Flutter vs React Native

Google's cross-platform darling meets write once, deploy everywhere—except when you're debugging platform-specific quirks. Here's our take.

Flutter

Nice Pick

Google's cross-platform darling. Write once, run everywhere, and actually look good doing it.

Pros

• Hot reload speeds up development dramatically
• Single codebase for iOS, Android, web, and desktop
• Rich widget library with customizable UI
• Strong performance with its own rendering engine

Cons

• App size can be larger than native alternatives
• Limited access to some platform-specific APIs
• Dart language has a smaller ecosystem compared to JavaScript or Swift

React Native

Write once, deploy everywhere—except when you're debugging platform-specific quirks.

Pros

• Leverages React knowledge for mobile development
• Hot reload speeds up iteration
• Large community and extensive third-party libraries

Cons

• Performance can lag behind native apps for complex animations
• Platform-specific code often required for advanced features

The Verdict

Use Flutter if: You want hot reload speeds up development dramatically and can live with app size can be larger than native alternatives.

Use React Native if: You prioritize leverages react knowledge for mobile development over what Flutter offers.

The Bottom Line

Flutter wins

Google's cross-platform darling. Write once, run everywhere, and actually look good doing it.