Blog | 16 February 2023 | App Development | Rahul Gupta

Flutter vs React Native vs Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile

Mobile app development is on the rise, and the demand for cross-platform frameworks is increasing. Cross-platform frameworks are a great way to develop mobile applications that can be run on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. There are many cross-platform frameworks available, but in this blog, we will compare three popular frameworks: Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile.

Flutter:

Flutter is an open-source mobile application development framework created by Google. Flutter uses the Dart programming language, which is also developed by Google. Flutter is a great choice for creating visually appealing apps, as it has many widgets and animations that are customizable. Flutter also has a fast development cycle, with its hot reload feature, allowing developers to make changes in real-time.

React Native:

React Native is a framework for building mobile applications that use the React library. React Native allows developers to create mobile applications using JavaScript and provides a bridge between the JavaScript code and the native platform code. React Native has a large community, which means that there are many third-party libraries available for developers to use. React Native is a great choice for developers who are already familiar with React, as it uses the same architecture and principles.

Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile:

Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) is a framework for building cross-platform mobile applications using the Kotlin programming language. KMM allows developers to share code between iOS and Android platforms, which reduces development time and costs. KMM also has a modern development cycle, with support for Android Studio and JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA. KMM is a great choice for developers who are already familiar with Kotlin, as it uses the same syntax and principles.

Comparing Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile:

All three frameworks have their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the right one depends on the project requirements and the developer’s expertise. Here is a comparison of the three frameworks based on some key factors:

  1. Language: Flutter uses Dart, React Native uses JavaScript, and KMM uses Kotlin. Flutter and KMM have statically typed languages, while React Native has a dynamically typed language.
  2. UI: Flutter has a large library of customizable widgets and animations, while React Native uses native components. KMM has limited UI support, but it’s easy to use native components.
  3. Performance: Flutter and KMM have high-performance due to their compiled languages, while React Native has performance issues due to its JavaScript runtime.
  4. Community: React Native has the largest community, followed by Flutter and KMM.
  5. Development time: Flutter has a fast development cycle, with its hot reload feature, while KMM is also fast due to code sharing. React Native has a slower development cycle due to its JavaScript runtime.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right framework depends on the project requirements and the developer’s expertise. Flutter is a great choice for creating visually appealing apps quickly, React Native is a great choice for developers who are already familiar with React, and KMM is a great choice for developers who are already familiar with Kotlin. All three frameworks have their advantages and disadvantages, and developers should consider these factors before making a decision.