Not long ago, building apps for different platforms, such as iOS and Android, meant choosing between expensive native development or less efficient hybrid solutions. Everything changed with the rise of cross-platform development frameworks. Such frameworks make it possible to build apps from a single codebase that runs on both platforms with native performance and pixel-perfect user interface. The cross-platform development approach saves time and costs, making it attractive to businesses that want to quickly reach a wide user base. It also enables faster updates and easier app maintenance.
Flutter, Google's open-source UI toolkit, has quickly become a leading framework for creating high-quality, cross-platform apps with unparalleled efficiency. This framework is free, relatively new, and easy to learn. In this blog post, we will explore what makes Flutter an excellent choice for mobile development, its key advantages, and how it compares with its closest rival React Native.
What is Flutter and Its History
Flutter is an open-source framework from Google that allows developers to build natively compiled, high-performance apps for different platforms from a single codebase. Unlike other cross-platform frameworks, which usually rely on native UI components via a JavaScript bridge, Flutter uses the Skia graphics engine to render UI directly. The framework uses the Dart programming language. Dart offers Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation for native-like speed and a wide range of customizable widgets built on its high-performance rendering engine.
Flutter was introduced first in 2015 under the name Sky at Dart Developer Summit. At that moment, it was aimed at achieving high performance and rendering quality in Android apps. In May 2017, Flutter was first presented at the Google I/O developer conference. Despite the relative novelty, the potential of the framework became obvious and it attracted the attention of the community. The first stable release, Flutter 1.0, was in December 2018 at the Flutter Live event in London. The framework switched to the open-source model and provided a set of tools for building mobile applications compatible with Android and iOS. Flutter 2, released in March 2021, introduced web and desktop support, while Flutter 3, released in February 2022, enhanced stability and added macOS and Linux support. At that point in time, Dart also received the new zero security feature. This feature helps developers avoid errors related to null references, making the code more reliable and easier to maintain.
Google and Flutter community are actively participating in the framework development. They offer continued active support and contribute via pub.dev, which now hosts over 42k packages. In early 2025, Flutter's GitHub repository reached 171,000 stars, reflecting its growing community. The latest release, Flutter 3.32, as of May 2025, brings groundbreaking features like experimental web hot reload, Firebase AI Logic for real-time voice, image, and text interactions, and a SemanticsRole API for enhanced accessibility. Flutter 4, expected later this year, is rumored to introduce AI-powered development tools, improved state management, and a faster rendering engine — all aimed at closing the gap with native apps.
What Are the Advantages of Using Flutter for App Development?
Google's UI framework has many advantages. Let's discuss why Flutter can be a great choice for developing your app.
A product for several platforms
Flutter developers need to write only one code for an application that will work on several platforms (Android, iOS, desktop, and web). It not only optimizes development, leading to faster time-to-market but also significantly reduces costs. It will be cheaper to not only create but also to support software after launch. The approach is particularly appealing for startup founders who can bring their idea to life without spending all the financial resources on a project.
Native-like app performance
Flutter can provide the same app performance as specialized programming languages like Java for Android and Swift for iOS. Futter doesn’t rely on JavaScript bridges. Instead it uses the Skia graphics engine to render UI directly, bypassing platform-specific UI components for consistent, high-performance visuals. It compiles directly to native ARM machine code, meaning your app runs at full speed with no middleman. Dart's ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation optimizes app execution, resulting in faster startup times and better responsiveness. It also means the app looks exactly the same on every platform. Flutter comes with a rich set of APIs for processing animation and gestures, ensuring a smooth and responsive native interface. Additionally, it provides APIs and widgets for accessing the platform's main services, such as the camera and GPS.
Accelerated development with Hot Reload
Flutter can significantly reduce development time. One of the reasons is the Hot Reload Function. It allows developers to make changes to the code immediately without having to restart the app. Developers can tweak designs, test features, and iterate fast without waiting or rebuilding. It's not just faster — it's a whole new way to build. Flutter 3.32 extends hot reload to web apps, making iteration even faster across platforms.
Custom interface
Another reason why Flutter significantly accelerates development is its UX libraries with templates and code fragments. These fragments are ready-made widgets that developers can use to construct smooth and appealing user interfaces. Flutter's widget system is brilliantly simple and powerful. Instead of juggling different UI rules for each platform, Flutter uses one consistent system that works everywhere. Everything in Flutter is a widget — buttons, layouts, animations, even padding. These widgets aren’t mere wrappers around native components, they follow Material Design on Android and Apple’s Cupertino on iOS. Developers can mix, match, and customize them to suit particular needs and ensure that the app maintains its original look across platforms.
Open source with strong community and support from Google
As already mentioned above, Flutter's constant development is backed by Google's commitment to the framework. The company promptly fixes all errors and code issues for a comfortable experience. The Flutter developer community also contributes to the development of the framework by uploading useful resources and code samples online. So, if you are considering building your app with Flutter, you can be sure that your app will benefit from both Google's support and the collective knowledge of a loyal community.
Unmatched developer experience
Flutter offers exceptional integration with any IDE a developer uses, whether it is VS Code, Android Studio, or IntelliJ, providing intelligent code completion, robust debugging capabilities, and seamless access to its development tools. It also offers extensive documentation, which is very valuable, as programmers often face questions that are difficult to solve on their own. In the documentation, they can quickly find proper descriptions, code excerpts, and best practices. In the Flutter documentation, all topics are well structured, providing new developers with a simple starting guide and experienced teams with an instant means of spotting solutions to any issues and optimizing their workflow.
What Are the Challenges in Using Flutter for Development?
Although Flutter development has many advantages, some difficulties in work cannot be avoided. Here are the main limitations of Using Flutter it is necessary to be aware of:
Larger app size
One of the main limitations of Flutter is that apps built using it usually contain larger file sizes compared to native apps or other frameworks like React Native. It happens because Flutter bundles the Skia graphics engine and Dart runtime with the app, increasing the APK/IPA size. So, it may be a concern for some users with limited space on their devices or from regions where the internet speed is slow. Besides, older devices with limited hardware capability also cannot handle complex user interface components and Flutter's rendering engine.
Learning curve
While working with widgets is very convenient, Flutter's unique approach to UI development may require adaptation from teams, especially for those who are just starting to work with the framework. Besides, the Dart language, while being easy to learn and having a familiar syntax, still requires that developers devote additional time to exploring and getting used to it.
Limited Adoption of Dart and Flutter still evolving
Flutter is a new framework, so the number of available libraries and tools may fall behind the range of third-party connectors found on established platforms, such as React Native, and especially when compared to Java/Kotlin for Android or Swift/Objective-C for iOS. It also means fewer experienced Flutter developers in the job market compared to more established frameworks. Some packages lack regular maintenance, and certain advanced features (e.g., 3D rendering, VR) are less developed compared to native SDKs. Additionally, Flutter is updated frequently, so developers need to monitor changes as updates might break packages or require refactoring.
Limited Web and Desktop Maturity
Flutter's web and desktop support, while improved in Flutter 3.32 (e.g., web hot reload), is still less mature than its mobile capabilities. Web apps may face performance issues for complex use cases and desktop apps. So, while it's promising, it may not yet be suitable for complex or performance-intensive web/desktop apps.
Some native functions cannot be embedded
While Flutter can access native functionality and platform services (e.g., camera, GPS) using platform channels or plugins, integrating with complex or new native APIs can be challenging or require writing native code. Besides, Flutter relies on plugins, which may lag behind the latest iOS/Android SDK updates or lack full functionality compared to native development. It can limit Flutter's suitability for apps heavily dependent on cutting-edge native features, such as ARKit for augmented reality, WearOS for wearables, or platforms like tvOS, watchOS, Android Auto, and CarPlay for device and system integrations.
iOS-specific issues
Flutter, backed by Google, aims for smooth performance on both iOS and Android but can face compatibility issues on Apple devices. Features such as push notifications, background tasks, and in-app purchases may require additional native code or plugins. Apple's strict rules and frequent updates sometimes slow Flutter app support, requiring developers to spend extra effort ensuring iOS compatibility.
Slower Adoption
When Google or Apple release new OS updates, native developers can use the latest features right away. Flutter often needs more time to catch up, delaying access to new UI elements, APIs, and system-wide features. It can be a drawback in fast-moving industries that rely on the quick adoption of mobile innovations.
How Is It Different from Its Closest Competitor, React Native?
Flutter's closest competitor is React Native, and they have nearly the same popularity. When comparing them, Flutter uses the object-oriented programming language Dart, while React Native uses JavaScript, a language more familiar to many developers. Flutter code is compiled into native code, which provides direct access to device components. This improves performance and rendering speed. React Native previously used a JavaScript bridge for communication between JavaScript and native components. However, with the New Architecture (default in version 0.74), it now leverages the JavaScript Interface (JSI), reducing reliance on the old bridge. This enables faster, more efficient communication, resulting in smoother performance and better responsiveness, bringing React Native closer to Flutter in terms of performance.
Despite React Native's significant improvements, Flutter is still leading the charge for cross-platform development. According to Stack Overflow Developer's survey 2024, it wins in the category of "Admired and Desired". To be fair, both frameworks run very high, and the difference, while still in favor of Flutter, is tiny. On Google Trends, Flutter also wins over React Native popularity.
So, both React Native and Flutter are great tools for building mobile apps quickly. Each framework has its own number of strengths and weaknesses. Flutter wins in terms of consistent UI and performance, while React Native excels in native integrations and JS familiarity. Choosing the optimal variant depends on the project’s needs.
Bottom Line
Flutter is more than just a framework, it's a revolution in mobile app development that ensures consistent design across platforms. With its stunning UI potential, fast development cycle, and cost efficiency, it remains one of the best frameworks for building fast, cross-platform apps in 2025. While other frameworks are catching up, Flutter still offers the best balance between performance, flexibility, and developer happiness. Whether you're a startup looking to launch quickly or an enterprise seeking a scalable solution, it's a great choice for fast, cost-effective app development, especially for MVPs and feature-rich applications and many companies are already using this framework to bring their vision to life.
FAQ:
What is Flutter, and who created it?
Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit developed by Google. It enables developers to build high-performance, cross-platform apps from a single codebase.
How does Flutter compare to native development?
Unlike native development, which requires separate codebases for iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin/Java), Flutter uses a single codebase, reducing development time and costs. Flutter uses Dart, a compiled language. It offers near-native performance through Dart's AOT compilation and Skia graphics engine.
How is Flutter different from other cross-platform frameworks?
Unlike other frameworks that use a JavaScript bridge to communicate with native components, Flutter renders everything using its own Skia graphics engine. It means faster performance, a consistent UI across platforms, and no dependency on platform-specific components.
Which is Better, Flutter or React Native?
Both Flutter and React Native are equally efficient frameworks for building cross-platform apps. Flutter uses Dart and compiles to native code for superior performance and consistent UI, while React Native leverages JavaScript and its new architecture for better native integration. Flutter offers UI consistency and speed, but React Native may be a better fit for projects that require extensive native features or JavaScript expertise.
Why should I choose Flutter for my startup or MVP?
Flutter is a cost-effective option for startups. It allows faster development, reduced testing time, and quicker iteration cycles thanks to features like Hot Reload and a rich library of widgets. With one team and one codebase, you can launch on multiple platforms simultaneously and reach a larger audience.
Are there any disadvantages to using Flutter?
Yes. Some downsides include larger app sizes, a learning curve for those unfamiliar with Dart, fewer advanced third-party libraries compared to native platforms, and limited support for some native or emerging platform features (e.g., ARKit, wearables, CarPlay). Also, while web and desktop support are improving, they're not as mature as mobile.
How strong is Flutter's community and long-term support?
Flutter has strong backing from Google and a rapidly growing community. It's open-source and widely supported, with over 171,000 GitHub stars and 42,000+ packages on pub.dev. Regular updates and an engaged developer base ensure continuous improvements.
What kind of apps can you build with Flutter?
Flutter is suitable for building a wide range of apps, from social media and e-commerce apps to productivity tools and enterprise-grade software. It is ideal for startups building MVPs, feature-rich apps, and apps requiring consistent UI across platforms.
