Flutter vs. React Native: In a nutshell
|
Criteria
|
Flutter
|
React Native
|
|---|---|---|
|
What is it?
|
A portable UI toolkit for building natively-compiled apps across mobile, web, and desktop* from a single codebase
|
A framework for building native applications using React
|
|
Official release
|
December 2018, Google I/O
|
March 2015, F8 Conference
|
|
Created by
|
Google
|
Facebook
|
|
Free and open source
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Programming language
|
Dart
|
JavaScript
|
|
Popularity
|
120,000 Stars on Github (May 2021)
|
95,300 stars on Github (May 2021)
|
|
UI
|
Flutter apps look as good on the up-to-date operating systems as they do on older versions.
Since they only have one codebase, the apps look and behave similarly across iOS and Android – but thanks to Material Design and Cupertino widgets, they can also imitate the platform design itself. How’s that possible?
Flutter contains two sets of widgets which conform to specific design languages: Material Design widgets implement Google’s design language of the same name; Cupertino widgets imitate Apple’s iOS design.
This means that your Flutter app will look and behave naturally on each platform, imitating their native components.
|
Application components look just like native ones (e.g. a button on an iOS device looks just like a native iOS button, and the same on Android).
The fact React Native uses native components under the hood should give you confidence that, after any OS UI update, your app’s components will be instantly upgraded as well.
That said, this can break the app’s UI but it happens very rarely.
If you want your app to look near-identical across platforms – as well as on older versions of an operating system (as Flutter achieves) – then consider using third-party libraries (like this one). They will enable you to use Material Design components, in place of native ones.
|
|
Sharing code
|
With Flutter 2 (announced in March 2021), we can use the same codebase to ship native apps to five operating systems: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux; as well as web experiences targeting browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
Flutter can even be embedded in cars, TVs, and smart home appliances. (source).
Perhaps the single largest announcement in Flutter 2 is production-quality support for the web. It can be used for:
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that combine the web’s reach with the capabilities of a desktop app,
Single Page Apps (SPAs) that load once and transmit data to and from internet services.
Existing mobile apps – allowing Flutter apps to be run on a desktop.
|
iOS and Android – but there are select libraries that allow you to use the same code to build iOS, Android, web, and Windows10 apps.
You can also extract shared code in mobile, desktop, and web apps, to a separate repository; treat it as a separate project; then inject it in the same way as another dependency.
This allows a developer to focus on writing code for a specific platform without having to consider compatibility with another one.
Top apps made with this technology Xianyu app by Alibaba, Hamilton app for Hamilton Musical, Google Ads app, Philips Hue, My BMW Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Ads, Skype, Tesla
Time-to-market Typically much faster than native development. Possibly as fast as development with Flutter.
However…
React Native uses bridge and native elements, so it may require separate optimization for each platform – a problem that widget-based Flutter doesn’t run into. It may make the app development with React Native longer.
Competitive advantage
Great look and feel thanks to rich widgets;
Rapidly growing community, and popularity;
Excellent documentation with strong support from the Flutter team (which makes it easy to start developing with Flutter);
Improving Flutter for Web, offering the potential for one codebase across mobile and web platforms
Difficult to beat time-to-market length
Stability (5+ years on the market);
Many successful, prominent market players using React Native;
Mature, vast community;
Easy-to-learn technology;
Plenty of tutorials and libraries, which allow quick and easy development;
Code can be easily reused for both web app and desktop app development.
When it is not the best fit If…
• Your app needs to support 3D Touch (for now, Flutter doesn’t support 3D – but it features on the Flutter team’s long-term roadmap)
• The design of your app is platform-specific
• Your app requires multiple interactions with an OS; or requires rare, little-known native libraries
• You need a minimalistic UI, but rely on significant use of the phone hardware (e.g. an application that plays music, or only takes pictures)
• You want to create an instant app (small-sized app)
If your app sounds like any of the above, it’s probably better you choose native app development.
Read more about these cases here >>
If…
• Your app needs to handle less common, or ultra-specific tasks (like calculations) in the background
• You require custom communication via Bluetooth (which can be tricky to implement using React Native)
• You want to create an app for Android only
In truth, if you want to build an iOS app and you know JavaScript, consider React Native – but if you want an Android-only app, it’s likely better to build natively with another team. Why? Right now, iOS has better support than Android.
If your app sounds like any of the above, it’s probably better you consider choosing native app development.
|
|
Competitive advantage
|
Great look and feel thanks to rich widgets;
Rapidly growing community, and popularity;
Excellent documentation with strong support from the Flutter team (which makes it easy to start developing with Flutter);
Improving Flutter for Web, offering the potential for one codebase across mobile and web platforms
Difficult to beat time-to-market length
|
Stability (5+ years on the market);
Many successful, prominent market players using React Native;
Mature, vast community;
Easy-to-learn technology;
Plenty of tutorials and libraries, which allow quick and easy development;
Code can be easily reused for both web app and desktop app development.
|
Pros and cons of Flutter
Pros of Flutter
We’ll start with the pros that make Flutter the best choice for the developers. Here’s the list of advantages of Flutter over React Native:
- It looks great!
- It’s rich in widgets;
- The community is rapidly growing
- Well-structured documentation
- Permanent improvements for web development
- It requires less testing
- The apps are fast
- It helps to create the same UI for older devices
- Flutter 2 helps to build apps for the web!
Cons of Flutter
Even though the list of Flutter advantages is impressive, some disadvantages are still important to consider.
- It is not native
- The apps are bigger than native ones
- It still has a limited set of tools and libraries comparing to native apps
These disadvantages are minor, and they do not interfere with app development. However, in some cases, the cons of Flutter may be decisive when choosing a cross-platform development framework.
Flutter Apps Examples
Applications are written in Flutter:
- Google Ads.
- Alibaba.
- Square.
- eBay.
- Hamilton Musical.
- Reflection.
Which one to pick for your next project?
As we can see now, Flutter and React Native have many things in common. First and foremost, they are both open-source frameworks that anyone can use. They both are developed by leading companies: Google created Flutter vs React Native was created by Facebook. To compare basic info about Flutter and React Native, you can check this info by NIX.
Flutter is easier to use as it is more resistant to system updates. It means that when iOS or Android update the OS, the app will remain the same. On the contrary, React Native depends on native elements, so when the update is released, some problems may appear in the launch app. Currently, Flutter supports Android 4.1+ or iOS 8+, while React Native supports Android 4.1+ and iOS 10+.
The biggest difference between React Native and Flutter is that Flutter has plugins developed by the Google team, like geolocation and mapping. Unfortunately, React Native app works better with apps with a one-time location and does not require tracking.
All in all, Flutter and React Native are great choices to save time and money on mobile app development. What framework to choose will depend on the preferences of the developer and the company.
We are delighted to announce that Slitigenz has been recognized as the top IT outsourcing firm by the esteemed SoftwareOutsourcing…
2022 sparked the AI revolution, 2023 saw it infiltrate the business world, and now, in 2024, we’re at the brink…
Hey there! Ever wondered what the buzz around MLOps is all about? Let’s break it down! MLOps, short for Machine…
Whisper represents a cutting-edge neural network model meticulously crafted by OpenAI, designed to adeptly tackle the complexities of speech-to-text conversions.…
Vietnamese 
English
14 Comments
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Excellent web site you have got here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Good blog post. I certainly appreciate this site. Keep it up!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
En sevdiğim slot oyunu Starburst, grafikler harika, kazançlar büyük!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Thanks a lot.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post! It is the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Satin is the name of the weave,and can be made from various different fibers – sometimes those are silk,sexy velma cosplay
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me. Thanks!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this during my search for something relating to this.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
It’s difficult to find educated people about this subject, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you need to write more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t speak about these topics. To the next! Many thanks.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You’re so interesting! I do not think I’ve truly read something like this before. So wonderful to discover somebody with original thoughts on this issue. Really.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that’s needed on the internet, someone with a little originality.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
When I originally commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the exact same comment. Is there a means you can remove me from that service? Thanks.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this site. I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own site now 😉
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes that produce the most important changes. Many thanks for sharing!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am having troubles with your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to join it. Is there anybody having similar RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanks!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Excellent article. I absolutely love this site. Continue the good work!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
After exploring a few of the blog articles on your site, I really like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my web site too and tell me your opinion.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
After checking out a number of the articles on your web site, I really like your way of writing a blog. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site as well and tell me your opinion.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I like it when individuals come together and share opinions. Great website, continue the good work.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful websites online. I most certainly will highly recommend this web site!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
On the other hand, these updates are typically expensive, えろ 人形so if you’re not serious about them, you could possibly favor SRSD for its head range.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to come back yet again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post! It is the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Many thanks for sharing!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
That is a good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I want to to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I have got you book-marked to check out new stuff you post…
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
making it easy to follow and digest.Your writing not only informs but also inspires.ラブドール
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
priligy pills For my own dog, I chose Dasuquin Advanced because it s backed by science and preferred by many vets
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
sugar defender official website Incorporating Sugar
Protector into my daily routine total health. As a person who prioritizes healthy and balanced
eating, I appreciate the additional defense this supplement gives.
Because starting to take it, I’ve discovered a significant enhancement in my power degrees and a significant decrease in my wish for harmful snacks
such a such an extensive impact on my day-to-day live.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Thank you! Exactly where are your contact details though?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
sugar defender official website For years,
I’ve fought unpredictable blood sugar level swings that
left me really feeling drained and tired. However since integrating Sugar
my energy degrees are currently secure and regular, and
I no longer hit a wall in the mid-days. I appreciate that
it’s a mild, natural method that does not featured any kind of unpleasant side effects.
It’s genuinely changed my life. sugar defender reviews
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always exciting to read articles from other writers and use a little something from other websites.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hiếp dâm bà già
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website. I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own blog now 😉
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Everyone loves it when people get together and share views. Great site, continue the good work.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Howdy! I simply wish to give you a big thumbs up for your great information you have right here on this post. I am coming back to your blog for more soon.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Right here is the right blog for anyone who really wants to find out about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic that’s been discussed for many years. Great stuff, just great.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You’re so cool! I do not think I’ve read anything like this before. So great to find another person with some unique thoughts on this subject matter. Seriously.. many thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is required on the web, someone with a bit of originality.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! It is the little changes that produce the most significant changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Very good information. Lucky me I ran across your blog by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve bookmarked it for later!
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Hi, I do think this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to return once again since I saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
go88
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never seem to get anything done.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
Thanks for paying attention to our blog. Our consultation is free so you can leave your questions here and we will try to answer them asap
I am currently writing a paper and a bug appeared in the paper. I found what I wanted from your article. Thank you very much. Your article gave me a lot of inspiration. But hope you can explain your point in more detail because I have some questions, thank you. 20bet
Thanks for paying attention to our blog. Our consultation is free so you can leave your questions here and we will try to answer them asap.
Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
I may need your help. I tried many ways but couldn’t solve it, but after reading your article, I think you have a way to help me. I’m looking forward for your reply. Thanks.
Thanks for paying attention to our blog. Our consultation is free so you can leave your questions here and we will try to answer them asap.
I am a student of BAK College. The recent paper competition gave me a lot of headaches, and I checked a lot of information. Finally, after reading your article, it suddenly dawned on me that I can still have such an idea. grateful. But I still have some questions, hope you can help me.
Thank you so much for paying attention to our blog. Feel free to ask if you have any doubts so we will try to give you some advice asap!
Your article made me suddenly realize that I am writing a thesis on gate.io. After reading your article, I have a different way of thinking, thank you. However, I still have some doubts, can you help me? Thanks.
It’s our pleasure to help you with your problems. Just leave your question so we will try to give some advice. Thanks for your attention!
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
It’s our pleasure to help you with your problems. Just leave your question so we will try to give some advice. Thanks for your attention!