React Native vs. Flutter in 2024

If you’ve spent any time in the mobile development world, you’ve probably come across the React Native vs. Flutter debate. These two frameworks are among the most popular choices for cross-platform development, which means that they allow developers to build mobile applications for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. In a world where mobile apps are critical to a business’s success, building cross-platform applications is more important than ever.

So, should you go for Flutter or React Native for your product in 2024? Let’s break it down.

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The Basics: What Are React Native and Flutter?

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• React Native: Launched by Facebook (now Meta) in 2015, React Native allows developers to build mobile applications using JavaScript and React. It provides a near-native performance by bridging JavaScript code with native APIs.

• Flutter: Flutter was developed by Google and officially launched in 2018. It uses Dart, a language also created by Google. Flutter renders UIs directly using its own rendering engine, which can provide a consistent look across different devices.

Popularity: Which Framework Is More Used?

Both frameworks have their fan bases, but React Native currently edges out Flutter in terms of market adoption. A lot of companies have stuck with React Native because of its early lead in the industry, as well as its association with JavaScript—a language that is already very familiar to web developers.

• Companies using React Native: Facebook (Meta), Instagram, Airbnb (although they partially moved away), Bloomberg, and Tesla.

• Companies using Flutter: Google Ads, Alibaba, BMW, and Tencent.

React Native’s tight integration with the broader JavaScript ecosystem makes it a favorite among companies already using JavaScript for their web applications. On the other hand, Flutter has been gaining a lot of ground recently due to its superior rendering engine and the fact that it allows for more expressive UIs.

Performance: Speed and Efficiency

Performance is a huge factor when deciding between React Native and Flutter. Let’s dive into the key aspects of each framework’s performance:

React Native Performance

React Native relies on a JavaScript bridge to interact with native modules, which can introduce a slight delay when communicating between the app and native components. For many use cases, the performance is “good enough” and close to native speed, but for more complex apps with heavy animations or advanced gestures, you may notice some lag.

Pros:

• React Native uses native components directly, which means that apps look and feel more like they’re fully native.

• It’s great for applications that don’t require high-end animations or complex graphics.

Cons:

• It can struggle with animations and games that need high-performance rendering.

• The reliance on the JavaScript bridge can sometimes cause performance hiccups in data-heavy apps.

Flutter Performance

Flutter takes a different approach. Instead of using native components, Flutter renders its UI using Skia, a 2D graphics engine, allowing for smooth animations and consistent performance across different platforms.

Pros:

• Flutter’s architecture eliminates the need for a bridge between the app and the native components, which translates to faster performance, especially for apps with heavy animation.

• Excellent for building apps that need custom, expressive UIs or high-performance animations.

Cons:

• Flutter apps can be slightly larger in file size due to the inclusion of its rendering engine.

• Dart, the language used in Flutter, isn’t as widely adopted as JavaScript.

Ease of Learning: JavaScript vs. Dart

If you’re deciding which framework to adopt, a big consideration is how easy they are to learn.

• React Native: The learning curve for React Native is relatively easy if you’re already familiar with JavaScript and React. JavaScript is a universal language with a large developer community, making it easier to find tutorials, documentation, and help online. React Native developers also have access to a ton of existing JavaScript libraries, which can save time.

• Flutter: Flutter requires learning Dart, which is not as widely used as JavaScript. While Dart is a relatively easy language to pick up, it doesn’t have the massive community or ecosystem that JavaScript has. That said, developers who enjoy object-oriented programming may find Dart’s structure appealing.

In short, if you’re a JavaScript developer, React Native is likely the faster route to success. But if you’re starting from scratch or want a more unified experience for designing complex UIs, Flutter could be a good choice despite the initial learning curve.

UI Development: The Battle of Widgets

When it comes to UI development, both frameworks have their own advantages.

React Native UI

React Native lets developers use native components directly, which means the app inherits the look and feel of the platform (iOS or Android). You can also customize components using libraries like React Native Elements or NativeBase. While this means the app will look more “native,” it can sometimes feel fragmented, as developers have to style components differently for iOS and Android.

Pros:

• The UI has a native feel, which can be great for users who expect apps to look like they belong on their device.

• Lots of UI libraries exist to help speed up development.

Cons:

• Styling can be inconsistent between iOS and Android, which sometimes requires extra effort to standardize the UI.

Flutter UI

Flutter is all about widgets. Every UI component is a widget, from buttons to padding to entire layouts. Because Flutter uses its own rendering engine, your app will look the same across all platforms. This gives developers more control over the app’s appearance, making it easier to create custom, branded UIs that stand out.

Pros:

• Flutter’s hot reload feature lets developers see the changes instantly, speeding up development.

• Perfect for creating highly-customized UIs and smooth animations.

Cons:

• You have to be more hands-on with the UI, as Flutter doesn’t rely on native components.

Ecosystem and Community Support

Community support is essential for a framework’s longevity, and both React Native and Flutter have strong communities behind them.

• React Native: Given that React Native is older and built on JavaScript, it has a larger community and more third-party libraries available. You’ll find more tutorials, courses, Stack Overflow answers, and GitHub repositories for React Native. This is helpful for new developers or teams who need a lot of support as they get started.

• Flutter: While Flutter’s community is smaller, it’s growing rapidly, and Google actively supports its development. Flutter’s community is known for being enthusiastic and helpful, with lots of resources being developed as the framework gains popularity.

Who Should Use React Native?

React Native is a great choice if:

• Your team is already familiar with JavaScript and React.

• You want a faster time to market for basic mobile apps.

• Your app relies on a lot of third-party integrations or APIs.

• You’re aiming for native-like performance but don’t need high-end graphics or animations.

Who Should Use Flutter?

Flutter shines when:

• You need a highly-customizable, expressive UI with smooth animations.

• Performance is critical, and you want the fastest, smoothest experience possible.

• You’re building the app from scratch and are open to using Dart.

• You want your app to look the same on both iOS and Android without needing to customize each platform.

Flutter vs React Native: reddit reviews

Let's check out what reddit users think of both frameworks!

Votes for React Native

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This comment by AlbusaDumbledora (great username!) highlights something really important - React Native and React are closely intertwined. If you learn one, you’re pretty much gaining the skills for the other. React is a popular library for building user interfaces on the web, while React Native extends that knowledge to mobile app development.

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JoCoMoBo, we understand your pain... Google’s track record with some of its frameworks has been shaky.  But it’s highly unlikely that Google will stop supporting Flutter any time soon. Flutter has become a key part of Google’s development ecosystem, with widespread adoption both within Google and across the industry.

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Yup, Flutter is gaining more traction but it's still much easier to find a React Native job in 2024.

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Votes for Flutter

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This is a sentiment shared by many developers who work with Flutter. The framework’s unique approach, from hot reload to its comprehensive widget system, helps developers build faster and with more precision.

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This Reddit comment highlights one of Flutter’s key advantages: support for multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, and web) using a single codebase.

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Conclusion: Which Framework Wins?

So, what’s the verdict in the React Native vs. Flutter debate?

The best framework really depends on your team, project goals, and preferences:

• Choose React Native if you already have experience in JavaScript, need fast development with third-party tools, or want a more native feel for your apps.

• Choose Flutter if you need high-performance with complex UIs, smooth animations, and want a consistent look across platforms without needing to juggle platform-specific UI components.

Both frameworks are fantastic, and neither one is definitively “better.” The right choice will depend on the unique needs of your app and your development team’s familiarity with the technology.

With the right team, either framework can help you deliver amazing mobile applications. Whether you go with React Native or Flutter, make sure you’re choosing the framework that aligns with your project’s goals and future scalability.