Overview
Choosing between Flutter and React Native is one of the most common questions in mobile development today. Both have matured significantly, but they take fundamentally different approaches.
Performance
Flutter compiles to native ARM code and uses its own rendering engine (Skia/Impeller), bypassing the JavaScript bridge entirely. React Native now uses the New Architecture with JSI for near-native performance.
Developer Experience
React Native wins for web developers familiar with JavaScript/TypeScript. Flutter's Dart language has a steeper learning curve but excellent tooling.
Ecosystem & Community
React Native has a larger community and more third-party packages. Flutter's pub.dev ecosystem has grown massively and Google's backing ensures long-term support.
When to Choose Flutter
Choose Flutter when you need pixel-perfect custom UI, consistent behavior across platforms, or are building a new team.
When to Choose React Native
Choose React Native when your team knows JavaScript, you need to share code with a web app, or you need access to native modules quickly.