Comparison
React Native vs Flutter
The two main cross-platform approaches. React Native uses native widgets, Flutter draws the UI itself.
| Aspect | React Native | Flutter |
|---|---|---|
| Language | JavaScript or TypeScript | Dart |
| Rendering | Native platform UI components | Own engine (Impeller), draws every pixel |
| Look across platforms | Looks native by default | Identical everywhere, native look is imitated |
| Performance | Good, the new architecture (JSI, Fabric) removed the bridge | Very good, compiles to native code |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, web via React Native Web, Expo | iOS, Android, web, desktop from one codebase |
| Maintainer | Meta and community, Expo | |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Best for | React web teams, sharing code with web | Branded UI with animations, a fresh stack from scratch |
Choose React Native when
- The team knows React and TypeScript.
- You want native-looking elements and shared logic with web.
- You want Expo and OTA updates.
Choose Flutter when
- You need an identical, heavily branded interface.
- Lots of custom animations and graphics.
- You are not tied to JavaScript and can learn Dart.
Bottom line
If your team has React web experience the choice is clear: React Native. Flutter is stronger where the UI is fully custom and Dart is not a barrier.
Compared
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