Which one is better? Flutter or React Native

It is essential to know that the cross-platform app development is very popular because it enables you to develop mobile apps that are used on multiple mobile platforms. There are several cross-platforms that are considered as worth comparing. However building cross-platform mobile apps are also popping out day by day with the advent of the framework.

Both React Native and Flutter are considered as the two most popular cross-platform mobile development platforms. These platforms are being used to build thousands of mobile apps today. Now the question arises what you have to pick React Native vs. Flutter? Which one is best for you?

However, the answer to this question directly depends on your business needs and use-cases. React Native and Flutter are mighty contenders with their own set of pros and cons.

It is essential to know that both React Native and Flutter come with a lot of similarities. These include building cross-platform apps using one codebase, hot reloading, excellent UI, and natural features. Here is a brief description of Flutter vs. React Native. 

Let us explore React Native vs. Flutter against several main factors.

What’s Flutter and React Native

If we talk about React Native, it is a project started by Facebook internally that they open-sourced in 2015. On the other hand, Flutter is a project that was started by Google and they have been promoting it since i/O. it is essential to keep in mind that both of these technologies help app developers build cross-platform apps faster. 

React Native is a mature tool and has a vast community. However, Flutter also started seeing substantial adoption rates since 2017. Both Flutter and React Native can be compared based on the following criteria. In this post, we will examine each of them using ten rules:

• Programming language
• Installation
• Setup and project configuration
• Developer productivity
• UI components and development API
• DevOps and CI/CD support
• Testing support
• Community support
• Technical architecture
• Build & release automation support

Language

React Native:

React Native is written in JavaScript using React, and it is a massive perk for React Native. However, it is exciting to know that JavaScript consistently ranks as one of the most popular and used programming languages in the world. Finding developers to code in JavaScript is easy.

Flutter:

Flutter is written in a specific language that is known as Dart. Dart is relatively easy to choose and it is called as functional programming language. However, it does not have the same level of popularity like JavaScript has.

A developer would need to learn Dart to get on the Flutter boat. Generally, developers from a C++/Java background also relate to Dart more. 

Corporate Backing

React Native:

It is essential to know that Facebook backs React Native, and Facebook open-sourced it in 2015. Facebook comprises a dedicated team of engineers who are working on React Native. Facebook is heavily invested in React Native, and many internal Facebook products are coded to React Native. With the help of Facebook’s heavy involvement in React Native, it has gained a lot of trust and popularity over the years.

Flutter:

O the other hand, if we talk about Flutter, it is a relatively new framework when compared to React Native and is backed by another giant, Google. It is Google’s open-source SDK for creating apps for both Android and iOS using a single codebase. 

However, Google is slowly backing Flutter as Facebook is backing React Native. The investment in the community of Google in making Flutter one of the best solutions out there to build cross-platform apps.

Performance

It is a common notion that Flutter is better than React Native in production. There could be also another reason that Flutter does not have a JavaScript bridge as React Native that can interact with native components.

However, Dart code is compiled to native machine code that can easily eliminate the JavaScript bridge. It plays an essential role in the improvement of the performance as compared to React Native, which uses the JavaScript Bridge.

Adoption

React Native:

React Native is widely adopted, and some of its popularity is also because of the success of React. Moreover, the React developers can jump on the board and quickly develop React Native mobile apps.

Flutter

Google being the backer of Flutter,  has gained a bit of attention to this year.