Why native mobile is the real SaaS differentiator

If you want to know what a SaaS company truly values, don't just read the website—download the app. Every swipe, tap, and load time is a reflection of what happens behind the scenes: where a company invests, where it cuts corners, and how much it really cares about user experience.

In the crowded SaaS space, mobile is the primary touchpoint for most customers. Yet, too many vendors treat their mobile apps as afterthoughts—outsourcing them to cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter in the name of "efficiency." The result? Apps that are passable but rarely delightful, reliable, or future-proof.

At Surge9, we decided early on to take a different path: building fully native mobile apps for both iOS and Android. It's not the easiest or cheapest option—but now, it's the only way to deliver the level of experience that users now demand and deserve.

Real-time AI voice demands native precision

This isn't just a philosophical debate—it's a technical necessity for what we do. Surge9 is pioneering real-time AI voice coaching and support directly inside our mobile app, powered by advanced AI models and built on real-time WebRTC technology.

• Sub-200ms latency: our AI-driven voice conversations and live coaching sessions rely on sub-second network and audio processing. Native code is the only way to achieve the speed and reliability required for seamless, two-way conversations—anything less and the experience falls apart.

• WebRTC performance: true native apps (Swift/Kotlin) allow us to leverage the full potential of WebRTC and device-level audio/video hardware, ensuring crisp audio, clear video, and instant feedback. Cross-platform runtimes simply can't offer the same level of integration or low-latency performance.

Native vs. cross-platform: the real trade-off

Let's address the elephant in the room. Cross-platform tools do let you ship more features with fewer engineers, especially if you're just trying to check the "we have an app" box. But every abstraction layer you add is a tax on performance, stability, and your ability to leverage the latest platform innovations.

Consider this: Industry leaders like Slack and Airbnb invested millions trying to make cross-platform mobile work at scale, only to return to fully native apps when it became clear that performance, UX, and engineering velocity suffered. As Airbnb's engineering team put it, "We will be sunsetting React Native and putting all of our efforts into making native amazing."

Shopify famously migrated its suite of apps to React Native, chasing the dream of a single codebase. Even they admit that critical features and high-stakes screens still require dropping to native code—and their own engineers write about the extra overhead involved in closing the gap.

The Surge9 philosophy: invest where it matters

We built Surge9's mobile apps using Swift and SwiftUI for iOS, Kotlin and Jetpack Compose for Android—not just because we love shiny new SDKs, but because our users deserve the best.

Here's what "native-first" means for our users:

• Lightning-fast load times: Surge9 consistently delivers first-screen paint in under 350ms, compared to 600ms or more for typical cross-platform apps.

• Fluid, intuitive interactions: 120Hz animations, seamless video, and zero lag—even on lower-end devices.

• Seamless, real-time AI voice coaching: native WebRTC gives us audio and video quality, connection stability, and latency that cross-platform wrappers simply can't match.

• Immediate adoption of platform features: from on-device text-to-speech to rich push notifications, our apps leverage the latest from Apple and Google the moment it's available.

• Advanced support and coaching: integrated live chat, real-time video overlays, and offline learning—all enabled by deep native APIs.

But these aren't just features. They're outcomes. In our analytics, faster load times alone drive a 20%+ increase in lesson completion rates. In-app support via real-time AI voice leads to dramatically higher user satisfaction scores. The difference is real, and it's measurable.

The Hidden Cost of "Write Once, Run Anywhere"

When SaaS vendors choose cross-platform frameworks, it's almost always for one reason: cost. But "saving money" upfront can mean "paying in churn" later. Slower apps, buggier updates, and a lag behind OS innovation all add up to a subpar user experience—and in a competitive market, users simply leave.

This is even more critical for platforms like Surge9, where the product's core value is real-time, interactive, AI-powered communication. Here, the performance overhead and limitations of cross-platform approaches are not just technical annoyances—they're product blockers.

Looking Forward: Why We'll Keep Betting on Native

Building native apps isn't just a technical choice at Surge9. It's a statement of intent—a promise that our users' experience comes first, even when it requires more investment and expertise. For us, native is not a luxury; it's a foundational requirement for delivering real-time AI voice, seamless support, and the most engaging learning experience possible.

We believe the future belongs to SaaS platforms that sweat the details and put performance, reliability, and user joy ahead of short-term shortcuts. So the next time you're evaluating a SaaS platform, look beneath the surface. Download the app. Pay attention to the speed, polish, and what's possible inside that tiny rectangle in your hand. You'll know who's building for the long-term—and who's just building fast.

At Surge9, we choose native. Because your experience—and your conversations with our AI—deserve nothing less.