React Native vs. Ionic vs. Flutter

The Baseline of Open Source Cross-Platform Mobile App Development Frameworks

React Native

React Native is an open source framework launched in 2015 and written in various languages, including JavaScript, Swift, Objective-C, C++, and Python. Basically, it provides all the tools and services for developing high-end cross-platform applications on iOS, Android, and Windows with the ability to offer native-type performance. This framework has been adopted to develop various apps, including Instagram, Facebook, Airbnb, Walmart, UberEats, and so on.

Ionic

Ionic was introduced in 2013 as an open source SDK for cross-platform mobile app development. Since it uses various technologies, including HTML5, CSS, and SaaS, building cross-platform mobile applications is easier with Ionic. It has been used to build such apps Sworkit, JustWatch, MarketWatch, and more.

Flutter

Flutter is both a SDK (software development kit) and a framework for Dart a programming language developed by Google. Flutter itself is also developed by a Google team and adds a powerful layer to the app development process as it helps in developing beautiful native-type apps. It provides its own rendering engine, ready-to-use widgets, command-line tools, APIs, and more that make the entire development process easier. Flutter is used by Google Ads, Alibaba, Reflectly, Birch Finance, and more.

Which Tools integrate in Flutter, Ionic & React Native Apps?

Tools integrate with Ionic: Feathers, Razorpay, Atatus, Ignite UI, StackBlitz, JScrambler

Tools integrate with React Native: React-Vue, Bugsnag, Bitrise, React VR, iOS, Shoutem UI

We will discuss the top attributes that developers usually look for while comparing the frameworks.

1. Programming language

2. Execution and reusability of the code

3. Performance

React Native uses native APIs and components, it helps you build an application that provides a native look and feel. Ionic uses advanced web technologies, like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, that help in creating high performing hybrid apps. React Native and Ionic both deliver excellent performance, but Flutter goes a step ahead as it provides ready-to-use plugins, a wide range of widgets, and its own rendering engine that helps in building beautiful, high-performance cross-platform applications.

4. User interface

5. Current state of usage

6. Cost of app development

React Native is an open source framework and allows developers to access a wide choice of libraries for free. Ionic is a free, open source cross-platform mobile app framework, but for a professional development environment, you need to go for the paid version. Flutter is also an open source platform that allows developers to access a wide choice of widgets, libraries, and APIs for free.

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Software Engineering undergraduate at University of Kelaniya

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