We all know that cross platform mobile app development has gained immense popularity over the last few years.
The most important reason for this popularity is that it allows you to develop mobile apps that can be used on multiple mobile platforms. Due to this reason, you can build your mobile application at comparatively lower cost & in lesser timeframe too.
Talking about cross platform development for mobile apps, there are several options today. But here, we are going to compare 2 major platforms that have become favourite of many mobile app developers: React Native & Flutter.
In this blog post, I will compare some of the basic yet worth-to-know parameters of both the platforms.
#1 Development of UI blocks
Flutter comes with proprietary widgets to build UI blocks for app development however React Native is majorly based on the native components for Android and iOS.
Using Flutter’s proprietary widgets, your app developer can leverage on customised UI designs as well as native components. Are there any drawbacks too? Yes. Mobile apps that are developed using Flutter may lack in typical iOS-styled components which may affect the user-experience of your mobile application.
To sum up, React Native offers a better user-experience as compared to the Flutter.
#2 Programming languages
Before getting started on your mobile application development, your developer may face this important question of choosing an appropriate programming language. React Native is based on JavaScript while Flutter uses Dart.
Talking about the popularity & adaptability of programming languages among app developers, JavaScript definitely wins over Dart.
Another advantage that JavaScript gets over Dart is that JavaScript is well supported by web browsers & servers.
Dart is comparatively new programming language as compared to JavaScript. But the best part about Dart is that it’s easy to use.
So, the selection of React Native Vs. Flutter must be made on the expertise of your hired app developer.
#3 Development timeframe
If you need a mobile application on a very strict deadline, go for React Native.
Yes, developing a mobile app using React Native takes lesser time than Flutter.
One of the major reasons of this quick development turnaround of React Native is that it has ready-to-use components which makes the speed of cross platform mobile app developer faster.
#4 Usage Statistics
Since, React Native has been in the market since 2015 and it has been used for development of tons of mobile apps, it has got more clientele as compared to Flutter.
Did you know?
Skype, Facebook, Tesla, Airbnb and Instagram are some of the clients of React Native.
Flutter was officially launched in the year 2017 and therefore, it is still considered as a new platform when compared to React Native.
To sum up, React Native has higher number of clients as compared to Flutter.
#5 Performance
If you compare both Flutter & React Native on the basis of their performance, Flutter has an advantage over React Native.
App developers face problem when they build hybrid apps using React Native however if they choose to build native apps, they don’t experience any problems.
Issues related to the architecture, libraries and components are very common for app developers when they develop hybrid apps using React Native. While Flutter encourages the app developers to reuse the same code base.