Flutter vs React Native: The Best Choice for App Development

Companies, these days, need to get their apps on both iOS and Android. This has given rise to the whole debate on Flutter vs React Native. After all, they are two of the most popular frameworks for cross-development. Understanding which of these they should for is critical to their app development plans.

Cross-Platform Development Frameworks

Cross-platform development allows the development of a single codebase for many platforms. It has done away with the need for two separate apps for two different platforms. Cross-platform solutions offer a lot of benefits. For instance, it has reduced the cost of developing apps. Also, there won’t be any need to have two teams of developers.

With many design frameworks available in the market, it is crucial to select the right framework. In other words, you’ll end comparing Flutter vs React Native. After all, they are among most popular frameworks for cross-platform development now.

What Is React Native?

While Facebook developed React Native, it is widely used by a diverse range of businesses. Companies such as Walmart and Uber Eats are among those using this framework. As a result, this framework has a massive follower base.

What Is Flutter?

After Facebook, Google decided to create a cross-development framework as well. This resulted in Flutter. This framework also enjoys widespread popularity among developers due to the ease offered.

Both these technologies are helping developers to create cross-platform apps quickly. After all, they can use a single programming language. In the current debate between Flutter vs React Native, businesses should know which cross-platform framework would be the best for their mobile app development project.

Component

In Flutter, developers get access to numerous open source components. Most of them are designed by Google. In React Native, developers get in-built components. In other words, the core framework provides only the UI and the device access APIs. This can be an issue for some.

Development Time

Some developers prefer using RN due to the higher efficiency it offers. More importantly, developers need less time for creating apps on React Native. So when comparing Flutter vs React Native, know that Flutter takes more time. After all, RN has components that are ready to use which simplifies the development process considerably.

User Interface

In terms of UI, there is a lot of difference between Flutter and RN. React native tends to rely on native components. On the other hand, Flutter can make use of proprietary widget sets. As a result, if you want a highly customized UI, Flutter is the framework of choice.

Programming Language

Different programming languages are used by Flutter and React Native. RN makes use of JavaScript, one of the most popular development languages in the market. However, Flutter uses Dart. This programming language was introduced by Google in 2011. The language provides support for OOP concepts. As such, it won’t be difficult for JavaScript developers to understand it. Despite this, the programming language is worth considering when making the choice.

Performance

Of course, when it comes to development, the performance of any platform is one of the key metrics. In terms of performance, React Native is the clear winner. The framework is fast. While Flutter is not slow by any means, its performance can fluctuate significantly depending on the work. This may be a problem for some.

IDE and Ease of Coding

Nearly all major IDEs support React Native. For Flutter, developers can choose from IntelliJ, Android Studio or Visual Studio. As such, developers should not find IDE support to be an issue for either although RN wins due to wider support. As for ease of coding, developers should find RN easier due to JavaScript. While Dart shares similarities with JS, developers can still need some time to get used to it.

Code Structure

For Flutter vs React Native, the code structure is a major difference. There is no separation among style, templates and data files. That can lead to confusion down the line. However, RN uses a simple structure.

Stability and Flexibility

There is no need to worry about the stability of either framework. After all, both are supported by top tech companies. In terms of flexibility, React Native wins due to a fantastic UX. With is custom widgets, Flutter is not exactly a slouch however.

Lifecycle Management

Each of these frameworks has their own area of expertise. RN is better with app handling and optimization. As for Flutter, it is better with widget inheritance.

Documentation and Toolkit

Documentation is a complex process but is needed for good programming. This is where Flutter shines due to the ease of documentation. React Native is rather disorganized which makes documentation a hassle.

Similarities between the Two Frameworks

Despite their differences, the two frameworks have a few things in common. Take a look below.

Open Source:

Both RN and Flutter are open source frameworks. There are no licensing fees to worry about.

Community

Both frameworks have growing community support. As such, app developers can easily find help when they hit snags.

Hot Reload

These frameworks both offer hot reload features. This speeds up the development process.

Both Flutter and React Native are excellent frameworks. Each of them has their specific strengths and weaknesses. As such, it is not possible to truly state one is better than the other. Ultimately, it all boils down to the developer’s needs and skills. Of course, the aims and requirements of the finished app are also a factor.

In short, both frameworks are worth using. Developers just need to understand what they require and choose accordingly.