React Native and Flutter are the most popular cross-platform frameworks for mobile app development. Both allow creating iOS and Android apps from a single codebase.
React Native, developed by Meta (Facebook), uses JavaScript/TypeScript and native components. It's the ideal choice for teams with React experience and projects requiring integration with the JavaScript ecosystem.
Flutter, developed by Google, uses the Dart language and its own rendering engine. It offers total control over pixels and is excellent for apps with complex UI and elaborate animations.
Performance: Flutter has a slight advantage due to native AOT (Ahead of Time) compilation. React Native has made great progress with the new Hermes engine, significantly reducing the gap.
Development experience: React Native benefits from the vast JavaScript ecosystem. Flutter offers a more coherent SDK and more stable Hot Reload for rapid iterations.
Learning curve: React Native is easier for web developers. Flutter requires learning Dart, but the language is similar to Java/JavaScript.
When to choose React Native: Team has JavaScript/React experience, existing integrations with Node.js backend, projects evolving from a React web application.
When to choose Flutter: Complex UI with animations, apps requiring pixel-perfect consistency across platforms, new projects without existing technical baggage.
At Softsite, we develop mobile apps on both frameworks. Contact us for a consultation and we'll help you choose the right solution.
