React Native vs Flutter 2025

Cross-platform mobile development has matured significantly. React Native and Flutter both deliver near-native performance with distinct approaches. At ZIRA Software, we choose based on project requirements, team expertise, and long-term maintainability.

2025 Framework Comparison

React Native                    Flutter
├── JavaScript/TypeScript       ├── Dart
├── Native components           ├── Custom rendering (Skia)
├── Hot reload                  ├── Hot reload
├── Large npm ecosystem         ├── Growing pub.dev ecosystem
├── Meta (Facebook) backed      ├── Google backed
└── Web: React Native Web       └── Web: Flutter Web

Performance Benchmarks

Test: Complex list with 10,000 items + animations

React Native (New Architecture)
├── Initial load: 1.2s
├── Scroll FPS: 58-60
├── Memory: 180MB
└── Bundle size: 12MB

Flutter
├── Initial load: 0.9s
├── Scroll FPS: 60
├── Memory: 160MB
└── Bundle size: 15MB

Both achieve near-native performance in 2025

React Native: New Architecture

// React Native with TypeScript and new architecture
import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, FlatList, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';

interface Product {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  price: number;
}

export function ProductList() {
  const { data: products, isLoading } = useQuery({
    queryKey: ['products'],
    queryFn: () => fetch('/api/products').then(r => r.json()),
  });

  if (isLoading) return <LoadingSkeleton />;

  return (
    <FlatList
      data={products}
      keyExtractor={(item)=> item.id}
      renderItem={({ item })=> (
        <ProductCard product={item} />
      )}
      // New architecture optimizations
      removeClippedSubviews
      maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
      windowSize={5}
    />
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    backgroundColor: '#f5f5f5',
  },
});

Flutter: Modern Dart

// Flutter with Dart 3 and modern patterns
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';

class ProductList extends ConsumerWidget {
  const ProductList({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context, WidgetRef ref) {
    final productsAsync = ref.watch(productsProvider);

    return productsAsync.when(
      data: (products) => ListView.builder(
        itemCount: products.length,
        itemBuilder: (context, index) {
          final product = products[index];
          return ProductCard(product: product);
        },
      ),
      loading: () => const LoadingSkeleton(),
      error: (error, stack) => ErrorWidget(error: error),
    );
  }
}

// Riverpod provider
final productsProvider = FutureProvider<List<Product>>((ref) async {
  final response = await dio.get('/api/products');
  return (response.data as List)
      .map((json) => Product.fromJson(json))
      .toList();
});

Developer Experience

| Aspect | React Native | Flutter | |--------|--------------|---------| | Language | TypeScript (familiar) | Dart (learning curve) | | Hot Reload | Yes | Yes (superior) | | Debugging | Chrome DevTools | Dart DevTools | | IDE Support | VS Code, WebStorm | VS Code, Android Studio | | Documentation | Good | Excellent | | Community | Massive | Large, growing |

Ecosystem Comparison

React Native Strengths:

// Leverage entire npm ecosystem
import { format } from 'date-fns';
import { z } from 'zod';
import { create } from 'zustand';

// React patterns work directly
const useStore = create((set) => ({
  cart: [],
  addItem: (item) => set((state) => ({
    cart: [...state.cart, item]
  })),
}));

Flutter Strengths:

// Consistent widget library
// Everything is a widget
class CustomButton extends StatelessWidget {
  final String label;
  final VoidCallback onPressed;

  const CustomButton({
    required this.label,
    required this.onPressed,
    super.key,
  });

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Material(
      child: InkWell(
        onTap: onPressed,
        child: Container(
          padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16),
          child: Text(label),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

Platform-Specific Code

// React Native - Platform-specific
import { Platform } from 'react-native';

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  shadow: Platform.select({
    ios: {
      shadowColor: '#000',
      shadowOffset: { width: 0, height: 2 },
      shadowOpacity: 0.25,
    },
    android: {
      elevation: 4,
    },
  }),
});

// Flutter - Platform-specific
import 'dart:io' show Platform;

Widget build(BuildContext context) {
  if (Platform.isIOS) {
    return CupertinoButton(
      child: Text('iOS Style'),
      onPressed: () {},
    );
  }
  return ElevatedButton(
    child: Text('Material Style'),
    onPressed: () {},
  );
}

When to Choose React Native

✓ Existing React/TypeScript team
✓ Heavy npm dependency usage
✓ Code sharing with React web app
✓ Brownfield integration (existing native app)
✓ Quick prototyping with React knowledge

When to Choose Flutter

✓ Pixel-perfect custom UI required
✓ Complex animations
✓ Consistent look across platforms
✓ New team starting fresh
✓ Desktop app requirements (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Conclusion

Both frameworks excel in 2025. React Native leverages JavaScript ecosystem and React patterns. Flutter provides superior UI consistency and animation capabilities. Choose based on team skills and project requirements.

Building mobile apps? Contact ZIRA Software for cross-platform development.