Engineering Quality Solutions
Gain insights into Flutter vs React Native in 2025 with our thorough comparison. Evaluate the mobile app development frameworks on their performance, architecture, code reusability, and standout features. Read the blog and choose the right framework for your project.
Also Share On
Thinking of building a cross-platform mobile app in 2025 but can’t decide which framework wins the Flutter vs React Native comparison?
You’re not alone. Most founders get stuck or confused at this stage.
But with two powerful options – Flutter and React Native – how do you choose wisely?
Choose the wrong cross-platform framework in 2025, and you might face sluggish performance, bloated maintenance costs, and frustrated dev teams. Choose smart, and you’ll have a fast, scalable app users love.
Most blogs stop at feature tables. We won’t.
In this blog, we’ll show you:
If you’re building an app that needs to last, this is the comparison you’ve been looking for.
By the end of this comparison, you won’t just know the difference between Flutter and React Native.
You’ll know which one is built for your product’s future.
TL;DR – This info is for those who want to understand the difference without any technicalities.
Table of Contents
Let’s imagine you’re building a mobile app.
Do you want your app to look the same on iOS and Android, down to the pixel?
→ Go with Flutter. It gives you full control over how your app looks and behaves.
Do you want your app to look and feel like a native iPhone or Android app?
→ Go with React Native. It uses the built-in buttons and menus from the phone’s OS.
Do you need your app ready super fast, and do you already have JavaScript developers?
→ React Native will save you time.
Want an app with amazing animations and graphics-heavy content (like AI tools or gamified apps)?
→ Flutter wins here hands-down.
Thinking of expanding your app to desktop or web later?
→ Flutter is more future-ready.
Rely heavily on third-party plugins or existing JavaScript tools?
→ React Native has a bigger plugin ecosystem.
| Feature /Parameter | Flutter | React Native |
| Backed By | Meta (Facebook) | |
| Official Release | 2018 | 2015 |
| GitHub Stars | 172k (August 2025) | 123k (August 2025) |
| Programming Language | Dart | JavaScript |
| Architecture | Skia + C++based Impeller Engine (no bridge) | Bridgeless Architecture |
| Hot Reload / Fast Refresh | Yes (Hot Reload) | Yes (Fast Refresh) |
| Performance | Close to native like. | Good performance. |
| Code Reusability | ~90% across Android, iOS, Web, Desktop | ~80% across Android and iOS |
| UI Components and
Design Flexibility | Rich set of customizable widgets | Native look and feel; uses system components |
| Community Support | Rapidly growing | Larger, more mature community. |
| Learning Curve | Steeper due to Dart | Easier for JS/React developers |
| Third-party Libraries | Increasingly strong ecosystem | Extensive and mature ecosystem |
Who Can Benefit From This Blog?
This guide is built for:
Struggling with which persona you are? Stick around – we’ve tailored this blog with your specific needs in mind.
Here is an overview of both the cross-platform frameworks. These frameworks are leading the app development market along with others like Xamarin, PhoneGap, Ionic, and more.
The React Native framework is a relative of React, which was already in the game. Backed by Facebook(no, no, now it’s called Meta) came in 2015. It comes with new features to support cross-platform app development. Building apps that give a native-like feel.
Flutter is Google’s progeny to compete in the cross-platform market with other frameworks. Came in 2018 with a whole lot of superb UI and animation features.
Here is a detailed Flutter vs React Native performance comparison with various benchmarks like memory usage, CPU utilization, and other factors.
Memory consumption for cross-platform frameworks is heavier. When compared, Flutter (120-130 MB) matches native like memory consumption. React Native (180-190 MB) is heavier as compared to Flutter.
Flutter takes up to 5-8% of the CPU, whereas React Native has 11-13% of CPU utilization. Particularly when complex UI elements, animation, or heavy data processing are included, Flutter shows lower CPU utilization when compared to React Native. This is due to its architectural factors.
Flutter is designed to run at 60-120 fps, so when you talk about animation, you’ll get a smooth user experience. Compared to React Native, Flutter’s FPS is better due to many factors, like the rendering engine, programming language, widgets, and other factors. React Native (45-60 fps) is improving with its new architecture. The performance, as compared to Flutter, is slow depending on the complexity.
When discussing the memory the app will occupy on your device, Flutter again takes the lead with almost 17 MB. Whereas React Native takes up around 22-23 MB.
Flutter’s comparative load time is less than that of React Native. It’s just a few seconds, but when it’s a neck-to-neck competition, then a single second matters. React Native is improving its overall performance and startup time with new features like Hermes and Turbo Modules. (We are talking about them in detail in the next section)
Use Case – For Startup Founders Launching MVPs
If you’re a startup founder, choosing the wrong tech stack can mean shipping late, missing investor deadlines, or struggling to scale.
It is 2025, and both frameworks have pushed the boundaries of what cross-platform development frameworks can do. With newer updates, new upgraded versions are coming to offer higher performance. Here is a table to give you a quick review of both –
| Feature | Flutter (Impeller Engine) | React Native (Bridgeless) |
| Rendering Layer | Direct (C++-based Impeller) | Native components via JS bridge |
| Graphics Performance | High | Improved (less than Flutter) |
| Startup Time | Fast | Improved with Hermes |
| Compatibility | Multi-platform (iOS, Android, Web, Desktop) | Mobile-focused (iOS, Android) |
| Stability | Very Stable | Improved but still JS thread reliant |
| Ease of Debugging | High (Good Dev Tools) | Medium (Dev Tools improving) |
With the new updates, React Native has addressed the “old bridge architecture” issue and introduced “bridgeless architecture,” focusing on performance, efficiency, and developer experience.
“React Native Bridgeless Architecture” Courtesy: Linklist.com
The main goal of the new architecture – to eliminate the dependency on the JavaScript bridge for communication between native code and JavaScript.
The old architecture involved serializing and deserializing data as JSON across the bridge, which resulted in performance bottlenecks and asynchronous communication.
The new architecture is driven by JSI. It allows for direct and synchronous communication, circumventing this overhead.
The new Hermes is an open-source JS engine developed by Meta. This is specifically optimized for React Native apps. It is designed to improve the performance of React Native apps on mobile devices.
“For many apps, using Hermes will result in improved start-up time, decreased memory usage, and smaller app size when compared to JavaScriptCore.” – React Native Official Document
These are next-generation modules, replacing the old ones.
The new rendering system aims to improve performance and sync with native platforms.
It’s came up with newer updates, replacing the old “Skia engine” with “Impeller rendering engine”.
“Flutter Impeller Engine” (Courtesy)
The next-gen engine for Flutter to address performance and jank issues. Flutter impeller engine performance is improved, resulting in a more consistent user experience.
Web – With Flutter for web, developers can create interactive web experiences using the same codebase as their mobile apps. With responsive layouts and integration with web-specific APIs, it is a viable option for creating web applications with a rich UI.
Desktop – Flutter offers reliable support for developing desktop applications across Windows, macOS, and Linux. This allows developers to aim for various platforms using one codebase, providing a uniform user experience on different devices. The maturity of desktop development with Flutter is enhanced by features such as native windowing, file system access, and platform-specific integrations.
While choosing between React Native and Flutter app development company, give a good thought to the performance of both frameworks.
Use Case – For CTOs and Technical Decision Makers
Choosing a framework isn’t just a developer decision – it’s a system architecture decision.
| Metric | React Native | Flutter |
| Average Revenue Per App | $32,000/year | $24,500/year |
| User Retention (6 months) | 41% | 38% |
| Session Time (avg) | 4.3 mins | 4.1 mins |
| Ad Integration Flexibility | High (via third-party libraries) | Medium (best with Google ecosystem) |
Use Case – For Enterprise Stakeholders
Enterprises choosing frameworks today consider more than features – they prioritize cost of ownership, compliance, and hiring stability.
SolGuruz has helped multiple enterprises choose the right stack by running custom RFP tech audits.
We are taking the battle on different rounds, measuring different levels like popularity, UI/UX design, features, and other things.
Flutter: It has rich custom UI widgets. With so many options and customizations, you are free to design your imagination. Known for its expressive and flexible UI, Flutter leverages its proprietary widgets, providing developers with complete control over app design. Along with consistency, it allows for intricate customizations, making it ideal for visually complex apps.
React Native: Relies on native components to render its UI, which means the look and feel of the app adapts to the platform’s native design standards. While this ensures a more native-like experience, it may require additional effort to achieve identical designs on both iOS and Android.
“Hot reload” is one of Flutter’s most outstanding features.
Without having to restart the application, developers can make changes to their code and see those changes reflected instantly. Enabling rapid iterations greatly reduces development time and increases productivity.
Similarly, in the React Native framework, there is Fast Refresh, a functionality resembling the hot reload feature. By enabling developers to view changes in real-time without losing the app’s state, Fast Refresh improves the development experience. Almost instantly, Fast Refresh updates the application whenever you make changes to your code. You don’t lose your existing app state, which is very helpful for testing new features. Fast Refresh will enable you to correct any errors in your code without having to restart the entire application.
If you are looking to Hire react native developers then you can connect with a React Native app development service like SolGuruz. Next, let’s look at the code reusability of both frameworks.
Flutter: Developers can create code in Dart, the only language supported by Flutter, and have it compiled to native iOS and Android. This also makes it much easier to reuse code between the two platforms, which saves time and development resources. Given that Flutter is still a relatively new technology, code reuse could be improved. In Flutter, state management is a complex yet crucial feature.
Read our essential guide on Flutter state management to learn how to manage the different states of Flutter.
Pro Tip: Hire Flutter app developers who have experience with state management and working with different packages.
React Native saves development time and effort by enabling code reuse across platforms. When it comes to reusing the codes across mobile devices, React Native lacks skilled developers and support resources.
Over-the-air OTA is the ability to push immediate updates. In the current competitive landscape, this feature is quite valuable.
React native: React Native’s support for OTA updates enables the quick and easy deployment of app upgrades. This is also due to the framework’s well-evolved structure and age.
Simplified Update Procedure- By avoiding the conventional app store update cycles, developers may swiftly fix defects or make enhancements thanks to the framework’s OTA update capability.
Improved User Experience- By guaranteeing that users always have access to the most recent version of the app, this feature affects user satisfaction and engagement. Anyone providing React Native development services will know that the key to a fast app is faster updates.
Flutter: Historically, developers had to use more intricate workarounds since Flutter lacked native OTA update capabilities. However, recent developments in the Flutter framework are altering this scenario.
Emerging OTA Update Support- A third-party service called Shorebird has added code push capabilities for Flutter apps, allowing for immediate updates to be sent to iOS and Android devices.
Considerations for Implementation- Although encouraging, Shorebird and other similar tools need more integration work and might not yet be as developed as React Native’s OTA ecosystem.
React Native: React Native is simpler to learn from the developer’s perspective, and there’s a good reason for that: it employs JavaScript as its programming language. The majority of developers are familiar with JavaScript because it has been around for years.
Flutter: Flutter uses Dart, which is relatively recent and could expand the learning graph. However, Dart doesn’t make Flutter a difficult framework. Rather, it is a characteristic that distinguishes Google’s platform.
React Native: For many developers, assistance from the international development community can be quite helpful while pursuing cross-platform development. Given that React Native was introduced far earlier than Flutter, a sizable online community providing assistance is to be expected. Readily available solutions for common problems.
Flutter: Nevertheless, Flutter has a constantly expanding developer community due to its status as a rising star, and it is anticipated to reach a significant size in 2020. Therefore, the lack of community support and a lower maturity level shouldn’t be a major deterrent to using Flutter.
Flutter: It is a popular option for Flutter projects since it integrates easily with Firebase, another Google product. Firebase makes it simple to integrate databases, storage, cloud services, and authentication.
Any backend provider, such as Google Cloud, AWS Amplify, and bespoke backends, can be integrated with Flutter. Dart’s ability to manage HTTP requests and establish a connection with any cloud service that has an API accounts for this versatility.
React Native: Due to its shared use of JavaScript, it works well with Node.js and enables smooth backend integration. The shared environment of JavaScript makes Node.js a popular choice for React Native applications.
Any backend solution, including Firebase, AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and others, can be integrated with React Native. Given its compatibility with RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and related technologies, it offers backend integration flexibility that is on par with Flutter.
Read more if you want to know the cost to hire a Flutter developer in detail. This means cost isn’t the primary differentiator. Instead, focus on framework compatibility with your project’s unique requirements.
React Native: General documentation is provided by React Native. The framework makes extensive use of third-party developer tools. The documentation is more intricate than Flutter.
Flutter: It provides easily comprehensible documentation due to its organization and comprehensive information. The documentation is also more effective and lucid.
When discussing long-term product success, AI integration and scalability readiness are crucial factors that can’t be overlooked. So start with
When you are working with React Native, it facilitates AI integration and scalability with
While you are working on AI integration or scalability in Flutter
Optimizing your application and hardware with the latest internet generation to take advantage of it fully.
Working with AI means optimizing your systems and channels for LLMs. Making them compatible with LLLMs can work as an additional benefit. React Native is great for prompt chaining or real-time transcription. Flutter is better for on-device execution.
Now that we’ve seen how Flutter and React Native compare in terms of AI-readiness and future-proofing, let’s look at how it all plays out in the real world.
When a solo founder approached SolGuruz, they didn’t just want an MVP.
They wanted a product that would:
We built Dream Story, an AI-powered journaling app using Flutter + OpenAI + Firebase, designed to scale from day one.
What We Built:
Results:
This case study proves one thing: It’s not just about building apps with Flutter or React Native.
It’s about maintaining them with performance and intelligence baked in.
Development is all about the people behind it and the product. Developer experience (DX) affects your speed to market, team morale, and even your hiring costs.
React Native
More developers are available globally due to JavaScript’s popularity. Easier to hire quickly, but top talent often demands higher salaries.
Flutter
Growing developer base, especially in Eastern Europe, South Asia, and LATAM. The average salary is lower than that of React Native developers. The talent pool is growing slowly.
Use Case – for Developers and Product Teams
For developers comparing frameworks, the learning curve, tooling, and community support matter.
React Native offers smoother onboarding if you’re from the JavaScript world.
Flutter lets you create polished UIs with full control – works great if you’re into graphics, gaming, or AI.
When working with Flutter vs React Native, there will be a question in your mind – “When can I use Flutter, or when is Flutter better than React Native?” Here are some suggestions –
One framework does not fulfill all your requirements. It is not about the debate of Flutter vs React Native; it is about which framework works best for your product and aligns well with your goals.
For a smarter, long-term decision, consider your team, goals, and budget.
Choose Flutter if:
Choose Native if:
If you decide on Flutter and want to hire Flutter developers on demand, then you can contact us.
Still need help?
Both are strong competitors and are strong choices. If you want to focus on animations, impressive UI elements, then Flutter is your best choice. If you are looking for developer familiarity and a mature ecosystem, go for React Native. The choice ultimately depends on your project needs and end goals.
In general, Flutter has superior performance to React Native. Due to its architecture and native compilation, it has smooth UI rendering.
When compared to native development, both frameworks are cost-effective as cross-platform solutions. React Native can prove to be cost-effective for enterprises or solutions that have a JavaScript ecosystem. Flutter can be cost-efficient when complex UI renderings are needed.
Flutter supports AI integration with TensorFlow Lite and OpenAI APIs. React Native supports AI integration through ONNX.js and JavaScript libraries. For heavier apps, Flutter has an edge over others.
Yes, both frameworks are used in enterprise-grade apps. Flutter is used in Google Pay and BMW, while React Native is used in Instagram and Walmart.
Written by
Megha Pithadiya is a Lead Software Engineer with over 8 years of experience in mobile application development. She brings deep expertise in Android, React Native, and Flutter, helping transform complex ideas into intuitive, high-performing mobile solutions. Beyond coding, Megha mentors cross-functional teams and leads project execution with strong technical direction. She plays a key role in guiding clients through their product development journeys - from concept to scalable app delivery.
Leverage the power of Flutter and React Native services to build cross-platform applications.
1 Week Risk-Free Trial
Strict NDA
Flexible Engagement Models
Give us a call now!
+1 (724) 577-7737
Engineering Quality Solutions
Contact HR
Contact Sales
Discover the latest tech trends from SolGuruz - empowering businesses with innovative solutions and transformative insights!
