Flutter or React Native: which suits your app?
Both frameworks build an iOS and Android app from a single codebase. The difference lies in the language, who maintains it, and how the app ends up on screen. A factual comparison, with no preset preference.
Short answer
Flutter uses the Dart language and draws the entire interface itself, which produces an identical result on every device. React Native uses JavaScript or TypeScript and translates your screen into the actual native components of iOS and Android. Neither is universally better: the choice depends on your team, your existing codebase, and how important a pixel-perfect, identical appearance across both platforms is to you.
Torn between fully native development and React Native, rather than between Flutter and React Native? Then read Native vs React Native: when to choose which approach.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is Google's open source UI framework for building apps for iOS, Android, web and desktop from a single Dart codebase. Flutter draws every pixel itself through its own rendering engine, rather than reusing the platform's native controls.
Since Flutter 3.27, Impeller is the default rendering engine: on iOS it is the only supported engine, while on Android it is enabled by default from API level 29, with a fallback to the older OpenGL renderer on older devices.
What is React Native?
React Native is Meta's framework for building, using JavaScript or TypeScript, an app that actually uses the native components of iOS and Android, much as React uses components in the browser for the web.
Since React Native 0.76 (October 2024), the New Architecture is enabled by default: the Fabric renderer and JSI replace the older asynchronous bridge between JavaScript and native code with direct communication.
Flutter versus React Native by dimension
| Dimension | Flutter | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Dart, a language designed specifically for Flutter | JavaScript or TypeScript, the same language as React for the web |
| Maintained by | Meta | |
| Rendering approach | Its own rendering engine (Impeller) that draws the entire interface itself, regardless of platform | Renders to the actual native platform components via the Fabric renderer |
| Architecture | A single render pipeline that behaves identically on every platform | New Architecture (Fabric, JSI, TurboModules) since version 0.76, with direct communication and no older bridge |
| Ecosystem | pub.dev, smaller and more streamlined, curated by Google | npm, one of the largest software package ecosystems, shared with the wider JavaScript world |
| Platform reach | Officially mobile, web and desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) from a single codebase | Core focus on mobile; web support exists through the separate community project React Native Web |
| Team and talent | Requires Dart knowledge; a smaller but growing talent pool | Reusable for teams with existing React or JavaScript experience |
Flutter is a good fit when
- an identical appearance on iOS and Android carries heavy weight
- you also want to serve web or desktop from the same codebase
- your team is willing to learn Dart or already has Flutter experience
React Native is a good fit when
- your team already works with React or JavaScript/TypeScript
- you want parts of the app to feel native to each platform
- you want to tap into the largest available package ecosystem
Want to know what this means concretely for your project? Take a look at our approach to Flutter app development and getting a React Native app built, or read more background on our React Native technology page.
No universally best choice
The performance gap between the two frameworks has narrowed in recent years: Flutter with Impeller and React Native with the New Architecture deliver a comparable user experience for most business apps with standard CRUD functionality and moderate animations. For highly animation-intensive interfaces, Flutter's own render pipeline often still has the edge.
Want to know which developers handle projects like this? Check out the best Flutter developers in the Netherlands, or consider hiring a Flutter developer for an existing project.
Frequently asked questions about Flutter and React Native
For animation-heavy interfaces, Flutter often has an edge thanks to its own rendering engine. For standard business apps with typical screens and moderate animation, the difference is usually not noticeable to end users now that React Native's New Architecture is the default.
Yes, Flutter officially supports web and desktop from the same codebase as the mobile app. React Native is primarily focused on mobile; a web version runs through the separate community project React Native Web.
For Flutter, yes: Dart is a language designed specifically for this framework. For React Native, no. If your team already knows JavaScript, TypeScript or React, that knowledge carries over directly.
The original bridge sent messages asynchronously and serialised between JavaScript and native code, which could cause delays on complex screens. The New Architecture, the default since React Native 0.76, uses JSI for direct communication without that serialisation step.
Technically yes, but in practice it means rebuilding the interface layer, as both frameworks use a different language and rendering approach. Careful technology choice up front prevents this.
React Native benefits from the npm ecosystem, one of the largest software package ecosystems in the world, and shares talent with the wider JavaScript and React community. Flutter's pub.dev ecosystem is smaller but growing steadily and is strongly curated by Google.
Undecided between Flutter and React Native?
Describe your app idea, your team and any existing codebase. We'll advise which approach fits best, with no obligation.