Flutter vs React Native: Best for Cross-Platform Apps?

 

Introduction: Choosing the Right Framework for Cross-Platform App Development

Planning to build a mobile app in 2025? You’re likely thinking about cross-platform development—creating one app that works on both Android and iOS. The big question is: should you choose Flutter or React Native? Both are popular tools, but they work differently and each has its own pros and cons.

This blog will help you choose the right one by comparing key factors like speed, performance, cost, design flexibility, and how well each option supports long-term growth—with clear examples and insights.

What Are Flutter and React Native?

Before we dive into the comparison, let’s first understand what Flutter and React Native are and how they work.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is a free tool from Google that lets developers build apps for both Android and iOS using just one codebase. It uses a language called Dart and has its own engine ( skia ) to draw everything on the screen, giving full control over how the app looks and feels.

Key advantages:

• • Customisable widgets and consistent UI across platforms
  • Excellent performance for animations and visuals
  • Built-in tools for testing and debugging

What is React Native?

React Native is a free framework made by Meta (formerly Facebook). It lets developers build mobile apps that feel like native apps using JavaScript and React. Instead of creating the entire design from scratch, it connects to built-in features of Android and iOS to display the app’s interface.

Key advantages:

• • Uses JavaScript, one of the most widely-used languages
  • Strong community support and third-party plugins
  • Hot Reload for rapid development feedback

“React Native is ideal if your team already knows JavaScript, while Flutter offers more design control and performance out of the box.”

Flutter vs React Native: Quick Overview

Feature	Flutter	React Native
Language	Dart	JavaScript
UI Rendering	Custom engine (Skia)	Native components
Performance	High	Moderate–High
Community Support	Growing	Large and mature
Learning Curve	Moderate (Dart required)	Low (JavaScript is popular)
Integration	Great with Firebase and Google APIs	Strong with third-party packages

1. Development Speed and Learning Curve

React Native uses JavaScript, making it easier for teams already familiar with web development to get started quickly. Flutter, however, uses Dart—a language not commonly known by most developers.

React Native advantages:

• • Faster onboarding for JavaScript developers
  • Wide availability of libraries and third-party tools
  • Hot Reload feature for instant visual feedback

Flutter advantages:

• • Rich library of widgets
  • Strong architectural consistency
  • Excellent tooling support from Google

“If your team knows JavaScript, React Native will feel familiar. But Flutter brings structure, making it easier to scale complex UI requirements.”

2. Performance and App Responsiveness

Flutter usually runs faster than React Native because it turns code directly into native machine code, without needing a middle layer to talk to the device. It also uses its own graphics engine (called Skia) to deliver smooth visuals at 60 frames per second.

Flutter excels in:

• • High-performance animations
  • Complex visual transitions
  • Consistent behaviour across devices

React Native excels in:

• • Apps with more native device integrations
  • Simpler apps where performance is less critical

If you’re creating software that needs to run smoothly on different platforms, making sure it performs well should be one of your top priorities

3. UI Design Flexibility and Consistency

Flutter gives full control over the UI. Developers can create pixel-perfect designs that look the same across Android, iOS, and web. React Native, on the other hand, relies on native UI components, which means slight variations across platforms.

Choose Flutter for:

• • Unique visual designs
  • Branding-heavy applications
  • Apps that require custom animations

Choose React Native for:

• • Native look and feel
  • Faster MVPs with reusable components
  • Apps adhering to platform-specific guidelines

This is especially relevant for projects involving e-commerce optimisation and consistent design delivery.

4. Maintenance and Long-Term Support

React Native has been around longer, so it has a bigger and more experienced community. It’s supported by Meta and gets regular updates. Flutter is newer but growing quickly, with strong support from Google and well-organised documentation.

React Native pros:

• • Large plugin ecosystem
  • More developers readily available

Flutter pros:

• • Better documentation and UI testing support
  • More cohesive architecture, reducing bugs

If you’re building a product for the long term, it’s important to choose a tech framework that fits your support plans—and invest in IT solutions that can grow with your business.

5. Cost of Development

Flutter and React Native help cut development costs by letting you use one codebase for both Android and iOS. But in the long run, costs can also depend on things like developer availability, plugin options, and how much effort it takes to keep the app running smoothly.

To stay cost-efficient, review Emvigo’s breakdown of how much an MVP should cost in 2025.

Real-World Examples of React Native and Flutter in Action

Companies Using React Native

Meta (Facebook) : React Native was built by Meta and is actively used in parts of the Facebook app, particularly for features like Marketplace.

Instagram : Instagram uses React Native to handle portions of its app’s front-end logic, enabling cross-platform efficiency.

Bloomberg : The Bloomberg app, which provides financial news and updates, was built with React Native for consistent performance across platforms.

Airbnb (historical) : Airbnb experimented with React Native for its mobile app but later moved to native development. Their engineering insights remain valuable.

Companies Using Flutter

Google Pay : Google rebuilt Google Pay in Flutter to enhance performance and consistency across global markets.

Alibaba : Flutter powers various Alibaba mobile experiences, enabling rich user interfaces for a global audience.

BMW : BMW’s “My BMW” app, used worldwide, is built with Flutter—showcasing the framework’s readiness for enterprise use.

eBay Motors : The eBay Motors app was built with Flutter to take advantage of fast rendering and a consistent user experience.

“Big brands don’t just use Flutter or React Native because they’re trendy—they use them because they scale, save costs, and deliver reliable UX across millions of users.”

Use Cases: When to Choose Which

Choose Flutter if:

• • You want a visually rich, highly customised UI
  • Your app needs consistent behaviour across platforms
  • Your team is comfortable learning Dart or coming from Android development

Choose React Native if:

• • You need to launch fast with a JavaScript-proficient team
  • Your app relies on native integrations
  • You’re building a functional MVP for validation

Why Choose Emvigo for Cross-Platform App Development?

At Emvigo Technologies, a best mobile app development company in the UK, we specialise in building high-performance, scalable apps using both Flutter and React Native—aligned with your business goals.

Whether you’re a startup looking to launch fast or an enterprise needing a custom solution, our team delivers with:

• • Rapid MVP delivery using agile sprints and reusable components
  • Full-service mobile development, from strategy to deployment
  • Domain expertise across healthtech, fintech, eCommerce, and SaaS
  • AI-driven insights for smarter decision-making and better UX

Ready to build your cross-platform app? Book a free consultation and let our mobile experts craft your success roadmap.

FAQs: Flutter vs React Native

Which is faster: Flutter or React Native?

Flutter is generally faster due to native compilation and its custom rendering engine. React Native’s bridge to native components can slow performance in complex apps.

Is Flutter more scalable than React Native?

Flutter is often more scalable in terms of UI consistency and performance. However, React Native may be quicker for MVPs and simpler builds.

Which has a larger community: Flutter or React Native?

React Native has a larger and older community, but Flutter is growing fast and has strong backing from Google with regular updates.

Final Verdict: Which One Wins?

Both Flutter and React Native offer powerful solutions for cross-platform app development. Your decision should be guided by:

• • Your team’s existing skills
  • The complexity and design needs of your app
  • Your go-to-market timeline
  • Long-term scalability and maintenance plans

“React Native wins on time-to-market, but Flutter dominates when quality and control matter most.”

Choose the framework that aligns with your business goals—and partner with experts who can bring it to life.