Flutter Pros and Cons – Why Use It in 2023?

Flutter allows you to create cross-platform apps that provide native performance. Apps created with Flutter feature beautiful and intuitive design and are able to run animations smoothly. Flutter also increases mobile development speed, helping lower costs.

Learn more about the benefits of Flutter to discover whether it’s the right software solution for your product.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is Google’s software development kit for building iOS and Android apps. It’s a cross-platform technology, so it lets you use the same codebase for both mobile operating systems. The web and desktop versions are in beta and alpha channels respectively.

Google first introduced its open source framework for Flutter in 2015, but it remained in beta until the end of 2018 when Flutter 1.0 was officially launched, so it is still relatively new. It is free and open source, and uses Dart as its programming language.

Flutter’s popularity is steadily growing: according to Google, there are over 100,000 apps developed in Flutter. It’s easy to see why. Flutter code is easy to deploy and the kit includes all the tools necessary to develop a good app: a rendering engine, a variety of pre-built and easy-to-use widgets, testing and integration APIs, as well as command-line tools.

Below, you’ll find a list of the benefits of Flutter and an essential guide to the technology: why use Flutter, who it is designed for, and what are Flutter’s pros & cons.

Why should you use Flutter to develop your app?

Chances are you’re already using apps that were developed with Flutter. Alibaba and Google Ads are just two examples - you can find a more extensive list here.

With over 100,000 Flutter apps already available, there’s no doubt that it is a popular choice among developers - but is it the best toolkit for you?

It might be if you’re working on an MVP: Flutter allows you to develop code for both Android and iOS apps quickly, without the additional cost of building separate codebases. So if you’re a start-up, prone to experimenting and without significant resources to pour into cross platform mobile app development, Flutter is something you should consider.

It’s also an interesting solution for enterprises, especially those aiming for a strongly-branded experience. Flutter lets you develop the product on a single framework and deliver a native experience for users of both operating systems.

However, using other cross-platform development technologies, such as React Native or Xamarin, can have comparable benefits. So if you’re already successfully deploying any of them, is there a good reason to consider switching to Flutter? What are the benefits of Flutter over them? What are the reasons to try it out?

What are the benefits of Flutter?

Flutter has some unique features compared both to native development solutions and other cross-platform technologies. That’s what makes it so appealing to product owners, tech leads, and developers. Here are the major benefits of Flutter:

Efficient development process

As a cross-platform technology, Flutter enables developing an app for both operating systems using the same codebase. But that’s not the only reason why using Flutter makes the development process faster and more efficient. It also includes hot restart and a well-regarded “hot reload” function, which allows you to see updates in real time without restarting the app.

This significantly speeds up the development process. React Native and Xamarin have similar functions, but they are slower. With these features, Flutter lets you save time and resources.

Widgets and compatibility

Widgets are the building blocks on which the whole app is based. There are ready-made as well as customizable ones - everything in Flutter can be built from widgets. Since widgets are part of the app and not the specific platform, the end product will most likely have fewer compatibility issues on different platforms and OS versions.

High performance

Flutter applications perform at a level comparable with native mobile apps and are winning over other cross-platform technologies. That’s mostly because Flutter is the only mobile SDK that doesn’t use a bridge (JavaScript or webview) for communication between the app and the platform. As a result, you get a faster-starting app with beautiful, fast animations and fewer performance problems.

Going beyond mobile

It’s possible to develop Flutter products that work on the web, desktop, and even TV, which many developers are already doing. These features are still in different stages of advancement, but Google definitely has the capacity to create a stable release. Considering how important IoT is for the company, they will most likely keep developing Flutter in this direction.

Internationalization and accessibility

Internationalization, or preparing different language and region versions of your app, usually happens after the app itself is created and can produce multiple discrepancies. Flutter provides tools that make this process a breeze and incorporate it directly into development. Flutter also supports accessibility, enabling large fonts, screen readers, and enhanced contrast, all of this automated from within the platform.

Open source and an engaged community

As an open-source platform, Flutter is free to use and has a growing community contributing to its outstanding documentation and assisting with issues that developers may encounter. There are also many YouTube videos available for those who want to start learning Flutter or improve their skills in this Google’s mobile UI framework.

Faster Time-to-Market

One of the most compelling advantages of opting for Flutter development is its intrinsic ability to significantly expedite the time-to-market process. With a plethora of features that intricately facilitate the software development journey, Flutter empowers you to bring your app to the market in record time, all while seamlessly deploying new features and updates to both iOS and Android platforms simultaneously.

The efficiency bestowed by Flutter's unified codebase across multiple platforms is a pivotal element in expediting the time-to-market journey. Unlike the conventional approach that demands separate codebases for Android and iOS, Flutter leverages a single codebase to cater to both platforms. This harmonious coexistence of code expedites the development process by eliminating the need for redundant coding efforts, allowing developers to focus on refining the app's functionalities rather than wrestling with platform-specific complexities.

Unified App UI and Business Logic in All Platforms

Flutter offers a compelling advantage: the ability to create apps with a consistent UI and shared business logic across all platforms. Unlike traditional native apps that demand separate codebases for Android and iOS, Flutter developers can leverage a single codebase for both operating systems.

This not only streamlines development efforts but also ensures that the user experience remains uniform across cross platform mobile devices. By harnessing Flutter's capabilities, you can reduce development costs, accelerate time-to-market, and deliver a seamless app experience to your users.

Hot Reload Feature

One of the standout advantages of Flutter app development is its powerful "hot reload" feature. This functionality enables developers to witness real-time updates in their app without the need to restart it entirely.

Compared to similar functions in competing frameworks like React Native and Xamarin, Flutter's hot reload stands out due to its remarkable speed. This feature significantly accelerates the development process, allowing developers to swiftly iterate, test, and fine-tune their code. As a result, Flutter developers experience enhanced productivity, shortened feedback loops, and the ability to swiftly address issues – making Flutter an ideal choice for agile and dynamic development environments.

Shorter Testing Process

Flutter, a leading framework for mobile app development, presents a distinct advantage that streamlines the testing process. The cross-platform nature of Flutter apps, utilizing a single codebase for both Android and iOS, translates to a reduced testing burden.

Unlike traditional native app development, where separate testing is required for each platform, Flutter developers can perform comprehensive testing once. This efficiency not only cuts down testing time but also minimizes the chances of encountering platform-specific issues. By harnessing Flutter's streamlined testing process, you can ensure quicker releases, lower testing costs, and a more consistent user experience across diverse devices.

Cons of Flutter

Flutter also has downsides that you shouldn’t overlook when choosing your SDK.

Experimentation phase

Flutter is still a relatively new platform which comes with its own set of issues. It’s still under constant development, so some edge cases might not have solutions that are ready for implementation.

We will see whether that’s going to change soon enough, but you might want to wait till then to use Flutter if you’re not ready for more risk compared to developing a product with a more established toolkit.

Lack of more advanced features

Flutter is still missing some more advanced features and might not be the best solution for more sophisticated apps:

• In some cases it might be difficult to build pixel-perfect experiences that match native Android and iOS apps in Flutter.

• You’re not able to use Flutter to build apps for tvOS, watchOS, CarPlay or Android Auto.

Not many experienced Flutter developers

There are still relatively few experienced Flutter developers on the market. That’s why it can be harder to build a team of seasoned professionals if you choose Flutter over React Native.

Lack of native widgets

The fact that Flutter doesn’t use native widgets can be an advantage, but also a drawback of this SDK. Why?

Because if you decide to build an app using the Flutter framework, and then a new version of iOS or Android is launched, then your app will not update to the newest UI changes.

This case scenario requires you to update a library (which is fast), rebuild an app, and then publish its new version in app stores. On the other hand, using Flutter widgets, you are sure that what the app you publish in app stores won’t change without you knowing about it. Thus, you won’t be surprised that a new OS version changes something in an app.

What’s next?

Now you know why use Flutter and why it might not be exactly what you’re looking for. At Netguru, we have experience developing all types of cross-platform apps. If that’s something you are considering, reach out to us to discuss what would work best for you.