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The world of mobile app development is a challenging one. Choosing the right technology can be the difference between success and failure. There are three main paths: React Native, Flutter and pure native development (Swift/Kotlin).
BUT… which one offers the best user experience, fluidest performance and greatest productivity for developers? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into their differences, advantages and limitations to help you make the right decision for your project.
React Native es un framework creado por Meta (Facebook) que permite desarrollar aplicaciones móviles usando JavaScript y React. Con la New Architecture (Fabric + TurboModules + JSI) implementada desde 2023, React Native ofrece un rendimiento casi nativo y una comunicación directa entre el código JS y el sistema operativo.
Language: JavaScript or TypeScript
Platforms: iOS and Android
Flutter, developed by Google, uses the language Dart and its own graphics engine called Skia. Unlike React Native, Flutter does not rely on native system components but rather draws its own interface, achieving a consistent appearance and extremely smooth animations.
Lenguaje: Dart
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web and Desktop
Primary Advantage: extremely high performance and identical appearance across all platforms.
The traditional approach: writing code directly for each operating system using their official languages and tools.
This ensures maximum performance, complete access to hardware and a perfect integration with each platform’s ecosystem, although at the cost of greater development time and cost.
| Characteristic | React Native (New Arch) | Flutter | Native (Swift/Kotlin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JavaScript / TypeScript | Dart | Swift / Kotlin | |
| Performance | Very high (almost native) | Excellent (in-house engine) | Optimal |
| UI and animations | Soothing (uses native components) | Ultra fluid (Skia) | Perfect |
| CPU usage | High above native | Similar or better | More efficient |
| App size | +20–40 MB | +25–40 MB | Lighter |
| Coding reuse | 90–95 % | 95–100 % | 0% |
| Ecosystem and libraries | Limited to each OS | ||
| Hardware access | Through modules | Through plugins | Direct |
| Hot Reload | Sí | Sí (instantáneo) | Limitado |
| Development time | Rápido | Rápido | Lento |
| Community | Muy grande | En expansión | Madura pero separada |
Thanks to its New Architecture, React Native no longer uses the old “bridge” between JavaScript and native.
The new JSI system allows for instant and non-blocking communication, offering a visual experience as smooth as native, even with complex animations.
Ideal for apps that combine native interface with high performance: social media, health apps, commerce, productivity, etc.
By using your own graphics engine, Flutter offers 60 fps constant even on modest devices.
It’s the favorite for rich interfaces, animations, and apps that need to look identical on both iOS and Android.
The only drawback: apps can be heavier and feel less “native” to the expert eye.
Perfect performance, zero intermediate layers.
If you need to leverage GPU, camera, advanced sensors, or augmented reality (ARKit, MLKit), native development remains the king.
However, it requires double maintenance and specialized equipment for each platform.
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Start-up or MVP looking for speed | React Native |
| App with advanced animations or highly personalized interface | Flutter |
| App that uses camera, sensors, or AR in depth | Native |
| Multi-platform project with a web team | React Native |
| Multi-platform project with a new team | Flutter |
| Institutional, banking or critical system app | Native |
Imagine three projects:
Today, the gap between React Native and native development has dramatically narrowed thanks to the New Architecture.
Flutter, on the other hand, continues to be the king of visual smoothness and consistency across platforms.
In 2025, it’s no longer about which one is “better”, but about which one fits best with your project and team. Both Flutter and React Native have matured enough to offer experiences that are indistinguishable from native apps, with the added benefit of saving time, costs, and maintenance.
