React Native vs Flutter : which mobile development frameworks to pick for your projects ?

React Native vs Flutter, both mobile development frameworks are free open-source UI development kits. These frameworks allow you to develop cross-platform mobile applications for iOS and Android.

Both are trustworthy development frameworks, as they are backed by tech giants. React Native was developed by Facebook, while Flutter is a product of Google.

There is extensive documentation on both of these frameworks, as well as application programming interface (API) references.

Below, we present the pros and cons of both, to help you make the right choice for your development projects.

The pros of React Native

• The use of the most commonly used programming language: JavaScript;
• Fast modifications thanks to Hot Reloading;
• The fluidity of the user interface development.

The cons of React Native

• The use of a bridge to communicate with native components;
• The complete synchronization between React Native and the new software development kits takes time;
• The documentation available to integrate React Native with additional tools is very limited.

The advantages of Flutter

• Quick performance, thanks to direct communication with native components;
• Swift modifications to your application thanks to its Stateful Hot Reloading;
• Maximum customization through its extensive set of widgets;
• Easy implementation: even a low-end machine can easily handle the framework.

The disadvantages of Flutter

• Knowledge of the Dart language is required to design an application with Flutter;
• Lack of third-party libraries, since this framework is relatively new.

React Native vs Flutter: different programming languages

Flutter is ahead of React Native in terms of speed. However, if you need to quickly develop an application and you have no knowledge of the Dart programming language, you will spend more time learning this language first. React Native has the advantage over Flutter because it uses JavaScript, which is a widely used language. On the other hand, if you know Dart, choose Flutter for the extra features it offers.

React Native vs Flutter: which mobile development framework is more productive?

To code better, faster! This is the ultimate ambition of every developer and let's analyze how Flutter and React Native are in terms of productivity.

• Hot Reload : The Hot Reload feature allows developers to make quick changes to the backend and view code changes without saving any files. This feature is available in both React Native and Flutter to achieve optimal efficiency. Both frameworks offer this functionality, which saves time when testing UI changes. Productivity is almost the same in this regard.

• IDE : React Native is an undeniable winner in this area. Developers can use any IDE or text editor with React Native. Since Dart is not a commonly used language, there are not many text editors and IDEs available.

• Programming language : Developers who are trained in JavaScript can easily use React Native for cross-platform application development. Flutter users can easily get started with the demo application. Nevertheless, the increasing complexity of applications requires developers to incorporate new concepts from Flutter.

• Project configuration : A React Native project assumes that a developer has all the configuration files required for Android and iOS development. For its part, Flutter provides an informative Getting Started Guide for both Android and iOS platforms. Users can easily find instructions for the macOS platform as well. Flutter also provides a CLI tool called Flutter Doctor, to ease the configuration process for developers.

• Community support : The larger and more engaged the community, the richer the contributions to the development of the framework will be. Flutter and React Native are on par in this aspect. Both frameworks have extensive and well-written documentation, as well as massive open-source communities.

The best use cases for React Native

• React Native is a powerful tool for developing complex cross-platform applications.
• It is most conducive to an expansive and deeply established project.
• React Native offers detailed documentation and stronger support.
• It is useful for developers who intend to reuse code for desktop and web applications.

The best use cases for Flutter

• Flutter is a suitable solution for iteration thanks to its Hot Reload feature and several built-in native tools.
• Flutter allows users to create MVPs without delay.
• It is also considered an appropriate choice for UI-centric applications.

React Native vs Flutter : Statistics

According to Statista, React Native remains a more widely used framework with 42% adoption. Flutter is quite close with 39% and has seen a stronger increase between 2019 and 2020.

React Native or Flutter: Esokia advises you!

Esokia undertakes development projects with React Native and Flutter. If you have difficulties in choosing the most suitable framework for you, don't hesitate to call on our services, as we offer you complete support.