This paper analyzes and compares the performance of a proposed cross-shaped fractal antenna design with two different substrate materials FR4 epoxy and lanthanum doped Ba-Sr hexagonal ferrite in X-band, where the lanthanum doped Ba-Sr hexagonal ferrite substrate is synthesized based on solid-state reaction method. The proposed antenna design is simulated using HFSS (High frequency structure simulator) version 15. The antenna is intended to work at 10 GHz frequency and involves four iterations. The antenna design is optimized for significant performance parameters viz. return loss, bandwidth, and gain. It provides better results with ferrite substrate as compared to FR4 epoxy substrate and provides − 10 dB broad bandwidth in three frequency regions 6.2969-6.4 GHz, 7.8702-9.44 GHz, and 9.68-9.7746 GHz. The prototype of proposed antenna with FR4 epoxy substrate is fabricated and tested to attain experimental results. The measured results are in good liaison with simulated results. This antenna structure can be considered suitable for RADAR, satellite, microwave communication, and weather forecasting applications in X-Band.