Flutter Vs. React Native: Which One To Choose For Mobile App Development?
Last updated on November 27th, 2023 at 11:07 am
As a business owner, you might be concerned about the best-fitted technology to develop a high-end mobile app quickly.
Flexibility is becoming an essential component of every mobile app. As a result, many business owners are inclined towards cross-platform app development because of its cost-effectiveness and faster app development.
However, the main question here is which framework is best to use among the rest.
The blog has talked about the two most well-known frameworks- Flutter vs. React Native.
What Is Flutter App Development?
Flutter is an open-source framework created by Google. It builds interactive mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac by using a single codebase.
According to a report shared by Statista, 42% of software developers use the Flutter framework.
Flutter is a feature-rich framework, including hot reloading that automatically updates the app’s user interface (UI) while changing the code. Apart from that, Flutter has other features, like advanced UI, routing mechanism, fast performance, support for federated plugins, and more.
Flutter is a flexible framework that controls pixels to create aesthetically pleasing (yet engaging) app designs. You can also consider hiring a mobile app development company and get a high-end Flutter-based mobile app.
Popular Apps Made With Flutter
Google Ads:
Google Ads mobile app is made with the Flutter framework, helping business owners stay connected with their ongoing campaigns. In other words, Google Ads helps businesses view & monitor the ongoing ad performance and manage campaigns.
The app also includes ongoing campaign statistics, allows to make quick updates to the campaign, edit ads to boost sales, and more. Business owners receive alert messages, keyword editing, bids, etc.
PostMuse:
Another mobile app made with the Flutter framework is PostMuse (Instagram story maker/editor). The app helps enhance the Instagram story even more by adding attractive story templates or fonts.
PostMuse app is integrated with numerous features, like the layout or text editor, design templates, photo filters, and more. That said, PostMuse can help you make your Instagram profile more professional and attractive at the same time.
What Is React Native App Development?
React Native is a well-known JavaScript-based mobile app framework created by Facebook The framework builds high-end mobile apps for iOS, Android, web, and Windows using React framework with native capabilities.
React Native can also be used for developing virtual reality apps like Oculus. React Native is a cost-effective framework as app developers can build apps using a single codebase. That said, the framework creates a truly native app without hampering the user experience.
React Native has a feature known as Live Reload that allows app developers to view and fix the issue in real-time. Apart from that, React Native uses a JavaScript library for creating the app’s UI to boost the user experience.
Popular Apps Made With React Native
Facebook:
Facebook was developed using the React Native framework to access the application on iOS.
Later, the framework provided UI for Android & iOS and witnessed a boost in the app performance. Facebook can also create its ad manager app using React Native.
Instagram:
Instagram started with a primary view: the Push Notification view, which was essentially built as a WebView. A navigation infrastructure was not required because the user interface was simple.
Despite a few bugs along the way, the Instagram development team increased developer velocity significantly.
Key Differences Between Flutter and React Native
The noticeable difference between Flutter and React Native is the user interface (UI) toolkit. Both frameworks are unique in their ways and have a specialty.
1. Programming Language
React Native:
React Native is a framework based on JavaScript language used for building cross-platform mobile apps. JavaScript is a well-known programming language as it provides unlimited virtual capability for web programming.
App developers can compile the dynamic JavaScript code to the native view during the runtime. Another reason for using JavaScript is its stability & easy usage, and it is considered an advanced language integrated with multiple libraries and frameworks.
Flutter:
Flutter uses the Dart programming language introduced by Google. Dart is one of the fastest-growing advanced programming languages, and it is easy to get started. Flutter runs in the Dart virtual machine for writing and debugging the mobile application.
According to Google, Dart is a client-optimized language that helps create fast-performing apps on any platform. Dart programming language is written with lightweight editors, like Sublime.
2. User Interface Toolkit
React Native:
React Native uses third-party tools and is integrated with component libraries, like NativeBase and React Native Mapview. These libraries provide a robust approach and quality support for platforms like Android and iOS.
React Native has numerous popular and on-demand UI toolkits, such as Shoutem, UI Kitten, React Native Material Kit, and more.
Flutter:
Flutter has a native package of UI widgets, like UIButton, UIHeading, UIBottomSheet, UITextField, UIContained, and more.
These packages are used to create apps with basic integrations, like buttons, inputs, headings, dialogs, action sheets, and more. Apart from that, the existing collection of widgets in Flutter gives a native look and feel to the widgets.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, Flutter vs. React Native is unique in their ways. Both of them are open-source frameworks yet differ in programming languages, testing tools, and app performance.
Flutter uses a Dart programming language and has an organized structure with multiple widgets. On the contrary, React Native uses JavaScript programming language and third-party tools to make apps attractive.
Overall, Flutter vs. React Native are great picks, and it is advisable to choose the framework as per your business requirements and budget.
