--- title: Android NDK Reviews meta_title: 'Android NDK Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 25 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Android NDK works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.4 review_count: 25 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-07' parent_category: name: Mobile Development url: https://www.g2.com/categories/mobile-development --- # Android NDK Reviews **Vendor:** Google **Category:** [Mobile Development Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/mobile-development-platforms) **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 25 ## About Android NDK The Android Native Development Kit (NDK) is a comprehensive set of tools that enables developers to incorporate native code, written in C and C++, into their Android applications. By leveraging the NDK, developers can create high-performance applications that interact directly with device hardware, offering enhanced capabilities beyond the standard Android SDK. Key Features and Functionality: - Native Code Integration: Allows embedding of C and C++ code within Android apps, facilitating direct hardware access and optimized performance. - Comprehensive Toolset: Includes cross-compilation toolchains, debuggers, and build systems like CMake and ndk-build, streamlining the development process. - Rich API Support: Provides access to a variety of APIs, including OpenGL ES for graphics, OpenSL ES for audio, and Vulkan for advanced graphics rendering. - Platform Compatibility: Supports multiple CPU architectures, such as ARM and x86, ensuring broad device compatibility. - Integration with Android Studio: Seamlessly integrates with Android Studio, allowing for efficient project management and debugging. Primary Value and Problem Solving: The Android NDK addresses the need for performance-intensive applications by enabling developers to write parts of their apps in native code. This is particularly beneficial for applications requiring low latency and high computational power, such as games and real-time simulations. Additionally, the NDK allows for the reuse of existing C/C++ libraries, reducing development time and effort. By providing direct access to device hardware and system resources, the NDK empowers developers to create more efficient and responsive applications, enhancing the overall user experience. ## Android NDK Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users appreciate the **performance boost** provided by Android NDK for critical tasks and optimizing heavy applications. (3 reviews) - Users appreciate the **easy integration** of Android NDK with Android Studio, enhancing performance for critical app components. (3 reviews) - Users find Android NDK’s **native performance capabilities** impressive, enhancing efficiency for high-demand applications. (3 reviews) - Users value the **seamless integration capabilities** of Android NDK, enhancing performance and enabling easy reuse of C/C++ libraries. (3 reviews) - Users appreciate the **clear documentation** of Android NDK, facilitating smooth integration of C and C++ for performance gains. (2 reviews) - Users benefit from the **efficiency improvement** of Android NDK, enhancing performance for heavy applications with native code. (2 reviews) - IDE Quality (2 reviews) - Speed (2 reviews) - Speed of Development (2 reviews) - User Interface (2 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users note the **steep learning curve** of Android NDK, making setup and debugging particularly challenging for newcomers. (4 reviews) - Users find the **complex setup** of Android NDK challenging, particularly when transitioning from Java/Kotlin environments. (3 reviews) - Users find **debugging issues** with Android NDK challenging, often slowed down by complexity and scattered documentation. (3 reviews) - Users find the **steep learning curve** of Android NDK challenging, making setup and debugging difficult for newcomers. (3 reviews) - Users find the **complex implementation** of Android NDK challenging, especially regarding setup and debugging native code. (2 reviews) - High Complexity (2 reviews) - Poor Customer Support (2 reviews) - Users find **compatibility issues** frustrating, especially when version updates complicate native code debugging and setup. (1 reviews) - Cross-Platform Issues (1 reviews) - Integration Difficulties (1 reviews) ## Android NDK Reviews ### 1. Very powerful native development engine for android **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Avi P. | Web Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 31, 2022 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** I like that android apps can be written natively in C/C++ and not Java, this allows apps to get fine grain access to the system and can also gain a lot of performance. In addition, it is much harder to reverse engineer an app using NDK than the java or kotlin SDK. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** I dislike how complex the NDK can be, it certainly is useful and loved by many game developers but it is not for the faint-hearted. In addition, less 3rd party libraries are available for the NDK in comparison to the SDK (Java/Kotlin). In addition JNI calls are still slow **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** The NDK allows my apps to have better performance than with JVM languages, this can be vital for games and some machine learning type of apps. ### 2. One of the best when it comes to developing applications **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rakshith R. | Associate Brand Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 03, 2021 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** Is very helpful in developing applications, games, basically helps you increase the performance and other security concerns of your product. Writing code has become a bit easy with this. It allows you to use C/C++code in your android apps. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** Android NDK has some specific uses and can't/should not be used for everyday development. It is difficult for beginners and newbies to understand the functioning and hence some demos would be needed and also would be beneficial **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** Java is the default programming language for Android, but for certain applications eg - game development java isn't the best. And hence in such cases where you want to code in C/C++ NDK is typically used. NDK helps in increasing performance out of devices. ### 3. Native Development Kit Review **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Faiz P. | Software Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2022 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** We used to Extract the native C/CPP code implementation in Android applications and use it on the native android side. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** A little bit difficult to implement when you use the third party libs. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** Using C and Cpp third-party libraries in Native code and Developing Android applications. ### 4. Android NDK is just best **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jankidas S. | Android Developer, Information Technology and Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 15, 2019 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** Android NDK is very important support system in Android Studio when you're trying to implement C or C++ language code into Android Application code. NDK will fulfill all kind of support for C/C++ code implementation. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** Only one thing that I don't like about Android NDK is that it takes very long time to run and implement functionalities into actual code, which lead my computer system to hang for a while **Recommendations to others considering Android NDK:** There is no recommendation for using Android NDK, It is a native library and it is mandatory to use for better performance. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** Android NDK is a basic native thing. Some solutions can't be possible without native libraries, so Android NDK is very important as a native library. ### 5. Great software to develop Applications **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Carol L. | Social Media Admin/Quality Control Manager, Insurance, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 12, 2018 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** How it displays a replica screen of your application product as soon as you save. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** Since I use a Mac to develop my software via Android NDK, sometimes it may lag. Don't really like how when I minimize the software, it may take couple seconds. **Recommendations to others considering Android NDK:** If you're trying to learn at home, good software to mess with if you want to develop professional software in the future. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** Just for personal use and learning tools to develop software ### 6. Great for learning as you go, easy to use, helpful **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Hospitality | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 04, 2018 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** I like that not only is it easy to install, it is easy to use. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** The beginning can be a tad confusing but once you're last the confusion from new systems and learning you're golden. **Recommendations to others considering Android NDK:** Give it a try, it truly can make things easier especially when going from one program to another. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** Organizing basically is the best way to put it. It allows you to create a native development kit. (Ndk)it imbeds libraries which allows you to use existing codes.it allows you to enhance performance.speed things up a bit. ### 7. Must have for multi-disciplinary applications **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Venkatesh W. | Contributing Writer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 28, 2016 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** If you've portion of your application on C++, you need not spend time in porting it to Java, instead one can use NDK. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** Some user friendly example projects/demo are needed **Recommendations to others considering Android NDK:** Must for building artificial intelligence/machine learning/data analytics based highly tech savvy android applications. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** I work in the field of machine learning and IoT. Most of our code is in C++, NDK makes it easier task for us to build interactive android application out of it. ### 8. Great for games **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 25, 2016 **What do you like best about Android NDK?** The performance boost by writing native code. **What do you dislike about Android NDK?** The documentation is not as good as writing code in Java per se. **What problems is Android NDK solving and how is that benefiting you?** As stated above, the benefits from writing native code using Android NDK provide our company with an app that performs very well. ## Android NDK Discussions - [What are the features of Android SDK?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-features-of-android-sdk) - [What is difference between Android NDK and SDK?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-difference-between-android-ndk-and-sdk) - [How does NDK work on Android?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-ndk-work-on-android) - [What is Android NDK used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-android-ndk-used-for) - [honestly, there could be no other arrangement till now to incorporate local help into your application without utilizing ndk!!](https://www.g2.com/discussions/45131-honestly-there-could-be-no-other-arrangement-till-now-to-incorporate-local-help-into-your-application-without-utilizing-ndk) - 1 upvote - [View Android NDK pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/android-ndk/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=4§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-12+11%3A29%3A00+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=63bc09b9-7794-4a86-801c-327ac507a99e&secure%5Btoken%5D=02edf32acec8b7d4eb9b91be194ab6ce1026626c732145be7227158e697c1a89&format=llm_user) ## Android NDK Features **Additional Functionality** - Continuous Integration - Drag & Drop - Backup and Recovery - Multiple Programming Languages Supported - Continuous Deployment - Code Development - For No-Code Development - Version Control - Configurable Workflow - Graphical User Interface - For Low-Code Development - Activity Dashboard - Generative AI - UI Prototyping - Source Control - Software Development - API - Data Import/Export - Web App Development - Custom Development - Code Repository Integration - Data Security - Mobile Development - Access Controls/Permissions - Game Development - Collaboration Tools - Application Security - Alerts/Notifications - Automated Testing - Integrated Development Environment - Offline Access - Debugging - AI Copilot - Reporting/Analytics - Compatibility Testing - Pre-built Templates - Third-Party Integrations - Data Modeling - Customizable Branding - Data Visualization - Code Editing **Functionality** - Ease of Use - File Management - Multi-Language Support - Customization - Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality - Help Guides - Patching & Updates - Workflow Management - Change Management - Deployment Management - Performance Management - Compliance Management - Lifecycle Management - Task Management - Document Management - Database Support **Agentic AI - Mobile Development Platforms** - Adaptive Learning - Natural Language Interaction - Proactive Assistance ## Top Android NDK Alternatives - [.NET](https://www.g2.com/products/net-2023-06-12/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (158 reviews) - [Visual Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (3,832 reviews) - [iOS SDK](https://www.g2.com/products/ios-sdk/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (34 reviews)