Overview of the Best Programming Languages For Android App Development

Android is the undisputed king of the mobile market. Worldwide, Android has more than 3.5 billion active users, and around three-quarters of all smartphones run Android. 

Looking at these numbers, one thing is clear: the Android app market is booming. Businesses from all around the world are heavily investing in building and launching an Android app to claim their share of the market. If you are one of such enthusiastic individuals, whether running a startup or an established business, this blog is for you. 

The first step to Android app development is to understand the technology that enables it. The big part of which is the programming language, and today, we will discuss the best programming languages for Android app development to help you choose the best one for your project. If you are unsure on how to correctly analyze the project need, it is best to consult a reliable Android app development company in USA. They will help you carefully define your needs and goals, and take the best road forward. 

7 Best Programming Languages For Android App Development

Programming language is the magic behind every successful app, whether you look at the performance, user interaction, the overall functionality, or any other aspect. Below, we will introduce you to the core programming languages that are used to build an Android app. Let’s get started!

1. Kotlin

Kotlin is one of the most popular and favored programming languages by Android app developers and Android app development services companies. Developed by JetBrains, the official Kotlin 1.0 release was done in February 2016, and Google announced it as a supported language for Android app development in 2017. 

Kotlin’s rise to fame is no coincidence. It offers a concise syntax, better safety features, extension functions, coroutines for asynchronous programming, and full Java interoperability. Moreover, Kotlin also supports multiplatform development, and you can share code across different platforms, including Java Virtual Machine (JVM), JavaScript, and native platforms.  

Netflix, X (formerly Twitter), Airbnb, Zomato, Trello, and Pinterest are some of the well-known apps made with Kotlin. 

1. Java

Officially launched in 1995, Java has been the default programming language for Android app development since the OS made its debut in 2008. Although Kotlin is now the preferred language by Google, Java remains a foundational language, and many users are comfortable with it due to its vast ecosystem, documentation, and a huge community. 

 Many Android app development services in USA still use Java as a go-to language for building Android apps. Some of the best features of Java include platform independence, object-oriented programming, clean syntax, automatic memory management, built-in security mechanisms, and a Just-In-Time compiler. Moreover, there are tons of built-in libraries and APIs to get ready-to-use functionality for several tasks. 

Many famous companies use Java for their Android applications, like Amazon, Netflix, LinkedIn, Spotify, Uber, and Slack. While it is more than 25 years old, Java is still credible and viable for building and maintaining Android applications. 

1. Dart

Dart was developed by Google and introduced in 2011 for web development. Over the years, it has matured into a multi-platform programming language for building web, desktop, mobile, and server applications, most notably powering Flutter since its inception. 

Dart is widely used around the world for its many undeniable strengths. Some of the key features include cross-platform development, Ahead-Of-Time compilation, user-friendliness, asynchronous programming, excellent tooling, hot-reload, and null safety. Moreover, Dart is open-source and backed by Google, which has benefitted it with a vast and ever-growing community and rich ecosystem.

Dart is used by many firms, including Google, of course, since it is their own language, empowering several Google apps and services (like Google Pay and Google One). Other notable names include BMW Group, eBay Motors, Philip Hue, and SNCF Connect. Additionally, some of the applications built with Dart include Reflectly, Finch, and Superlist. 

1. JavaScript

JavaScript was created in 1995 for Netscape 2 and became the ECMA-262 standard in 1997. Three decades later, JavaScript retains its transformative glory in the Android app development market. It is the primary (or you can say official) programming language of React Native since its inception, and highly benefits from the updates by ECMA International.

JavaScript’s widespread use for cross-platform app development is not without cause. It is a highly versatile language and possesses several powerful features. Some of these include client-side scripting, dynamic typing, object-oriented programming support, DOM manipulations, and many other modern language features. 

Today, JavaScript is utilized for front-end web development, back-end server-side applications, mobile app development, and even desktop app development. It has been and still is used by Android app developers and service providers, especially a top-level Android app development company. Examples of applications built in frameworks using JavaScript include Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Wix, and Pinterest. 

1. Python

Python came to light in 1991 (the programming language, not the reptile), with a big emphasis on code readability. It has been serving as a high-level, object-oriented programming language for decades, and https://www.python.org/ is a top contender for Android app development. 

Python offers a host of notable features, proving advantageous in building Android apps. Some notable ones include interpreted and dynamically typed languages, open-source systems, and cross-platform compatibility. Moreover, it boasts a large, active community and offers tons of pre-built modules and functions. 

Python has reached a beloved status among the community, which is mainly because of its high versatility and flexibility at a low cost. Some of the examples of apps built with Python include Dropbox, Spotify, Reddit, Disqus, Uber, and Quora.

1. C++

Originally, C++ development started in 1979. However, the first public release was made in 1983, while the first international standardized version, called C++98, was released much later, in 1998. Since then, it has only evolved and slowly become a potent programming language for Android app development. 

Since C++ has been around for a long time, it is no surprise that it possesses a large, active community with a rich ecosystem and offers a bunch of libraries, tools, and documentation. Additionally, it offers object-oriented programming, dynamic memory management, Standard Template Library (STL), multi-paradigm support, and low-level access. 

YouTube, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox are some top names in the market, utilizing C++ for Android apps. Mostly, C++ is used for performance-critical components, especially in areas with demanding tasks like games and multimedia processing. It is generally considered hard to learn and work with, especially for beginners, which is why you may have to hire Android app developers in USA or collaborate with a proficient Android app development agency.

1. C#

Pronounced as C-sharp, C# is a modern, innovative, and open-source programming language by Microsoft, first introduced and distributed in 2000. The first stable version was released in 2002; the same year, it was approved as an international standard by ECMA-334. 

C# was the official language used in Xamarin till its end of life in 2024; it is now the official language for .NET MAUI. C# comes with a wide range of features, including type safety, Automatic Garbage Collection, Language Integrated Query, generics, and cross-platform development, to name a few. In addition, it boasts a vast ecosystem and community support.  

C# is a highly popular language for Android app development. It is used by Microsoft, of course, for its popular apps like Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Outlook. Other than that, AutoCAD, GitHub Desktop, Paint 3D, and Paint.NET are also built with C#. 

Conclusion

This concludes today’s blog. We discussed the top programming languages for Android app development, highlighting their key features and mentioning their real-life use cases. Now, only one thing remains – Choosing the right programming language for your specific project. 

The decision can be tough, but don’t worry, a professional Android mobile app development company in USA will help you figure it out. Experts understand the complexities of this crucial decision and offer the experts to guide you step-by-step. It will help you analyze your project needs and understand key variables, along with long-term maintenance, scalability, and support requirements. Simply put, they will hand you the information you need to pick the best out of the bunch, or you can collaborate with a specialized Android app developer USA to kickstart your Android app journey. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions from the public, along with answers.

1. How do I pick a programming language suitable for my project?

Choosing the right programming language for Android app development is indeed a tough decision and depends on several factors. 

• First things first, you must decide whether you want to build a Native app solely for Android or if you plan to target a wider audience with a Cross-Platform app. For Native app development, Kotlin and Java are your best bet, whereas Dart and JavaScript are top choices for Cross-Platform app development. 
• Secondly, go through these handful of considerations and carefully analyze each point. These are: Project Complexity, Development Time and Cost, Ecosystem and Community support, Long-Term Maintenance Needs, and lastly, Your Team’s Expertise. 

The best choice goes hand in hand with the unique project requirements, and make sure not to forget to calculate the time and budget. 

1. Which is the best framework to build Android apps?

The choice of framework also rests solely on your project’s needs. Once that is sorted out, make sure you have the right people to build desirable apps, or if you will need experts by your side. Here are the best frameworks for this purpose in 2025. 

• Android Studio and Android Jetpack by Google, Flutter by Google, React Native by Meta Platforms, .NET MAUI by Microsoft, Ionic Framework by Ionic. 

Remember, first decide whether you want to build a native or cross-platform app. After that, move forward with the points we made in the previous question. 

1. Should I go for Native or Cross-Platform app development?

The choice of Native or Cross-platform app development also depends on your unique project requirements, as well as your budget and time limit. 

• If you want to keep things separate, make full use of device-specific features, integrate high-class security, want stable, seamless performance, and have no real deadline or budget constraints, then Native app development is best. However, you will need specialized iOS and Android app developers to build and maintain your app. 
• On the other hand, if you want to launch your app quickly, target a wider audience, ensure easy maintenance and updates, and do not really want to go into device-specific features, then Cross-Platform app development is ideal. However, expect potential performance limitations as compared to native apps.