Choosing the Right Framework: Flutter vs. React Native for Your Project
Among all, Flutter and React Native are the two admired cross-platform app development frameworks that are being utilized to develop thousands of applications.
But, you must have seen a lot of queries like “Flutter vs. React Native: Which is better?” In case you need to pick any of them (Flutter or React Native), what will you do?
Well, the answer isn’t simple. It wholly depends on your business requirements, as well as use cases.
Believe it or not, both Flutter and React Native are influential contenders with their set of pros and cons.
Are you getting confused?
Let’s dig deeper and acquire complete information about both frameworks.
What is Flutter?
Developed by Google in 2017, Flutter is one of the admired open-source cross-platform app development frameworks. It utilizes the Dart language. Presently, Flutter is new and only experienced programmers use the framework for developing mobile apps. Business owners hire Flutter developers for their app development needs.
A lot of known organizations, including OfflinePal, Hookle, Hamilton, Alibaba, Topline, and more, have utilized the Flutter framework.
Let’s view the two sides of the coin, i.e., Flutter’s pros and cons to having a definite idea about it.
Pros
- Extremely customizable
- Trusted and effortless to Use
- Open-source and free to use
- Hot Reload functionality
- An absolute development ecosystem
Cons
- Huge application size
- Dependence on native technologies and tools to develop apps
What is React Native?
Built by Facebook (now Meta) in 2015, React Native is an open-source framework. It is a cross-platform application development technology that allows developers to use JavaScript and React with native platform competencies needed to develop mobile apps.
By using React Native, you can build applications from native apps with Swift, Java, or Objective C. It is already an old tool and has an extensive community. When you hire React Native app developers, the things you can do with it are endless.
The applications made with React Native include Artsy, Vogue, Tesla, Facebook, Bloomberg, Skype, and more.
Pros
- Hot Reload and Open-Source
- Extremely trustworthy
- Ready-made elements
- Effortlessly accessible to native functionalities
- Execution of native UI elements
Cons
- Complicated UI
- Non-friendly navigation
Flutter vs. React Native: A Detailed Depiction
1. Framework Maturity
React Native was initially introduced in 2015, whereas Flutter's original Beta launch was done at the MWC (Mobile World Congress), held from February 26 to March 1st.
Hence, talking of development, Flutter is newer to the market as compared to React Native. Since it’s in its infancy phase, Flutter app development will take a few periods before it gets mature.
2. Programming Language
React Native uses JavaScript for building cross-platform applications. It is commonly used with Reach with additional famous JavaScript frameworks and makes it extremely simple for web programmers to begin their app journey.
In contrast, Flutter utilizes the Dart programming language. Google launched Flutter in the year 2011. Flutter uses several object-oriented concepts that are quite simple to learn and grab. However, viewing how JavaScript is a programming language that programmers begin their journey with gives React Native an extra point.
3. Installation
React Native is established via NPM (Node Package Manager). Developers who have JavaScript acquaintance can effortlessly perform the process of installation.
Flutter is installed via downloading binary for a particular platform from GitHub. If you are using macOS, an extra flutter.zip data file has been installed and inserted as a PATH variable.
Though both React Native and Flutter don’t have a one-line installation with their native package for an operating system, Flutter installation asks for one extra step. Due to this, the react-native again gets the point.
4. Configuration & Setup
The setup process of Flutter is much more direct when it is compared to React Native. It brings forth the stipulation of programmed checkup of devices’ issues, something which React Native doesn’t have to a great range.
5. Technical Architecture
React Native architecture depends upon the JS runtime situation architecture, called JavaScript bridge. This framework utilizes Flux design from Facebook.
On the other hand, Flutter utilizes the Dart framework, which doesn’t essentially need a bridge for interacting with native modules.
The point goes to Flutter because it introduces so many useful native elements in its framework and does not require a bridge to communicate with native elements.
6. User Interface
Flutter app development solutions, as well as React Native counterparts, are quite diverse in the way they build blocks when it comes to UI development.
While React Native functions with native iOS and Android elements by custom components or third-party, Flutter taps into proprietary widgets, which are wholly customized.
The widgets are both Cupertino for Apple and Material Design for Google building UI one of the feasible aspects for Flutter to restore React Native.
7. Tooling
Flutter is not equivalent to React Native when it comes to tooling. As Flutter is around three years old, the variety of tools and IDEs supporting it are higher in quantity.
But then, it can boast of its suitability with the IntelliJ idea, Android Studio, and Visual Studio Code. Besides, the Data linter, code analyzer, debugger, auto-format, and auto-format utilities for Flutter.
Moreover, the debugger, Dart linter, code analyzer, auto-format, and auto-format tools of Flutter have received a few favorable reviews.
8. Productivity of Developers
For a programmer who has proficiency in JavaScript language, React Native is effortless. This framework introduces a hot reload feature that stores programmers’ time to an immense amount.
Besides, the programmers are free to utilize any text editor or IDE of their preference. Flutter also has a hot reload attribute; however, the understanding curve is a bit greater when programmers have to understand and utilize the latest Flutter concepts.
Moreover, Dart, being new, doesn’t have the support of IDEs and multiple text editors, which lessens the productivity of developers.
9. Documentation
Google is recognized for its clear, comprehensive, and well-devised certification, and with the Flutter framework, it has sustained the anticipation.
Looking at the present comparison of React Native vs. Flutter in 2023, it is visible that this Flutter framework is lagging. However, the condition is going to change soon.
Flutter, in a short period, has begun attaining a precise grip from organizations. When you see their Showcase page, you are going to figure out that the applications that have been developed with Flutter belong to the complicated type, which is being utilized by several folks at the same time.