Comparing the Flutter and React Native frameworks

Language and performance considerations

Language and performance play a defining role in how each framework behaves in production and during development.

Flutter

The open source Flutter framework offers tools for building cross-platform mobile, web and desktop applications, as well as embedded devices in IoT using a single codebase. Based on the C-style, object-oriented Dart language, Flutter is known for going beyond the standard collection of application development tools, offering features that directly compile Dart code into native code for iOS and Android. Key highlights of the Dart language are just-in-time compilation for fast development cycles and ahead-of-time compilation for converting source code into high-performance native machine code.  

In fact, Flutter's compiled-to-native approach supports the "write once, deploy everywhere" concept. These framework capabilities not only ensure a consistent end UX, but lead to faster iterations, development cycles and simplified management. For example, Flutter's hot reload feature implements the "save, see, repeat" philosophy to accelerate build processes, such as updating an application's UI and logic while preserving the current state.

React Native

The open source React Native framework was first launched in 2015 by Facebook, now Meta, to build Android, iOS and Universal Windows Platform mobile applications using the React library. This JavaScript repository offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating and reusing UI components. Developers rely on interpreted, dynamically typed JavaScript for both frontend and backend builds, and to streamline the development of complex UIs.

JavaScript's popularity is partly due to its handling of high-level abstractions, such as memory management and system events, enabling programmers to focus on application logic. Recent research indicates that 66% of developers rely on JavaScript for their projects. That level of appreciation extends to the React Native framework with its extensive community support.

In contrast to Dart and Flutter, JavaScript performs just-in-time compilation at runtime, and the React Native framework communicates with native UI components through a JavaScript bridge. Historically, these represent additional layers that have long impacted performance, as they slow down rendering speeds, such as mobile display refresh rates. However, React Native's New Architecture (0.76) implements the JavaScript interface, a lightweight C++ layer that replaces the JavaScript bridge, eliminating earlier performance bottlenecks.

Assessing UIs, ecosystems and scalability

Performance comparisons between the two frameworks depend on specific application requirements.

User interfaces

Flutter aligns best with graphics applications that involve animation and require fast startup times, as well as data visualizations and real-time interfaces in healthcare. Meanwhile, FinOps applications require near-instantaneous interactions and rapid calculations. Code reusability, custom UIs and cross-platform compatibility in Flutter are also essential for gaming, e-commerce and enterprise-level applications.

Ensuring consistent user experiences across multiple platforms represents a core strength of the React Native framework. It's particularly important in social media and retail applications that require responsive UIs and cross-platform parity. Moreover, rapid prototyping and the ability to integrate with different OSes by rendering React primitives to native UIs are critical for location-based services and content delivery platforms. Startup companies also rely on the framework to ensure cost efficiencies and faster time-to-market.

Ecosystems

Both framework ecosystems share an important commonality. Developers using Flutter rely on the hot reload feature to enable fast iterations, while React Native developers employ fast refresh to view real-time code changes in a running application without needing to recompile or restart the application. The two frameworks provide immediate feedback on code changes, minimizing wait times, preserving context and delivering more fluid workflows.

Flutter's plugin ecosystem integrates diverse features for applications, from GPS coordinates and animated UI controls to streamlined SQLite management options. React Native, in comparison, offers a reusable, component-based and declarative approach to building cross-platform UIs. The React Native framework also features active user support with thousands of available libraries based on its large JavaScript user base. The relatively new introduction of the Dart language has influenced Flutter's small but growing open source community, along with its strong, evolving ecosystem.

Scalability

In terms of scalability, React Native's component-based architecture and reusable code increase deployment efficiency and overall consistency. For example, development teams gain the advantages of faster build cycles, along with reduced codebase sizes, which eases maintenance as applications grow more complex. Developers can also design and implement scalable APIs to meet increased traffic demands and handle unprecedented data loads.

Flutter prioritizes modularity for initiating core processes, such as Dart compilation, widget trees and hot reload, creating new features and extending services. The framework provides decoupled UIs and data layers, separating business logic from data management for enhanced efficiency in maintenance and scalability. As a result, developers gain improved code organization, increased readability and enhanced testing options.

Choosing the right framework

The adoptions made by well-known multinationals further illustrate the suitability and strengths of the respective frameworks. For example, a diverse number of companies in the social media, e-commerce, finance and transportation sectors have chosen React Native. These include Instagram, Discord, Wix, Uber Eats and Bloomberg. Similarly, companies focused on efficiency, end-user performance and accelerated development cycles have identified the Flutter framework as most effective. These include Google Ads, Alibaba, Reflectly, BMW and Groupon.

As IT managers, team leads and architects weigh their adoption choices, they should consider language familiarity, learning curve and project complexity. Also important to consider are performance goals and long-term application management.

React Native

For organizations that require applications to integrate seamlessly with different OSes, experienced developers rely on React Native, using their knowledge of C-based and Java languages to fast-track deployments. For example, they can access platform-agnostic native features to map directly to a platform's UI foundation as well as employ preexisting components to create consistent end-user experiences. Companies then deploy these applications to meet user expectations and deliver more polished, professional products, cementing customer loyalty and showcasing their brand. This is particularly useful in e-commerce, travel, media and finance.

Developers also rely on React Native for a streamlined way of managing navigation within their applications. Using its well-documented API, developers employ React Native's navigation library to abstract away the complexity of handling native components, simplifying navigation management and improving efficiency. End users benefit from logical interfaces that function uniformly across multiple platforms. In addition to adding new features to existing apps, developers rely on the framework's declarative UI paradigms to more efficiently handle rendering and updates, as well as easier refactoring and code consistency. The result is smooth animation and video in gaming, education and brand apps, along with faster load times and more efficient resource usage.

Flutter

In terms of Flutter deployments, organizations often choose the framework to eliminate performance overheads and achieve native-like functionality within applications. The result is fast and responsive UIs due to its compiled-to-native approach. The advantages of Dart also become apparent due to early error detection and improved code quality.

Flutter's plugin ecosystem accelerates development for common functions. Flutter apps can easily integrate with platform-specific technologies, including cameras, GPS, sensors and payment gateways. These highly specific integration capabilities using a single codebase are the reasons why Flutter is the framework of choice for performance-optimized applications, from e-commerce to automotive and IoT uses.                                                                          

Developers can personalize UI elements with Flutter's reusable widget library. In addition to delivering consistent UIs across platforms, customizable widgets accelerate the overall development process while simplifying maintenance and testing. Flutter's widget-based architecture ensures dynamic scaling for large and complex applications. It's particularly important for highly secure, complex data visualizations in Fintech, responsive applications in e-commerce, real-time media content delivery and enterprise productivity apps.

Kerry Doyle writes about technology for a variety of publications and platforms. His current focus is on issues relevant to IT and enterprise leaders across a range of topics, from nanotech and cloud to distributed services and AI.