Building a cross-platform mobile app is in huge demand these days, with the availability of frameworks that can build apps without using programming languages like Swift and Java. React Native vs Flutter vs Ionic are the most recommended frameworks that are used to build engaging, scalable & secure mobile apps. Picking between the three is a challenging task for app developers.
There is no specific answer to this question. The answer completely relies on business needs and end-user requirements. React Native, Flutter and Ionic have a lot of similarities like building cross-platform apps using one codebase, amazing UI, excellent tool and features. But, they have some major differences as well. Nowadays businesses hire android developers skilled in developing a cross-platform mobile app to meet the client’s end-user demands.
Let’s explore React Native vs Flutter vs Ionic against several factors:
User Interface
When it is about building the mobile app user interface, you will see a big difference between the three frameworks. React Native make use of native components whereas Flutter implements widget sets, that are quite amazing and are great for a customized UI design. Flutter has few limitations where the app lacks a few components thus, user experience is compromised. While React Native is a dynamic framework that enhances the user experience. Brands looking for Android app development should focus on the App UI for higher customer engagement.
Ionic Framework comprises UI components, which are reusable elements serving as the building blocks for a mobile app. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are used to build app components. Ionic components can be easily customized to global changes across the whole app.
Performance
Flutter, React Native and Ionic are known for their performance. The reason is due to the Dart frame and JavaScript layer helping in connecting the native components.
React Native has a huge customer base, but developers experience troubles when it comes to building hybrid apps. However, with so much transformation the native apps adjust exceptionally well to the requirements. Developers sometimes face problems while running React Native architecture. Whereas Flutter makes it easy for the developers as existing code can be reused for development work.
Ionic allows developers to build mobile apps using different web technologies and allows access to native features like file storage, flashlight, and camera.
Development Time
React native is the most popular sorted framework for building an innovative mobile app. It is the first choice of the developer’s community because of its efficiency and reduced development time.
Flutter consumes more time in development but it ensures high-quality usability. The availability of components makes the development process simple and quick in React Native, hence the preferred choice of android app development company.
Ionic Framework is an open-source framework for developing cross-platform apps for both iOS, and Android from a single codebase. Having engaging UI components boost the app development speed, and can be virtually deployed.
Stability
Stability is a crucial parameter for enterprises looking to launch a mobile app. Selecting between multiple frameworks seems a tough decision to make. The newly launched Flutter is backed with remarkable features.
With huge community support and consistency, React Native is a highly popular and recommended framework. React Native, has made its mark and established itself for its features and reliability whereas Flutter is still in the struggling.
Ionic wraps the AngularJS framework with HTML5 and CSS and uses Cordova to access native device functionality. AngularJS is embedded in Ionic by default allowing us to build scalable mobile apps.
Customer Base
React Native needs no introduction in any case. It was and is known as the most promising mobile app development framework for the developers. The framework offers features to build a mobile app of any functionality, vertical and size. This framework has powered several big names like Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, Walmart, and Skype.
Flutter is still in the establishment phase and can’t make its presence felt in the app development industry. Since the framework is new to the market it will need some time to make its impact and be recognized in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cross-platform apps?
The cross-platform mobile app is the process of building mobile apps that can be deployed on different platforms having a single codebase, instead of developing the app multiple times using the respective technologies for different platform.
What is meant by react-native?
React Native is an amazing framework enabling web developers to build robust mobile apps using JavaScript skills. It offers fast app development, and code reusability across iOS, & Android, without sacrificing the end user’s experience or app performance.
What is flutter?
Flutter is an open-source mobile app development framework created by Google. It is used to build Cross-platform apps, but a primary method of creating apps for Google Fuchsia.
What is ionic used for?
Ionic is a powerful HTML5 based framework that helps to build native mobile apps. Ionic focuses mainly on the look and feel, and UI of the app. It uses different web technologies like HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Is the Ionic framework free?
Ionic is Completely FREE and Open Source framework. When powerful frameworks including Ionic is provided free of charge it allows developers to create mobile apps that are engaging & secure.
Wrapping Up:
So, in the blog, a detailed comparison of the above frameworks is mentioned for mobile app development. All the frameworks have their own advantages in terms of performance, development time and stability as discussed above.
Hence, it is very hard to make a statement regarding the clear winner as all have their own pros and cons. But it is suggested if you hire android app developer for your app development requirement make sure they are proficient in the above frameworks. This will help you to stay competitive and meet the desired business goals. End-users always look for fast, secure and engaging mobile apps.