Flutter v/s React Native v/s MAUI — What does the future of cross-platform hold?
Shopify is building an all-new mobile application using React Native. Meanwhile, Google is releasing a new version of Dart for debugging Flutter code, and Microsoft is working on MAUI –the next-generation framework aiming to build native cross-platform applications across mobile and desktops.
All these advancements suggest that cross-platform app development technologies are increasingly being used. However, the one-size-fits-all strategy does not apply in cross-platform. So, which one is preferable: Flutter, React Native, or MAUI?
In this article, we’ll describe the meaning, potential differences between the three frameworks and discuss the future of cross-platform app development.
A Brief Introduction on Frameworks
Flutter
“It’s all about widgets” — is Flutter’s motto — combining a framework and a full-fledged Software development Kit. Using Dart programming language, Flutter launches UI on any platform and possesses enough power to compete with native apps due to its performance. Hot Reload Features and JIT(Just-in-Time) compilation allows Flutter to display code changes within a fraction of seconds, speeding up the development time. You just need to hire cross-platform app developers, set your expectations, and build cross-platform Flutter apps.
React Native
React Native is a Javascript-based mobile app framework built by Meta platforms for cross-platform app development. It enables designing complex apps on multiple platforms like Android, iOS, etc., utilizing the same code base. React Native’s fast refresh feature uses Yoga rendering engine that translates flexbox-based layout into views native hosts can absorb. It is a virtuous app if you need to reach your target audience scattered across multiple platforms quickly.
MAUI
Microsoft is creating a single .NET MAUI framework to build excellent cross-platform software to support applications on a wide range of platforms and devices. While Xamarin.Forms is a valuable asset for Microsoft; replacing it with MAUI will expand its app creation proficiencies and solve some of the most pressing developer challenges. MAUI will allow XAM developers to build native macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows applications from a single codebase for your Cross-Platform App Development Team.
Flutter Vs React Native Vs MAUI: How Do These Technologies Differ From Each Other?
After getting a brief idea about the fundamental differences between the three frameworks, let’s dive into more details about the essential difference between Flutter, React Native, and MAUI.
1. Programming Language
Flutter
Flutter uses Dart — a programming language developed by Google. Dart is used by Cross-Platform Mobile App Developers to create mission-critical, high-quality apps for web, Android, and iOS. With features such as excellent documentation and flexibility, Dart is a great fit for mobile and web apps.
React Native
React native uses Javascript as its programming language. It compiles its Javascript code to native view, and the rest of the code runs in the virtual machine packaged inside the app.
MAUI
Apps built using MAUI compile from C# into IL(Intermediate language), then JIT(Just-in-time) compiled to a native assembly when the app launches. Additionally, to facilitate the accessibility of native code, cross-platform device APIs are visible from the C# code itself.
2. Installation
Flutter
Installation of Flutter is quick and doesn’t take much effort. You need to download a file for the operating system you would require, and you’re good to go. In the case of macOS, after downloading, the file needs to be included as a path variable.
React Native
React Native can be installed by Node Package Manager. With macOS, you need a HomeBrew Package Manager as well. So, for Cross-Platform Mobile App Developers having NPM, the installation of React Native is smooth, but others need to learn the nitty-gritties related to NPM.
MAUI
To install MAUI, ensure you have Visual Studio 2022 and the latest version of the .NET 6 preview. They will act as a cornerstone for setting your operations. However, since MAUI is currently in preview, the experience won’t be the same after a few months.
3. Architecture
Flutter
Flutter’s architecture is arranged simply as all the necessary components are already built on the Dart framework. It also includes already implemented frameworks like Cupertino and Material Design for creating applications.
React Native
React Native’s architecture is effective in building client-side web applications. Every framework of this architecture follows the MVC framework. This process enhances the user experience as the async calls take place apart from the main thread.
MAUI
MAUI apps are built using the .NET generic host builder, which helps deliver consistency and the ability to configure services and fonts to be initialized from a single location. Additionally, apps render native UI on each platform instead of requiring renderers that are difficult to customize.
4. UI components
Flutter
Flutter has its own built-in widgets. Due to that, various unique apps can be created from Flutter’s extensive library of customizable widgets. It includes better access to navigation, layouts, interaction models, etc., along with the support of movements and animation.
React Native
React Native uses a Javascript bridge to gauge the UI components to get an extra abstraction layer. It also contains UI component libraries, which a cross-platform app development team can use for creating applications. Some of them are React Native Elements, NativeBase, React Native vector icons, etc.
MAUI
.NET ecosystem is known for its clean UI. Adding to that, MAUI will provide complex, performance-intensive UI components for enterprises building out-of-the-box apps — making the app development faster and more attractive.
5. Community Support and Documentation
Flutter
Flutter team can be found for support in a 28.7k user subreddit, 142,000 stars on GitHub, and Stack Overflow. The community is still growing, and Google does everything to ensure that all the developers’ queries are resolved and documented for further assistance.
React Native
Being the framework that was released first among the three, it is a given that React Native has excellent community support worldwide. It has approximately 12,000 users on Discord chat and strong support from Stack Overflow.
MAUI
Since MAUI is yet to be launched, a community for developers is getting built for a robust communication system. However, as per the tooling assistance, the documentation process would be clear and precise after MAUI is released.
6. Code change
Flutter
Flutter’s Hot Reload feature helps you quickly implement, change, build UIs, and fix bugs. It loads code changes into the VM and builds the widget tree without compromising the app’s current state.
React Native
Fast Refresh is a React Native component that allows you to get near-instant changes to your code. You just need to edit the module, and Fast Refresh will update the code and re-render your component. With Fast Refresh, most edits are visible within a second or two.
MAUI
Unlike Xamarin.Forms, in MAUI code changes won’t consume much of the developer’s time. Hot Reload has been developed and is considered the quickest way to see the code changes without complete recompilation.
7. API
Flutter
Flutter apps are beautifully rendered through API access, state management, navigation, libraries, and testing. The API makes it possible to access third-party libraries for tearing off the User Interface identically on Android and iOS.
React Native
React Native’s APIs make accessing things like the phone’s camera roll, persistent storage, and location easy. These APIs are made available through included modules, which provide asynchronous Javascript interfaces to the functions.
MAUI
MAUI provides access to platform-specific APIs under .NET Development, so developers don’t have to write native code to access them. MAUI will extract all of the platform-specific APIs into a single library. And these APIs will be directly visible from the C# code.
Flutter vs React Native vs MAUI — A Detailed Comparison
The future of cross-platform development
With its global market revenue expected to reach $107440 million by 2026, cross-platform app development framework is considered to be an advancement of mobile platforms. However, within the hustle-bustle, enterprises’ central problem is selecting the right framework. Should they choose Flutter or MAUI, or React Native?
Witnessing its popularity, Flutter is the fastest-growing framework, and Google has been immaculate in leading the technology race with its robust framework. Additionally, React Native is also striving hard to maintain its relevance. Flutter and React native are making vigorous strides in the cross-platform development space. Still, the slow and steady player(Microsoft), too, has the capability to create a dominant framework with MAUI.
Final Word
Through the comparison, it is clear that Flutter, Reactive Native and MAUI are strong players in the cross platform development market. However, many businesses are still confused about which framework to use for their project. Here’s the answer:
When to choose Flutter?
Flutter should be your preferred option for UI-heavy applications as it gives you control over every pixel displayed to the user. Additionally, Flutter is a more reliable tool for seamlessly executing complex projects requiring increased testing and development attention.
When to choose React Native?
React Native is suitable when you want multiple outcomes and suppleness under one solution for performing tasks that are complex using simple codes. It has a robust UI Library and allows you to operate on real-time code changes to facilitate your cross-platform mobile app developers.
When to choose MAUI?
MAUI is the best choice for building modern, multi-platform, natively compiled Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS apps in a single codebase. This framework solves many developers’ challenges while building apps across many operating systems. Instead of multiple technology stacks, MAUI abstracts them into a single framework and facilitates seamless .NET application development.
FAQs
- Is Flutter better than React Native?
The answer is highly dependent on the capabilities of your workforce and their experience with application development.
Flutter is more user-friendly and convenient. React Native needs a greater degree of dedication from the development team to maintain packages and libraries in line with one another.
Even Though Flutter is one of the fastest cross-platform frameworks; its development speed is lower than React Native. So, the right choice is immensely subjective.
2. Who will win the battle between Flutter, React Native, and MAUI?
Even though all the frameworks are fantastic for mobile app development, MAUI is yet to be released and is relatively new to comment on. Apart from that, Flutter has many features that help us design more immaculate mobile apps with optimum user experience.
Rest, the usage depends on your app’s requirements and the capabilities of your workforce.
3. Is it beneficial to learn Flutter, React Native or MAUI in 2022?
Yes, suppose you’re interested in app development and want to know all the nitty-gritties behind developing an app. In that case, it is advisable to learn about them as many companies hire Cross-Platform App Developers. Having profound knowledge will help you build attractive apps with a better user experience while saving time and money.
4. Will MAUI replace Flutter and React Native?
In mobile development, MAUI is the newest kid on the block. Flutter and React Native have already generated a lot of praise due to their easy-to-use toolkit and compatibility. But, in the coming years, due to its extensive performance, precise documentation, reusable UI components, and inclusion of native features — MAUI might come across as a game-changer.
5. After how many months should I upgrade my Xamarin.Forms applications to .NET MAUI?
Evaluate your project dependencies and determine the feasible timings. Once you find that your dependencies are available and you possess mitigations for the remaining, go ahead and upgrade when .NET MAUI releases.
6. Why is Xamarin.Forms becoming .NET MAUI?
The .NET platform is getting unified. To ease out all the critical workloads and runtimes of .NET, Xamarin.Forms are closely getting integrated into .NET MAUI.
