As an entrepreneur, what do you expect when you come up with a mobile app idea? You want the app developed at speed and extends its reach to the target userbase with minimum resources, time, and budget spending.
Going native way, it’s impossible to achieve the aforementioned things. This approach guarantees high performance, but accelerating app development and distribution is not feasible.
On the flip side, cross-platform mobile apps are built and made to work on multiple platforms at the time and resources requirement of one app development. With reduced time-to-market, the business can increase its reach globally. Also, rendering updates and upkeep of mobile applications built using cross-platform development is easier.
However, the reduced development efforts allow the businesses to enter the market at the right, but critics say compromising with performance is obvious. The continuous evolution in the cross-platform development space has brought some of the frameworks to the top of the table that is better at addressing performance issues.
Out of all frameworks, namely- React Native, Ionic, and Flutter stand out as the best cross-platform development framework that makes the app stand high on the performance, usability, and design engineering ladder. Presenting three frameworks as the best solution further confuses the businesses.
Before we dig deeper to know the differences between the cross-platform frameworks, let’s take a look at each of the frameworks in a nutshell.
What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source framework that was originally developed by Facebook in 2015 to resolve performance-related issues. Later, it was enhanced by Facebook and made publicly available to build cross-platform apps that render native-like performance and UI design. It’s leveraged by leading players- Airbnb, Instagram UberEats, and Walmart to power the apps on different platforms.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is the latest release from Google to build elegant, native-like apps. It provides readymade APIs, command-line tools, a rendering engine, and widgets that make development a breeze. The framework is rich in tools and resources that have made it popular and become a reason to get embraced by top honchos such as Alibaba, Birch Finance, Google Ads, and others.
What is Ionic?
It’s an old kid on the block as compared to Flutter and Reacts Native, which is launched in 2013. The continuous updates to the cross-platform framework have convinced experienced players such as MarketWatch, JustWatch, and others to build cross-platform apps. Using CSS, HTML5, SaaS, and technologies, Ionic makes the apps perform like a pro.
Here, we did a one-to-one comparison of all these three frameworks that help you know which is the best alternative for you.
React Native Vs. Ionic Vs. Flutter: The one-to-one comparison
- Programming language
React Native gains an upper hand over other programming languages as the JS-based language brings all the benefits of JavaScript and React API to the framework. The dynamic language also stands out because of the power to build a couple of components in different languages.
Flutter is built using Dart language which resembles JavaScript language that makes iOS, Android, and web app development effortless. The object-oriented programming language is set to create waves in the cross-platform development space.
Ionic comprises various technologies such as JS, CSS, and HTML5 to build and launch applications. Ionic leverages a native platform controller with easy access to the Cordova wrapper. TypeScript is used in place of Ionic to improve code quality.
- Code reusability and execution
The code reusability lies in the essence of cross-platform development frameworks. The way the frameworks execute the code is different that varies from one framework to another.
React Native works on the principle of “writing once and run everywhere.” With one codebase, the React Native app developers can develop apps for multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, and windows.
Flutter is packed with a range of tools such as a rendering engine, APIs, and ready-to-use widgets to build modern apps in reduced time and effort.
Ionic is based on one codebase and runs on any platform that allows Ionic developers to reuse the code for app development. It facilitates interactive app development at speed.
- High performance
Performance is a cardinal aspect of app development that can make or break the app’s success. It starts with coding that enables the app to perform the best in terms of functionality and design responsiveness at the runtime.
React Native framework leverages native components and APIs during the app development resulting in an app that renders native-like performance.
A bunch of widgets, ready-to-use plugins, and a rendering engine allow developers to build a top-notch application that performs glitch-free on all devices.
The web technologies availability in Ionic enables high-performing app development that’s further encapsulated in a native container using third-party packages and plugins.
- UI designing
UI engineering plays a critical role in creating a long-lasting impression on the users that makes them decide whether they continue using the app or delete it right away. Different frameworks are optimized for UI designing using different toolsets.
React Native framework has all the required modules related to native UI controllers, React.JS library, and a list of UI elements that ensures responsive UI development.
Using HTML5 and CSS, Ionic enables UI development but that does not give a native-like feel. Rendering a native look is possible by leveraging Cordova and Angular components.
Flutter craft the UI designs using native components without leveraging interactive bridges. It helps Flutter app developers in building a beautiful interface that performs hassle-free on all devices.
- Problem-solving approach
Everything that glitter is not gold. The same goes for frameworks that are used for cross-platform development. The framework packed with a large number of tools and technologies doesn’t mean they solve real-world problems.
React Native- the JS-based framework stands high on the usability ladder, but a few issues in documentation and toolset have made Airbnb migrate the solution to another framework.
Flutter has everything in the bucket from a basic development kit to the advanced features that are solving the pressing issues across all the industry verticals. Google AdWords app development using Flutter is the best instance of its usability to solve the problems.
Ionic developers increasingly use Ionic to build Android and iOS apps effortlessly, but still, no outstanding app is developed using Ionic.
- Popularity
The popularity quotient is never equivalent to the framework’s age. It means the framework’s popularity does not increase as the technology becomes older. Instead, it depends on the continuous upgrades made to the technology for improvements.
React Native framework has a huge community of React Native developers as it’s based on JS language and leverages React libraries.
Flutter has a small community, but its popularity is growing by leaps and bounds as it’s highly advertised by Google. The toolkit is allowing more than 3000 developers to build great things in the world.
Ionic framework stands at the second position in community size among these three frameworks being the oldest one. It’s a huge marketplace used by 1.8k developers.
- Native features accessibility
Accessing native features of the device such as camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and others helps in building native-like functionalities of the app. It adds a more native-like feel to the app.
React Native has third-party packages and built-in APIs to access native functionalities of the platform. When third-party packages are used, there exist chances that the core maintainer stops working which ruins the user experience.
Flutter ecosystem has multiple packages for distinct native features that make accessing native functionalities a breeze.
Ionic has a capacitor or Cordova that allows developers to access native device functionalities wrapped in a native container. The functionalities get updated automatically as the plugins are updated.
Summing it up
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for business projects. The different business projects have distinct development needs such as fewer resources, minimum cost, and reduced development time. It makes businesses leverage the framework that best meets the technical and functional requirements for getting the high-performance app built. How will you select the best framework? The one-to-one comparison of these three best cross-platform framework components lets you know which is the ultimate choice for you.
Still unsure? It’s better to get connected with a top mobile app development agency that provides necessary consulting services and helps you with cross-platform app development.