Literature Review on the Comparative Analysis of

Flutter vs. React Native

Introduction
Cross-platform mobile app development frameworks have revolutionized the app-building
process by allowing developers to develop an app for multiple platforms from a single
codebase. In this case, the most popular frameworks are Flutter and React native both of which
have their pros and cons. An extensive comparative analysis of these frameworks based on
development experience, performance, and use cases is presented in this literature review

Flutter
Google introduced it in 2017, and it quickly gained popularity because of its innovative
approach to mobile development. The Dart programming language provides a complete set of
customizable widgets that ensure consistent app performance and UI/UX [1]. The framework’s
ability to compile directly to native code, bypassing the need for intermediaries such as
JavaScript bridges, results in superior runtime performance [9].

Key Features

 Widgets and Customization: Flutter offers an extensive collection of built-in widgets,

enabling developers to create intricate and responsive UIs without depending heavily on
third-party libraries [3].
 Hot Reload: The “hot reload” feature allows developers to see real-time changes in the
app, enhancing productivity and making debugging faster and more efficient [2].
 Performance: Multiple studies affirm that Flutter’s architecture and the Dart language
contribute to high performance, particularly for graphics-intensive applications [4] [10].
Benchmarks indicate that Flutter maintains better frame rates and reduced lag than its
competitors [7].

Challenges

While it provides certain advantages, developers who do not have experience with Dart can
struggle when learning Flutter [5] [6]. And the increased binary size of Flutter apps can create
problems for some projects. The ecosystem is growing, but can be much- or should be much
better even compared to React Native when it comes to library support and community [8].

React Native
Then there is React Native, another cross-platform mobile development framework created by
Facebook in 2015. Since it is based on JavaScript and the React framework, it becomes an
attractive solution for developers with a web development background [9]. With React Native,
UI is built with native components, and you can use the same code across platforms as much as
possible.

Key Features

 JavaScript Bridge: React Native employs a JavaScript bridge that translates JavaScript code to
native elements. While this enables platform compatibility, it can introduce performance
bottlenecks [2] [6].
 Third-Party Libraries: React Native’s robust ecosystem allows developers to leverage a wide
range of third-party libraries, which can speed up the development process [7] [3].
 Native Module Integration: The framework provides options to write code in native languages
(Swift, Objective-C, Java) for advanced customization [1].

Limitations

React Native’s reliance on the JavaScript bridge can lead to performance inconsistencies,
particularly when handling complex animations and heavy computation [1]. Moreover, the
framework’s UI rendering may not be as smooth as that of Flutter when high FPS is required [5]
[6].

Comparative Analysis
When comparing Flutter and React Native, certain themes emerge that highlight the strengths
and weaknesses of each framework:

 Performance: The elimination of the JavaScript bridge in Flutter contributes to its superior
performance, particularly in applications that require real-time rendering and complex
animations [10] [11]. However, for simpler applications, React Native’s performance is sufficient,
and its perceived delays are minimal [3] [8].
 Development Experience: React Native’s reliance on JavaScript allows for an easier transition
for web developers, whereas Flutter’s Dart language presents a learning curve [1] [6]. However,
Flutter’s development tools, such as the Dart DevTools and enhanced debugging capabilities,
offer developers greater insights into app performance and diagnostics [4].
 Community and Ecosystem: React Native boasts a larger ecosystem and more mature support
due to its earlier launch, which translates to more available resources and third-party plugins.
 Flutter’s community is expanding rapidly, backed by strong support from Google, but it still trails
behind React Native in terms of the sheer volume of resources [1] [7].
 UI/UX Customization: Flutter’s approach to rendering its widgets ensures that the UI/UX is
consistent across all platforms, while React Native relies on native components, which can result
in slight differences between platforms [6] [7].

Use Cases
Flutter

Flutter is preferred for applications that require rich UIs, customized animations, and
performance. Applications in fintech, e-commerce, and data visualization require a lot of
detailed and interactive elements [9]. Alibaba and Google Ads have also used Flutter for their
high-demand applications, which shows the ability to handle complex app requirements as well
[1].

React Native

Since React Native allows seamless integration into already existing projects, it is an excellent
choice for startups and companies interested in quick development processes. It is mostly used
in social networking apps, lightweight e-commerce applications, and simple business solutions
[5] [11]. Some of the apps that have been examples of the effectiveness of React Native include
Facebook, Instagram, and Bloomberg, having been able to scale up fully in real-world
applications [8].

Conclusion
Both Flutter and React Native have become extremely popular as powerful cross-platform
mobile frameworks, with Flutter differing in terms of high performance, extensive
customization, and the UI being rendered to appear the same. It is quite suitable for graphics-
intensive applications. React Native offers an easier entrance for developers coming from a web
background, supported by a mature ecosystem. Ultimately, the decision depends on project
requirements, developer expertise, and performance needs.

References
[1]E. GÜLCÜOĞLU, A. B. USTUN, and N. SEYHAN, “Comparison of Flutter and React Native Platforms,”
Journal of Internet Applications and Management, Dec. 2021, doi:
https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.888243.

[2]G. Tollin, M. Lidekrans, A. Fröberg, and E. Berglund, Available: https://www.diva-

portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1768521/FULLTEXT01.pdf
[3]J. Jagiełło, “PERFORMANCE COMPARISON BETWEEN REACT NATIVE AND FLUTTER.” Available:
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1349917/FULLTEXT01.pdf

[4]Husam Abu Zahra and S. Zein, “A Systematic Comparison Between Flutter and React Native from
Automation Testing Perspective,” Oct. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ismsit56059.2022.9932749.

[5]L. Barros, F. Medeiros, E. Moraes, and A. Feitosa Júnior, “Analyzing the Performance of Apps
Developed by using Cross-Platform and Native Technologies,” doi: https://doi.org/10.18293/SEKE2020-
122.

[6]E. Hjort, A. Soini, and D. Truscan, “Evaluation of React Native and Flutter for cross-platform mobile
application development,” 2020. Available:
https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/180002/hjort_elin.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

[7]O. Alvarez et al., “Comparative Analysis of Cross-Platform Frameworks,” Journal of Namibian Studies :
History Politics Culture, vol. 33, May 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.59670/jns.v33i.874.

[8]Sharjeel Moqrab Khan, Aftab Ul Nabi, and Tahir Hussain Bhanbhro, “Comparative Analysis between
Flutter and React Native,” vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 15–28, Sep. 2022, doi:
https://doi.org/10.58921/ijaims.v1i1.19.

[9]A. Fentaw, “Cross platform mobile application development: a comparison study of React Native Vs
Flutter,” 2020. Available: https://jyx.jyu.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/70969/1/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-
202006295155.pdf

[10]L. Barros, F. Medeiros, E. Moraes, and A. Feitosa Júnior, “Analyzing the Performance of Apps
Developed by using Cross-Platform and Native Technologies,” doi: https://doi.org/10.18293/SEKE2020-
122.

[11]L. Barros, F. Medeiros, E. Moraes, and A. Feitosa Júnior, “Analyzing the Performance of Apps
Developed by using Cross-Platform and Native Technologies,” doi: https://doi.org/10.18293/SEKE2020-
122.