If you are thinking about constructing a mobile app and seeking the preferred technology, no doubt you have come across Flutter and React Native. These two are some of the most used frameworks in cross-platform app making. However, the question is, which one is more suitable for your project?
The choice of technology is paramount when it comes to startups, business growth, or collaboration with an app development business. So, in this blog, we shall see Flutter vs. React Native in an understandable and clear manner, so that it will be helpful to you to make the right decision on what to use for your mobile application.
What is Cross-Platform App Development?
Before delving into the comparison, we need to recognize what cross-platform entails. In the past, a different development process was used to fashion both iOS and Android apps independently. This translates to having two different codebases, two teams, and twice the effort.
When having cross-platform development, a single codebase is used to develop one app that would be able to run on iOS and Android. This is very time-, cost-, and effort-saving and thus is the most preferred option as far as most app development services are concerned today.
And now, the two players we need to put in our limelight: Flutter and React Native.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source framework made by Google. It enables developers to create beautiful, natively compiled applications faster on mobile, on the web, and on desktop, based on a single codebase.
Language used: Dart (by Google)
Original Publication: 2017
Backed By: Google
These are the key points of Flutter.
- Hot Reload (see the changes live during development)
- Dark customizable widgets
- Performance of early native compilation: Good native compilation performance
- Animations and the user interface designs support
Flutter is becoming tremendously popular, and startups and contemporary businesses are interested in fast-working and smooth-looking applications.
What is React Native?
React Native is a framework that was created by Meta (Facebook) and is open-sourced. It has JavaScript (or TypeScript) to develop apps to work on both Android and iOS.
Language Used: JavaScript
Initial Release: 2015
Powered by: Meta (Facebook)
Key Features of React Native
- Reusable components and logic
- Hot Reloading
- Large developer community and ecosystem
- Is capable of being combined with native code where necessary
Instagram, Airbnb (formerly), and Bloomberg are some companies using React Native to build large-scale mobile applications.
React Native vs. Flutter: Head-to-Head Comparison
It is time to compare Flutter and React Native side by side in the main categories to decide which one fits your app.
1. Performance
Flutter:
- It is written in Dart and is compiled to native code.
- Delivers a better performance and quicker rendering
- Good when there is complicated animation or graphics on the app
React Native:
- Communicates between the native parts using a JavaScript bridge
- It is slightly slower as compared to Flutter when it comes to performance-intensive tasks.
Winner: Flutter (great performance and heavy-intensive applications)
2. UI and Design
Flutter:
- Provides a large number of widgets to construct custom UIs
- UI is universal, and it does not differ on any device and does not depend on the version of the OS.
- Clearness in control of all the pixels on the screen
React Native:
- Uses native elements in UI, which makes it feel native
- Android and iOS may vary a bit concerning the UI.
- There is a necessity for more effort to design something unique to be created.
Winner: Flutter (easier to move around when changing UI)
3. Development Speed
Flutter:
- Dart is not as well-known by most developers, and this can initially slow down the process.
- After being learned, Flutter allows quick working cycles without hot reload.
React Native:
- JavaScript is a well-known and simple-to-operate language.
- Faster when it comes to teams that have experience in web development
Winner: React Native (faster to kick off; many teams will find this easier to pick up).
4. Community and Support
Flutter:
- Booming community
- Google is a big supporter of it.
- They are still lagging in third-party libraries.
React Native:
- The immense network of developers and a humongous ecosystem
- Mature with lots of third-party plugins and libraries
Winner: React Native (bigger support and resources in the community)
5. Integration with Native Features
Flutter:
- Provides excellent options in plugins, but might entail writing new code (depending on the task at hand), some of which will need to be specific to the platform in question
- Native channels are required to connect to platforms
React Native:
- The composition of native modules is easy.
- Considering the hybrid application, which needs to be used often with the native features
Winner: React Native (hybrid app that needs (uses) a lot of native features)
6. Learning Curve
Flutter:
- It involves the need to learn to use Dart, which is not as popular.
- Nice documentation and tools, but there is a learning curve as well.
React Native:
- a language that is commonly used by most developers, JavaScript
- Simpler to recruit new coders
Winner: React Native (in particular, when your team is familiar with JavaScript)
Which one should you choose?
It depends on what you want to achieve, the ability of your team, and what is required of a project. The following are some of the scenarios that should help you:
Choose Flutter if:
- When selecting the framework, I will go with Flutter.
- You desire more performance and good animations.
- You need a consistent UI across platforms.
- You are starting from scratch and can take the time to learn Dart.
- Your application does not depend on the native platform APIs.
Choose React if:
- Your team is already familiar with JavaScript or React.
- You have to have the app to market as fast as possible.
- Your application will extensively rely on native device (camera, GPS, and so on) functions.
- You desire to have a greater quantity of developers at your disposal.
What Do App-Developing Companies Like?
Most of the app development companies will provide both Flutter and React Native solutions. Nevertheless, the selection of the framework may also be based on the type of project or what the client needs.
The companies that require visually rich applications or intend to roll out on multiple platforms (mobile, web, and desktop) are adopting Flutter.
Still, React Native remains a popular choice when you need a really fast MVP, a social application, or even a project where JavaScript is already being used.
The lack of doubts on the issue: a trusted app developing company will detail to you the advantages and the disadvantages depending on what you want to achieve, the timeline, and the budget.
Final Thoughts
As far as the Flutter vs. React Native dilemma is concerned, there is no universal solution. Both are very good and have different strengths. The main thing here is to select the one that fits your business requirements and the skills of your team or an app development services firm.
Therefore, when it comes to the launch of a new app idea, the improvement of your old product, or only an experiment with mobile technology, the issue of Flutter choice over React Native should be taken seriously.
Still confused? Turn to a reputed developer of apps and allow professionals to assist you in getting your vision realized with the use of the correct technology.
