React Native and Flutter are popular cross-platform frameworks that let developers to seamlessly develop mobile apps. The developed apps can work on multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, and web, using a single codebase. With these platforms, the development process gets streamlined as developers need to write code just once but can run on multiple platforms and devices. It saves both time and resources.
After knowing the pros and cons of both React Native and Flutter, let’s understand which would be the right platform for your next fintech app development project.
React Native and Flutter resolve the issue of writing separate code for platforms like Android & iOS. You can develop a mobile app using these frameworks that will run on multiple platforms, saving much of your money.
In this article, we will cover different aspects of React Native and Flutter to identify which could be the right framework for your React Native App development.
What is Flutter?
Developed by Google in 2017, Flutter is an open-source UI framework that developers can utilize for developing cross-platform mobile applications. The developed apps can run on platforms like Windows, macOS, mobile, iOS, Linus, and the web. This framework is developed on Dart. It comes with all the tools required to develop a good app such as a rendering engine, pre-built widgets of many varieties, testing and integration APIs, and command-line tools.
Do you know that there are 100,000 apps developed over Flutter?
The tech giant Google provides regular updates to Flutter to increase its features and usability. Bigger enterprises such as Alibaba, Phillips Hue, Hamilton, etc. are using Flutter for their app development.
Pros and Cons of Flutter:
Pros:
Flutter offers many benefits and unique features that make it appealing to product owners, developers, and entrepreneurs. Here are the major benefits of Flutter:
1. Efficient Development Process:
As Flutter is a cross-platform framework, you can develop apps for both operating systems Android and iOS using the same codebase. But that’s not the only reason for a faster development process. Its “hot reload” function allows developers to see real-time updates without restarting the app. This function significantly speeds up the development speed.
2. Widgets and Compatibility:
An app is built on widgets which are the building blocks of the app. In Flutter, there are ready-made as well as customizable widgets. You can build everything from the widgets in Flutter. As widgets are part of the app and not of a particular platform, there will be much fewer compatibility issues on the app.
3. High Performance:
Flutter is the only SDK that doesn’t require any bridge (like JS or webview) to communicate between the app and the platform. This makes the app developed using Flutter highly fast with beautiful, and fast animations. The Flutter apps are getting faster than even the native apps.
4. Accessibility and Internationalization:
Generally, the different versions of the app for multiple regions are introduced after creating the app itself. However, this approach results in multiple discrepancies. With Flutter, you get tools that make this process a cakewalk and incorporate it directly into development. You also get support for accessibility, large fonts, screen readers, and enhanced contrast.
5. Shorter Testing Process:
Flutter comes with a distinct testing process that makes the development much faster. Its cross-platform nature uses a single codebase for both Android and iOS apps. In testing, you are also required to test the developed app only once. It not only reduces the development time but also the complications.
Cons:
With benefits, there are certain demerits of the Flutter framework that you must be aware of.
· Lack of Native Widgets:
Although it is a good thing that Flutter don’t use native widgets in some cases, it is a drawback. If you have developed an app using the Flutter framework, and a new version of iOS and Android is launched, the app will not update to the newer UI changes.
· Lack of more advanced features:
Flutter is still missing more advanced features in comparison to native apps. In some cases, it is really difficult to develop pixel-perfect experiences as like to native apps. You also can’t develop apps using Flutter for tvOS, watchOS, CarPlay, or Android Auto.
React Native:
Developed by Meta or Facebook, React Native is an open-source JS framework. As the name indicates, this framework is based on React, the same programming language library used for building websites. However, the framework is used for mainly mobile app development.
Just like Flutter, it also allows to use of one code for developing apps across platforms like Android or iOS. Thus, developers don’t need to write separate native codes that increase cost and time.
Pros and Cons of React Native:
Pros:
Just like Flutter, React Native also offers a slew of benefits for mobile app development. Here are the major pros:
· Accelerated Development:
React Native also offers faster development as it is a cross-platform framework. There are many ready-to-use components which makes the process faster. It is a JavaScript-based framework and gives access to the largest package ecosystem in the mobile world. If you compare an iOS using React Native and Swift, the latter approach will take one-third more time.
· Faster to Learn:
Developers who have previously worked with React will not find any difficulty in developing React Native apps. Most of the ideas and modules in both systems overlap. Thus, developers who are familiar with one of these two environments will need less initial training.
· Fast Refresh:
This feature makes the developers’ experience much smoother. The developers don’t need to reload an entire app to implement changes in the code. This makes developing new features or bug fixing quite easy with less time consumption.
· Quick Fixes:
With React Native development, you get over-the-air updates. These updates allow quick fixes and implement news, and small features directly for the users. You can deploy these features without any permission from 3rd parties like Google Play or Apple Play. OTA updates are automatically downloaded on the user’s device during the startup screen.
· Simplified UI:
React Native is highly focused on mobile UI. In the native approach, you need to create a sequence of actions. However, React Native is focused on declarative programming in which such sequence is obsolete. Thus, it becomes easier to find bugs on the user journey.
Cons:
Along with Pros, there are certain cons of React Native, that you should also know.
1. Lack of Custom Modules:
Currently, React Native still lack certain components and others are still under-developed. So in certain cases, you either have to develop your solution from scratch or try to hack an existing one.
2. Requires extra consideration:
App developers using React Native have to give special attention to the performance and write comprehensive code for the same. They must avoid unnecessary renderers as they make the complex parts slower.
The other major con is it doesn’t provide innovative out-of-the-box components. Also, the UI can be hampered easily and needs to undergo vigorous UI testing.
React Native vs Flutter: Which is Right for Your App?
After knowing the pros and cons of both React Native and Flutter, let’s understand which would be the right platform for your next mobile app development project.
When to Choose Flutter?
You must go for the Flutter if you have these kinds of requirements.
· If you want to create a highly customized user interface on your app. Also, if your app should look identical across multiple platforms. The widget-based approach of Flutter can meet this requirement.
· If you want to develop high-end apps or games having smooth transitions and animations.
· If you have limited time and budget for the project
· The app should execute between 60FPS and 120FPS
When to choose React Native?
Here are some major scenarios when choosing React Native would be an ideal choice:
· If your development team has hands-on experience in JavaScript and React. This experience will lead to the development of a seamless transition and adaptation.
· If there is a requirement for multiple third-party modules.
· Need to develop shared APIs out of the box
· If there is a requirement for platform-specific features or deep integrations with native modules.
Wrapping Up:
React Native and Flutter both offer tremendous advantages over native mobile app development, and the choice among these platforms could be difficult. At Ebizneeds, the best mobile app development company in India, we develop the best ewallet app development services. We can also provide you the consultation of right platform and develop an advanced mobile app meeting your vision. Let us know your requirements.
