With the demand for mobile apps increasing, it’s important for app-makers to understand which JavaScript frameworks are best for creating high-quality, user-friendly apps.

Today, we’re exploring the 12 top javascript frameworks for mobile app development. We’ll cover their benefits, discuss how to choose the right framework for your business and answer some common questions. Let’s get into it.

Mobile frameworks are software platforms that allow developers to create mobile apps without having to start from scratch. These provide the tools, libraries and guidance that developers need to build products for a range of platforms and devices in a specific programming language — like JavaScript!

In practice, this means developers still write JavaScript code but follow the framework’s guidelines and use its built-in tools to streamline the development process.

At the top level, JavaScript is popular with developers because of its versatility. Here are several more reasons why this programming language is widely used:

• Cross-platform compatibility: JavaScript isn’t limited to one platform; developers can build apps for iOS, Android and Windows with a single codebase.
• Large developer community: A large community of developers contributes to JavaScriot’s growth by ensuring the language remains well-supported.
• Numerous frameworks: This programming language works with various frameworks, so businesses can find the best fit for their needs.
• Faster processes: JavaScript enables developers to build apps quickly and efficiently, saving time and resources.

Developers use JavaScript mobile development frameworks to build applications that run on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, such as:

• Social media and communication (Facebook and Whatsapp). React Native and Vue.js are well-suited for building high-performance social media apps that work across multiple platforms.
• E-commerce (Amazon and Shopify). React Native and Ionic are popular for creating e-commerce apps with user-friendly interfaces and cross-platform compatibility.
• Entertainment (Netflix and Spotify). React Native and Vue.js are suitable for building entertainment apps with smooth user experiences and cross-platform compatibility.
• Productivity and utility (Evernote). AngularJS and Backbone JS offer organised codebases and modular architecture for such projects.
• Health and fitness (Headspace and Fitbit). Ionic and OnSen UI can be used to develop health and fitness apps with customisable UI components and cross-platform support.
• Educational (Duolingo). React Native and AngularJS can be used to create educational apps with dynamic content and engaging user experiences.

Read through our breakdown of the 12 most popular app frameworks for developers looking to create great mobile applications with JavaScript to find the right option for your project.

1. Vue.js

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework used for building user interfaces. It is designed to be incrementally adoptable, making it easy to integrate with other libraries and existing projects.

Vue.js’ pros:

• Flexible and easy to learn: Simple structure that makes it easy for developers to learn and start using quickly.
• Reactive two-way data binding: Allows for efficient data manipulation and reduces the amount of code needed to create dynamic applications.
• Lightweight: Has a small file size, which helps improve the performance of mobile applications.

Vue.js’ uses:

• Single-page applications: Well-suited for creating single-page applications that provide smooth user experiences.
• Progressive web apps: Can be used to build progressive web apps that offer the benefits of both web and native apps.

2. React Native

Developed by Facebook, React Native allows developers to build native mobile apps for iOS and Android using a single codebase.

React Native’s pros:

• Cross-platform: Enables engineers to build apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, saving time and resources.
• Large community: Has a massive community of developers, which means it is well-supported and continuously updated with new features and improvements.
• Performance: Apps offer near-native performance, providing a smooth user experience across platforms.

React Native’s uses:

• Social media apps: A common choice for building social media apps, like Facebook and Instagram, require high performance and seamless user experiences.
• E-commerce apps: Can be used to create e-commerce apps that offer smooth navigation and fast load times.

3. Sencha Touch

Sencha Touch is an enterprise-grade JavaScript mobile framework for building cross-platform web applications that work on iOS, Android, and BlackBerry devices.

Sencha Touch’s pros:

• Rich UI components: Offers a wide array of pre-built UI components that can be easily customised to fit your app’s design requirements.
• MVC architecture: Follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, which promotes modular development and maintainability.
• High-performance animations: Supports hardware-accelerated animations, providing smooth transitions and interactions in mobile applications.

Sencha Touch’s uses:

• Business applications: An ideal choice for developing enterprise-level applications, such as CRM and ERP systems.
• Data-driven apps: Offers robust data management capabilities, which make it suitable for creating data-intensive applications.

4. AngularJS

AngularJS was developed by Google to provide a powerful framework well-suited for building dynamic, single-page applications.

AgularJS’ pros:

• Two-way data binding: Simplifies the process of updating and synchronising data between the model and the view, resulting in a more efficient development process.
• Dependency injection: The dependency injection system makes it super easy to manage and test an app’s components.
• Extensive community support: Has a large developer community, which means it is well-maintained and continuously updated.

AgularJS’ uses:

• Single-page applications: Excels in creating responsive, single-page applications that offer smooth user experiences.
• Web applications: Suitable for developing web applications that require complex interactions and dynamic content.

5. jQuery Mobile

jQuery Mobile is a lightweight JavaScript framework designed for creating mobile web applications that work across various devices.

jQuery’s pros:

• Easy to learn: Built on the popular jQuery library, making it easy for developers familiar with jQuery to learn and start using it quickly.
• Theming capabilities: Offers a powerful theming system that allows developers to create custom themes for their apps.
• Wide device support: Ensures your app works seamlessly across various devices and platforms.

jQuery’s uses:

• Mobile websites: Ideal for creating mobile-optimised websites that offer a consistent user experience across different devices.
• Web apps: Can be used to build web applications for desktop and mobile devices.

6. Meteor

Meteor is a full-stack JavaScript platform for building web and mobile applications. It provides a seamless front-end and back-end development environment, simplifying app development.

Meteor’s pros:

• Real-time updates: This enables real-time updates in your app without the need for additional code, providing a more engaging user experience.
• Full-stack development: Allows developers to work on the front-end and back-end with one language and framework.
• Extensive ecosystem: Meteor’s ecosystem includes a wide range of packages and tools that help streamline the development process.

Meteor’s uses:

• Real-time applications: Well-suited for creating real-time applications, such as chat apps and online gaming platforms, that require instant updates and seamless user experiences.
• Full-stack web applications: Simplifies full-stack web application development, making it popular among developers who prefer working with a single language and framework.

7. Fuse.js

Fuse.js is a lightweight JavaScript framework built to provide a native-like user experience for mobile applications. It combines the best of native and web app development.

Fuse.js’ pros:

• Native performance: Offers native performance, ensuring that your app runs smoothly on both iOS and Android devices.
• User-friendly UI: Provides an intuitive user interface that can be easily customised to match your app’s design requirements.
• Rapid development: Simplifies the development process, allowing developers to create mobile applications quickly and efficiently.

Fuse.js’ uses:

• Cross-platform mobile apps: Ideal for developing mobile applications that require native-like performance and user experiences across multiple platforms.
• Rapid prototyping: Fuse.js’s fast development process makes it suitable for rapid prototyping and testing of mobile app concepts.

8. OnSen UI

OnSen UI is an open-source JavaScript framework for building hybrid mobile applications using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript.

OnSen UI’s pros:

• Cross-platform support: Enables developers to create apps that work seamlessly on both iOS and Android platforms.
• Customisable UI components: Offers a wide range of UI component templates that can be easily customised to fit your app’s design requirements.
• Easy integration with other frameworks: Can be easily integrated with other JavaScript frameworks, e.g., Angular and React.

OnSen UI’s uses:

• Hybrid mobile applications: Well-suited for creating hybrid mobile applications that work across multiple platforms and offer consistent user experiences.
• Progressive web apps: Can be used to develop progressive web apps that combine the advantages of both web and native applications.

9. Backbone JS

Backbone JS is a lightweight JavaScript framework with a minimal structure for organising your app’s code. It is best suited for small to medium-sized projects.

Backbone JS’ pros:

• Lightweight: Backbone Has a small footprint, making it ideal for mobile applications with limited resources.
• Modular architecture: Promotes a modular architecture, making it easier to manage and maintain your app’s code.
• Event-driven communication: Uses an event-driven communication system, which simplifies the process of updating and synchronising data in your app.

Backbone JS’ uses:

• Small to medium-sized projects: Well-suited for small to medium-sized projects that require a minimal yet flexible structure.
• Web applications: Can be used to create web applications with a clean and organised codebase.

10. Apache Cordova

An open-source platform, Apache Cordova is used for building native mobile applications using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Apache Cordova’s pros:

• Cross-platform: Allows developers to create native mobile apps for iOS, Android, and other platforms using a single codebase.
• Access to native device features: Provides access to native device features, such as the camera and accelerometer, enabling developers to build feature-rich applications.
• Large community: With a large community of developers ensuring the platform remains up-to-date, Apache is a well-supported framework.

Apache Cordova’s uses:

• Native mobile applications: Ideal for creating native mobile applications that work across multiple platforms and provide access to native device features.
• Hybrid mobile applications: Can be used to develop hybrid mobile applications that combine the advantages of native and web-based development.

11. NativeScript

NativeScript is an open-source framework made for building truly native and high-performance apps for iOS and Android using a single codebase.

NativeScript’s pros:

• Truly native apps: Enables developers to create truly native mobile apps with native UI components and performance, ensuring a smooth and consistent user experience across platforms.
• Single codebase: Can develop iOS and Android apps using a single codebase, streamlining the building process.
• Extensive plugin library: Has a vast library of plugins that provide access to native device features and functionality, allowing you to create feature-rich applications.
• Integration with popular frameworks: Can be easily integrated with other JavaScript frameworks (including many on this list) to create robust and scalable mobile applications.`

NativeScript’s uses:

• Cross-platform native apps: Perfect for developing truly native mobile applications that work seamlessly on both iOS and Android platforms while providing native-like performance and user experiences.
• Enterprise applications: NativeScript’s support for other JavaScript frameworks make it an excellent choice for building scalable and maintainable enterprise applications.

12. Iconic

A popular open-source framework for building cross-platform mobile and progressive web applications, Iconic works with web technologies, including HTML and JavaScript.

Iconic’s pros:

• Cross-platform compatibility: Allows developers to create mobile applications for iOS, Android, and the web using a single codebase.
• Rich UI components: Offers a wide range of pre-built UI components that developers can easily customise to fit their requirements.
• Integration with popular frameworks: Can be easily integrated with other JavaScript frameworks, such as Angular and React.

Iconic’s uses:

• Cross-platform mobile apps: Ionic is ideal for developing mobile applications that work seamlessly across multiple platforms, offering a consistent user experience.
• Progressive web apps: Ionic can be used to build progressive web apps that provide the benefits of both web and native applications.

How to choose the best framework for app development

When choosing a JavaScript mobile framework, you need to consider four key questions:

1. What does your project need?
2. What expertise does your development team have?
3. Is your chosen framework well supported?
4. If you’ve previously built a mobile app, what worked?

With offshore software development, you can streamline the process of developing mobile apps and get access to expert support in all your technologies — including the JavaScript frameworks we’ve explored today. Get in touch to assemble your dream team today.