Java vs Python: Which One to Choose for Your Business Application

Both programming languages play a critical role in meeting speed and quality standards throughout the software development lifecycle.

Additionally, they are high-level programming languages that offer great user experience and scalability. They are widely used in developing IoT products, including web applications, APIs, app development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

The most popular websites and apps globally, like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix, have both Python and Java in their back-end.

But when it comes to choosing between Java vs. Python for your business application, different conflicts tend to come up. Business leaders face practical trade-offs like development speed vs runtime performance, flexibility vs structure, and prototyping vs scalability. Therefore, you must know the exact differences between the two and choose technology that ideally aligns with your business goals.

The guide breaks down the difference between Python and Java, compares factors, and explains what the best fit for you is. You will have a clear idea about the framework to choose which technology suits your project, and when it makes sense to hire Java developers or hire dedicated Python developers. 

Python vs. Java: Pros and Cons

When you evaluate Python vs Java for a business application, you must know the strengths and limitations of each language. The difference between Java and Python is not just technical; it affects the development speed, performance, and long-term maintenance. Here is the structured comparison between the two.

Pros of Python

• Python enables developers efficiently integrate different systems.
• It enables you to reduce the length of the code and ensures code reusability and readability.
• Python is easy to learn, implement, and deploy.
• Python delivers higher developer productivity than Java due to its simpler syntax, faster prototyping capabilities, rich open-source libraries, and rapid development frameworks.

Cons of Python

• Python is less commonly used for native mobile and embedded high-performance system
• Memory consumption is high, so it is not recommended for memory-intensive projects.
• Not commonly used for mobile app development.
• It often has runtime errors and requires more testing.

Pros of Java

• Java applications can be easily transferred from one system to another, regardless of the software or hardware structure of the host system.
• Java is a resilient and stable language that offers comprehensive security mechanisms to ensure reliable code. 
•  One can add value to a Java application's performance by incorporating Just-In-Time compilation, adaptive optimization, garbage collection, and multi-threading. Java architecture is also designed to decrease overheads during runtime.

Cons of Java

• Java is more memory-heavy than some languages. 
• Requires more lines of code compared to Python, increasing development time.
• Not ideal for rapid prototyping or MVP builds compared to Python.
  

Python vs. Java - Which One to Consider for Your Business Application?

When you evaluate Java vs Python for business applications, to choose the right, you must optimize your performance needs, development speed and other factors. You can map each language to the specific use case, from AI platforms to enterprise systems and more, to ensure making the right decision.

Development Speed

Python is highly recommended for rapid application development and faster MVP delivery when time-to-market is a priority. On the other hand, Java typically has the edge in runtime performance and high-load execution environments.

For data processing, AI, and automation tasks, Python often delivers faster development efficiency, though not always higher runtime speed.

For example, Java is widely used for Android development, although Kotlin is now the preferred modern language for many Android projects.

It is a highly preferred language for banking applications where security is a significant concern.

Python is the preferred programming language for applications built and deployed under the MVP model.

So, before you choose to hire Java developers or Python developers, you must be clear about the type of application you need.

Project Requirements

Python and Java languages are both preferred by developers, but the use of these languages entirely depends on the project requirements. Before you partner with Java or Python development company, let's discuss the types of products built on Python and Java.

Two main fields where Python comes in handy:

• AI & Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are trendy domains today. Python is a stable, flexible, and simple programming language preferred for various machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. 

• Web Development

Python is a core language for web development. Its wide variety of frameworks and content management systems include Flask, Plone CMS, Pyramid, and Django. Python language simplifies the developer's life.

Two main areas where Java is used:

• Mobile applications

  Java is most commonly used for mobile application development. Most Android phone apps are built using Java programming language. This means that Java is now one of the most widely used languages for mobile devices. Spotify and Twitter use Java as part of their technology stack, along with other languages.

• Enterprise Applications
  
  Java is preferred for developing enterprise applications because of its powerful features delivering high performance. Apart from performance, Java also ensures applications are secure, robust, and easily scalable.

Performance

How fast your application's loading speed is? App-speed is critical, and for high-scale applications, your programming language plays a vital role throughout the development process.

Additionally, the application performance matters the most when it comes to customer satisfaction to your customers.

Java is a compiled language and comprises Java Virtual Machine. JVM programs written in Java are faster than Python.

Cost-Effective

If you hire offshore Java developers, you will save on the hourly rate compared to hiring offshore Python developers.

Additionally, Java also enables you to develop the best version of your application. If the application you need is suitable for building on Python, then hiring a Python developer is the more cost-effective option.

For instance, if you are developing an app that requires AI and ML, you should go for Python., However, if you build native apps that require speed and scalability, you should consider Java.

The scale of Projects

Java and Python are both languages used to build small or large-scale applications.

However, developing commercial-grade applications in Java is more accessible as it is a compiled language.

So, before you hire Python developers or Java developers, you should consider the application's scale.

Security Concerns

Today, security is the topmost concern for every business. You can take the example of Facebook and its data breach case study. They have been penalized $5 billion for their security error.

The complicated APIs and a lack of structured docs create more vulnerabilities that lead to security issues with Java.

Examples of Famous Apps Developed in Java

Let's have a quick overview of a few famous examples of applications developed in Java.

Netflix

Netflix is one of the largest US entertainment companies, provides movies and TV shows based on streaming multimedia.

The company builds the back end of most of its applications using Java and Python. Android TV applications are entirely developed in Java, with a small admixture of C++.

Spotify

Spotify is a popular music streaming audio platform that offers users paid and free listening to over 50 million songs, podcasts, and audiobooks.

It uses Java and Python to implement some functionality of its web application, for example, to log and stabilize data transfer.

Uber

Java is critical programming language in developing the Uber application, along with Node.js, Python, and Go. Software developers choose Java precisely because it delivers scalability and high performance. 

Java also allows us to leverage the benefits in an open-source environment and integrates with external technologies like Hadoop.

And, of course, as in most cases explained earlier, Uber used Java as the primary language to build its mobile application for the Android operating system.

Amazon

Amazon uses Java widely in enterprise backend systems and large-scale services, while also leveraging other languages such as Python and Go for cloud automation and infrastructure tooling.

Where to Hire Java & Python Developers

Choosing between Java vs Python should align with your product goals, performance requirements, and scalability needs. The difference between Java and Python becomes especially important when selecting the right development talent.

If you want to build applications with AI, machine learning, or data-related skills, you can hire dedicated Python developers. However, if you are looking for enterprise-grade and high performing applications, you can prefer to hire Java developers, who possess a robust architecture expertise.

Businesses can work with specialized offshore development partners to access vetted talent, flexible engagement models, and faster team ramp-up. Your Team in India is one such offshore development provider offering experienced Java and Python developers across multiple domains and project types.

You can reach out with your project requirements at info@yourteaminindia.com to explore suitable developer hiring options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Java vs Python a one-time technology decision, or can businesses use both together?

It does not have to be an either-or decision. Many modern systems use both Java and Python in different layers of the same product. For example, enterprises often use Java for core backend services and scalability, while Python is used for AI, analytics, and automation. 

How does the difference between Java and Python affect long-term maintenance costs?

The difference between Java and Python can influence the maintenance strategy. Python projects are faster to modify and iterate, which helps in rapidly evolving products. Java applications, on the other hand, often provide stronger structure and type safety, which can reduce large-scale system errors over time.

When should a company hire Java developers instead of cross-language developers?

Businesses should hire Java developers when building high-load enterprise platforms, financial systems, or performance-sensitive applications. Dedicated Java specialists are valuable when multithreading, distributed systems, and enterprise frameworks are involved.

When is it better to hire dedicated Python developers for a project?

Companies should hire dedicated Python developers when the project involves AI/ML models, data engineering, rapid MVP development, and automation pipelines. Python specialists bring deep ecosystem knowledge that accelerates delivery for intelligence-driven applications.