Imagine when the world’s three cross-platform tools begin to compete. Who wins would be hard to decide. Watching technology take the world by storm, one of the major impacts is on the software development sector. Every individual, company, or industry cannot survive without mobile and various technologies associated with devices. Statista estimates 935 billion US dollars in global mobile app revenue in the coming years.
For any mobile app development company, there are three main cross-platform frameworks that they use to develop outstanding mobile applications for various businesses: Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin. So, without beating around the bush, let’s just head over to the comparisons and find out which is the best or which suits your mobile application development project best.
What is Flutter?
Flutter, released in 2017, is an open-source Google-built user interface (UI) software development kit that uses the Dart language. It enables developers to create appealing and fast native-like cross-platform applications with a single codebase by providing a complete toolkit that includes the Flutter API, ready-made code, documentation, libraries, and widgets. Let’s look at the benefits and downsides of working with Flutter. Top brands like eBay, Square, Groupon, BMW, and CapitalOne mostly use it.
Pros of Using Flutter
Flutter stands out from the competition with features such as the easy-to-learn language Dart and Hot Reload. Let’s go over the primary benefits in greater detail.
Open Source and Free
Flutter is an open-source framework that may be heavily customized. This means you will have free access to the required source code and documentation. Flutter’s documentation is straightforward to navigate.
Growing Popularity
Flutter’s accessibility and Dart’s widespread usage have led to increased trust in this framework among software engineers. Flutter even won first place on GitHub for its cross-platform development solutions. While it is less popular in the United States than it is in other countries, Flutter is quickly becoming the preferred platform for mobile app software development.
Easy to learn and easy to use
The Flutter/Dart combo for coders is simple to use and quick to learn. Programmers who have previously coded in Swift, React Native, and C-like syntax languages can become productive in Dart and Flutter within weeks. The Flutter framework offers a quick installation that takes no more than 30 minutes and lets you construct fully working apps with substantially less code (similar to Kotlin).
Hot reload functionality
With Flutter, developers can view the output in real-time. This enables programmers to modify their code, adjust the front-end or back-end, and observe the changes immediately while the application is operating. Therefore, when you design the user interface, add features, repair bugs, etc., you don’t have to reload the entire application. One of the biggest benefits of cross-platform programming over native development is that.
Faster time to market
Flutter is an affordable and powerful platform for developing apps. Its shared codebase facilitates quicker product releases and shortens the time to market.
Cons of Using Flutter
Flutter is not flawless, and nothing is. We’ve outlined the main drawbacks that using this framework may present.
Not Adopted Widely
In this framework, the adequate number of specialists still needs to be improved. Although Flutter is a robust framework, because Dart is not as well-known as Kotlin, Java, or C#, there are fewer beginner-friendly learning materials. On Udemy, there are about 500 courses that teach Flutter, compared to twice as many that teach Kotlin.
Lesser Plugins
Due to its brief life, Flutter still lacks the competitive advantage over more seasoned rivals like React Native in terms of plugins. You won’t locate any plugins when attempting to construct more sophisticated functionality. You will, therefore, have to compose it yourself.
Easy to learn and easy to use
The Flutter/Dart combo for coders is simple to use and quick to learn. Programmers who have previously coded in Swift, React Native, and C-like syntax languages can become productive in Dart and Flutter within weeks. The Flutter framework offers a quick installation that takes no more than 30 minutes and lets you construct fully working apps with substantially less code (similar to Kotlin).
Large App Size
The size of apps created using Flutter is a significant drawback of the framework. For developers who constantly work hard to develop apps that compromise on size, this is a severe issue.
What is React Native?
Meta (previously Facebook) introduced React Native in 2015, an open-source, cross-platform mobile development framework built on JavaScript.
React Native can be used to create desktop and web applications in addition to mobile ones. React Native is a cross-platform, affordable, and dependable framework that is frequently utilized by big businesses. It guarantees a native-like experience and top-notch performance while providing developers with the foundations to build cross-platform apps, including widgets, documentation, libraries, and other tools. Currently, React Native is used by some of the top brands like UberEats, Tesla, Skype, Coinbase, Discord, Instagram, Salesforce, and Gyroscope. To build such stellar apps, you can collaborate with a React Native app development company. Make sure the team has experience in developing React Native apps for clients.
Pros of Using React Native
React Native is a unique choice because of its modular architecture and third-party plugins. Here is a more thorough explanation of the main advantages.
Live tracking
Working with this framework will be enjoyable, mainly because of its “Hot Reload” function. This feature automatically refreshes the application and its interface, allowing programmers to see changes in real time as soon as they write the code.
Modular Architecture
For greater flexibility, functionality, and customisation, React Native enables software engineers to use third-party plugins. This is in contrast to the majority of languages and frameworks (including Flutter), which do not allow plugin usage. Developers also point out that this is React Native’s best feature.
Third-party plugins
Using React Native’s modular programming, developers can divide various functionalities into blocks or modules. Each block has all the information required for a specific app function. Furthermore, the framework’s declarative coding capability allows for an optimal and flexible development flow.
Higher performance
React Native’s cross-platform functionality and excellent performance are two more indisputable advantages. One team can use a single codebase to create products for iOS and Android, developing features and infrastructure simultaneously. Additionally, the framework reduces debugging time, offers pre-built components, identifies mistakes in real-time, and permits 90% code reuse, all of which help to improve performance and speed up development.
Experienced Developers
React-skilled developers, whose numbers are constantly increasing, can pick up React Native fast and effectively. Additionally, they can write code using native frameworks and include it in the codebase created using a hybrid React Native framework. In conclusion, it might be a competitive choice for a product owner and a fantastic career path for a developer.
Cons of React Native
Does Not Match with Native Solutions
React Native is making an effort to bridge the gap between native programming languages. However, the performance gap is still noticeable. The JavaScript and UI code sections that run in two separate threads are primarily to blame. Software developers use a shadow thread known as the React Native bridge to facilitate communication between them. The workflow is still impacted, though. The React Native bridge’s problems impact the application’s performance even if the code runs flawlessly in separate threads.
Debugging Problems
Developers say that’s a common issue with React Native. One of the reasons for developing the application on different threads is the debugging problems. The framework can be integrated with Flipper, a unique platform that offers several capabilities, such as bug reporting, log preview, a local database, and a performance inspector, as a solution. They can solve debugging issues in this way.
Not suitable for Highly Advanced Applications
React Native isn’t the best option for creating mobile apps with intricate effects. Native programming guarantees the flawless implementation of screen transitions, animations, and interactivity. tionalities into blocks or modules. Each block has all the information required for a specific app function. Furthermore, the framework’s declarative coding capability allows for an optimal and flexible development flow.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is quite different from Flutter and React Native frameworks. In a way, it is a cross-platform programming language. Kotlin is an open-source, statically typed, general-purpose single language introduced by JetBrains that is intended to work with Java. Sixty percent of professional Android developers use it, making it an essential component of Android app development. Additionally, Kotlin code has been used by 80% of the top 1,000 Android apps, including more than 60 Google apps.
In addition to Android, Kotlin’s cross-platform features let programmers exchange data, logic, and code with other platforms like iOS and the Web. You can hire kotlin app developers to develop user centric mobile applications. Top brands like Slack, Evernote, Airbnb, Pinterest, Netflix, Trello, and Tinder use Kotlin to enhance their user experiences.
Pros of using Kotlin
Java Interoperability
This implies that you have complete access to Java libraries and that converting any existing Java code is simple. Despite having hundreds of lines of code in Kotlin, you can quickly convert each without affecting your codebase or software development process. This compatibility significantly accelerates writing and migrating applications from Java to Kotlin. Compared to Flutter and React Native, where you have to switch between technologies, Kotlin has a particularly beneficial advantage.
Clear and Concise code
Kotlin’s simple syntax makes code clearer and more concise. As a result, compared to other programming languages and frameworks, software engineers receive fewer lines of code. With less writing time, software development processes can be made more dependable, simpler, and faster, which increases team productivity and results-orientedness.
Safe and Reliable
This advantage is correlated with fewer errors occurring during code authoring. Kotlin assures programmers that flaws are discovered and repaired early because of its unique Require, Check, Assert features and a shorter, easier-to-read codebase. Kotlin stands out in the performance battle between Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin because its developers concentrated on making it appear to be an improved version of Java, which they undoubtedly accomplished.arious functionalities into blocks or modules. Each block has all the information required for a specific app function. Furthermore, the framework’s declarative coding capability allows for an optimal and flexible development flow.
Supportive Community
The Kotlin community consists of sizable, highly skilled developers dedicated to continuously improving the product. For further updates, you can always follow their Twitter accounts, listen to podcasts, and participate in forums where people discuss popular Kotlin topics. Skilled Kotliners are always willing to share their knowledge with you on any problems that may come up during the software development process.
Kotlin Multiplatform
Since the launch of Kotlin Multiplatform, an experimental feature, Kotlin has gained recognition as a tool for developing cross-platform applications. It enables developers to create flawless apps for iOS and Android.
Cons of Using Kotlin
Limited Workforce
Despite being introduced ten years ago, Kotlin is still regarded as a relatively fresh product. Finding qualified Kotlin programmers is much more complex than with earlier languages because Kotlin is a relatively new programming language. However, over time, Kotlin gained popularity, and we anticipate that this tech stack will revolutionize the IT industry.
High Maintenance Cost
Because Kotlin SDK features aren’t entirely native, developing mobile applications becomes extremely expensive. Kotlin is a costly programming language for creating minimal viable products (MVPs) and prototypes.
Long Compilation Time
Kotlin’s slower compilation speed is yet another disadvantage. Indeed, While It may perform admirably when assembling small modifications, it still lags behind more recent alternatives like Flutter.
Comparison Between Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin
Popularity
Leading options for mobile app developers are React Native, Flutter, and Kotlin; each framework has established a solid market position. In the US, React Native is the third most popular framework behind Kotlin, powering more than 14.84% of the top 500 apps. Favored by businesses like Google, Microsoft OneDrive, Instagram, and TikTok, Kotlin has a 15.99% market share and is used in over 131,000 apps with over 298 billion downloads worldwide. According to a Stack Overflow analysis, Flutter is currently the fifth most popular framework and library, predicted to surpass React Native.
Availability of Developers
Because Kotlin SDK features aren’t entirely native, developing mobile applications becomes extremely expensive. Kotlin is a costly programming language for creating minimal viable products (MVPs) and prototypes.
Long Compilation Time
In contrast to Flutter, the demand for Kotlin and React Native is equal to the supply. One of the primary reasons so few businesses decide to use Flutter is the talent shortage.
Documentation
Flutter’s documentation is comprehensive, well-written, and simple to use, despite React Native and Kotlin having existed for much longer than Flutter.
The documentation for Flutter will be helpful if you need developers to get started on a project quickly. For instance, Flutter offers “get started” sections for developers with varying degrees of experience and tech backgrounds. Therefore, developers who want to begin working with Flutter, whether they are Kotlin or React Native, may simply locate what they need.
Maturity
These technologies are now sufficiently developed to be employed securely in creating mobile applications. React Native and Kotlin have been integrated into the tech stacks of major tech companies and have many excellent third-party libraries. However, Flutter is quickly catching up.
Learning Curve
Because Dart, the programming language used by Flutter, is more straightforward to use than JavaScript, it is thought to be more beginner-friendly than React Native. Furthermore, compared to Kotlin, Flutter provides extensive documentation and resources, which makes it easier for developers to understand and start creating apps. Because of its user-friendliness, Flutter was voted second in the Stack Overflow Survey 2021’s “Most Loved Technology – Frameworks and Libraries” category. That is why, Flutter app development services are more in demand than other front-end frameworks and programming languages.
Community
The communities surrounding Flutter, React Native, and Koltin are thriving, with numerous conferences, hackathons, and events occurring each year.
Which is better—Flutter, React Native, or Kotlin?
While selecting either tech stack, you should consider more factors than just learning curve, documentation, or popularity. You may need a consultation from the best mobile app development company to identify various factors before deciding upon the framework for your project.
Flutter and React Native are excellent for quick prototyping and basic mobile applications. However, native development could be a superior option for creating enterprise mobile applications when performance, designs, and immediate execution are crucial criteria.
Flutter works well when:
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It is for start-ups and SMEs
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You want to create MVP and working prototypes
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For a smaller budget
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Want to release your product fast
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You need a pixel-perfect design and great UI
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You need cross-platform frameworks that can build a cross-platform experience for users
React Native works well when:
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You can leverage parts of your desktop program or website to create mobile applications.
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Finding a team of developers was urgent because Flutter developers are in high demand and are more challenging to locate.
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Your JavaScript team is familiar with your existing assets and can utilize the vast npm repository's plug-ins, modules, and widgets.
Kotlin works well when:
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You begin working on a new Android project.
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You must immediately modify the current project.
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You work on Android and server-side and client-side web development, among other things.
Conclusion
Since there is a great need for qualified software developers, hiring mobile developers and getting employed as Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin developers is complex and time-consuming. You must specify the time you are willing to invest in hiring, the hiring budget or rates, and the project needs. Let’s discuss if you want to assemble a capable software development team and expedite the launching of your product. Whitelotus Corporation is a worldwide talent network that offers tech companies unbeatable costs for senior, pre-screened remote Flutter, React Native, or Kotlin developers.
