The decision between a WeChat mini program and a native iOS/Android app depends on three factors: your target audience, your budget, and the depth of functionality required.
Choose a mini program if: your users are predominantly in China and already active on WeChat; you need a fast, low-friction launch; your core use case is lightweight (booking, coupons, loyalty, information access); and you want to leverage WeChat's built-in social sharing.
Choose a native app if: you need offline functionality, hardware access (camera, GPS, Bluetooth), high-performance graphics, or you're targeting users outside China at scale. Native apps also offer more complete brand control and are not dependent on a third-party platform's policies.