In this competing world, we see exponential growth in mobile app development. To stay abreast of the growing requirements of the market, it becomes highly crucial to optimally utilize the frameworks and platforms. Where the internet has taken overthe market, it has become highly impossible to detach ourselves from the delight of using mobile applications. Even businesses have taken over delivering their services online.
Comparison Between Ionic vs Flutter vs React Native vs PWA
Mobile applications are developed keeping in mind the audience. While Every Mobile application framework has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, it becomes highly crucial for any Mobile App Development Company to assess before putting it to use for developing an app. It is the ultimate goal for developers across the globe to study the market and assess the consumer needs which helps them to choose a platform for any app development. There are many frameworks for developers to get their jobs done. However, in this article, we are going to compare Flutter vs React Native vs PWA.
Introduction
Ionic
Ionic Framework is an open-source mobile UI toolkit used for building high-quality, cross-platform native experiences and web applications. It's free and open-source and also offers a library of mobile-optimized UI components. It consists of gestures, tools for building fast and highly interactive apps. One of the major highlights of ionic is that it moves faster with a single codebase that runs everywhere.
The major function of ionic is that it provides user interface components that don't exist in the ecosystem of web application development. The CLI tool of the ionic framework helps to create, building, and deploying Ionic applications much easier.
Flutter
Flutter is an open-source, mobile development framework introduced by Google in May 2017. The architecture of Flutterallows high-performance and reactive programming which enables the
Flutter app development companies to create beautiful and functionally-rich apps from a single code base. Due to Flutter's responsive nature, changes can be updated automatically, if it's coded appropriately.
Flutter uses Dart programming language which can run on any platform. It doesn't use any bridge to connect any underlying platform with any code, instead, it gets compiled Unlike other cross-platform solutions, which use a bridge to connect your code with the underlying platform. In addition to this, Flutter also serves as a development platform for Google’s upcomingFuchsia operating system.
React Native
React Native is an open-source hybrid apps development framework created by Facebook in March 2015 for various mobile applications. React Native is a programming language that has been exclusively acknowledged as the most preferred solution for building multi-platform applications. Any iOS or Android application is built using JavaScript, Java, Objective-C++, Python, and Objective-C programming languages. With the help of native components and resources, the codings are generated easily which initiates better performance.
PWA
Progressive Web Apps is an open-source framework that develops applications in the same way as native apps. progressive web App was created in 2015 by Google that supported both Android and iOS app development. PWA includes web stacks in the form of HTML, JS, and CSS which consists of rich attributes and a unified user experience. Whenever someone is looking for an alternative application development platform, PWA perfectly fits for consideration.
PWA is an amazing data-saving app as one can work offline without an internet connection after having installed it on your system.PWA is an effortless web application as it offers W3C Specification using JSON-based manifest. The applications developed in this framework are budget-friendly and can be updated automatically.
Performance
![Flutter vs React Native vs PWA Performance]()
Ionic
Ionic uses the web platform in a way that it embraces open standards wherever possible. With Ionic app development, one can learn a lot about applying the tools and languages of the web with the help of a framework designed to deliver great performance on mobile, desktop, and the web. Unlike other frameworks that rely on a dynamic runtime approach, IOnicworks on Cordova relies on a Webview component that uses the HTML layout engine for rendering the HTML user interface.
Using Cordova enables the communication between the Javascript-native bridge and the WebView application and Native platform. This helps to allow the framework to access Native APIs and the device features such as the camera that uses the WebView.
Flutter
Flutter’s hot reload feature results in dynamic and faster app development. It is this feature that enables developers to easily experiment with a new interface or experience of the app. Developers can change any part of the code in real-time without having to actually restart the mobile app again.
This particular feature has made life easier for developers by In addition to this Flutter provides 60 frames per second performance on devices of 120Hz updates, thereby boosting the performance of the application. The Dart programming language that it uses improves performance as a part of the elimination of the need for JavaScript. Flutter utilizes rendering engines just like react native which helps it to perform efficiently.
React Native
React Native also provides the hot reload feature, boosting the development speed by reloading the application when the code changes. With the help of native components and resources, this framework is the perfect option to push for better performance. React Native also offers rich graphics and apps for mobile games. React native reduces the development cost big time by reusing the codes.
React Native’s building blocks compile directly to the native components. Which gives a consistent look and feel of a native app. The codes generated by React native to the native APIs are connected with the components of both the operating systems. Modules are interchangeable blocks that help to isolate the functions into several interchangeable blocks that upgrade the apps easily and allows the use of the same code for web APIs.
PWA
Progressive web Apps combines all the newest options to implement and deliver expertise that competes for native applications on mobile. Developing cross-platform and native mobile applications is easier in this framework, considering its hardware exhaustive and also budget-friendly. One of the major benefits of developing applications through PWA is that any applications developed through this framework comply with any devices and browsers.
The best benefit derived from Progressive Web Apps is that the users can get advantages of a website through an app. The applications developed has URLs that are indexed in Google which helps in Search Engine Optimization. Progressive web apps enable offline mode to applications in such a way that the applications are not dependent on the internet to work. PWAs use the container technology, once it is fully supported. These can produce containers with high performance and loads of benefits.
Installation
Ionic
The ionic framework requires a Node and an npm environment to get started with. However, a code editor is equally required. It's an added advantage of Visual Studio Code, a text editor made by Microsoft. is in place.
Flutter
To download Flutter it becomes mandatory to download the binary for a specific platform from Github. One might have to download the flutter.zip file and add it as a PATH variable, in order to install the same for macOS. In general, any flutter app is only capable to work on smartphones. It does not support web browsers. Hence it can be a lag when launching an app for big business.
React Native
Node Package Manager is usually required to install React native. It is a Javascript programming language and a default package manager for Node.js. For someone who has knowledge of Javascript, it should be easier for them to install React Native, else one will have to learn the node package manager in order to install it.
The NPM also connects the packages globally or locally. However, since it is made of Javascript it leaves a security gap and takes a lot of time to initialize even when the rendering is on hi-tech gadgets.
PWA
Unlike regular mobile applications, PWAs do not follow lengthy procedures. One can simply download an app that can be directly accessed without visiting the App Store or Google Play. Once it's done, it can be directly used via a desktop icon. This advantage of PWAs permits you to boost reliability and quality on devices that contribute high shareability.
Also Check out our article : Why To Choose Progressive Web App For Your Next Development
Ecosystem
Ionic
The UI components that are seen in all ionic apps use the Web Components standard, hence they run in any web browser and are also compatible with Javascript frameworks, like React, Vue, and angular. While working with Ionic one can customize to fit brand guidelines, this is possible as Ionic Ionic provides a library of over 100 UI components to work with.
One can also use Stencil which is a web component, in order to create your own library of custom web components, which runs in any ionic app, giving the user freedom to leverage the project. With the number of core packages that Flutter has to offer it becomes easy to catch up with the competition. Flutter offers various core packages that are available for you and is catching up to its competition. Flutter’s community support helps it to drive at breakneck speed to improve its performance. Using Flutter for developing any application is easier as one does not have to iOS and Android developers separately. It also facilitates resolving issues related to bugs efficiently.
Flutter
With the number of core packages that Flutter has to offer it becomes easy to catch up with the competition. Flutter offers various core packages that are available for you and is catching up to its competition.
Flutter’s community support helps it to drive at breakneck speed to improve its performance. Using Flutter for developing any application is easier as one does not have to iOS and Android developers separately. It also facilitates resolving issues related to bugs efficiently.
React Native
As mentioned earlier React Native supports hot reload features and provides varied packages for the native expertise. The
React Native App Development uses third-party libraries as it does not any UI components of its own. To build an app with a responsive UI design, with a responsive UI style, it's essential to induce the right sequence and React Native is the sole choice for obtaining it. However, the recurring updates, it leaves the developers confused.
PWA
Progressive Web Apps have a comparatively larger community as far as the web ecosystem is concerned. This helps in easily deploying and maintaining any native application for the respective app stores. It is less time-consuming and requires fewer efforts while developing mobile and web-based applications.
The implementation to deploy and maintain the app thus becomes easier. PWA comprises several web stacks in the form of HTML, JS, and CSS which hereafter offers rich attributes and exceptional user experience using native platforms.
Development
![Cost & Time]()
Ionic
With Ionic one can ship apps to app stores with a single shared codebase. Ionics adaptive styling enables the application to look better on every platform and device which overall makes the apps built to perform faster on the latest devices. Some of the best built-in practices are like accelerated transitions, touch-optimized gestures, pre-rendering, and AOT compiling.
Flutter
Flutter includes a hot reload feature that features default widgets to create the complete application efficiently and smoothly. When there are any changes in the code, flutter developers will preview the code in machine or hardware for iOS and Android without having the need to compile the app again.
Keeping a single codebase for both ios and android. Flutter provides simple adjustments to various platforms in order to make your UI look customizable.One of the most benefits of Flutter is, it offers ready-made custom widgets from the initial block to rock bottom level. It creates a wonderful program by utilizing the customized building blocks.
React Native
React Native creates a hierarchy of UI elements to create code for JavaScript to set elements for iOS and Android in order to create an in-depth native mobile application.
PWA
PWA is here to fulfill all of your needs that it operates. It, however, doesn't need separate versions for varied devices, however, solely one
progressive app is capable of achieving all of your goals with a significantly lower cost than a native web application.
#Top Companies Using these frameworks
Popular Apps Built Using Ionic
Sworkit
It is a cross-platform fitness app that is developed using the Ionic framework. Since it's developed with a single codebase, it works great on both Android and iOS platforms.
Diesel
The Diesel merchandising application is a cross-platform app that functions well on both Android and iOS platforms and offers the same level of UI experience and speed.
Marketwatch
This app breaks financial, stock market and business news to the customers. Marketwatch is one of the most complex applications developed on Ionic and it is free of charge application and also available both for Android and iOS platforms.
Popular Apps Built Using Flutter
Google Ads
It is an internet advertising platform that displays product listings, video content, temporary advertisements, and develops mobile applications using Flutter.
Alibaba
This international company. has achieved specialization in e-commerce using Flutter to develop glorious applications for android and ios.
Hookle
Hookle application uses Flutter to manage posts and more on social media accounts to expand across all the channels.
Popular Apps Built Using React Native
Instagram
This popular networking service owned by Facebook uses product infrastructure for navigation, translations, and core components that are ported to React native.
Bloomberg
This application revolves around news-related business and market analysis. It uses React Native that has extremely customized content for the users in a very efficient manner.Wix
The crash program at this Israeli software company is a self-learning course that helps you to style and learn something before writing product code to React Native.Walmart
Walmart is an international retail company headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. The corporation operates a series of pision stores, hypermarkets, and grocery stores where React Native is a third-party library in native apps.
Popular Apps Built Using PWA
Uber
American multinational ride-hailing corporation, Uber uses progressive net applications to create the most effective desktop experiences and improve app performance.
Spotify
Spotify offers a comprehensive platform for audio streaming services. With PWA it enables you to play audio offline through the usage of service employees.
Flipboard
Flipboard is the best platform of social network aggregation. Like Spotify, Flipboard additionally uses service employees to cache their stories from external sources by using PWA.
Conclusion:
Amongst the mobile app development frameworks, there can't be one winner as all of them provide robust features with native experiences that have successfully supported huge industry giants. It solely depends on users based ontheir requirements on what they want from a particular framework keeping in mind all the factors.
| Features | Flutter | React Native | PWA |
|---|
| Device Access | Yes | Yes | Partially |
|---|
| Language Stack | Dart | Typescript | Javascript |
|---|
| Performance | High/Fast | High/Medium | Moderate/Good |
|---|
| Offline Mode | Not Supported | No | Yes |
|---|
| Speed | Very Fast | Fast | Moderate |
|---|
| UI/UX | Excellent | Good | Good |
|---|
| Advanced Graphics | Supported | Supported | Not Supported |
|---|
| Code Complexity | High | Medium | Low |
|---|
| Cross-Platform Support | Yes | Yes | No |
|---|
| Security | Medium | Medium | Low |
|---|
| Code Portability | Good | Excellent | Good |
|---|
| User Experience | Excellent | Good | Good |
|---|
| Graphics | High | High | Low |
|---|
| Development Cost | Expensive | Moderate | Moderate |
|---|
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.8 |
|---|
Check out our article : 12 Best Mobile App Development Frameworks In 2020
