With dozens of cross-platform dev tools on the market, it’s hard to choose the right one for your product. Asking your dev team what tool(s) they suggest is the easiest way. But if you want to explore your options, keep these must-haves in mind.

#1: Popularity

Certain tools are popular for a reason. They usually have the best support network, most documentation, and largest learning hubs. But don’t discredit new, unknown tools immediately. It may give you the chance to try leading-edge technology if you’re okay with learning curves.

What cross-platform app dev tools are out there? Our dev manager shares his favorites.

#2: Community

Community support and documentation make dev lives easier. Cross-platform tools need to have a community knowledge bank for devs to access. These knowledge banks have shortcuts, solutions, and suggestions discovered by other devs.

When your dev team needs help, documentation and community pages are the easy way to find answers.

There's a lot of of information about app dev out there... and a lot of misinformation. Time to discuss what's what.

#3: Reusability

Code reusability is the practice of writing code to be used for current and future projects. It's a huge time-saver for devs who can copy/modify existing code instead of writing new code every time. It is especially helpful to avoid redundant work when devs work with cross-platform apps.

Does it seem like the dev team is speaking a different language? Bone up on your tech terms!

#4: Simplicity

As mentioned earlier, it’s important to ask your dev team how comfortable they are with certain apps. Are they familiar with the functionality? Do they know the language?

This is where simplicity comes in. If your dev team doesn't know a cross-platform tool, how easy is it to learn? Look for tools that have an educational center (training, webinars, etc.) to accelerate your team’s learning time. Remember, the longer it takes to learn something, the longer your product will be in development.

Your app is live. Now what? Time to focus on install conversions.