It’s 2024 and you can’t afford low-quality apps with poor performance! As more companies are inclining toward cross-platform frameworks for mobile app development, both Flutter and React are investment-worthy choices. Some popular apps like Instagram, Facebook, Nyka, and Google Ads are developed using Flutter and React Native.
According to the latest survey by Statista, the emerging popularity of Flutter is surpassing that of React native by 4%. Although React native still rules when it comes to the existing number of Android and iOS apps. But Flutter is carving out the path in terms of its growing popularity and usage in mobile app development. However, both of them serve a common goal of developing a high-quality robust app with a faster time to market with a cost-effective approach.
This blog is a comprehensive guide with a detailed analysis of the core aspects that separate the two frameworks. It’s an attempt to help understand app development scenarios clearly to make optimal decisions for your business. The blog can provide you with assistance based on several parameters that can help you make the right business move. But before that, let us explore the core similarities between the two.
Hot reload
A popular “Hot Reload” functionality allows developers to make changes to the existing codebase and view the impact of the changes in real time. This allows developers to enable instant changes and increase the mobile app development process flow.
Single codebase
Due to maintaining a single codebase, the code reusability is drastically improved. This makes the code maintenance less cluttered and easy to manage. It goes for apparently both, the React native developers and the Flutter mobile app developers as well.
Multi-Platform compatibility
Both react native and Flutter offer multi-platform compatibility making them more suitable for mobile app development. Businesses that aim to target multiple devices to serve their ever-changing custom preferences can go for either of them.
Easy Debugging
The extended tools and Plugins offered by React Native mobile app development and Flutter companies can help you resolve your bugs in the app while it’s running. The functionality makes bug fixing on the go and that too in real-time. Quite a relief for all app developers out there!
React Native V/S Flutter App Development: Comparison
Now that we have explored the commonalities, it is time that we make a dynamic comparison between the two Frameworks. This head-to-head comparison is based on the crucial aspects and learning to help you determine the best fit for your custom business needs. Let us proceed further.
Language
Everyone involved in the tech ecosystem knows that programming language is the fundamental factor in determining the app’s success. The right framework can make all your difference!
React Native – Foundationally ‘React’ is based on Javascript, I mean which comprehensive open-source language isn’t right? Most of them are. Anyway, the language is quite popular among app development companies too due to the suite of features it offers. If you wish to hire app developers, then you can easily find Javascript developers to ace your development journey.
Flutter – Developed by Google, Flutter app development is supported in the programming language Dart. It was found by Google in 2011 but it didn’t gain much popularity. So it wasn’t widely used in the app development process until now. This can be a setback when it comes to finding Flutter app developers as it can be quite a challenging task.
User Interface and Design Elements –
Okay moving on to the next comparison in our quest for Flutter vs React native. The user interface design sets the tone for the user journey on the app. Flutter has a prebuilt set of fantastic widgets that offers decent-level customization. The third-party widgets in Flutter can be leveraged to define the layout, and buttons and create an animation that elevates the user journey.
However, in Flutter there is a limited level of customization in designing the user interface that can be improved. This can be proven as an obstacle in your mobile app development journey.
Flutter uses cupertino widgets that can simplify the design and help develop a user-friendly interface. Also, an add-on advantage for this includes rendering identical UI designs for two of the most popular OS devices – Android and iOS.
React Native offers a set of native UI components that are platform-specific. This move makes the UI more appealing but there are slight inconsistencies in the overall user experience on both the target platforms. Determining a winner here is a bit tough, both have their highs and lows. Also, UI/UX is highly crucial for the later stages in the mobile app development process. And the design of UI/UX relies heavily on you as a designer, so we’ll sit this one out.
Performance Evaluation
Obviously, When we are looking at all the aspects of Flutter V/S React Native, performance is highly significant. Performance is another crucial component that accelerates the overall usability factor.
So combing back to the drawing board and exploring the basics of React native mobile app development we found one peculiar thing. React uses an additional layer of Javascript bridge to run the Hybrid apps on different mobile platforms.
Flutter eliminates the same step to improve its code usability. It allows developers to reuse the code. So it doesn’t need to refer to the additional; bridges before compiling the code. This factor makes the flutter performance superior to the Native app performance and many cross-development frameworks as well.
Security Parameters
React falls short when it comes to delivering high-end security. The application’s Javascript code is visible and accessible which is a concerning factor when it comes to dealing with threat alerts. Decompiling it as a flutter code is not possible as it is linked to machine code. The Flutter code cannot be decoded easily making it an ideal choice for a mobile app development company working on FinTech Apps.
To add to this, Flutter has multiple features that offer exceptional security in the app. These additional features include sandboxing, encryption, additional storage, and multiple others. Native offers rely on a lot of third-party resources for security-related functionalities. Due to this, there are a lot of device compatibility issues that create loopholes for threats or fraud
Hence, flutter nails the security aspects making it an ideal choice for developing apps with strict security guidelines like banking and financial apps.
Mobile App Development Speed and Testing
Both frameworks ideally support an accelerated development cycle to cater to the faster time-to-market approach. Empowering mobile app developers to adapt to demands and facilitate client-centric development. Both Flutter and React Native support a mechanism that improves the development flow. For instance, the Hot Reload feature quickly enables you to see the changes in mode.
Moreover, Flutter has already built widgets that eliminate the need for third-party sources. At the same time, react native also allows Fast refresh which allows the incorporation of an upgraded code into an already existing code. However, despite this, there are a lot of manual efforts that are needed to facilitate a version update. Flutter covers the loophole exceptionally well making it an optimal choice for businesses. Organizations, who want to raise their MVP in the market in a real quick time usually opt for the language.
Documentation
Provided with extensive backup support by Google, the Documentation of Flutter is way more precise and comprehensive. Google offers detailed documents and community support that help deliver to-the-point assistance to its mobile app developers.
On the other hand, despite Native’s amalgamated documentation library, it offers amazingly extensive support. This makes the Documentation more generalized and less accurate. Hence, Flutter is all for the wins, especially for this segment of choosing Flutter vs React Native mobile app development.
Community Support
Flutter is an open-source framework hence it has active community support. With events like Flutter Engage, they share the latest industry developments about Flutter, insights, and guidance to the Flutter developers
On the other end, React native has a backup of Facebook community support that provides extensive support and guidance for the same. The discord community establishes Forums, conferences, and company-based communities. One such well-known event is the React conference which allows the React developers to learn about the upgrades and advancements in React.
Mobile App Development costs
The development costs of both of the cross-platform frameworks are directly proportional to the costs of the availability of human resources and the fees they charge. However, a budget-friendly solution is to outsource the entire project to a reputable professional app development company.
Another cost-effective approach is hiring freelancers with a professional background. However, their rates depend upon crucial factors such as location, years of experience, and the expertise they bring to the table.
Below is a list of diverse Developer Rates locations and expertise across the globe. The information is developed from popular freelancing platforms such as Upwork, clutch, and Glassdoor regions such as Asia, Europe, and the USA.
RegionFlutter DevelopersReact Developers
| Region | Flutter Developers | React Developers |
|---|---|---|
| North America | $170-$220 | $120-$200 |
| Western Europe | $50-$100 | $100-$149 |
| Asia | $20-$50 | $25-$60 |
Choosing the Right Framework for Mobile app development in 2024
By now it must have been clear for you as a mobile app developer choosing between the two depends on your checklist too. Both Flutter and React native have their own set of pros and cons. You can analyze the above-mentioned factors and then decide the best suit for your project. However, by prioritizing the crucial non-negotiable factors, you can make the right move.
Choose Flutter app development for your company ‘IF’ :
- The language is not just for mobile app development. You want to have a single codebase with multi-platform compatibility. For example, if you wish to develop multi-device apps like mobile, Web, and desktop applications.
- Release an MVP with a shorter time to market.
- Operate at high-speed internet.
- Render identical User interface design for both Ios and Android
- Strict guidelines adhering to maintaining the overall security
- High-end performance
If your priorities align with the above-mentioned requirements, choose a reputable Flutter development company that adds life to your project.
Choose an experienced React Native app development company ‘IF you want’ –
- Better code reusability
- Faster mobile app development with a thorough knowledge of Javascript
- Availability of Javascript developers
- Huge set of libraries, extensive resources, and plugins available.
- It can lag in apps with a complicated UI design and animations.
If the parameters resolve your business concerns, then you can choose a reliable React Native development company to achieve your long-term app development vision.
your BusinessGet Expert Assistance
Conclusion – What does the future hold?
Many tech insiders believed that Flutter was just a passing trend that is likely gonna fade in the next few years. But with time business and tech companies have realized its potent potentiality for businesses of all niches. Using its advanced capabilities, businesses are incorporating it to expand their digital presence and serve their ideal audience in a much more profound manner.
Based on our analogies, we believe Flutter is a robust and high-end Framework worth the investment. If you want a mobile app that surpasses the loopholes and stays relevant in the long term Flutter is a great choice. However, the choice is still subjective to the unique priorities of your business. To achieve maximum RoI you need a professional mobile app development company with a professional Flutter app developer. Ace your development journey as we have an extended team of both Reactive Native developers as well as Flutter developers. Allow us to brainstorm technicalities for your business.
You may also like
How do you Integrate AI and Personalization Features into Your ecommerce App?
In the ever-evolving digital landscape with the changing pre...
Redefining Healthcare Experiences: Gamification in Healthcare: Benefits, Trends & Examples
Gamification in healthcare apps reveals a new possibility in...
Gamification in Education: The Winning Trio of AR, VR & AI
Relying on conventional techniques for modern-day challenges...
