However, few CEOs know which approach best fits their product. The reality is, there’s a strong use case for each. Developers have built everything from e-commerce stores to interactive mobile experiences to social networks – using React Native and Flutter.
The following article will compare and contrast the two to help you make an informed decision.
“Build native mobile apps using JavaScript and React”–React GitHub
React Native is often referred to as the future of hybrid apps. Since its open source launch in 2013, the framework has become immensely popular. Aside from Facebook, companies who use React Native include:
It’s existed for a long time, and companies trust its reliability and scale.
“Build beautiful native apps on iOS and Android from a single codebase”—Flutter.dev
Flutter is Google’s open-source SDK. It’s relatively new (Google celebrated the first ‘stable’ Flutter 1.0 in December). However, the tech giant also announced the launch of a side project – Hummingbird: a programme that promises developers a ‘build once, run everywhere’ experience.
As such, Flutter is becoming increasingly popular, and you now can find many examples of the framework in the real world:
It’s less tried-and-tested than React Native – but many developers are turning to Flutter given recent progress.
First, let’s consider the benefits that both the frameworks deliver.
Each one provides developers with the tools to build mobile apps on both Android and iOS, using only one codebase. They allow you to mix code with Swift or Kotlin, which opens up the native functionalities usually reserved for a specific operating system.
This reduces both the time to market and the cost to build.
Equally, as both frameworks are the product of a tech giant, each has its own developer community to offer guidance and support at every step. Moreover, the frameworks are open source, free-to-use, and fast.
You’ll also enjoy a library of up-to-date documentation with the relevant API references to help your team develop rich-featured, native app experiences – with the added benefit of a ‘hot reloading’ function that allows more efficient development thanks to running new code while holding the application in-state (rather than recompiling).
The similarities are many, but so are the differences. So, let’s dive in – to find out which framework you prefer.
React Native uses JavaScript: an already popular programing language that many developers know well, which has undoubtedly driven the adoption of the framework given its simplicity to start using.
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Flutter uses Dart: a relatively new language that fewer developers know. Flutter differs significantly from React Native in that there aren’t any JavaScript components or styling, nor separate templates, style or data files.
Dart suits developers with experience in C++ and Java and could require your team to learn a new language before starting development.
React Native presents a seamless and stable user experience as it communicates directly with the native operating system. This allows the most dynamic capabilities based on native components for the best possible UX.
The framework is the product of the Facebook engineering team and has existed for almost seven years – making it as robust and reliable as any.
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Flutter is still relatively new. However, as any Google product, it is high quality – and it’s increasingly stable following its latest release (though it still falls short of React on this front).
That said, it has a set of customizable proprietary widgets that help developers build compelling features for a dynamic experience you may not get with React. Regardless, Flutter lacks specific components – which can limit the UX.
React Native remains one of the quickest ways to get an app to market. It can take longer to style platforms, but its library of third-party packages and readily-available components simplifies development of dynamic features.
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Flutter has some catching up to do when it comes to development times. It takes longer to build a mobile app using Flutter – although the native usability of the framework and reusable code can make up for the upfront effort.
React Native’s popularity is a tremendous asset as the community has so much experience with the framework. While some developers stumble and question React Native’s performance, there’s always a solution to adjust an app for the native environment.
It’s arguably the most appropriate framework for large-scale applications – as you can see from the famous companies who use it.
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Learning Dart is a hurdle for those new to Flutter, but many developers prefer the framework once they’ve mastered the syntax. Flutter makes it simple to reuse code, while the underlying C++ engine performs exceptionally well in mobile applications.
Still, the emerging platform is in its early years with only a handful of clients to showcase its prowess.
React’s process is less organized than developers might like; plus, the framework lacks the components to smooth out development – this is one core weakness of React Native.
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Flutter makes life easy by simplifying documentation, and this is a core strength. Extensive IDE’s, and compatibility with both studio code and android studio, add further value – meaning if you’re on the fence, this could tip Flutter in your favor.
Both frameworks achieve their mission: to give developers the tools to build mobile apps on both Android and iOS using one codebase.
It’s difficult to claim one outperforms the other – it’s a matter of making a decision based on your specific needs, and your team’s preferences. React Native is proven and forms the basis of the world’s most-used social media network.
Flutter is less mature, which may give you pause for thought as it strives for stability. However, it has helped build some fantastic apps to get start-ups up-and-running very quickly.
Get in touch today to discuss the best framework for your business model.
Apparently, there is still a group of entrepreneurs who are afraid of AI-powered solutions. It is because they hold onto a myth of thousands of dollars that has to be spent on such an innovation. Well, it is true that creating your own AI tool can cost you a lot of money. However, you can be smarter and work with software engineering specialists who know how to make AI accessible to you using only a fraction of the original budget. Then you will notice that introducing AI technology to your company is not a high investment when it comes to potential profits from optimization and sales.
Small companies have limited human resources as well as budget. Their products need something to boost their popularity on the market and make them more visible. At the same time, there is no money for a larger team to work on that. What can be done here is to leverage AI to their product to make it works more efficient.
See how it was done in some examples below:
It’s a mobile app created to help people in finding a perfect emoji. Dango can be integrated into different messengers and it is capable of predicting emoji, stickers and GIFs while monitoring your writing. To understand the meaning of the words, the app had to undergo training which was based on showing millions of real-life examples of emoji usage to its neural network.
Machine learning implemented in a restaurant app makes it is able to take orders, ask questions and give suggestions about food based on user preference. Such an app can monitor your order history to help you try new items on the menu. What is more, food delivery applications equipped in machine learning provide users with the ETA, so the estimated time of arrival, after analysing the situation on the road.
Transportation apps can underline factors such as the expected time of arrival along with a detailed description of the journey. They can also perform real-time tracking on maps.
This kind of applications can help you with your plan and to-do list. They will find the most suitable date and time for you to go to the gym or perform other tasks connected with work. The apps will make you feel more organized and in control of your life.
The AI technology will help your fledgling project to grow by cutting unnecessary costs and reducing time spent on performing repetitive, daily tasks. As it was mentioned before, small companies sometimes lack employees. Meanwhile, there are people who instead of working creatively on developing the brand, spend time on emailing customers. All of that and even more can be done by AI which is capable of providing human-like responses using chatbots. The AI bots can answer even those complex questions or requests from customers. They will email them when they think that the contact between a client and the brand is missing. In result, your company is seen as very much engage in any problem.
In the same way, AI supports 24/7 call centres. Moreover, it provides user-oriented analytics, giving users a personalized experience. For example, predicting the preferable time of training in training booking app or presenting products which our customer probably likes in e-commerce app. The technology can also give insight into the business process used by our competitors. It enables you to see changes in their marketing strategy and market trends. Finally, you can use AI to monitor if your app is user-friendly, so how people navigate inside your project.
It is important to start small and don’t rush the process. Small businesses should apply the technology carefully and expand it slowly. Otherwise, it can have detrimental effects on the development of the brand. Sometimes when a bot controlled by machine learning starts to insult people on Twitter, you see that its neuron network developed in the wrong direction. That is why everyone who wants to use machine learning and AI technology in one’s app should first decide on a few basic functions they want to apply in such a way. Only after a successful implementation, the model should be further developed to produce a positive influence on the business.
AI and machine learning will support your project in operations like product development, sales, and marketing. When implemented in your React Native app development, delivers customer service on a great level making your brand engaged in clients’ needs and requests. The technology gives more time to think of ways in which the brand can be developed as AI makes all the “dirty work” for you. Do you still hesitate to use it? Because your competitors already have it. Let’s leverage your AI solution!
Inspiration has struck, you have an app to build. With any number of devices, platforms and screen sizes to accommodate, which technology do you use, maybe React? A common question, particularly among startups – and one that rarely has a clear answer.
Perhaps because most only consider two options:
Typically, the decision rests on a single factor: a specific functionality, security considerations, offline access, or merely a team’s expertise. But the landscape has evolved. Mobile technology is becoming increasingly dynamic.
Startups can now adopt a hybrid approach, leveraging the best of all worlds. But before we dive into the wonders of the new, let’s first consider the ways of old.
HTML5 mobile applications are essentially a webpage designed to work on smaller screens. They are compatible with any device, through any browser; guaranteeing access anytime, anywhere.
They are cost-effective to develop: these apps have the lowest barriers to entry as HTML5 is arguably the most straightforward approach. Plus, the fact HTML5 apps work across devices makes them an appealing option for those seeking reach without excessive workload.
Moreover, as the content of your app is web-based, it is searchable; so if you run an eCommerce store, your product catalog will show up on Google.
Still, every device functions in a slightly different way, meaning even the best HTML5 apps can look strange depending on screen size or resolution – never assume HTML5 means a perfect experience every time.
But it is easier to build, run and maintain an HTML5 application given that bug fixes and feature releases only happen once. Then appear instantly across platforms with users seeing the update without having to download a new version. In truth, it’s easy to understand the appeal.
But business owners beware: Do not be comforted by a false sense of simplicity.
If you choose the mass approach, you risk losing out on most native functionality (we’ll get into the detail later). Meaning limited features, sub-optimal performance, and an app lacking the typical UX of its iOS or Android equivalent.
Certain buttons or actions won’t have the expected results. Users will become frustrated by the unfamiliar experience. Capabilities such as offline storage are not an option, while security is less robust.
In an era of data-conscious users looking for seamless solutions, HTML5 often falls short.
Pros:
Cons:
Native applications, on the other hand, provide the ultimate usability. They are feature-rich and leverage the elements that make smartphones such a joy to use:
It’s clear to see why native is appealing. Everything a user could want, and probably a lot more with the right amount of entrepreneurial creativity.
But fundamental shortcomings still exist:
So, business owners face a challenge in finding the approach best-suited to their ambitions, budgets, and resource; unless…
Hybrid apps take the best of both worlds to create what many consider the optimal approach on mobile. Through a combination of HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript, wrapped in a native container; developers can create a generic multi-platform application that leverages native functionality.
Hybrid applications use the mobile platform’s WebView – essentially a local browser window which runs full-screen – that can access your camera, contacts, location, whatever; leveraging the same native functionality which enhances the typical native experience.
Better yet, your customers will struggle to tell a hybrid app from its native counterpart, creating the seamless experience users crave.
The background technology of a hybrid app is much the same as a website: HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s the use of a WebView hosted in a native container which allows it to access the platform-specific features; enabling a dynamic, flexible application that behaves ‘natively’ but works across devices, meaning:
But yes; alongside the benefits, there is complexity.
Individual platforms have nuances when running a WebView. So, while hybrid apps are compatible across devices, there are several platform-specific considerations to account for – particularly on Android.
Equally, if you want to use certain features on specific platforms, you may require plugins and native code to fully-leverage the underlying functionality. And a word of warning: plug-ins can be unreliable, out-of-date, or just lack what you need. So you might still have a gap in capability or need to build a new plug-in altogether.
Alternatively, you can choose another approach.
If you build within a framework, you overcome these challenges, which is why many developers opt for React Native.
React Native is an open-source framework that allows developers to build both iOS and Android applications without relying on a WebView. Many regard it as the rising star in hybrid application development as it provides a high-performance environment with access to all iOS and Android API’s, removing dependencies on – and the inherent risks of – plug-ins.
React Native is based on JavaScript, with no HTML at all; this can result in a steep learning curve when first using the framework but as the technology of choice of Facebook, UberEATS, Walmart, and Instagram – you have to respect its power.
The Core Benefits of React Native
There are multiple approaches to mobile app development, even if you choose the hybrid path: Ionic, Framework 7, PhoneGap, and Onsen UI are just a handful of other frameworks you can use, but the list is long, and their strengths and weaknesses are beyond the scope of this article.
If you believe a hybrid application suits your business goals, we recommend React Native. Not only does it make the best of the native operating system without requiring platform-specific development, it mitigates the pitfalls of traditional hybrid applications.
Deliberation over. Decision made.
