Flutter vs React Native 2024: Which is Better for Your Project?

With the mobile-first approach leading the tech solution market, it’s clear that many businesses see potential benefits in creating mobile apps, either new or corresponding to an existing web app.

The framework choice is paramount when you plan to create a solution. It has to be tested by time, up to date, allow for budget and development time optimization, and more. One of the most frequent dilemmas of ProCoders partners is Flutter vs React Native.

According to Google Trends, the popularity dynamic between the two slightly shifted over the last 5 years.

Both are cross-platform frameworks with tremendous functionality, robust user communities, and many pre-programmed modules that can supercharge your development speed. However, understanding the differences between Flutter and React Native can be the key to building your next project on the right foundation. 

Before starting the development, you might want to understand all the requirements of your project to choose the framework wisely.

As a company with a decade of experience in software development, we know a thing or two about both of these libraries, and we’re ready to share professional insights to assist you in making the right choice.

Why Picking the Right Framework Is a Game-changer

Choosing the right framework for your application development is crucial, as it significantly influences your project’s:

• architecture
• maintainability
• scalability
• overall success

Opting between popular libraries like Flutter and React Native may affect development speed, performance, and the ease of future enhancements. 

This decision shapes the technical aspects of development and the business outcomes. The right framework enhances performance, scalability, and maintenance while optimizing costs and speeding up development and deployment. Conversely, a poor choice can lead to higher costs, increased complexity, and scalability issues, hindering your application’s success.

Thus, picking the right framework can be a game-changer, impacting both technical execution and commercial viability. It’s crucial to consider how each option fits with your goals, development team’s skills, and your application’s future needs.

Now, let’s dive into the ProCoders framework knowledge pool, getting familiar with each option to ensure the right decision!

Flutter: the Basics

Developed by Google in 2017, the framework is designed to work across platforms, so it can be expressed on any mobile device or tied to your existing web applications. Thanks largely to Google’s influence, It is considered one of the leading open-source frameworks available today.

Flutter development advantages include a complete ecosystem, hot reload functionality, and the fact that it’s open-source and free to use. Hence, it is often a preferred choice to develop Dapp with Flutter. 

Despite all this, there are Flutter development limitations, including its large size and reliance on native tools and technologies.

Flutter popularity is powered up by big companies and their famous apps that choose it.

Applications created using Flutter include:

• Google Ads (App Store, Google Play)
• The New York Times (App Store, Google Play)
• eBay Motors (App Store, Google Play)
• Hamilton (App Store, Google Play)
• YouTube Create (App Store, Google Play)
• My BMW (App Store, Google Play) 
• PUBG Mobile (App Store, Google Play), etc.

Recommended: Flutter or Xamarin

React Native: the Basics

Developed by Facebook in 2015, this framework is a well-used, well-loved cross-platform app development technology that is currently one of the most popular frameworks in the world, coming #9 according to Stack Overflow 2023 survey. 

Why is it so popular? 

The answer is mainly its flexibility—it allows developers to build mobile apps using React and JavaScript alongside many other native platform abilities.

This highly reliable, open-source framework offers easy implementation of native UI application components, hot reloading, platform-specific functionalities and code, and one of the largest UI support communities in the world. This convenience may amp up project creation, which is one of the reasons businesses hire React Native developers.

With that being said, there are some significant disadvantages to this framework. Specifically, it has a more complex UI, and the navigation isn’t always that seamless. However, it is still a favorite of many important online companies:

• Facebook (App Store, Google Play)
• Skype (App Store, Google Play)
• Khan Academy (App Store, Google Play)
• Walmart (App Store, Google Play)
• Discord (App Store, Google Play)
• Bloomberg (App Store, Google Play)
• Tesla (App Store, Google Play)
• Coinbase (App Store, Google Play), etc.

They all have built their entire online systems on React Native, and we don’t expect this trend to slow down anytime soon.

Flutter vs React Native: Digging Deeper

What to choose? Flutter or React Native? 

At ProCoders, it’s not uncommon for us to recommend either framework, as each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the project parameters. The key is to understand the features instead of running for trends. Let’s dig in.

Programming Language

Flutter Dart Programming Language

Flutter language is Dart, created by Google in 2011. Many say programming done in Dart is a little faster to run than React Native. Dart’s elegant syntax is hard to fault, but its object-oriented concepts can be tricky to learn.

That means fewer developers out there have learned it. So, when we compare Flutter to React Native regarding ease of programming language use, Dart loses this round.

JavaScript & the React Native Framework

One of React Native development advantages is the language it uses. JavaScript is a breeze to program with, making it one of the most widely used languages in the world. It is used by website designers as well as software engineers. Thanks to the vast React Native JavaScript development community, tutorials abound.

Throw in the pre-built modules it offers, and it’s easy to see how this framework can save you time and money. When our developers are asked will Flutter replace React Native, they usually say no, for this reason.

Architecture

Flutter’s Skia

The framework uses Skia, a 2D graphics rendering library, and the Dart language VM in a platform-specific shell. It compiles Dart’s source code ahead of time, creating native code. This point is critical. The framework’s code is an elegant, speedy solution that integrates seamlessly with iOS or Android.

There are no awkward programming bridges needed to make things work. To compare React Native and Flutter on this point alone, it is the clear winner for the elegance of its design.

React Native: Flux

This framework uses Facebook’s Flux architecture, but it requires a JavaScript bridge to integrate. This inconvenient fact inherently slows app design a little more than Dart, and that’s a key difference between Flutter and React Native.

Installation

Flutter: Slower to Install

To install this framework, you must download the binary for the platform you choose from GitHub. If you’re installing for macOS, there’s even an additional step here – an additional.zip file that has to be downloaded and added as a PATH variable. This is one of the key differences between Flutter and React Native, making it slower and trickier to install.

React Native and NPM

This framework is easy to love when it comes to installation. Installation is seamless using the node package manager if you have a good command of JavaScript.

It’s important to note that both frameworks lack a one-line installation and a native package manager for OS. That means neither framework is ideal at this point. Yet, Flutter installation calls for one additional step. So, in the comparison between React Native and Flutter, we’ll choose React every time.

Development API and Native UI Experience with React Native vs Flutter

Flutter

This framework relies primarily on its customized development language, which creates a stark difference in The UI development experience between Flutter and React Native.

It is 100 percent customizable, using its widgets. This may be the framework’s key advantage over React Native because the widgets are automatically consistent with Material Design for Google and Cupertino for Apple.

No third-party apps or custom components are required. When people ask the question, will Flutter replace React Native, its hand-in-glove compatibility with Google is one of the biggest reasons why.

Building UIs with React Native

One of React Native development limitations is the use of third-party or custom components, often resulting in a patchwork effect in the code. However, it’s important not to make too much of this because React’s JavaScript development language offers its own advantages.

Development Time

Flutter

In a straight-up development speed contest, which is better Flutter or React Native? this framework loses. The Dart language is not as widely used or understood by developers. Though most people love its Hot Reload feature, this framework lacks the support of many text editors and IDEs, which adds more time to the development process.

React Native

The difference between Flutter and React Native is JavaScript, pure and simple. JavaScript clearly makes development easy and accessible for more web developers and designers.

Even better, developers are free to use any IDE or text editor. When it comes to development speed, there really is no comparison. React Native is clearly superior.

Code Reusability

Flutter

Code reusability is a big talking point in any comparison between React Native and Flutter. In Dart, Flutter’s codebase is much more reusable. Developers can define a single UI widget tree and reuse the logic defined. Thanks to Google, Flutter has an elegant interface, making it the winner in this comparison.

React Native

We recommend it for development speed, but it comes with some caveats. Why? Because it isn’t always compatible.

This framework generally allows you to write code once and apply it to every platform. However, compatibility on all mobile platforms isn’t always guaranteed, often requiring developers to load a different set of components that work.

These modifications can reduce your time and even affect the React Native app cost. We hope the framework will address code reusability in the future.

Quality Assurance

Flutter

Like other programs developed by Google, Flutter offers many integrated quality-control testing features. Want to test an individual widget? You can. Want to run Integration tests? No problem. All these capabilities come on board. And even better,  it provides lots of detailed testing documentation.

React Native

This framework needs more integrated unit test features. That said, developers can generally fill this gap using third-party frameworks like Jest and Detox. It’s an add-on, but it’s not that big of a problem to integrate.

So, in a quality assurance comparison between React Native and Flutter, it’s a bit of a draw. Both work equally well in their own way.

Flutter vs React Native Popularity, Ecosystem and Community Support

Flutter

If React Native and Flutter are compared on ecosystem size, Flutter will always lose. But don’t despair. The community of developers using it is growing fast.

According to Stack Overflow’s Developer’s Survey of 2023, in the most loved/wanted category, 9.12 percent of people showed interest in the Flutter framework. When asked about React Native, 8.43 percent of developers showed interest. With the continued investment from Google Flutter will be a framework trend that will continue to grow.

React Native

On the market since 2015, it has gained popularity due to the ease of its JavaScript programming. Now, it has a developer ecosystem of more than 10,000, an enormous online database of tutorials, and developer conferences held worldwide.

It’s not just a framework; it’s a tribe. That’s a considerable difference between React Native and Flutter. So, the advantage of React Native is in this comparison.

DevOps Support

Flutter

When evaluating DevOps in Flutter or React Native, most people would agree that React Native is the clear winner. However, what Flutter needs more in community support it gains in CI and CD official documentation.

The framework has an entire section on this documentation, including several links, making adding CI/CD for its apps an extremely easy process. While this is no substitution for deep developer community support, it is a good start. In the future, its usage is likely to grow.

React Native

The Facebook connection has ensured React Native has enormous third-party libraries, help guides, third-party support, and more. React Native is the clear winner in Dev/Ops support. And developers enjoy using it.

React Native vs Flutter Performance

Flutter

In a Flutter vs React Native performance comparison, it wins the race. But this answer is more clear-cut than it appears. Yes, it runs faster than its rival. It doesn’t have JavaScript bridges slowing it down, and that saves development time.

Flutter has also set its animation standard at 60 FPS, which proves its quick-running performance. The fact that it is compiled directly into the native ARM code for both Android and iOS surely doesn’t hurt Flutter’s performance and speed, either.

Performance overlay showing the raster thread (top), and UI thread (bottom). Source: flutter.dev.

But even though it is faster, it is a substantially bigger program with more native components. So, it’s a point that must be weighed before you proceed. Fortunately, this framework provides a wealth of comprehensive documentation on how to reduce file size.

React Native

Again, the Flutter vs. React Native performance comparison will always favor Flutter due to the elegance and power of its design. This is one of the key reasons many developers are now considering developing in Flutter a future-forward trend.

The JavaScript bridges to its back code and plug-and-play modules slow it down, but it still doesn’t make React Native applications slow. Both are excellent programs in this regard, or they wouldn’t be a tool we use for developing our clients’ websites at all.

Release

Flutter

To compare Flutter to React Native on Release protocols, Flutter wins every time. Why? Flutter has a seamless release process that will make it easy to get an app into the App Store or Google Play.

Flutter has official documentation for fast Lane deployment and iOS and Android release. Recently, Bitrise announced out-of-the-box CI support for Flutter. Better yet, Flutter apps can be deployed from the command line itself.

React Native

In this framework’s defense, its release process is fairly standard. The only problem is that it’s entirely manual. Any automatic deployment requires third-party tools, making the release process considerably more labor-intensive and slowing down development speed.

In a React vs Flutter comparison, this framework has a long way to go before it catches up.

Documentation

Flutter

A key difference between Flutter and React Native is its documentation. With Dart Flutter has invested a great deal in its native documentation, and it shows. It’s easy to love their documentation guides, which makes it easy to transition from another framework or optimize a current project.

Developers can always find helpful graphics and videos that are available directly within the framework.

React Native

Look under the hood of its onboard documentation; you’ll soon see it is spotty and poorly done. In fact, developers often go to third-party sources to get the kind of documentation most projects need. It’s a major point against the framework when you compare Flutter and React Native on documentation. Flutter truly will win every time.

When to Use React Native vs Flutter for App Development

In this ProCoders review of the difference between Flutter and React Native, the comparison has been made point by point, category by category. But in an overall comparison, which framework wins? The answer is—it depends.

When to Choose React Native

Opt for React Native if:

• You’re already using React for web development and seeking consistency in React mobile development.
• Rapid and straightforward app development is a priority.
• Access to a vast array of third-party libraries is crucial for your project.
• Your target audience includes users on a wide range of devices, including older models.

When to Choose Flutter

Choose Flutter if:

• High performance is a critical requirement for your app.
• You aim to develop an app with a smaller footprint.
• You are focusing on newer devices for your app deployment.
• You prefer a framework that is actively being developed and frequently updated.

Remember that any of the decision points discussed here could also be thrown out the window by a project’s hardware requirements. Before starting, take a close look at hardware-specific APIs, as they may make or break the app. How well Flutter or React Native can accommodate those APIs will depend completely on your project.

Latest Updates of Flutter and React Native

Flutter

Flutter 2023 Updates:

• Flutter 3.7 and Flutter 3.10 Releases: These updates have broadened support for Material 3 (Material You), enhancing applications’ visual appeal and customization options. This enhancement includes new widgets and theming options that comply with the latest Material Design guidelines.
• Impeller Rendering Engine: Introduced in Flutter 3.10, the Impeller is a new rendering engine set to replace Skia. It offers improved performance, particularly in animation rendering, and is now the default on iOS platforms.
• Shader Support for Web: Flutter has introduced support for fragment shaders in web applications, allowing developers to create more complex and visually striking effects.
• Enhanced Integration with Native Code: The introduction of new tools like FFIgen for iOS and JNIgen for Android facilitates more direct communication between Flutter apps and native platform APIs.

Flutter Enhancements:

• Impeller Rendering Engine: Flutter has introduced Impeller, a new rendering engine that has become the default on iOS platforms. It significantly enhances performance, especially in rendering animations and complex UI elements. Impeller is currently under testing for Android.
• Material 3 Support: Starting with Flutter 3.7, there has been expanded support for Material 3 (Material You), which includes new UI components and improved visual customization options. This update enables developers to craft more visually appealing and personalized app experiences.
• Enhanced Integration with Native Code: Flutter has improved its integration with native platform APIs through tools such as FFIgen for iOS and JNIgen for Android, facilitating more efficient calls to native code from Flutter applications.
• Web and Mobile Integration: Flutter continues to advance in integrating more seamlessly with web applications. This includes capabilities to embed Flutter UI components directly into web pages using standard HTML elements.
• Developer Tool Enhancements: Flutter’s development tools have received numerous updates aimed at simplifying the development process and improving performance issues analytics.

Recommended: Ionic vs Flutter

React Native

React Native 2023 Updates:

• New Architecture Implementation: React Native has been focusing on rolling out its new architecture, which includes TurboModules and a new rendering system named Fabric. These innovations aim to boost the framework’s native-like performance through asynchronous data fetching and more efficient interactions with native APIs.
• Developer Tool Improvements: A concerted effort has been made to enhance the developer experience by improving tooling and debugging capabilities. These advancements are designed to streamline the development process for React Native apps.

React Native Enhancements:

• New Architecture: React Native is transitioning to a new architecture designed to enhance performance by modularizing the framework. This change allows for asynchronous data fetching and improved native integration.
• TurboModules and Fabric Renderer: Integral to React Native’s new architecture, TurboModules and the Fabric renderer optimize performance by enabling more efficient native code generation and smoother UI rendering.
• Enhanced Developer Experience: React Native has concentrated on improving the developer experience, with better tooling and documentation. These enhancements make it easier for developers to debug and optimize applications.

ProCoders React Native Experience

ProCoders’ React Native IoT Solution for Roth River

Technologies Used: React.js, Node.js, React Native, GraphQL, AWS

When Roth River approached ProCoders, they had an innovative idea to use IoT technology to monitor and perfect the maturation process of bourbon. ProCoders helped transform this vision into reality by developing a cross-platform IoT application. This application allows distillers to continuously monitor whiskey maturation and provides customers with a unique experience to customize and track their bourbon in real-time.

Key Achievements:

• Cross-Platform Development: Utilized React Native to create a seamless mobile application for both iOS and Android, alongside a robust web application.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Enabled customers to customize their whiskey and monitor its aging process, request changes, and add personal touches such as hand-etched messages on the barrels.
• Rapid Development: Assembled and onboarded a specialized development team within a week, accelerating the project’s timeline and bringing the product to market in half the expected time.
• Seamless Integration: Leveraged compatible platforms (React.js and Node.js) to share codebases between web and mobile applications, significantly reducing development time.

ProCoders’ expertise in React Native and other modern technologies ensured a high-quality, intuitive application that met Roth River’s innovative vision and business needs.

Best Resources for Learning React Native vs Flutter

React Native

• React Native Official Website
• React Native YouTube Channel
• React Native – The Practical Guide on Udemy
• React Native GitHub Page

Flutter

• Flutter Official Website
• Flutter YouTube Channel
• Flutter & Dart – The Complete Guide on Udemy
• Flutter Codelabs
• Flutter GitHub

What’s the Best Cross Platform App Development Framework: The Final Verdict

The bottom line is that no universal “better” framework exists. Each project is unique. The framework to choose will depend completely on the project’s parameters and the business needs surrounding it.

Speaking only in general terms, based on pros and cons of Flutter, it is better for bigger apps and apps that need native programming. Considering React Native pros and cons, it should be admitted that it is great for apps that can benefit from its plug-and-play modules and large developer community.

There are some specific “fit” issues to consider, as well. For instance, if a project needs 3D, Flutter doesn’t support that. Similarly, Flutter should be avoided if the app design is platform-specific, requires multiple interactions with an OS, or requires little-known native libraries.

React Native also has its particular disadvantages. You should avoid this framework if your app needs to handle less common, or very specific tasks (like calculations) in the background. Also, avoid it if a project requires custom communication via Bluetooth, or the plan is to create an app for Android only.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when comparing Flutter and React Native. Our managers at ProCoders would love to help you sort it all out.