React Native vs Flutter: Which to Choose?

Choosing the right cross-platform framework is one of the most important decisions in mobile app development. Both React Native and Flutter have matured significantly, each with distinct strengths. Let's break down the comparison.

Framework Overview

React Native

Developed by Meta (Facebook), React Native uses JavaScript/TypeScript and React paradigms:

Flutter

Created by Google, Flutter uses the Dart language with its own rendering engine:

Performance Comparison

React Native

With the New Architecture:

Flutter

Verdict: Flutter edges ahead in raw performance, but React Native's New Architecture closes the gap significantly.

Developer Experience

React Native

Pros:

Cons:

Flutter

Pros:

Cons:

UI/UX Capabilities

React Native

Flutter

Verdict: Flutter offers more UI flexibility; React Native provides more "native" feel out of the box.

When to Choose React Native

When to Choose Flutter

Code Comparison

React Native Button

import { TouchableOpacity, Text } from 'react-native';

function MyButton({ onPress, title }) {
  return (
    <TouchableOpacity onPress={onPress}>
      <Text>{title}</Text>
    </TouchableOpacity>
  );
}

Flutter Button

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

class MyButton extends StatelessWidget {
  final VoidCallback onPressed;
  final String title;

  const MyButton({required this.onPressed, required this.title});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return ElevatedButton(
      onPressed: onPressed,
      child: Text(title),
    );
  }
}

Industry Adoption

React Native Users

Flutter Users

Future Outlook

Both frameworks are actively developed with strong backing:

Conclusion

There's no wrong choice between these mature frameworks. Consider:

Both can build excellent production apps. Choose based on your specific context rather than hype.