Flutter VS React Native - Which One To Choose In 2020?
In the past few years, cross-platform development has gained a lot of popularity. Creating apps for different platforms is a daunting task. But, with the cross-platform development, you can easily create apps on both iOS and Android using a single code. Yes, you read it right! There are two giant platforms that help in creating apps on cross-platform - Flutter and React Native. Amid their popularity, there is a continuous debate on which is a better platform to create apps? Want to know the details? We are here to guide you with a few.
Below is a list of a few points that will help in understanding the differences between the two. Let’s dig in the details!
Difference One: Productivity
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing the tool is to check the level of productivity it has to offer. Now, there are a few ways that help in accessing the productivity level.
- Code Structure: Flutter uses a dart programming language that does not require any additional templating language for its UI layout. Flutter allows the developers to create platform, structural, and interactive widgets that can be reused. The best thing is that all is done in the same programming way and the data remains available in one place only. You don’t have to hop in one place to another. React Native, on the other hand, is similar to JavaScript and the developers can easily separate the executed codes and styes into different classes.
- Hot Reload Support: Both Flutter and React Native supports hot reload. This means that one can easily retain the data at the relaunch of the app. The feature helps in enhancing the work process thereby increasing productivity.
- Installation and Configuration: A flutter is a simple tool that allows the developers to easily download the package and check the internal issues. It’s quick and easy to go! React Native is also easy to install and create a package. Not just that, the platform also allows the Expo integration which makes it easy to run codes on mobiles. You can easily scan the QR code and get working!
Difference Two: Programming Language
React Native as already mentioned is JavaScript which makes it one of the most software development languages. As we all know JavaScript is a default language for almost every browser and is popularly used in mobile development.
Flutter, on the other hand, uses the Dart programming language which is object-oriented and open-source. Google is the primary user of the language and this is why it uses the language to create desktop, mobile, and web applications. Dart is an expressive and safe language, to begin with, app development processes. This is why developers are more inclined to the language.
Difference Three: Documentation
Google is always updated with the in-depth and clear documentation of its products. Whether it’s for Golang, Angular, or Flutter, they ensure there should be clarity in the language, so it gets easy for developers to create an app. Not only the Futter is well-organized but it also has a lot of common with Java, Kotlin, C#, Swift, and JavaScript languages. So, it is also easy for the developers to switch on from React Native to Flutter,
React Native has less-structured documentation which makes it difficult for the developers to understand. Although React Native is open-source, it’s poor documentation is a negative aspect of the language.
Difference Four: Performance
When creating an app, performance is something you cannot miss to count on, right? Flutter is surely faster than the React Native, as it is built with fast and well-structured code. Let’s know these in detail.
React is made of Native and JS language. Initially, the app works using JS, but to add the interaction s like - touch events, and notifications, it combines with the native ones. No doubt React is a high-powered language but is definitely slower then Flutter.
In Flutter, it does not have to combine with the OS components which keeps the performance smooth. Not just that, Flutter handles many issues by itself and the framework minimizes the interactions. As we know, Flutter uses Dart language and comprise of high-speed C++ which helps in boosting the performance. In short, Flutter can help in creating high-performance apps in less time that leads to good user experience.
Difference Five: UI Components
The best part of using Flutter is it uses its own UI components. This helps in increasing flexibility and further helps in customizing the components. So, what all the Flutter UI include? Well, it includes the platform-individual widgets, material widgets for Android, and Cupertino for iOS ones.
Flutter lives up to its expectations! It promises decent compatibility with other components. Also, it looks good on both the new and older versions. And, the best part is it uses a single codebase which allows the app to run and look similarly on both iOS and Android platforms.
In React, the components are quite similar to the native ones. The framework uses the native elements during the UI updates as well as for the app components updates. In this, if the developers wish to run the app same on both iOS and Android platforms, then they must go for the third-party libraries.
Wrapping Up!
Well, considering the comparison between both Flutter and React Native programming languages, it’s difficult to pick one. What we can conclude from the blog is Flutter is a decent competitor to React Native. And, there are some points that clearly state that Flutter is definitely better than the React Native.
All, in all, Both Flutter and React Native offer time, convenience, and budget savings to reduce the production time. To be honest, it all depends on individual requirements. There are some apps where react-native proves to be more responsive while others get a better experience with the Flutter ones.
If you are stuck between these two, and can’t decide which one to choose, then we can help! Our expert developers can help you choose the right one for your business. If you have any doubts, drop us a message below.