open source

AppSheet is an excellent tool for development and coding novices looking to build an app. This no coding development tool has assisted in creating around 3,793,554 applications across the globe, according to its official website.

It offers automation features that are Agile and write the codes for you. However, know that AppSheet isn’t the best tool to create highly customized applications. It is best for building a generalized app for a broader market.

Ionic

• Type: Cross-Platform Development
• Companies That Use Ionic: Target, Southwest Airlines
• Ionic Cost and Availability: Basic: $499 per month, Standard: $2,499 per month, Enterprise: Contact the company, Free Ionic Framework, open source

Ionic is among the top cross-platform or hybrid development tools known for offering a rich library. Using Ionic’s features, you can integrate several front end frameworks such as Vue, React, JavaScript, or Angular. It offers extensive user interface components, native SDK, and fast performance features.

MobiLoud

• Type: WordPress Plugin for Native iOS and Android App, No Coding Mobile Development
• Companies That Use MobiLoud: Greek City Times, Business Insider
• MobiLoud Cost and Availability: Startup: $200 per month, Growth: $300 per month, Corporate: $500 per month, closed source

MobiLoud offers cross-platform development tools for native platforms and web-based applications. It is apt for both new and experienced developers as it also provides no coding development features. THis is one of the best mobile application development tools out there because it’s easy to use.

It helps you convert your website into a well-functioning mobile application native to both iOS and Android platforms. The tool also raves about its fast-paced development environment that allows you to build an app within a few weeks.

NativeScript

• Type: Cross-Platform, Web, and Cloud-Based Development
• Companies That Use NativeScript: QA Limited, Lorven Technologies
• NativeScript Cost and Availability: Business: $249 per user per month, Sidekick: Free, Sidekick Pro: $19 per user per month, Enterprise: Contact the company for more information, open source

NativeScript is an open-source and cross-platform mobile app design and development tool that offers a rich JavaScript API. The tool also provides web and cloud-based development accessibility features to facilitate conversations between apps.

You can use NativeScript’s app templates on GitHub to jumpstart your journey on cross-platform frameworks. It offers user interface styling, code scalability, artificial intelligence, troubleshooting, and app distribution features.

Ninox

• Type: Cloud and Web-Based Development Tools for iOS
• Companies That Use Ninox: Lemon Dog Project, OREM
• Ninox Cost and Availability: Mac: $35 per user per month, iPad and iPhone: Free, Team: $11 per user per month, Enterprise: Contact the Sales Team, closed source

For those looking to develop apps for clouds and mobile browsers for the iOS platform, Ninox is a tool worth looking into. The tool is multi-OS friendly and integrates your data in a central workspace. It helps you add additional features to your apps and code base.

Its features are best for developing desktop versions of custom apps, but it’s also suitable for cross-platform mobile applications. This platform offers data visualization, a device toolbar, automatic styling, task management, and a drag-and-drop interface.

React Native

• Type: Cross-Platform, Native, and Web-Based App
• Companies That Use React Native: Facebook, Uber Eats, Skype
• React Native Cost and Availability: Free and open source

Facebook’s React Native is one of the top native iOS and cross-platform tools used by several highly reputable companies, including Skype and Uber. Professionals can also use the tool to create web-based applications.

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It offers a rich JavaScript library, seamless design integration, single code source, and app testing features. If you want to learn more about React, you can master this lucrative tool by attending the best React Native bootcamps.

Xamarin

• Type: Native, Web, and Cloud-Based Development
• Companies That Use Xamarin: The World Bank, Pinterest
• Xamarin Cost and Availability: Individual: $25 per month, Business: $999 per year, Enterprise: $1,899 per year, open source

Xamarin by Microsoft is a well-known native application development tool that helps you create optimal apps for iOS and Android platforms. It offers comprehensive mobile development solutions, including .NET Core, Visual Studio, debugging, UI design, and Azure testing features. It is also compatible across multiple popular operating systems.

Xcode

• Type: iOS Native Mobile Apps
• Companies That Use Xcode: QA Limited, Zendesk Inc
• Xcode Cost and Availability: Free with an annual developer program cost of $99, open source

Xcode is an Apple IDE used to create native applications for the iOS platform. This tool offers seamless UI designs and automated code testing and debugging features. It offers inline comments, quick comparisons, flow graphs, instant crash reports, and custom documentation features.

Why Mobile Developer Tools Are Important

Mobile developer tools are essential for everyone wanting to enter the software development or the software engineering field. This field is rapidly growing and offers a sought-after compensation package. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for mobile developers is $105,037. If you want to enter this lucrative field, learning mobile developer tools is vital.

Beyond monetary success, the constant advancement of these cross-platform development tools offers an engaging and innovative technical career. It also brings opportunities across tons of industries. Depending on your goals, you can choose to work in the business, IT, finance, healthcare, video game, or education industry.

Mobile Developer Tools FAQ