React Native vs Flutter: A Comprehensive Comparison for 2025

It’s no secret that nowadays, almost every person has several devices that they use daily. The diversity of operational systems has increased the demand for applications that can seamlessly work across different platforms, so cross-platform development has become as popular as ever before. 

Flutter and React Native are two prominent open-source frameworks for cross-platform app development that have significantly risen in popularity over the past few years. Although they share some similarities, there are far more differences between them. Below, we will compare React Native vs. Flutter so you can choose which framework best suits the needs and requirements of your project.

But first, let’s overview the two frameworks to better understand their functionality and use cases.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is an open-source UI framework for cross-platform app development that was released by Google in 2017. It is built on Dart, a modern object-oriented programming language also developed by Google. Flutter contains a broad set of UI software development tools, widgets, APIs, and documentation. In other words, it provides everything developers need to build robust and eye-catching cross-platform applications.

Key features of Flutter include:

• Single codebase. One of Flutter’s most appealing aspects is its ability to compile applications for iOS, Android, web, and desktop using a single codebase. 
• Hot reload. This feature allows developers to correct or change the code without restarting the app. You can see all the changes in the app’s UI in real-time. This greatly speeds up the development process and helps to fix bugs without delays.
• Rich widget library. Flutter provides a great deal of customizable widgets that follow both Material Design (for Android) and Cupertino (for iOS) guidelines. This ensures that applications built with Flutter have a native look and feel.
• High performance. Flutter apps compile native ARM code, which enables high performance comparable to native applications. The framework also includes a powerful rendering engine, Impeller, that can seamlessly handle complex animations and graphics.

As with any other technology, Flutter also has its strong and weak sides. Let’s take a closer look at Flutter advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Fast development cycle. With the hot reload feature and a single codebase for multiple platforms, Flutter significantly accelerates the development cycle.
• Beautiful UIs. The extensive widget library enables developers to create visually appealing UIs with ease. The flexibility to customize widgets allows for creativity in design.
• Cross-platform compatibility. The ability to deploy applications across various platforms without maintaining separate codebases is a significant advantage for both developers and businesses.
• Great performance. The native compilation of Dart to native ARM code ensures that Flutter applications run smoothly, providing a better user experience.
• Strong backing from Google. Being a Google product, Flutter benefits from ongoing support and frequent updates. For example, the latest framework version, Flutter 3.24, was released in August 2024. New features allow the creation of advanced graphics and 3D scenes, multi-view embedding for web apps, and other advancements. 
• Easy to learn. As we mentioned, Flutter uses Dart, a programming language also developed by Google. It’s relatively easy to learn, so even novice developers can quickly master Flutter.

Cons

• Heavy-weight apps. For many users, the size of the application is a crucial factor, as they tend to delete large apps to save space for more important ones. Flatter’s rendering engine and other built-in features and widgets add to the overall size of the applications.
• Dart is not a popular language. Even though Dart is a great programming language, it’s not as popular as JavaScript, C#, Kotlin, or other industry giants. Therefore, not many developers are eager to learn it, and finding specialists for the project can be difficult. However, Dart is growing in popularity, so there’s a high chance that it will no longer be a problem in the near future. 
• Limited developer community. As we can see, even though Flutter itself has grown more popular over the years, there are still not enough developers experienced with the framework. 
• Compatibility issues with iOS. Although Flutter is a cross-platform framework, it was released by Google. Naturally, Android is more compatible with it than the iOS platform. As a result, there can be some minor issues or delays in updates for iOS apps. 

What is React Native?

React Native is an open-source framework released by Meta in 2015 that allows developers to build cross-platform mobile and web applications. 

One of the frequently asked questions while discussing React Native is, “What is the difference between React and React Native?” First of all, React is a library for building web user interfaces, not a framework. Another fundamental difference between React JS and React Native is that the latter is built on React and JavaScript, using them to create natively rendered apps. 

Key features of React Native include:

• Cross-platform development. Similar to Flutter, React Native enables developers to write code once and deploy it on both iOS and Android platforms, which saves time and resources.
• Native components. React Native leverages native components rather than web components. This means applications built with React Native can achieve the look and feel of native apps. It also provides a smoother user experience and access to platform-specific features.
• Hot reloading. Like Flutter, React Native also has this feature. 
• Declarative UI. React Native employs a declarative programming paradigm, allowing developers to describe how the UI should look based on the application state, making the code easier to understand and maintain.
• Rich ecosystem. React Native has a large ecosystem of JavaScript and React libraries and tools, which can help speed up development and enhance app functionality.

Same as Flutter, the React Native framework also has its benefits and disadvantages. Let’s have a look at its main advantages and drawbacks.

Pros 

• Strong community support. Since its release, React Native has fostered a vibrant community of developers. This community contributes to the framework’s growth by sharing knowledge, creating tutorials, and developing third-party libraries, making it easier for newcomers to find support.
• JavaScript ecosystem. JavaScript is one of the most widely used programming languages, making React Native accessible to many developers. For teams already familiar with JavaScript, adopting React Native can lead to a smoother transition and quicker onboarding processes.
• Performance. While some may argue that native apps outperform cross-platform solutions, React Native often comes close to native performance. It compiles to native components, which allows for smooth animations and a more responsive user interface.
• Small-size apps. If Flutter applications tend to be larger because of their built-in features, React Native apps are considerably smaller in size. That’s because the framework uses native platform components. 

Cons 

• Performance limitations. While React Native performs well for most applications, it can struggle with highly complex or resource-intensive apps, such as those requiring extensive animations or heavy calculations. Moreover, there can be some performance issues for apps on older devices because the framework uses native UI components. 
• Dependency on third-party libraries. React Native relies heavily on third-party libraries for various functionalities. While this can speed up development, it also introduces risks related to compatibility and maintenance. Some libraries may not be actively maintained, leading to potential issues when upgrading React Native or integrating new features.

React Native vs Flutter: key differences

Both Flutter and React Native offer unique advantages and cater to different developer needs. Choosing between these two frameworks isn’t easy, even when considering their drawbacks. To help you better understand the nuances and make an informed decision, let’s explore the key differences between React Native and Flutter.

Performance comparison

When it comes to performance, both frameworks deliver robust and high-performing applications. However, Flutter had a performance advantage since React Native used JavaScript bridges to communicate with native components. But, starting with version 0.74, React Native eliminates this drawback with the Bridgeless New Architecture.

Now, React Native uses the JavaScript Interface for faster communication between JavaScript and native components, reducing latency. Thanks to this architectural improvement, React Native speeds up the development process and enables developers to create more responsive user interfaces.

Flutter, on the other hand, uses its graphics engine to compile directly to native ARM code, eliminating the need for a bridge. Starting with the 3.27 release, Flutter replaces Skia with Impeller as the default rendering engine for Android and iOS. Impeller leverages advanced GPU APIs for more efficient rendering, reducing power consumption and improving overall UI performance.

Development speed and productivity

When it comes to development speed and productivity, both frameworks have their strengths. React Native allows developers to write code in JavaScript, a language familiar to many web developers, which can lead to faster onboarding. Additionally, its hot-reloading feature enables real-time feedback during development, significantly speeding up the iteration process.

Flutter also offers a hot-reload feature, but its unique widget-based architecture allows developers to create custom components. The comprehensive set of built-in widgets in Flutter accelerates UI development, enabling developers to rapidly create visually appealing applications.

UI and design capabilities

UI design is where Flutter truly stands out. Its rich set of customizable widgets allows developers to create stunning designs that are consistent across platforms. The Material Design and Cupertino styles provided by Flutter enable developers to easily implement platform-specific aesthetics.

React Native, while flexible, relies on third-party libraries and native components for UI development. That can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in design across platforms. However, React Native’s use of native components can offer a more authentic look and feel for users familiar with the platform.

Platform support and ecosystem

As we mentioned, React Native enables developers to create applications for both iOS and Android using a single codebase. The framework also has extensive support for third-party libraries and components, making it easier to extend functionality.

Flutter is also cross-platform, supporting iOS and Android, but it goes a step further by enabling developers to build applications for web and desktop platforms as well. This versatility allows teams to reach a broader audience with minimal extra effort. However,  even though Flutter’s ecosystem is rapidly growing, it still lags behind React Native in terms of available third-party libraries. That said, the official Flutter packages are well-maintained and cover many common use cases, which can help developers avoid the pitfalls of using less reliable third-party solutions.

Debugging

Debugging in React Native is generally user-friendly, largely thanks to its integration with popular developer tools like Chrome DevTools and React Developer Tools. Developers can easily inspect and debug their applications in real-time, which can significantly speed up the development process.

Flutter, on the other hand, comes equipped with a rich set of debugging tools and a comprehensive widget inspector. These tools allow developers to analyze the UI components and rendering performance in great detail.

Which framework is best for your project?

Choosing the right framework for your project is really important, as it influences the performance, scalability, and maintenance of your application, as well as the speed of the development process. We’ve already discussed the key differences between React Native and Flutter, so now you need to evaluate your project requirements to decide which one will work better for you. 

Here are some key factors to consider while choosing a framework based on your project needs:

• Team expertise. It’s better to choose a framework your team is familiar with to minimize the learning curve and speed up development.
• Performance needs. If you need deep integration with native device features, choose a framework that provides easy access to native APIs and supports custom native code when necessary.
• UI\UX design. If your app requires a highly customized design, choose a framework that allows for flexible UI elements and consistent design across platforms.
• Platform support. Select a framework based on the platforms you intend to target. Some frameworks support only mobile, while others also extend to web and desktop.
• Ecosystem. The ecosystem of libraries and tools available can speed up development. A well-established ecosystem provides more resources and community support.
• Development speed. Consider how quickly you need to build and iterate on your app. 

When to choose Flutter for app development?

Considering the advantages of Flutter and other factors, it will best suit: 

• Projects with restricted budgets and short deadlines;
• Applications with heavy graphics and animations; 
• If you need customized UI widgets.

When React Native is the better choice?

The advantages of React and JavaScript make React Native an ideal choice when: 

• You want to develop a lightweight mobile app with native components;
• Your in-house team is proficient in JavaScript or React;
• You want to scale your current project with cross-platform modules. 

If you have an idea for a cross-platform application but don’t have an in-house team or need a specialist skilled in Flutter or React Native, you can always turn to a reliable mobile development services provider like SoftTeco.

Calculate the cost of your custom Flutter or React Native mobile app development in 2025

React Native vs Flutter comparison table

Here’s a comprehensive Flutter vs. React Native head-to-head comparison table so you can evaluate their differences again and decide which framework will better suit your project needs.  

Conclusion

As we can see, both Flutter and React Native allow you to build robust, high-performing cross-platform applications. Over the years, both frameworks have significantly evolved, making the development process faster and more convenient. Flutter excels in performance, UI consistency, and multi-platform support, while React Native offers better integration with the JavaScript ecosystem, strong community support, and seamless native app integration. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the choice can be challenging, but it ultimately depends on the specific requirements of your project.

However, if you have difficulties deciding between Flutter vs. React Native, you can always consult with SoftTeco. As an experienced software development company, we offer comprehensive IT consulting services to help you assess your project needs and select the right technologies to maximize development benefits.