Flutter vs React Native ( My Thoughts )

Gurkirat Manny
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read

These are my favourite cross-platform app development framework.

I will describe and say my opinion as to what is better for what and also their comparison.

First of all, I love 💕❤😍 both of there icons. Although not something that many people think of before using any of them. But again these are my opinions so ❤😊.

Flutter is made by Google and React Native is made by Facebook.

  1. Both can be shut down at any moment by their respective companies with just a notice. So choose as u like. No one can give you a surety that any of these frameworks will be available infinitely. But technology changes so there’s not a surety of any technology.
  2. Both the companies are doing their best in their own ways to make these frameworks better.
  3. Both are still unstable. None of them have reached version 1.0.0 .

Dart(Flutter) vs JavaScript(React Native)

Dart is a language made by Google and JavaScript is famous (😂Not a Joke).

If this is something that matters to you than you can choose the framework according to whichever style of coding you like best.

As languages, I am okay with both of them, if you like Java or Object Oriented like language go with dart or if scripting like go with JavaScript.

But in terms of how these frameworks use it differs. I personally prefer React Native style more because it is easy to understand whereas with dart the nesting of widgets can confuse and make it cumbersome to understand.

But this is personal preference.

Native App vs Real App

Flutter make native app whereas React Native makes a real app(written in their websites).

A lot of people say that flutter will make you a native app(Specifically for flutter) and nobody(as I’ve seen) mentions that for react native.

Flutter compiles down to native apps and React Native communicates with native parts on the system(it provides a wrapper on top of all the native views).

Nobody can differentiate as to react native app is native or not.

Clear this doubt(if you have), that react native is not a hybrid app, web app or html app. We do write real apps on React Native as well just like Flutter the only difference is the language used.

The concept is same for both the apps.

So don’t worry about making Native apps(Real apps) with any of them.

Speed

A lot of people say that Flutter is faster than React native.

This is 2018, most of the devices are going to have enough power to run apps made using either of these with ease. I am not talking about games here.

  1. You will get similar speeds on both of these frameworks.
  2. It also depends on how you code it.

Simplicity

Flutter provides its own widgets whereas with React Native you have a lot of libraries that you can use(A lot more than flutter at least for now).

I Have no issue with both of them.

You might have to add libraries to each of them as your usage increases. The way of adding libraries is different for both. In Flutter you have to add packages in pubspec file where as in React Native you use npm or yarn to add packages to the folder using command line(Windows)

I am okay with both. You should try and see if u hate any way or if you are okay with both.

Native Feel

Now Flutter provides its own widgets for material design as well as cupertino style. You can use any of it.

What I don’t like in flutter(currently) that if you want native feel on android and ios you will have to make whole view function for each of these OS currently. Which actually end the reason of using Cross platform framework.

Although this might change in future.

In React Native you can code once and it will change to native views at runtime by using various libraries like NativeBase.

If you are okay with material design only or cupertino only you can go with Flutter but if you want native feel, then react native is a better choice.

Easy to use

A lot of people say that flutter is easy to install and fast to work with whereas with react native the beginning process is slow.

It depends on how much experience you have with command line. If you are comfortable working with command line you can also go with react native.

Although yes Flutter is better in terms of setting up environment.

But again this is not something that i think should matter that much. You can try both and see if you have a preference.

I am okay with Flutter as well as React Native.

Conclusion

I am not a fanboy of any of these technologies, but I’ve seen a lot of people telling you to choose one over the another.

So I would advice you to try each of these frameworks for a small time like a week and then decide if you want to invest more time with any of these framework.

And Yes u can make your whole app using any of these by using a little code in native modules as well(if required).

Currently, I am sticking with React Native because I find it easy to understand code written in it.

So choose wisely, even you can go with Xamarin, Ionic, NativeScript etc as you like.

But try yourself first than make a decision.

Thank you for reading till the end.

If you think you have a different view, feel free to comment.

Also if you like some other comparison or want me to add some other point in this story, feel free to comment.

Gurkirat Manny

Written by

Pursuing MCA. Interested in Flutter, Mobile App Development. Love from India :)

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