Why you should migrate from Cordova? [UPDATE 2025]

The tools and technologies we use are constantly changing. One such tool that has been a stalwart in the industry is Apache Cordova. For years, Cordova has been a go-to solution for developers looking to create cross-platform mobile applications using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It has served as a bridge, allowing developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, saving time and resources. However, the winds of change are blowing, and a new player, Flutter, is making waves in the cross-platform mobile development space.

Why Migration Is a Long-Term Investment?

We have a client with a legacy application built on outdated technology. Despite our efforts to encourage a migration to a modern framework, the client remained hesitant. Ultimately, maintaining the outdated app became unsustainable, leading us to give a two-month notice for contract termination. In response, the client agreed to migrate to retain our services.

In retrospect, the expense of completely rewriting the app amounted to 15 months’ worth of their previous maintenance budget. However, this investment led to acquiring new customers, improving user experience, increasing satisfaction, and reducing monthly maintenance costs by at least half. So, in the end, did they face higher expenses or achieve actual savings due to the migration? Look at the chart.

Here are some compelling reasons to consider migrating:

Reduced Long-Term Costs

In any business, it is essential to minimize unnecessary expenses and quickly gain a competitive edge. Modern frameworks such as Flutter and React Native facilitate more efficient development, enabling the faster and more cost-effective implementation of new features. This approach reduces the burden of maintenance, allowing more time for product development rather than addressing recurring issues. In contrast, continuing to use older technologies like Cordova and Xamarin can result in increasing costs over time.

Enhanced Performance and User Experience

Consider it like cars: newer models are faster and more efficient. With advancements in technology, applications become better optimized and more capable. They are easier to use and more effective, resulting in higher user satisfaction, better reviews, and increased customer loyalty.

Simplified Talent Acquisition

Similarly, consider whether people would prefer to drive an old “Ford” or a new “Mercedes.” The choice is evident. Developers favor modern tools that are easier and quicker to use. If we can achieve more with less effort and time, why wouldn’t we?

By embracing current technologies, you can attract experienced professionals who are more productive and offer competitive rates. Relying on outdated tech may result in higher costs for less efficient work, as fewer developers are willing to engage with obsolete platforms

The Decline of Cordova

Despite its past popularity, Cordova has been showing signs of decline. The number of weekly downloads of Cordova-based apps has significantly dropped, and the project is no longer being actively maintained. This has raised concerns about the future sustainability of Cordova and the apps built on it.

Cordova’s challenges are multi-faceted. One of the main issues is the difficulty in maintaining a consistent user interface across different operating systems and versions. Each review behaves slightly differently, leading to inconsistencies in the user experience. While UI frameworks like Ionic, OnsenUI, and Framework7 can help mitigate this issue, it remains a significant challenge.

Performance is another area where Cordova falls short. Since Cordova apps run in a WebView, they can suffer from performance issues, especially on less powerful devices. This can lead to a subpar user experience, a significant drawback in today’s competitive app market.

Security is also a concern with Cordova. Due to security vulnerabilities, older versions of Cordova apps have been removed from the market. While these issues can be addressed, they add more complexity to the development process.

Signs It’s Time to Migrate from Cordova

Recognizing the right time to migrate from one technology to another is crucial for maintaining the competitiveness and relevance of your mobile applications. With Cordova’s decline, it’s essential to understand the signs that indicate it’s time to consider alternatives.

One clear sign is the lack of active maintenance and updates. As technology evolves, it’s vital for development tools to keep pace. However, Cordova’s development has slowed significantly, with fewer updates and patches being released. This stagnation can lead to compatibility issues with newer devices and operating systems, affecting your apps’ performance and user experience.

Another sign is the increasing difficulty in finding solutions to Cordova-related issues. The once vibrant community around Cordova is not as active as it used to be, making it harder to find help when encountering problems. This can slow down your development process and increase the time it takes to bring your app to market.

If your Cordova app struggles with performance issues or spends a significant amount of time dealing with UI inconsistencies or security vulnerabilities, it’s a clear sign that it might be time to migrate.

The Impact of Cordova’s Decline on the Mobile App Development Industry

Cordova’s decline has had a noticeable impact on the mobile app development industry. Developers and companies are now exploring other technologies for cross-platform development. This shift has led to the rise of alternatives like Flutter, React Native, and Xamarin, each offering unique advantages.

The decline has also underscored the importance of active community support and regular updates on a development tool’s longevity and success. It reminds us that staying current and adaptable is key in the fast-paced world of technology.

Exploring Alternatives to Cordova

Due to Cordova’s decline, several robust alternatives have filled the void. These include Flutter, React Native, Xamarin, Ionic, and NativeScript. Each platform brings its own unique strengths and weaknesses to the table. Let’s delve into a comparative analysis of these alternatives.

• [HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] Flutter has established itself as the leader in cross-platform mobile app development, known for its excellent performance and ease of app creation. With its powerful framework and expanding community, Flutter has become the top choice for developers looking to build high-quality apps efficiently. For a more detailed understanding of Flutter, refer to our article here: Continuing to Rely on Flutter in 2025: A Smart Choice.) You can read more in-depth comparisons of Flutter and Cordova.

• [RECOMMENDED] React Native, a Facebook product, enables developers to build mobile applications using JavaScript. It’s popular for its 'learn once, write anywhere’ philosophy. With a large community, React Native offers a wealth of third-party plugins and libraries. However, due to its bridge-based architecture, it can sometimes struggle with complex animations and transitions.

• Xamarin, a Microsoft-owned framework, allows developers to write apps in C# and run them on many platforms. It offers near-native performance and allows for building distinctly various platform interfaces. However, Xamarin apps tend to be larger, leading to longer download times and more storage usage. Microsoft ends support of Xamarin in May 2024. Read more here.

• Ionic is an open-source mobile UI toolkit for building high-quality, cross-platform native and web app experiences. It allows developers to use any UI library for the web. However, since it uses a WebView, it can face performance issues similar to Cordova.

• NativeScript allows developers to build UI using Angular, Vue.js, or their own UI framework. It provides direct access to native APIs and components, leading to better performance than solutions that use a WebView. However, it has a smaller community and fewer third-party plugins compared to some of the other alternatives.

Why Flutter Stands Out

For good reasons, Flutter has been gaining traction in the mobile app development industry. Its unique features and capabilities make it a standout choice for developers and businesses. Let’s delve into why Flutter is a preferred choice for many.

Flutter’s advantages are numerous, but a few key ones stand out:

• Single Codebase: Flutter allows developers to write code once and use it across multiple platforms. This feature significantly reduces development time and ensures consistency across platforms.

• Hot Reload: This feature allows developers to see the effects of their changes almost instantly without losing the current application state. It significantly speeds up the development process and facilitates quick iterations.

• Customizable and Extensible: Flutter provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets that are customizable and extensible. This feature allows developers to create highly customized and beautiful UIs.

• Performance: Flutter’s Dart language compiles into native code, which leads to faster app startup times and smoother animations, which in turn results in a better user experience.

Real-world Examples and Case Studies

Several significant companies have chosen Flutter for their mobile app development, further validating its potential and effectiveness. Here are a few examples:

• fitatu.com used Flutter to enhance its mobile application, aiming to boost its performance and accelerate development. They successfully transitioned their app from Cordova to Flutter, and the new app has been well-received by users, who have praised its improved performance and seamless experience across different platforms. 10-millions of users’ apps migrate to Flutter.

These real-world examples demonstrate how Flutter addresses the challenges faced by Cordova and stands out as a powerful tool in the mobile app development industry. The success of these apps shows that Flutter can be a game-changer for companies looking to enhance their mobile offerings.

Choosing Flutter for Your Project

Choosing the right technology for your project is a critical decision that can significantly impact its success. While we’ve discussed Flutter’s advantages, it’s essential to consider your specific project requirements before making a decision. Here’s what you need to consider when choosing Flutter for your project.

Factors to Consider

• Project Requirements: The first step is to understand your project requirements thoroughly. What platforms are you targeting? What kind of user interface do you need? How complex is your app? Answering these questions can help you determine if Flutter is the right fit.

• Development Time: If you’re working with a tight deadline, Flutter’s single codebase and hot reload feature can significantly speed up the development process.

• Performance: If your app requires high performance, Flutter’s ability to compile into native code can provide a smooth and fast user experience.

• UI Design: If you want a highly customized and beautiful UI, Flutter’s rich set of pre-designed and customizable widgets can be a significant advantage.

• Team Expertise: Consider your team’s expertise and familiarity with Dart, the programming language used in Flutter. While Dart is easy to learn, especially for those with a background in JavaScript or Java, it’s still a factor to consider.

Making the Decision

Once you’ve considered these factors, it’s time to decide. If your project requires a beautiful, high-performance app that can run on multiple platforms and you’re working with a tight deadline, Flutter could be an excellent choice.

It’s essential to consider your team’s expertise and whether they’re comfortable working with Dart. If not, you might need to take time for them to learn the language.

Remember, every project is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s crucial to consider all factors and decide based on your specific project requirements.

Flutter is a powerful tool for creating beautiful, high-performance apps. With its growing popularity and strong support from Google, it’s a technology worth considering for your next project.

Check out our blog post here for more detailed information on why Flutter could be the future of mobile app development.

Conclusion

Cordova was a popular tool for making apps, but it’s not used as much anymore. Many people are now using other tools, like Flutter.

Flutter is an excellent tool for making apps. It has many benefits, like using the same code for different platforms, making changes quickly, and creating beautiful designs. Plus, apps made with Flutter work well and fast.

But remember, the best tool for your project depends on your needs. You should consider what platforms you’re targeting, what kind of design you want, how complex your app is, and how quickly you need to make it. You should also consider whether your team is comfortable using Dart, the programming language used in Flutter.

If you need to quickly make a beautiful, fast app and your team is comfortable with Dart, Flutter could be a great choice. But every project is different, so it’s essential to consider what you need.

Let’s get ready for the future of app-making together!