Introduction
When deciding which technology to use for your next project, it can be difficult to choose between Flutter and Kotlin. Both are powerful, cross-platform mobile app development frameworks, with strengths and weaknesses. Cross-platform development has shown growth, and you may wonder why. As might be inferred from the name, it permits running apps on multiple platforms, whether iOS or Android, and assists businesses in reaching more customers, leading to making more money.
It is no surprise that the focus is slowly yet steadily shifting towards cross-platform development, and new technologies are emerging in the groups of the Flutter development company.
After being around for a while, this kind of development has established two winners: Kotlin vs. Flutter.
So why do we want to talk to you about Flutter vs. Kotlin instead of Flutter vs. React Native or Kotlin vs. React Native? What is Kotlin, and can it become a threat to Flutter’s popularity?
Flutter is a user interface toolkit that Google develops for creating natively built, appealing, feature-rich web, desktop, and mobile programs. Flutter is one of the fastest-growing open-source communities.
Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language. It is made to work with Java, and it is Google’s chosen programming language for Android app development.
Kotlin became popular after Google announced it would provide first-class support.
When should you consider developing across platforms?
Cross-platform development will assist you in reaching a greater portion of potential users.
If you decide to focus particularly on iOS or Android users, then develop the respective native applications. And, of course, your budget also matters.
Building cross-platform is significantly cheaper than hiring two development teams and operating on two apps for two operating systems.
Yet when should you think twice before choosing to build a cross-platform app?
For example, if your choice depends on the kind and complexity of the application.
Additionally, there is the so-called native feel.
When you develop specifically for iOS or Android and use software development kits that were created by them, you have a chance to build an app of better quality after picking between Flutter vs. Kotlin.
Native apps also tend to perform slightly faster and present a better user experience. It always depends on the situation, but in many cases, choosing a cross-platform approach may be the right decision for your business.
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The Benefits of Cross-Platform App Development
Larger market
People used to believe that iOS users were more likely to spend money on additional features than Android users, and they based their marketing decisions on this. It may be a little true, but now the situation looks different. It is pretty clear that the platform choice between Flutter vs. Kotlin is entirely taste-driven and has little to do with social status.
Determining which market to pick is even more tricky. Therefore, building cross-platform using Flutter vs. Kotlin and aiming for 99.4% of mobile users is the way to go.
Shorter time to market
The UI, guidelines, store applications, and the united code base significantly accelerate the development process. However, you will need some insights from developers about the specifics of iOS and Android.
Smaller workload
Even if it is recommended to hire platform-specific developers who are aces at Flutter vs. Kotlin and know the intricacies of iOS and Android regulations and standards, most of your team can be platform coders.
Decreasing the number of workers will save substantial money and enable smooth and easy interaction.
Faster development
You can not only reduce the duration of development by focusing on generating one piece of code, but you can also take advantage of its reusability.
Cross-platform development infers applying reusable chunks of code rather than writing new code from scratch. It expedites the development process itself and also shortens the testing phase.
Cloud integration
Cross-platform applications consolidate easier with the cloud due to the need for a single source code.
Cloud-based technology is certainly the future of software development, as it enhances accessibility and improves the user experience significantly.
Attributes to consider for Flutter vs. Kotlin multiplatform
Market demand
Kotlin and Flutter are open-source and free-to-use languages. The similar quality of both is luring many developers to work with both multi-platform systems. Here is kotlin multiplatform vs flutter in this section of market demand.
If you keep an eye on Google Trends, there is a steep hike in flutter’s popularity as compared to Kotlin.
Likewise, if you compare Kotlin and Flutter on Github, the former has gained more popularity than the latter.
It means that Flutter is gaining huge momentum in the market as compared to Kotlin.
Learning curve
If you take into account the learning curve as a comparison attribute in the Flutter vs. Kotlin battle, then beyond the shadow of a doubt, the latter one wins. Its interoperability with Java is a prominent reason for this.
In addition, the syntax of Kotlin is pretty simple and easy, and it displays many similarities with the existing programming languages for Android and iOS, such as Java and Swift.
Although the Kotlin multi platform is a new ecosystem, it has limited resources available in the market compared to Flutter. But if developers are familiar with Kotlin, they can easily learn the Kotlin platform.
On the other hand, Flutter app development utilizes the Dart programming language. It means developers must understand Dart from scratch before developing a project.
Performance
The Flutter language allows the developers to use the same language for layout and backend needs, enjoy higher animation speed, and much more.
It is still lagging much behind in comparison to Kotlin in the market.
The main reasoning behind this is that the Kotlin code compiles exactly in the format of the targeted platform.
So, which is superior, Kotlin or Flutter? Then the winner of this Flutter vs. Kotlin performance is the latter.
Third-party libraries and tools integration
Kotlin multiplatform works within the native platform ecosystems rather than building one.
So application professionals can deploy the same tools and libraries they used during native development, including Jet Pack compose and SwiftUI for Flutter vs. Kotlin.
It ultimately means that they are unable to find third-party libraries and tools to connect to the native environment.
However, it is needed in the Flutter cross-platform SDK, provided it is fundamentally a UI development tool.
Backend development scope
When it comes to taking account of backend mobile app development to know the distinction between Flutter vs. Kotlin, the former has the edge over the latter.
When flutter language goes with firebase, an effective BaaS (backend-as-a-service) platform to ensure effective chances, kotlin multiplatform offers various opportunities to developers to write backend code.
Multi platforms focus
Applications built for targeting mobile(Android and iOS) and web come under the umbrella of Flutter use cases.
One cannot utilize it for making their presence on tvOS, Android, Auto, WatchOS, and CarOS.
Although, there is no such limit in the case of kotlin multiplatform. It is designed to build app projects for devices and platforms beyond mobile devices.
So, picking kotlin multi platform is a good choice for businesses beginning with their app idea on every imaginable platform and device.
We have viewed how Flutter and Kotlin make differences from various perspectives. It is crucial to know the advantages and disadvantages to make the selection easy between Flutter vs. kotlin.
Pros and Cons of Kotlin Multi-platform
Let us have a look at a few advantages and disadvantages of using Kotlin for multiplatform app development.
Pros of kotlin Multi-platform
1. It is not a framework
The greatest benefit of choosing Kotlin over Flutter is that you won’t have to make a complete application. You can start with a single module or feature, decide its operation, and then progressively migrate other segments.
2. Easy to learn
Kotlin’s syntax is very similar to that of other popular programming languages such as Swift, Java, Groovy, and Scala; it is very simple to learn the language and invest in Kotlin multi platform development.
3. Reuse of Business logic
It is true that it is not the first tool that offers one to separate business and UI in the competitive market of Flutter vs. kotlin. Various cross-platform frameworks, like Xamarin and React Native, have been offering this service.
However, the fact that makes it different from others is that it enables shared logic and libraries below the UI layer.
It makes mobile application developers interact with the native environments—Swift and Xcode for iOS, Javascript for the web, and Kotlin and Android Studio for Android without using any bridge and providing codes more natively.
4. Native UI experience
Kotlin multiplatform does not expect developers to follow any instructions for UI creation. It offers UI app developers the opportunity to work on the appearance, behavior, and performance of the best Android application just as they would in the case of Native.
5. Higher performance
One of the benefits of considering the Kotlin between Flutter vs. kotlin cross-platform framework for mobile app development is that multiplatform compiles code to the same format as the aimed platform. It enhances its performance just like its native counterparts.
6. Enhanced flexibility and scalability
It allows developers to scale up their app projects and operate without using any VMs. It makes it a perfect pick for building a mobile app while focusing on flexibility and scalability factors.
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Cons of Kotlin Multiplatform
1. Slow to attain knowledge
There is a need for the organization to prepare the developers for Kotlin, despite the fact that Java and Kotlin have a similar codebase. It can be a little complex when shifting platforms without appropriate information on Kotlin.
2. Need familiarity with other tech stacks
Kotlin multi platform is not framed to be a replacement for every application programming interface that the platform aims at; it is crucial for app development companies to have basic knowledge of each development platform and API.
3. Higher development costs
The Kotlin SDK offers several semi-native functionalities. It ultimately leads to a higher cost to build mobile apps, which eventually makes it unfit for creating MVPs and app prototypes in the proximate competition between Flutter vs. Kotlin.
4. Compilation speed fluctuation
In different examples of incredible developments, Kotlin generally operates faster than Java. Java, in general, remains an explicit winner in this situation for building clear applications. The fast speed of Kotlin may not offer a clean, functional application.
Pros and Cons of Flutter
Let us have a look at a few pros and cons of using Flutter for mobile app development:
Pros of Using FLutter
1. Open source
Flutter is an open-source and free-to-use programming language. This encourages the developers to view the documentation, post their queries in the open development forum, and eventually learn and implement the code. App development with Flutter is gaining acclaim across the globe.
2. High onload functionality
The functionality makes it easier for anyone to create any change at the backend and simultaneously see the difference at the front end. It helps you decide whether the change looks apt with other elements of the application or not.
3. Customizable
By investing in Flutter app development services, developers get the opportunity to use different widgets in a development environment. Hence, it becomes necessary for the developers to create mobility solutions that are faster and have a customized feel.
4. Perfect for creating MVPs and App prototypes
The flutter programming language enables the functionality of building an application for both Android and iOS platforms in a matter of time within affordable cost and effort.
It makes Flutter a perfect alternative for MVP development and creating prototypes between Flutter vs. Kotlin
Cons of Using Flutter
Let us dive into the disadvantages of using this programming language.
1. Bigger app size
The major limitation of the flutter application development plan is that the app size is too big compared to Kotlin. It may lag between the Flutter vs kotlin race because of the bigger app size issue
2. Absence of third-party libraries
Third-party libraries and packages have a critical effect on software development, reflecting a few highlights for designers. For the time being, you may not find out each and every element you need for the development.
Since the Flutter programming language is new for mobile application development, it is tough to find free packages and libraries.
3. Password manager support Absent
Non-native widgets have their cons. For example, there are issues utilizing certain Android and iOS features. Apps built with Flutter right now have issues with autocomplete input fields.
4. Problems with iOS
Flutter’s implementation on iOS has many issues. Since Google is directly interested in fixing bugs in a short period of time, building Android apps on Flutter is quick and pleasant. iPhone settings were built on the framework to strengthen the Cupertino widgets.
Conclusion
It is crucial to understand that there are no perfect or ideal frameworks or languages.
Both the frameworks, Kotlin and Flutter, are trustworthy and focus on reducing development time and cost to mark their presence on Android and iOS platforms, respectively.
However, Flutter is more famous than the latest Kotlin as we measure the Flutter vs. Kotlin popularity bar. On the other hand, Kotlin is chosen to develop android applications. Although both frameworks enable native-like performance using a single codebase.
Suppose you are in a dilemma when picking the best Android UI framework between Flutter vs. Kotlin to build your mobile app.
In that case, we will suggest you connect with a leading mobile and web app development company, as we are since we also offer Flutter app development services.
We will analyze your cross-platform app requirements and priorities to help you determine which is better between Flutter vs. Kotlin.
FAQs
Flutter:
It is a mobile app development framework created by Google. It allows developers to build natively compiled mobile, web, and desktop applications from a single codebase.
Kotlin:
It is a statically typed programming language for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and Android. It is fully interoperable with Java and can be used to build Android, iOS, and web applications.
- Flutter is a framework, while Kotlin is a programming language.
- Flutter uses its programming language, Dart, while Kotlin can use either Kotlin or Java.
- Flutter allows developers to build natively compiled applications for multiple platforms from a single codebase, while Kotlin is primarily used for Android development.
Flutter:
Pros:
- Hot reload feature allows for faster development and debugging
- Single codebase for multiple platforms
- Good performance due to natively compiled code
Cons:
- Dart may not be as popular as other programming languages
- Limited support for some native features and libraries
Kotlin:
Pros:
- Interoperable with Java and Android Studio
- Well-established and widely used in the Android development community
- Good performance due to being compiled to native code
Cons:
- Limited to Android development
- May have a steep learning curve for developers unfamiliar with the Java ecosystem
It depends on the type of project you are working on and your specific requirements. Both Flutter and Kotlin offer many features and advantages, so it is best to assess your project’s needs and choose the best framework.
