In our previous blog, we had laid out the basics of Flutter and React Native. We saw their advantages and disadvantages along with the popular apps that individually use them. Now, when it comes to their overall performance, it is quite debatable. Both of these frameworks provide the best with respect to agility and speed.
In today’s blog, we will dive deeper into more details of their performance, architecture, responsiveness towards complex apps etc.
Performance Comparison
Flutter: Flutter, in most cases, provides better performance than React Native. It eliminates the need for any bridge for communication between native modules. This is made possible due to the fact that there are native components available.
React Native: This needs the JavaScript bridge in order to communicate between the native modules. This is why more number of frames get dropped in an app. There is a provision to use third party libraries to optimize the bytecodes. This is something that is absent in Flutter, making it a better performer.
Below, we will compare these two frameworks in some more parameters.
Application Architecture
Flutter: Flutter supports a layered architecture. The usual hierarchy of an app on this frameworks begins with top-level root function. Basic widgets are what come next and they interact with the platform and form layers. Beyond this second layer, we get the animation gestures. They help to transfer the API calls to the very basic foundation of the app. The benefit of such a layered architecture is that it is friendly for developers of varied experiences. They can easily make complex apps with really small components using Flutter.
React Native: As we already know, React Native has a bridge between JavaScript and Native threads. Because of this, the JavaScript code is able to relay communications with the Native API. It works differently in iOS and Android. In the former it uses JavaScriptCore for all codes while in the latter, it uses it within the app only. This increases the native functionality undoubtedly. However, we need to note that it could cause device lags or performance delays.
Compatibility with complex apps
Flutter: As of this present day, Flutter does seem less suitable to handle complexity in app development. When it comes to building an MVP, yes, this is a great framework! Developers can also use Flutter to build better and quicker prototypes for experimentation and cost optimization.
React Native: one strong point of React Native is its suitability to help build complex projects. One thing that we would like to remind here is that such development is possible only when you integrate native app development with it. In such stages, we can call your apps hybrid apps instead of cross-platform apps.
Ease of Testing apps
Flutter: Flutter apps are much easier to test as it offers an extensive support and facilities for automated testing. It has unending testing features and a detailed documentation on the same. You can test your apps at the unit and widget levels and even at the integration levels. Apart from this, Flutter also has its deployment process documented for further assistance to the developers.
React Native: This framework has no official support for any interface level testing or integration testing. It comes with limited unit level testing frameworks that you can use to test apps. Developers need to take help from third party setups like Detox or Appium in order to correct bugs in the apps. Not only this, but React Native relies on third party libraries in order to build or release automation.
Community Size
Flutter: After its launch in the year 2017, Flutter has been gladly welcomed in developer communities all around. However, when it comes to professional contributors, React Native wins by a huge margin. Some of the popular platforms that can be used to connect with Flutter’s global community include Discord, Slack, Reddit and Stack Overflow etc.
React Native: This framework was launched in the year 2015 and there has been no looking back since then! With a huge number of contributors, it is proved that the size of the community has been extensively growing. The community is very active and can even help a novice developer in building apps using this platform. You can reach out to the community through platforms like Telegram, Reddit, Slack, Meet up and more.
Code Maintainability
Flutter: Maintenance of codes in Flutter apps are quite easy. The codes are really simple and can easily help to detect any issues by developers. The total time taken for release of good updates or applying changes to an app is pretty decent than other frameworks like React Native.
React Native: It could be a task to upgrade or solve bugs in a code on React Native apps. When you change any code, it affects the framework’s logic and can slow down the development. Not only this, as we already saw, there can be a lot of third-party dependency.
These are some of the basic differences between the two platforms. You should choose Flutter if native functionality is not a mandate for you and you are tight on costs and time. For faster codes and deployment, Flutter is the right fit. You must choose React Native if you are looking to scale your existing apps and build lightweight native apps.
Confused what is the right choice for you? Call us now and our engineers will help to solve your issue in a few minutes! At EOV, we have software developers who are well versed with various frameworks and will help you build just the right app in the promised timeline!
Very detailed and informative blog. I must say your blogging is commendable. Looking forward to more