Cross-platform frameworks: Write once, run everywhere in 2025

Cross-platform development has become a cornerstone of modern software engineering, empowering teams to build apps that seamlessly run on multiple platforms from a single codebase. In 2025, the landscape is more robust than ever, with frameworks like Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform leading the charge and enabling businesses to deliver consistent, high-quality user experiences across devices and operating systems.

Why Cross-Platform?

The “write once, run everywhere” philosophy offers compelling advantages:

• Faster time-to-market: A unified codebase accelerates development and deployment cycles.

• Reduced costs: Shared resources and maintenance streamline budgets.

• Consistency: Users enjoy a uniform experience, regardless of device or OS.

• Simplified updates: Bug fixes and new features can be rolled out simultaneously across platforms.

 

Leading Frameworks in 2025

Flutter

Flutter, developed by Google, remains the most popular cross-platform framework in 2025, boasting over 170k GitHub stars. Its direct-to-native rendering engine delivers smooth animations and highly customizable UIs, making it ideal for visually rich applications. Companies value Flutter for its ability to deliver native-like performance and a consistent look and feel across platforms.

React Native

React Native, backed by Meta, leverages JavaScript and React to build mobile apps for both iOS and Android. Its declarative components and vast ecosystem make it a go-to for teams with web development backgrounds. While it may require native code for advanced features, its speed and flexibility remain strong draws.

Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform is gaining traction for its unique approach: developers can share logic and even UI code across Android, iOS, web, desktop, and server-side, while still writing platform-specific code when needed. This flexibility is especially valuable for projects requiring both code reuse and deep native integration. Major brands like Netflix and McDonald’s have adopted KMP for their multiplatform apps.

.NET MAUI

Microsoft’s .NET MAUI extends the Xamarin legacy, allowing C# developers to target iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS from a single project. It’s a natural fit for organizations invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, offering hot reload and a unified development experience.

PWAs and Cordova

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Apache Cordova enable web technologies to deliver app-like experiences on any device with a modern browser. While they may lack some native capabilities, they excel in cost-effectiveness and accessibility, making them suitable for simpler or content-driven applications.

Real-World Impact

• Netflix uses Kotlin Multiplatform to share business logic across platforms, reducing duplication and accelerating feature rollouts.

• Alibaba and BMW have leveraged Flutter to deliver visually stunning, high-performance apps to millions of users.

• Meta continues to evolve React Native, powering parts of Facebook and Instagram with shared codebases.

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Choosing the Right Framework

When selecting a cross-platform framework, consider:

• Project complexity and required native integrations

• Team expertise in languages and technologies

• Performance and UI needs

• Long-term maintenance and community support

 

In 2025, cross-platform frameworks have matured to the point where “write once, run everywhere” is not just a promise, but a practical reality.

With options like Flutter, React Native, Kotlin Multiplatform, and .NET MAUI, development teams can deliver robust, scalable, and beautiful applications to users on any device—faster and more efficiently than ever before