Do you want to be able to create apps faster? And you want to save money by developing for several platforms, but you're not sure which technology to use?

We evaluate the two market leaders – Flutter and React Native – from the perspective of app owners in this article to help you figure out which framework is ideal for your app concept.


Flutter and React Native: An Overview
Let's start with some essential (but crucial) information regarding Flutter and React Native.

What exactly is Flutter?
Flutter is a lightweight user interface framework. To put it another way, it's a full-featured app Software Development Kit (SDK) that includes widgets and features.

What is the purpose of Flutter?
Flutter makes it possible to create cross-platform apps (Mobile, Desktop, and Web Apps).

It gives developers an easy way to build and deploy visually attractive, natively-compiled applications for mobile (iOS, Android), web, and desktop – all using a single codebase (source: official Flutter website).

Desktop support in Flutter

* You can compile Flutter source code into a native Windows, macOS, or Linux desktop program when designing desktop apps with Flutter.

* Developers can install existing plugins that support the macOS, Windows, or Linux platforms, or create their own, thanks to Flutter's desktop compatibility.

* Please note that Flutter's desktop support is currently in beta. As a result, it still contains flaws. Developers can, however, use the stable channel to sample a beta snapshot of desktop support or the beta channel to keep up with the newest modifications to the desktop.


Flutter for Web

Flutter's web support provides the same mobile and web experiences. This implies that you can now create Android, iOS, and the web using the same codebase.

* Flutter's web support is particularly beneficial in the following cases, according to the official Flutter website:

* Flutter delivers high-quality Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) integrated with a user's environment, including installation, offline support, and personalized UX.

* Single Page Applications (SPAs) are web applications that load only once and transport data to and from the internet.


A little more information on Flutter.

* It's open-source and free.

* It's built on Dart, an object-oriented programming language that's quick to learn (Dart is now in its 2.14 version). So it's new and simple to pick up - especially for seasoned developers already familiar with Java and C#. Dart also advocates for sound null safety.

* The architecture is built on reactive programming, which is highly common these days (it follows the same style as React)

* It has quick, attractive, customizable widgets and is pulled from its high-performance rendering engine.

* Flutter apps offer a lovely look and feel thanks to the widget experience (while you can still create your custom app design using readily available UI elements that follow specific platform guidelines)

Flutter was created by who?

A Google team created Flutter.

However, as an open-source project, it receives contributions from both Google and the Flutter community.


What are some of the most popular Flutter apps?

* Alibaba's Xianyu app (App Store, Google Play) – Alibaba is one of the world's largest e-commerce firms.
* Hamilton app (App Store, Google Play, Website) – official app for Hamilton's Broadway musical.
* App for Google Ads (App on App Store, App on Google Play)
* The eBay Motors app (App Store, Google Play) is a powerful tool for users to browse, purchase, and sell vehicles directly from their phones.
* Stadia (App Store, Google Play) - A Google gaming platform that allows players to play games on their computers, desktops, and mobile devices.


What is React Native, and how does it work?

React Native is a JavaScript-based open-source mobile application framework.

What is the purpose of React Native?

React Native is an excellent framework to use for:

* Cross-platform development
* Building mobile apps using JavaScript language
* Developing applications for both Android and iOS using a single codebase
* Using the same design as React

Who is the creator of React Native?

React Native was developed by Facebook.

What are popular apps made with React Native?

* Facebook App (Android, iOS)
* Instagram App (Android, iOS)
* Tesla App (Android, iOS)
* Skype App (Android, iOS)
* Fb Ads Manager App (Android, iOS)
* Pinterest App (Android, iOS)

In a nutshell, Flutter and React Native.

What is?

Flutter: From a single codebase, you can create natively compiled apps for mobile, web, and desktop*.
React Native: A React-based framework for creating native applications.

Official release?

Flutter: December 2018, Google I/O
React Native: March 2015, F8 Conference

Free and open source?

Flutter: Yes
React Native: Yes

Programming language?

Flutter: Dart
React Native: JavaScript

Popularity?

Flutter: 120,000 Stars on Github (May 2021)
React Native: 95,300 stars on Github (May 2021)

Hot Reload?

Flutter: Yes
React Native: Yes

Native performance?

Flutter: Great
React Native: Great

UI?

Flutter: On modern operating systems, Flutter apps appear just as good as in earlier versions.

The apps look and behave the same across iOS and Android because they share the same codebase. Still, they may also replicate the platform design thanks to Material Design and Cupertino widgets.

Flutter comes with two sets of widgets that conform to different design styles: Material Design widgets are based on Google's Material Design design language, while Cupertino widgets are inspired by Apple's iOS design.

This means that your Flutter app will look and act like native components on each platform.

React Native: Appearance-wise, application components are identical to native ones (e.g., a button on an iOS device looks just like a native iOS button and the same on Android).

Because React Native relies on native components, you can rest assured that your app's components will be updated as soon as the OS UI changes.

If you want your app to look nearly identical across platforms – as well as on earlier versions of an operating system (like Flutter does), consider leveraging third-party libraries. They will allow you to utilize Material Design components rather than native ones.


When should you use React Native, and when should you use Flutter?

One of the most critical components of mobile and web app development is project completion on schedule.

Both React Native and Flutter are cross-platform, which reduces time to market. Furthermore, their third-party libraries and ready-to-use components make using them to construct your project more efficient.

Better still, Flutter and React Native provide more than simply rapid development; they can also lower project costs. And these are the main reasons you should think about using either framework for your project. But which solution allows for the quickest development time? Or does it best suit your app concept?

That depends on the nature of your project and the skill balance of your team.

* Do your developers understand Dart? If so, programming with Flutter will be a piece of cake.

* Are your programmers well-versed in JavaScript? If so, React Native appears to be the best option.

* Do you want to create the UI for your project utilizing native UI components? If so, select React Native.

* Is brand-first design important to you? If so, we believe Flutter is a good fit.

Consider each application on its own merits. It's always a good idea to discuss your project with an experienced team of developers: people who are capable of considering different approaches and have a diverse enough skill set when it comes to cross-platform development – because if you seek advice from programmers who only know one framework, they'll likely steer you to use that tool.

Take comfort in the fact that Flutter and React Native are both excellent technologies. Moreover, they profit from widespread recognition and long-term trust.