Flutter vs React Native: Which One is Better for Software Development?

Summary: Want to develop a cross-platform app quickly? And that too in a pocket-friendly way? But are confused about which technology to choose? In this article, we have compared two leading market players- Flutter and React Native. Let’s have a look at how and which app development framework will fit into your software idea- Flutter vs React Native.

WebMob Technologies is a web and mobile app development company with over 10 years of experience. We are specialized in building native and cross-platform software solutions for startups & enterprises.

Introduction

The two popular cross-platform app development frameworks Flutter & React Native are the buzzwords of the developers’ community. Both technologies are proficient enough in building native applications.

According to recent statistics on cross-platform mobile frameworks in 2021, Flutter emerged to be the most popular software development tool followed by React Native. 

42% of developers use Flutter to build their apps, while 38% of them use React Native for software development. The numbers are quite impressive, right? Cross-platforms allow developers to code on various platforms. The proficient individual just has to create a foundation for the app to run effortlessly on all the respective platforms. Some many tools and features are equally good in both of them. Along with that, the technologies also allow code reusability & hot reload facility to make instant changes in the development. Another major advantage of using these application frameworks is Flutter works with the use of additional APIs & also connects the divide between the device and the codebase.  On the other hand, React Native allows native appearance through a dynamic & flexible API. 

Let’s begin the article with a short introduction to both tech stacks.

What is Flutter? 

An open-source, Dart programming language, was invented by Google in 2017. It consists of a UI toolkit to build efficient cross-platform applications using a single codebase. It is suitable for all platforms namely- Linux, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, & web apps. Recently, Flutter has been upgraded with more latest functionalities in May 2021. Famous app developments like Google, Alibaba, eBay, and PostMuse, are made by Flutter.

With varied flutter app development services, one can beautifully compile their user interface & fully customizable widgets. Being in the IT sector for over a decade, we have seen technological innovations & the growing online space.

When to use Flutter?

• Budget constraints
• Short development timeline
• UI-centric app
• Hot-reload

Pros	Cons
Quick development with the same database	Growing framework, with common issues
Hot Reload ensures easy changes & quick bug resolution	Apps do take up a lot of space
Layered architecture, allows customization & control	Constant updates for Dart & the overall framework
Animated UI for any complex customization is available	The support community is impressive but not as productive as the native development

What is React Native?

An open-source, Javascript framework, invented by Facebook in 2013 and released to the public in 2015. This technology is built upon the React library, so it helps ship iOS & Android apps with a single code base. It uses a combination of XML and Javascript Esque mark-up JSX. To create a native look & feel of the digital solution, it creates easy-to-integrate native elements and user interfaces. Famous apps built by React Native development are Instagram, Walmart, and Tesla. 

When to use React Native?

• No budget constraints & complex projects
• Complex cross-platform apps
• Reusability of code for mobile and desktop apps
• Extensive documentation support leads to a budget-friendly development team

Pros	Cons
Due to Javascript applicability, it has a wide range of packages	Needs a native developer
One code base to develop an app for multiple devices	Performance issues as compared to Flutter
It is pocket-friendly development with a code reusability advantage	Debugging issues
Active & large community	Fragile UI & apps are bigger than Native ones

Flutter vs React Native: Who is the Better One?

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The popularity of Flutter has undoubtedly grown in the past five years as compared to React Native. Countries like Vietnam, Ukraine, Argentina, Srilanka, France, and Poland use technological integration with ease. But, such an increase does not mean that the former has lost its touch with the digital world. Let’s quickly compare both developments.

Flutter vs React Native: The Comparison of Functionalities

Performances

Flutter is superior when it comes to carrying out heavy operations & data storage, maintaining overall performance. So, if you are planning for an attractive animation with exclusive UI, this software development will not disappoint you.  

React Native lacks in performance compared to Flutter. It uses a combination of native and Javascript languages to maintain its user interactions & application performance fast and smoothly.

Architecture

If a developer is planning to build an application architecture with a separate presentation layer and business logic, then Flutter is a great choice. It provides BLoC architecture for layered architecture.

While on the other hand, the React Native architecture bridges the gap between native & Javascript. The Javascript code communicates seamlessly with the native API for a robust user experience online. Thus, this one gives more flexibility than the latter for a strong architecture.

Testing

With the automated Flutter unit test, the tech stack provides detailed documentation for performance testing at all the levels of integration, widget, & unit level. While React Native does not support UI levels or integration testing. It just has a few unit levels and developers are allowed to use Apium, Detox, unearth bugs, etc. tools for testing the app solutions. An individual needs to deploy the app using Xcode.

Widgets & Third-party Libraries

Both frameworks have different levels of relying on third-party libraries. Flutter has extensive widgets and libraries that allow easy app development with identical user interfaces for Android & iOS. On the other hand, React Native, needs third-party libraries. The widget testing in Flutter makes the tasks easier, while in React Native developers need third-party tools for testing.

Particulars	Flutter	React Native
Programming Language	Dart	Javascript
Component Libraries	Smaller library	Larger library
Performance	High-performance	Slow performance
Adaptive Components	Manual configuration of components. Not adaptive	Adaptive components
Architectures	BLoC	Flux & Redux
Hot Reload	Supported	Supported
First Releases	May 2017	Jan 2015

How WebMobTech Can Help You With Flutter or React Native?

Both frameworks work effectively in their specific areas. However, the major factors playing in your selection are budget and targeted audiences. Being a digital solutions providing firm, for us, both technologies serve different purposes. Our experts are always on the move when it comes to integrating such advancements into a suitable project for online success. Flutter vs React Native, the comparison in this article has helped you in setting a priority between the two frameworks. Consult us for more such insights for your app development idea or cross-platform development. Get a free quote for the same.