Flutter vs React Native

Flutter and React Native are among the most popular frameworks for cross-application mobile development. With Flutter, React Native, released in 2015, has gained a strong competitor. What is the comparison between these frameworks? Which framework is better suited for the implementation of your app project? You can discover it in the following article. 

 

Cross-platform development with React Native and Flutter

As we explained in "A guide to choosing between native and hybrid apps", frameworks like Flutter and React Native allow for so-called cross-platform development, where almost native apps can be developed on more platforms with only one code base. The advantage here lies in the fact that multiplatform apps significantly reduce development efforts and costs thanks to a common code base, and they feel like native apps. Flutter and React are the most widely used cross-platform mobile frameworks worldwide; according to Statista, in 2022, 46% of developers worldwide used Flutter and 32% used React Native.

Rendering applications that rely heavily on the core functions of operating systems accessible on multiple platforms is associated with a high development effort for native apps, which have to be developed independently for each desired operating system. A remedy could be hybrid development or web applications; in this case, a single code can be reproduced on several operating systems like iOS, Android, or desktop. However, both app types can access native functions only to a limited extent, and they also have worse performance. This can be sufficient for simple, informative apps, but it does not satisfy the requirements of a complex app.

 

Flutter

Flutter is a UI framework. "UI" stands for User Interface, i.e., everything that the user sees in the frontend. This includes, for example, all buttons, text boxes, images, and so on. Flutter tries to abstract the differences among various platforms by providing a uniform interface that allows a developer to use just one code base for all platforms. Flutter executes the rendering using the popular 2D graphic library Skia, which is used in almost all the most popular browsers. Being a framework, it is not a programming language. Flutter is based on the Dart programming language, also produced by Google. This was originally developed to substitute for JavaScript, the main web programming language. In terms of structure and syntax, Dart is similar to well-known object-oriented languages such as Java or C#.

Advantages

1. "Hot Reload" ensures a quick update of the preview and thus faster development.
2. Flutter applications also function as web applications.
3. Numerous customisation options and fast rendering thanks to multi-layer architecture

Disadvantages

1. Depends on the community, as plug-ins have to be developed by the community.
2. Flutter applications are rather large and 'heavy' in the beginning. They take longer to download and update.
3. The appearance does not correspond to the native solution and this can make the user confused by the app's behaviour.
4. The framework, like the Dart language, changes regularly and this makes maintenance problematic

Known Flutter applications: Xianyu (Alibaba), Google Ads, Phillips Hue

 

React Native

React Native is an open source library or framework for Java scripts published in 2015 by Meta Inc. (at the time: Facebook) and is the mobile derivation of React, used to create browser-based apps. Yet React Native does not use a browser to render objects, but the native interfaces of the respective systems. Communication between React Native and the native components takes place via a JavaScript bridge. Therefore, although the user interface components created are native, the communication is not defined as native. The code is written in React.
The React Native library has only a few ready-to-use widgets compared to Flutter, which means that more time needs to be spent on development, but there is also much more design freedom than in Flutter. Further development is supported by some large companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Discord, and Shopify, which makes React Native a reliable tool for web and app development.

Advantages

1. One team - two platforms: Cross-platform development ensures that the team is smaller, costs are lower and the project is easier to manage. The team is smaller, costs are lower and the project is easier to manage.
2. 100% native user interface: the user interface consists of native components that are the hallmark of platforms. For this reason, even native developers can hardly distinguish RN apps from native solutions.
3. Hot reload offers an instant update process of changes in the JavaScript code without the need to recompile the application.

Disadvantages

1. Performance: React Native apps often suffer a strong performance loss
2. Dependence on Facebook and few third-party components
3. Need for native developers: some of the problems described above can be solved by using native modules. However, the implementation requires expertise in Java/Objective-C/Swift. Therefore, the help of native developers is occasionally needed.
4. Functionality backlog: New functionality from Google or Apple must be implemented in React Native and this often takes time.

Known React Native applications: Facebook, Instagram, Tesla, Wix, Skype

 

Flutter or React Native?

Flutter and React Native are powerful technologies for cross-platform app development. The result are modern apps with a native appeal that, unlike hybrid development, can access most of the native functions of the end device. 

Although React Native apps have slightly worse performance compared to Flutter apps, due to the communication through a JavaScript bridge, React Native apps can be developed in a more customised way and offer the advantage of using directly native components of the end device. However, the loss of performance in React Native is not relevant in most cases and is probably going to be a memory of the past thanks to the new system architecture and the possibilities of the Skia connection.

Functional and less custom apps can be developed faster with Flutter, while more complex UI elements are better implemented with React Native, also thanks to the large React Native community, as the framework is a bit older than Flutter. Overall, Flutter is excellent for the rapid development of small apps and MVPs for the produc validation, while React Native can be considered a reliable technology for larger, long-term projects.

 

To get the most out of your app project, we will be happy to provide you with a non-binding and free consultation. Contact us today to start exploring the best options and strategies available for your project's success. We are here to help you bring your vision to life.