Apps are at the forefront of the modern global economy, and the startups involved in developing them often face considerable pressure to launch their creations quickly. This is because competition is incredibly fierce and being first offers a significant advantage. Tools like Google’s Flutter promise to help developers launch their apps quickly and make them compatible across platforms, but others claim native teams produce better-performing apps. This article investigates the pros and cons of each approach.
Flutter: A Primer
Flutter is a Google product which has become popular among startups because it lets them create professional-looking apps for both Android and iOS without having to write individual codebases for each. Instead, they code the app using the Dart programming language and Flutter’s widget library, and the outcome is a visually appealing app that works on both platforms. This negates the need to hire a team of Android experts and a team of iOS experts, saving considerable time.
The Case for Native Development
Native app development is simply the opposite process to using Flutter. A new codebase is written for each platform the app will be used on. A native app that runs on Android cannot simply be duplicated on iOS. Instead, it must be completely rewritten in a language that works with iOS devices. This takes time and duplicates the effort needed to develop the app, but it often results in fewer bugs and better integration with the features of those devices.
Flutter’s Advantage: Speed
The major advantage Flutter offers startups is speed. Instead of hiring specialist iOS and Android app developers and having to constantly check that they are including the same features, a startup can simply hire a Flutter developer and manage only one person or team instead. Another speed-related advantage of Flutter is that changes can be made on the fly and implemented immediately. This “hot reload” feature is simply impossible with native apps.
Cost Considerations
Cost is obviously one of the biggest challenges for startups, especially ones like app companies that have not started to generate profits yet. It seems intuitive that paying only Flutter developers should be cheaper than hiring Android and iOS teams separately, but the truth is often more complicated than that. Some regions have few experienced Flutter developers, and entrusting the development of your app to the inexperienced could spell doom for your startup.
User Experience
The advantage that native-app enthusiasts like to hold over Flutter users is that their apps look and perform better, delivering a superior user experience. They can use complex animations and gestures that will not work as well if they are able to be recreated on Flutter. Both approaches have their adherents, but generally it seems that Flutter is better for apps like e-commerce, bookings, or social networks where a flashy user interface is not usually a priority.
Hiring Challenges
Flutter is still a relatively new approach to app development and developers with actual production experience are rare. By opting for Flutter, startups run the risk of a lengthy hiring process. In a business environment where being too late can be deadly, that can be a big risk to take. That said, once you have some Flutter experts on board, it is easier to train future ones than it is to train iOS or Android experts.
Post-Launch Maintenance
For native apps, adding features or fixing bugs requires parallel updates to be released. And just like when the app was first developed, the update must be developed separately for each platform. This duplication of the engineering work can cause difficulties for resource-stretched startups, making it an area where Flutter has a clear advantage. Bear in mind, however, that updates released by Apple and Google to their platforms can cause problems with Flutter that a better-integrated native app might avoid.
Third-Party Plugins
Almost all apps use some third-party plugins, often so that they can process payments and secure logins, or to supply them with analytics. Flutter has a growing ecosystem of plugins that can easily be integrated into apps developed using the platform, but developers will be limited to these even though better solutions might exist for native apps. That said, the Flutter community often moves fast to add new plugins when omissions are noticed.
Scalability and Long-Term Prospects
When scale is mentioned in the context of an app, most people think about the acquisition of new users. This is important, but apps themselves also grow over time as new or more complex features are added. There are also times when companies want to pivot their business model, and this might involve making substantial changes to the app. Native apps offer much more flexibility for handling these situations, because Flutter limits you to widgets and features it offers.
Branding and Consistency
Of the many things that can help a startup succeed, strong branding and a loyal user base stand out as some of the most important. Flutter is great for maintaining visual consistency across your apps for different platforms, which is a key part of building a strong brand identity. Native development sometimes leads to variations between platforms, although these tend to be minor and often come as a trade-off for smoother performance.
Conclusion
There is no easy answer to the question of whether Flutter or native app development works best. Both have advantages and disadvantages that must be considered according to your situation. For example, if slick visuals and maintaining a strong brand identity are priorities for your startup, then Flutter may be the choice for you. However, if your company’s goal is to build an app that performs smoothly and handles lots of complex features, native app development may be better.
Flutter also has theoretical advantages when it comes to development costs and speed, but the fact that it is fairly new can make it difficult to find experienced developers. One approach startups are taking to benefit from the best of both approaches is to start out with Flutter to launch their app and prove their concept, then shift to native development at a later stage.
FAQs
What are the main differences between Flutter and native app development?
Flutter uses a single codebase for cross-platform apps, reducing time and cost. Native teams build separate iOS/Android apps with platform-specific tools, offering better performance and customisation. Flutter suits MVP projects, while native excels in complex, high-performance apps.
When should I choose Flutter over native app teams?
Opt for Flutter if you need rapid development, budget constraints, or a unified app across platforms. It’s ideal for startups or projects requiring quick iterations. Avoid it for apps needing heavy graphics or platform-exclusive features.
Is native app development more expensive than Flutter?
Yes, native typically costs more due to separate teams for iOS/Android and longer development cycles. Flutter’s single codebase cuts costs by 30-50%, but native may offer better ROI for premium, scalable apps.
Does Flutter compromise app performance compared to native?
Flutter apps perform nearly as well as native for most use cases but may lag in graphics-heavy apps (e.g., gaming). Native teams leverage platform-specific optimisations for smoother performance in resource-intensive scenarios.
