Choose Flutter if your app needs a custom-designed interface and smooth animations. Choose React Native if your team already writes React or you have a React website to share code with. Both build Android and iOS apps from one codebase, handle camera, maps and payments well, and are mature enough for long-term support.
Both frameworks let you build for Android and iOS from one codebase, which usually costs much less than building two separate native apps.
Flutter
Flutter is Google's framework and uses the Dart language. It draws every part of the interface itself, so the app looks the same on Android and iOS and custom designs come out exactly as drawn.
- Strengths. Smooth animations, consistent design across devices, and one codebase that can also build web and desktop versions.
- Trade-offs. Fewer developers know Dart than JavaScript, and the smallest Flutter app is a little larger to download.
- Good fit. Branded consumer apps, fintech apps with custom screens, and apps where the design is a selling point.
React Native
React Native is Meta's framework and uses JavaScript or TypeScript with React. It uses each phone's own interface components, so screens behave the way Android and iOS users expect.
- Strengths. A very large pool of JavaScript developers, shared code and skills with React websites, and fast updates through tools such as Expo.
- Trade-offs. Complex animations take more work to keep smooth, and some device features need native code.
- Good fit. Businesses with a React web app, apps that share logic with a website, and teams that already write JavaScript.
Side by side
| Flutter | React Native | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Meta | |
| Language | Dart | JavaScript or TypeScript |
| Interface | Draws its own components | Uses each platform’s native components |
| Hiring | A smaller but growing pool of developers | Easier, because JavaScript is so widely used |
| Sharing code with a website | Can build a web version, but rarely used for content websites | Shares more with a React site |
| Performance | Fast enough for most business apps, including payments, maps and chat | Fast enough for most business apps, including payments, maps and chat |
How does the choice affect budget and timeline?
Either framework usually costs less than separate native apps, because most of the code is written once. The bigger saving comes after launch, since every new feature and bug fix is done once instead of twice.
Some costs are the same whichever you choose. Budget for design, the backend and admin dashboard, testing on real devices, app store setup, and updates when Android and iOS release new versions each year.
How we decide
- Design complexity. A custom-built interface leans Flutter.
- Existing team and code. A React team leans React Native.
- Device features. Both handle camera, maps and payments well.
- Long-term support. Both are mature and widely used.
When should you build fully native instead?
Some apps are better built separately, in Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. These include apps that need the newest device features the day they launch, games with demanding graphics, and apps that run constantly in the background, such as fitness trackers.
If you have an app idea, our mobile team can recommend a framework after a short call about your users, features and budget.
Sources: Flutter, React Native
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