Dart / Flutter vs. Swift / Native iOS – which one is better in 2021?
About FLUTTER
Flutter App Development
Cross-platform app development has become one of the biggest IT trends in recent years. It can offer many benefits and is often considered a cheaper and less time-consuming solution for mobile apps. Flutter, created by Google, is unquestionably one of the most talked-about frameworks in this area. And that’s why we often use it in our software projects.
Flutter Development at itCraft
Flutter is an open-source framework based on Dart, an object-oriented programming language known for a fast compilation called “hot reloads” – which allows developers to oversee changes in the mobile app practically in real-time. It is one of the newest cross-platform technologies that has quickly become one of the favorites in development companies.
We also like it a lot and many of our cross-platform apps have been built using this framework. If you want to know one of our developer’s opinions, check out this Flutter review and find out why programmers appreciate it so much. Flutter was released in 2017, which makes it quite fresh when it comes to cross-platform app development.
Still, it has already been trusted by dozens of companies, including global brands, established corporations and startups alike. That includes Alibaba Group, eBay, BMW, IKEA, The New York Times and, of course, countless Google apps. Many companies looking to redesign their apps moved towards Flutter because of its obvious benefits. Let’s take a closer look.
Benefits of Flutter Mobile App Development
The fact that Flutter has become one of the top cross-platform app development technologies is a result of its many advantages that simplify the development process and provide excellent results. Why should you use Flutter for your mobile app project?
It is productive & It offers great performance
One codebase for iOS and Android mobile apps means hiring just one team, which is perfect for saving resources and time. Thanks to its properties, Flutter allows developers to quickly startup the mobile app, introduce changes in the blink of an eye and avoid many issues associated with other frameworks.
It is compatible & It provides custom UI
Coding for multiple platforms means you need an app that will work on different devices and operating system versions. Flutter uses widgets that offer similar native feeling on every OS. Speaking of widgets, building user interfaces with Flutter is simple and fully customizable. Mobile apps created with this framework look excellent on all platforms.
It has potential for further expansion
Introducing changes in a Flutter app takes seconds, thanks to the hot reloads feature. Moreover, Flutter developers with experience can code apps that will not only work on mobile devices but also on web browsers and desktops. There are also plans to provide such functionalities with the platform to make it even easier.
Developers can easily learn it & Documentation
Especially if they are experienced with Java. And if they need help from fellow programmers, the Flutter community is rapidly growing and it offers expertise from hundreds of devs. Flutter is well documented with a bunch of examples of code usage, so developers need less time for research and looking for solutions.
Big community
Flutter has a big and fast-growing community, mostly because Flutter is open-source. And most of the created libraries are also distributed as open-source.
How to find a perfect Flutter development company?
There are more and more Flutter app development companies out there. You might wonder if they are all trustworthy and can offer the quality required to achieve your business goals. You want to collaborate with a Flutter company that knows what they are doing. Using the name of a popular technology just to promote an app development company that doesn’t use it on a daily basis is unethical and you should not work with such parties.
Hiring a Flutter Developer
Ensure that the Flutter app developer you are considering knows a thing or two about building software for multiple platforms. Ask several Flutter development companies about their experiences with cross-platform programming. Also, carefully read the reviews written by the companies they have worked with.
itCraft is a Flutter app development company that is just right for you. We have a big team dedicated to cross-platform app development. These are seasoned specialists with the required skills and knowledge – not only in Flutter but also in other frameworks and technologies. We have been operating since 2010 and for 10 years our ultimate goal has been to look for new challenges and constantly learn and grow. When we discovered Flutter application development, we knew there was potential. We started to invest in our Flutter development resources because we had already seen a significant increase in demand for cross-platform development from our prospective clients.
With that in mind, we wanted to offer the best cross-platform development services possible, and Flutter ticks most of the boxes. If you want to hire Flutter app developers, we can definitely help you. With itCraft, you can be sure you have a reliable IT partner with a lot of experience, a team of skilled experts and application development capabilities that allow us to create unique products just for you. What can we do for you?
Custom App Development
Android and iOS App Development
The primary purpose of using Flutter application development is to have apps for iOS and Android without paying extra for native development. Flutter allows us to do that with lower costs and with shorter time-to-market. Of course, if you are offering a B2C model, an app for both iOS and Android is almost always inevitable.
Back in the day, smartphone users were divided between iOS and Android, mostly based on location. With the growing market of mobile devices and more capabilities that phones offer, you can be confident that your potential customers use Apple devices and a multitude of Android hardware produced by different companies. Having a mobile app for both is necessary.
Hire Flutter developers and you definitely won’t be sorry. Native app development often requires a larger workforce, a bigger budget and longer time. For many projects this can be justified but if you want your app to be available for iOS and Android in a shorter time and the specifics of your project match Flutter’s vast capabilities, working with a custom app development company with experienced Flutter developers is definitely something for you.
Cross-Platform Unified App Development
The keystone of any cross-platform app is one unified codebase. Whether it is an app coded using Flutter or another cross-platform framework, a single code that works on iOS and Android is the pillar of these technologies.
Flutter development services are based on the assumption that building a product will be flexible and quicker than for native apps. That’s possible thanks to a single codebase. Additionally, Google’s framework offers more than that. High performance rate, hot reload feature, beautiful design widgets are the reasons why Flutter application development is appreciated both by developers and clients.
As a Flutter app development company, we can definitely recommend it as your cross-platform framework for building iOS and Android apps.
Hybrid Mobile App Development using Flutter
Mobile app development can come in different shapes and forms, two most popular being native app development and hybrid or cross-platform app development. Flutter is one of the market leaders of the second approach.
The main idea behind hybrid technologies is to achieve similar results to native mobile app development with less effort. What’s unique about using Flutter is that it provides apps that look and work like native, but it doesn’t use native components like its competition. The “native feeling” is achieved with a 120 FPS rendering engine, which is unique for such solutions.
Flutter has its own widgets that are responsible for delivering functional, intuitive and aesthetic user interfaces. Thanks to this, achieving optimal user experience for iOS and Android users is not only possible but easily achievable. And all that with one codebase.
Flutter Application Development Process
At itCraft, we have our own collaboration process based on years of experience. For each project, it looks quite similar, but it always focuses on individual business goals and requirements. What are the main stages of the Flutter app development process?
UX/UI Workshops
Two days of meetings between our team and your team leads to a greater understanding of the requirements. We will offer our advice in terms of the business model, technical requirements and user experience. Based on this scope we are able to propose the right solutions and technology to meet your goals, and if cross-platform development is best for your project then most likely we will suggest using Flutter.
Prototyping
After the workshop, we create low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity, interactive prototypes to shape your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and deliver all design assets necessary to start development. The main purpose here is to determine how the app should look, what the main elements should be and what user paths will it include. Then, the software development process starts.
Development
Flutter application development requires only one team. There is no need for separate devs for iOS and Android, as written code will work on both operating systems. In native development, delays are not that rare because sometimes iOS team or Android team codes faster and the other one stumbles upon some obstacles. Flutter app development process is linear and relies only on one group of developers.
Testing
Quality assurance happens throughout the whole process of Flutter app development. We test each functionality and entire modules to make sure everything works properly. If you don’t know how to recognize high-quality development companies, their QA approach can be a hint. Testing performed at every stage of the development process helps avoid major bugs and defects towards the end of the project.
Release
When our Flutter app is finished, it’s time for deployment. Then it can be released and support your business by giving your end-users particular value. If you want to expand it in the future or need technical maintenance, itCraft will be there for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about Flutter Development
Other popular cross-platform app development frameworks include Facebook’s React Native and Microsoft’s Xamarin. All three are open-source tools dedicated to mobile app development for multiple platforms, including iOS and Android.
Each of these frameworks has its own unique characteristics and they are all different from each other. Flutter has the best performance and is appreciated for UI widgets.
Some people claim it’s 50% cheaper as you need only one team instead of two for Flutter app development. That is not quite true. Although you may be able to save 50% in your front-end development costs, you still need to take the rest of the team into account – PMs, QA engineers, UX designers and backend developers.
Each project is estimated individually based on the requirements, the current state of the product (e.g. if there’s already a usable back-end or we need to do it from scratch), the number of features, how complicated they are, and so much more.
Flutter app development can help you reduce the development costs, but in reality, it may not be as spectacular as promised by some sources out there. The best way to find out what budget you should have is to consult your Flutter app development company.
Not necessarily. Each language and framework has strong points and weak points. There are some limitations of Flutter app development which can only be conquered by a native approach but in most cases, this open-source framework is more than enough to build an excellent product.
Picking technologies for app development is not random. We always consider many factors, including the budget, business goals and strategy. If we decide to recommend Flutter for your project, it means we are sure it will meet the goals we establish during the workshop. (We never recommend technologies that won’t deliver your business goals).
For mobile app development, only a few minor limitations had to be conquered – for example, using Native Platform Views. We know that as a matter of fact, the team at Flutter is working to fix that problem. The biggest limitation is the lack of support for Android TV, Apple TV, cars and WearOS.
Because it uses its own rendering engine to draw widgets. It is high-speed and responsive, allowing the developer to achieve 120 FPS. Also, all built-in widgets are beautiful and out of the box but also highly customizable.
Flutter App Development Team
Our app development company hires experts in various technologies. Each Flutter developer at itCraft has experience working on international projects and makes sure you receive a solution that will help you achieve your goals. Each company that collaborates with us gets full support and a dedicated team that includes developers, designers, project managers, testers, and more. We work in Agile Scrum and organize our Flutter app development process in the most productive way.
You will be in constant contact with your team. You can even be an active participant in the project, sharing your industry knowledge and customer insights to make our work easier. Our Flutter devs originate from native mobile development, which means they understand specific platform issues and that doesn’t block them in building authentic, cross-platform solutions.
Flutter App Development Content
As a mobile app development company, we are quite creative. We provide our clients and followers with tons of useful knowledge in the form of blog articles, webinars and ebooks. Flutter and multiple platform development are among our favorite topics. Here are some sources where you can learn more about Flutter app development:
We are your Flutter app development company – contact us!
Hire developers from itCraft and develop an app of your dreams. We will be with you throughout the whole process of app production. Tell us about your idea and we will use Flutter to transform it into software that will become a real part of your business and help your clients and stakeholders fulfill their goals.
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Start your new mobile project now
Contact us and tell us what you have in mind. Even if it’s only an idea – don’t worry! We’re here to help you. Let’s talk and decide what the next step for your business can be when collaborating with itCraft.
WE ARE RECOGNIZED
Awards & Certificates
Top B2B Companies Global
Top Software Developers 2019
Top Developers Poland
Top Flutter App Development Companies 2020
Top IT Outsourcing Company