React Native vs Flutter: What’s the best option? They’re currently the most popular frameworks for building cross-platform mobile applications. Two of the biggest tech corporations in the world, Google and Facebook, endorse these frameworks.
There are currently more than 6 billion users of mobile devices worldwide. Statista reports that 42% of developers prefer Flutter over React when building mobile applications. Cordova is the third most popular framework.
Only 16% of users choose it. More than 2,000,000 developers use Flutter, and 500,000 do it each month. The numbers are impressive, but many depend on the popularity of mobile apps with users.
This blog will explore the two frameworks(React Native vs Flutter) and compare them in order to determine the best one for mobile app development by 2023.
Let’s get started.
Current Market Trends
- Grand View Research and Statista have both released reports that predict phenomenal growth for the mobile app market in the coming years. From 2022 to 2030, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% is predicted, and mobile app revenues will reach 935 billion U.S. Dollars by 2023. This growth is a clear indication of the enormous possibilities that web application development will have in the future.
- Statista’s graph shows that its market share grew from 38% to 42 % in the last year.
- Statista’s latest study shows that Flutter will be the most popular cross-platform mobile framework by 2021. React Native is 4% behind Flutter (42% versus 38%).
- In February 2023, React Native’s UI library had 355,832 results, while Flutter had 487,428. For Flutter, this figure is approximately two times higher. Compared to React Native’s 232168 outcomes in 2022, there were only 241,632 results.
- Flutter, according to the results from a Stack Overflow survey for 2022, was just about to surpass React Native in terms of popularity and usage as early as 2021. React Native had a 0.96 percent edge over Flutter by 2021.
- Google Trends shows that there is a close race between them. Flutter surpassed React Native in April 2020 for the first time in over two years. It maintained this position until 2022.
What is React Native?
React Native is an interface framework that combines native development and React. Facebook created React Native in 2015. This is a JavaScript-based open-source framework.
Cross-platform applications may be developed using the same codebase, doing away with the requirement for additional technologies to build mobile apps. React Native is used in the creation of Skype, Instagram, Uber Eats, and other applications. JavaScript may be used to create mobile apps.
You may download these mobile apps from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. React (JavaScript Library) and React Native are comparable. You’ll find react native to be a straightforward route if you’re a React developer.
What is Flutter?
The open-source technology Flutter, created by Google and formally released in December 2018, enables you to programme and construct native apps for Android and iOS. This platform maintains aesthetic coherence while combining performance and simplicity of development.
Dart was designed to take the role of Javascript in the Flutter framework. With just one codebase, cross-platform apps can be made with Flutter. This enables a mobile app development company to develop a web-based, mobile, and desktop application.
Apps created with Flutter have a more intuitive interface and are easier to navigate. This makes them a popular option for companies that require specialized frameworks, such as Alibaba, eBay, and Google Assistant.
React Native vs Flutter – Advantages
React native vs flutter both are very popular technologies and have amazing benefits. So when you choose to hire android app developers to create an application for your business, you must definitely know the advantages.
Advantages of React Native
- Optimal performance- Performance enhancement with native controls and modules is the key to evaluating a platform’s effectiveness. React Native seamlessly creates native API code while natively interacting with iOS and Android components. Using threads that are distinctly different from native APIs or UIs results in performance improvement.
- Live and hot reloading – The feature of live reloading helps compile and read changes made by the programmers. The simulator also has a new application file that reads it from the beginning. Hot reloading lets the developer see the code even if they don’t recompile it. React Native’s feature allows android app developers to see the results instantly after making code changes, which reduces waiting time.
- Simplified UI– A less complicated and simpler user interface is provided by React Native. Its architecture is more like an open-source system than a conventional network. This platform uses a software interface that eliminates unnecessary components to produce apps in the correct order. React Native-built apps load more quickly and offer a more seamless user experience.
- Modular architecture – With modular architecture and design, developers can upgrade or update their apps instantly. React Native’s intuitive interface allows developers to dive deep into another developer’s project and make further changes or improvements. Testers also need less time to create test scenarios and understand the logic of a program.
Advantages of Flutter
- Quick Coding – One of the most recent platforms for developing apps, this technology provides a quick approach to creating high-performing apps.
- Hot reload – The platform allows developers to see the changes they have made in real-time, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity. Hot reload gives Flutter an advantage over similar features from competitors, as it allows mobile app developers to pause the execution of code, make code changes, and continue coding in the same location. This results in greater efficiency.
- Widgets – Flutter’s use of ready-made apps ensures a consistent design and development model. These widgets, which are based on Google’s code, provide a higher level of performance and code quality than other open-source frameworks. They are highly customizable and follow both Cupertino materials and Cupertino’s looks, which is a major advantage.
- Minimal Coding -One of the most recent platforms for developing apps, this technology provides a quick approach to creating high-performing apps. This helps speed up apps and allows them to be launched faster. Flutter reduces the stress of developers through its native codebase and third-party integration.
- Attractive User Interface- Flutter has an attractive User Interface. According to Will Larche, a Google software engineer, Flutter is built with the goal of creating a beautiful and personalized User Interface. Its main goal is to create custom apps with a fast interface and pleasant user experience. The tool is powerful enough to let designers create anything they can imagine.
React Native vs Flutter-Disadvantages
When you hire dedicated developers for your project, you must also have the knowledge of drawbacks of both frameworks as it will help you in choosing the best one.
Disadvantages of React Native
- Compatibility and debugging issues- Despite being used for six years, React Native still has compatibility and debugging issues. Due to the fact that React Native was created using Javascript, C/C++, and Java, debugging it may be a highly challenging and time-consuming task. Flipper provides a number of debugging tools that can help you overcome this problem.
- Complex User Interface– React Native will not work for you if you need to create a mobile app with many animations, transitions, and interactions. Even if you add a gesture responder, it won’t solve the problem because Android and iOS touch systems have different APIs.
- Immature framework – Developers find it hard to adapt and change with the constant advancements of React Native. In its quest to be faster, React Native lost its credibility by becoming too mature for Android or iOS. React Native applications are less flexible than native apps.
- Harder to build a cross-platform team- It is harder to build a team that works across platforms. As React Native is a technology that crosses platforms, the team must be familiar with web technologies (Java and React), as well as native technologies (CI and UX). Building a cross-platform team can be difficult.
Disadvantages of Flutter
Even if Flutter has many benefits, one cannot deny that there are drawbacks as well. Despite its flaws, Flutter is one of the most popular products on the market.
- No third-party libraries- These libraries offer extra functionality to developers that are frequently free, open source, and tested. One of the more recent platforms for creating mobile apps, Flutter, is still in its infancy and provides just a small number of third-party packages and libraries.
- Apps are large in size– This is another disadvantage that cannot be ignored. Everyone in the mobile world needs more space. Many older devices cannot store more apps. You may have to choose whether you want an app or photos. Flutter’s main drawback is its large file size.
- Skill Requirement – Although Flutter is a simple language, programmers must first learn DART. Flutter requires an additional learning phase, which can add time and costs to any project.
React Native vs Flutter-Key Comparison
Here is the comparison table between React Native vs Flutter that you must check out:
| Features | React Native | Flutter |
| Language | JavaScript (React) | Dart |
| UI Components | Native components wrapped in JavaScript | Custom widgets |
| Performance | Can have performance issues in complex apps | High-performance due to Dart’s compiled nature |
| Community | Large and mature community | Growing community, gaining popularity |
| Platform Support | iOS and Android | iOS, Android, Web, Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) |
| Learning Curve | Relatively easy if familiar with React | Requires learning Dart and Flutter framework |
| Native Access | Direct access to device APIs and libraries | Direct access to device APIs and libraries |
| Third-Party | Wide range of libraries and packages available | Developing ecosystem with growing package support |
| Popularity | Widely used and established in the industry | Gaining popularity, especially in mobile app dev. |
| Features | React Native | Flutter |
| Licence | Open source | Open source |
React Native vs Flutter-Detailed Comparison
Now that you know the difference between react native vs flutter in the table, let’s now discuss each of them in detail. However, if you want to create a mobile app using these technologies, it would be better to hire Indian developers who are well-versed and dedicated to providing robust apps.
Programming Language
If you decide to create an application using Flutter, then you’ll need to learn Dart. Dart was created by Google to replace JavaScript. It is a relatively new language (it appeared in 2011). The language has an elegant syntax, is object-oriented, and is well documented with thousands of examples. Switching to it is, therefore, almost painless.
React Native is built on JavaScript, an established language with millions of users and a wealth of tutorials. JavaScript is a mature language that has played a major role in dynamic web design. Dart, on the other hand, can double JavaScript’s performance thanks to just-in-time and ahead-of-time compilers.
Flutter and Dart lead the pack in terms of speed. But if you’re looking for a mature platform with a large pool of talented developers, then JavaScript and React Native are better options.
Architecture
When selecting one, it’s crucial to consider the cross-platform development environment’s technological architecture. By understanding the framework’s structure, you can make a more informed choice and choose the best one for your project.
React Native’s architecture is heavily influenced by the JavaScript Bridge pattern. JavaScript code is converted to machine code during runtime. React Native is based on the Flux architecture created by Facebook.
This platform communicates with its modules using a JavaScript bridge, making applications slower. Dart, the language that Flutter uses, has many of its components already built in. It is, therefore, larger and does not need much space to interact.
Dart provides many frameworks, such as Material Design, Cupertino, and Cupertino, that provide all of the technologies needed to develop mobile applications. Dart, on the other hand, uses Skia, a C++-written graphics engine. It is clear that the Flutter engine contains all the core components necessary to make its applications faster.
Installation
Installing React Native is easy using the Node.js NPM Package Manager. React Native is easy to install for developers who have experience with JavaScript. The NPM package manager is a useful tool for other developers.
Download the Flutter binary or zip archive directly from the website. The system variable needs to include the bin folder. This operation is more complicated than React Native.
Both React Native (nor Flutter) don’t offer a single-line install with their OS-specific package manager. Installing Flutter is a longer process because it requires more steps.
UI and Development API
React Native provides APIs to render user interfaces, access devices, and use native iOS and Android UI elements. To access native modules, React Native strongly relies on third-party libraries.
Instead of using native UI components, Flutter offers custom widgets that are rendered from scratch. Flutter UI development involves extensive customization and is tied to UI rendering components and device API access.
It also includes navigation, testing, Stateful Management, many libraries, and testing. This set of components is so rich that it eliminates the need for third-party libraries. Flutter gives you everything you need to create mobile apps.
Development Time
For JavaScript programmers who wish to create cross-platform applications, React Native is a fantastic tool. A hot reload function can also save a great deal of time during development when testing user interface changes. Hire hybrid developers who can use any text editing or development environment to support IDEs, which helps streamline the process.
Flutter has a feature called hot reload. As the complexity of an application increases, developers will need to learn more Flutter concepts. This takes time. Dart is a relatively new programming language, and not all IDEs or text editors support it. This can slow the process.
Code Reusability
Both frameworks allow for code reuse, but Flutter provides more options in this area. You only have to modify one line in Flutter and specify new business logic. The codebase can then be reused.
Reusability in React Native is more difficult because the code isn’t always compatible with every mobile platform. So, hire react native app developers to adjust codebases and find alternative components.
Quality Assurance
React Native is built on the JavaScript framework. JavaScript provides several frameworks to test unit code. React Native doesn’t provide official support for integrations or UI testing. Appium and Detox are two third-party tools that can be used for testing React Native applications.
In fact, Flutter provides a wide range of tools for testing apps at the level of modules, widgets, and integrations. The platform offers excellent documentation on app testing.
Ecosystem and Community Support
React Native gained popularity in 2015. There is a huge community of developers using the framework on GitHub. It also hosts numerous conferences and meetups around the globe.
Flutter may be two years behind React Native, but the community has gained a lot more attention due to Google’s marketing. Though smaller than React Native’s, Flutter’s community is expanding swiftly. Many meetups are organized, as well as conferences.
DevOps Support and CI/CD
React Native does not have any official documentation on how to set up continuous delivery. You can find a lot of articles about this topic online. You can also learn how to create a CD pipeline for a React Native application using Azure DevOps.
Flutter has a section dedicated to continuous integration, with links to other sources. The rich command-line interface of Flutter makes it simple to set up continuous delivery. While React Native lacks formal documentation, Flutter apps may be readily set up to use these services.
Release
Google’s efforts have made it much easier to release Flutter apps. Automation and flexibility are the key. React Native requires manual operations and complex protocols.
Performance
Flutter is the winner in this category. The framework accelerates code writing while its C++ Engine and Skia graphics libraries allow you to build high-performance apps for all platforms.
Utilizing a bridge, React Native allows JavaScript and native code to talk to one another.
It can sometimes cause UI rendering to be delayed and other performance problems. As Flutter is able to connect with native elements via built-in frameworks and libraries, it doesn’t need a similar mechanism.
Documentation
Flutter also wins in the documentation category. It is very easy for beginners, thanks to the great documentation, to choose this framework and begin using it. The documentation for React Native is more complicated and assumes that the user has some experience with JavaScript.
Will Flutter Overtake React Native?
CTOs have been asking for a long while why React Native was better than Flutter. However, the scope of this question has changed. Both React Native and Flutter may be used to create fantastic applications with native-like functionality and feel. However, Flutter is increasingly being used by professional developers and businesses, and the trend continues globally.
When choosing between the React Native vs Flutter technologies, it’s important to consider more than just their popularity and technical advantages or disadvantages.
The short learning curve of Flutter is a strong suit. Dart’s reasonably basic language and Flutter’s documentation can help when you require engineers that can rapidly dive into a project.
Don’t forget that Dart isn’t as popular a programming language as JavaScript, used in React Native. It may be hard to find and hire flutter developers.
Conclusion
So, making a choice between react native vs Flutter is a bit difficult as both are outstanding in their own way. However, React Native appears to be the frontrunner in the race to develop the best platform for mobile app development. Flutter is a good option for developers looking to create high-quality applications quickly and efficiently. Moreover, Flutter is likely to become less popular as React Native grows in popularity. If you are looking for a platform to use in your next project, make sure to look at both React Native as well as Flutter. They’re both worth consideration!
