Which is Better-Flutter or Kotlin for Cross-Platform App Development

Cross-platform app development has become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing developers to create applications that can run on multiple platforms with minimal changes. Two of the most popular frameworks for cross-platform app development are Flutter and Kotlin.

This blog will help you decide which is best for your next project. Whether you are a business looking to hire Flutter developer or an individual developer looking to learn new technology, this blog will provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

Flutter

Flutter app development is popular among developers, particularly for developing high-performance, high-fidelity mobile apps for iOS and Android and even making apps for the web and desktop. The framework, created by Google, is open-source and uses the Dart programming language. Businesses looking to Hire Flutter developer can use its range of customizable widgets and easy-to-use development process to create visually pleasing and responsive apps.

Pros of Using Flutter for Cross-Platform App Development

Hot Reload

It allows developers to make changes to the code and see the results immediately without stopping and restarting the app manually. It speeds up the development process and makes it easier to fix bugs and make changes on the fly. Hire Flutter developer and use this feature to develop high-performance and high-fidelity apps that look and feel native.

Large Community

Flutter has a large and active community, which means plenty of resources are available for learning and troubleshooting. It means if any developer needs help during flutter app development, they get it very fast.

Customizable widgets

The Flutter framework facilitates many customizable widgets, allowing developers to create visually pleasing and responsive apps that look and feel native.

High-Performance

Flutter uses a reactive programming model, allowing faster performance and smooth scrolling. It makes the flutter app development process seamless.

One codebase for multiple platforms

Flutter streamlines the development process by allowing the creation of high-quality, responsive apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, thus reducing the cost and time of development.

Access to Native features

Flutter gives the developers access to native features like camera, geolocation, and storage, which makes it easy to create a fully-featured app.

Open-source

Flutter is open-source, which means it is free to use and customize.

Popularity

Flutter has recently been gaining popularity among developers, meaning it has a large and active community and many resources available for flutter app development.

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Cons of using Flutter for cross-platform app development

Limited third-party libraries

Flutter has a limited number of third-party libraries compared to other frameworks, which means that some functionality may be available outside the box, and developers might have to build it from scratch.

Limited support for older OS versions

Users still utilizing outdated versions of iOS and Android may experience compatibility issues, as support for older versions of these operating systems may need to be fully provided.

Learning curve

Dart, the programming language used in Flutter, is less widely known than other languages such as Java or C#, which may make it more difficult for developers unfamiliar with it to get up to speed quickly.

Size of the app

Users with constrained storage capacity on their devices may encounter challenges as the apps developed using Flutter tend to have larger file sizes compared to those developed using other frameworks.

Maturity

As Flutter is relatively new compared to other frameworks. It means that there may be fewer resources available. Businesses looking to Hire Flutter developer need help find the right fit.

Limited support for web and desktop

While Flutter can be used for web and desktop development, the support for these platforms is less mature than for mobile development.

Limited support for plugins

As Flutter is still new, it has limited support for plugins, and developers might have to create them from scratch.

Use Cases of Flutter

Well, there are many ways to use Flutter, but here I have collected the crucial use cases.

• Mobile apps
• Progressive web apps
• Gaming apps
• MVP development
• Cost-effective for Startups and small businesses
• Applications that require unique UI/UX
• Applications that require high-performance

Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform is an SDK of the Kotlin programming language that allows developers to write code that can run on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, web, and desktop. It uses a single codebase, which can be shared across different platforms, reducing development time and costs.

Pros of Using Kotlin for Cross-Platform App Development

Kotlin multiplatform has the same pros as Flutter:

interoperability with Java, convenient development, high performance, one code base for multiple platforms, and others. But the unique ones are listed below:

Google's Support

Kotlin is officially supported by Google for Android development, which means that it will continue to be developed and updated with the latest features and tools.

Cons of using Kotlin for cross-platform app development

We have seen the pros of using Kotlin. Also, most are similar to Flutter. Now let's see the cons of kotlin multiplatform.

Limited community

Kotlin has a smaller community than Java, so developers may need help finding help or resources when working with the language.

The steep learning curve for beginners

While Kotlin is a more modern and powerful language than Java, it's also more complex. The learning curve for beginners may be steep, and they require more time to get up to speed.

Limited support for older versions of Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform is a relatively new feature, which means that older language versions may only partially support it. It can lead to compatibility issues when working with older platform versions.

A limited number of libraries

Kotlin Multiplatform is still newer than a Flutter, which means a limited number of libraries may be available. It can make it more challenging to find pre-built components for certain functionality.

Limited support for web and desktop

While Kotlin Multiplatform can be used for web and desktop development, the support for these platforms is less mature than for mobile development.

Limited support for plugins

As Kotlin Multiplatform is still new, it has limited support for plugins, and developers might have to create them from scratch.

Use cases for Kotlin Multiplatform

The use cases of Kotlin multiplatform are all similar to those of Flutter, but I have added some more use cases that Flutter does not support.

• Games and game engines
• Backend development
• Enterprise applications

Now you may be wondering about the differences between these two platforms. Let's take a look.

Differences between Flutter and Kotlin multiplatform

1. Flutter uses the Dart programming language, while Kotlin Multiplatform uses the Kotlin programming language.
2. Flutter uses a reactive programming model, where the framework automatically updates the app's UI based on changes to the underlying data. Kotlin Multiplatform does not have a built-in reactive programming model, and developers must choose the one that best fits their needs.
3. Flutter provides its widgets for building the app's UI, while Kotlin Multiplatform allows developers to use native widgets for each platform. It can lead to a more native-like feel for the app but also requires more platform-specific code.
4. Flutter has a larger and more active community, with more resources and support available for developers.

How to decide which one to use for a specific project?

Deciding which framework to use for a particular project depends on many factors, such as the project's requirements, the experience and skill level of the development team, and the resources available.

• If the project requires a lot of third-party libraries or support for older OS versions, Flutter might not be the best choice. In this case, Kotlin Multiplatform or other frameworks might be a better fit.
• If the project requires a unique and visually pleasing UI/UX, Flutter might be the best choice with its wide range of customizable widgets.
• If the project requires high performance and scalability, then Kotlin Multiplatform, with its high-performance and multiplatform capabilities, might be the best choice.
• If the project requires server-side and backend development, Kotlin Multiplatform might be a better fit as it can run on multiple platforms such as JVM, JS, and native.
• If the development team has experience working with Java, then Kotlin Multiplatform might be a better choice as it's fully interoperable with Java.
• Lastly, if the project requires web and desktop development, Flutter might not be the best choice, as Kotlin Multiplatform provides better support for these platforms.

It's important to carefully evaluate the project's requirements and the development team's experience and skill level before deciding which framework to use. It's also a good idea to try out both frameworks and see which fits the project better.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Flutter, and Kotlin Multiplatform are powerful and flexible frameworks for cross-platform app development. Businesses and developers looking to Hire Flutter developer or a Kotlin developer must consider their project's specific requirements, the experience and skill level of the development team, and the resources available before making a decision.

If you're considering starting a new app development project and want to explore the possibilities of Flutter app Development or Kotlin multiplatform development, don't hesitate to contact us. Our experienced developers can help you make the best decision for your project and guide you through the development process.