When Is Developing a Mobile App with Flutter the Right Choice?
Flutter makes it possible to develop iOS and Android apps with a single codebase. But is it suitable for every project? The cases where it is strong and the cases that call for caution.
Alp1 min readUpdated:
The first technical question of businesses that decide to develop a mobile app is usually this: should we develop separately for iOS and Android, or with a single codebase? Flutter is one of the most mature options for the second approach.
Cases where Flutter is strong
- Launching on two platforms at the same time: One team, one codebase and simultaneous releases.
- Custom-designed interfaces: Brand-specific, animated and consistent screens.
- Business apps: Field and operations apps that are heavy on forms, lists, maps and reporting.
- MVP and rapid validation: The need to test the idea on two platforms in a short time.
Cases that call for caution
Native development may be more suitable for apps that depend heavily on device hardware, that need to use the platform's newest features from day one or that target a very small install size. Even in these cases, Flutter and native modules can often be used together.
The maintenance side
Releasing the app is only the beginning of the work. Operating systems are updated every year, and the app has to adapt to these updates. A single codebase noticeably reduces this maintenance burden.
Conclusion
For the majority of business apps, customer apps and startup products, Flutter is a strong choice in terms of the balance of time, cost and quality. The right decision is made by looking at what the app will do.