Kotlin vs Flutter: Which One Is Better?

Quick, Easy, and less money can hit any business. Web development projects are not different from this trend. When you build something, an app, or a website, you want this to reach as many windows as possible within the shortest time. So, here is the app development scenario. A developer can choose any way to design his app. There are multiple ways to go with…

• Native App Development
• Hybrid App Development
• Cross-App Development

Each of the ways can pave your app development experience and outcomes on a different note. You have to pick the best practice for your app development.

Native App development is built for a specific operating system and gives you the best performance for it. For example, you build the app specifically for IOS or Android. The users enjoy a seamless experience tied with security while using the apps that are built-in native apps. But for a developer, the native app development is way more complicated, a long time process, and of course costly. A developer can not reuse the codes for multiple platforms. To reuse the codes, he needs to adopt the Higher Order Components(HOC). For example, WhatsApp, Magento, PokemonGo, Twitter, Spotify, etc are examples of native apps. Languages used are C+, C#, python, etc.

What about hybrid app development? It is the modification of native elements with web-developing technologies. When the native development sets the bench only for a single operating system, the hybrid path enables you to run the codes for different platforms. In a hybrid, you use CSS, JavaScript, and HTML to build the user interface and then tag with Cordova or Ionic to build the device features. However, hybrid app developments can offer you multiple device access, but it needs knowledge of the developer and time to build a great one.

Finally, the trending cup in web development is cross-platform web development. Around 60% of users are now on the web with mobiles. The Cross app development is popular for grabbing more audience and marketing. With this, the developer can reuse the code and share it. This makes the development process quicker and more enjoyable. However, the audience experience is also elevated. It sometimes provides the native touch to the apps. Easy maintenance because the codes will adapt automatically in the platforms with the changes. For repetitive works like data storage, and API calls, the single codebase is enough. Flutter, Native Script, React Native, etc are the languages used in cross-app development.

What is Kotlin?

A popular Android app development language is Kotlin, and it is incorporated with Java. Being a programming language, it is amazing, and it can collaborate with other programming languages as well. So why are we talking about the Kotlin language? Because it offers multi platform development as well. And it has a huge popularity among the developers. It’s an object-oriented language. In 2011, the Kotlin language started its journey and was developed by JetBrains. So, the programming language is a static codebase, easy to understand. Hence, Kotlin Multiplatform software development is initiated by Google. That assists the developers in building the apps for Android and IOS as well as for the web by sharing the data, codes, and logic for these platforms. The Kotlin multi platform offers safe and concise coding. Also, the Kotlin codes are easy to understand for the developers, it has fewer bugs, and the writing time is less.

Apps That Are Built With Kotlin

Around 80% of the programming today is made with the Kotlin programming language. Let’s see some of the trending and useful apps that are made up of Kotlin multiplatform.

Netflix

One of the popular and leading video streaming services with more than 238.39 subscribers worldwide is built with Kotlin. Kotlin is famous for creating compatible backend services. Netflix also chose Kotlin to manage the multiple configurations and deal with devices. Earlier, Netflix used the Hendrix logic, but later on, it upgraded the UI and switched to Kotlin.

Memrise

This language learning app is also developed with Kotlin codebase. Users can learn in a fun environment and have access to upload their self-content in the app. To make such a connective app, Kotlin is used to build Memrise because this platform has a shared codebase that also keeps the other functions untouched.

CashApp

Wonderful mobile app to transfer, receive and manage your money. And this app uses the Kotlin multi platform to step ahead. The Kotlin APIs save their code writing time and provide a jargon-free experience.

PlanGrid

A commercial app that enables its users to edit, create, and overview construction-related documents such as building layouts, site management, etc. It shares the codebase and facilitates the performance in every platform, IOS, android windows.

Advantages of Kotlin

• Start with less code: In Kotlin multiplatform, the developer needs to use the minimum code to start. That leads to fewer bugs and ultimately saves your time.
• Great Functional Kotlin APIs: You can’t ignore the great feature collection of Kotlin, and it helps you deal with many collections.
• Early fixing: The Kotlin codebase is shorter and more readable. Hence it allows the developer to fix the errors fast, and it allows you to avoid any code mistakes or major code errors while program execution. 
• Less loading time: If you have a lazy loading time which means less loading time, your necessary application content will be on time, and it reduces the slow pace of your application. Higher loading time leads to poor performance.
• Identifying Null references: With Kotlin, a developer can understand which are null references and which are not. Thus it helps the fewer expectations of the null pointer in run time.
• Compatible with Java: The best part of the language is the tuning with Java. The extension functions of this language enable it to be object-oriented. Hence, you can convert your code base from Java to Kotlin very easily.
• Easy for mobile development: The Kotlin language and multiplatform are much more convenient for mobile app development, and they are server friendly. You can switch from one technology to another. 

Disadvantages of Kotlin

• Slow speed: We know how this is happening in the Kotlin language, but it still needs some polishing. It is a bit slow, and the completion could be more active.
• The learning curve is steeper: Developers who want to learn the Kotlin language might find it a bit difficult as it’s a new programming language. And the Kotlin community might be smaller. 
• Less mature: If programmers are stuck with a code problem, they can’t fix it easily, as the Kotlin programming language is not that mature. Again, it needs Java for technical progress.

Flutter Overview

One can build mobile apps with a single codebase, Flutter, but have the essence of native app development. The Flutter cross-platform is made from the DART programming language. Google has powered this Flutter UI toolkit, and it is open source. Flutter is a brand new framework for developers, but for ease of use and consistency, a developer loves to build applications with this. The first Flutter alpha version came out in 2017, and after that release, the updated versions. Why is Flutter so flattered? Because with one common code, you can develop Google, Mac, Android, Linux, and all website applications. The extensive toolkit, flutter feature class, and responsiveness with asynchronous programming help to build the best applications. With fewer resources, you can easily build your intended app.

Apps made with Flutter

Google Ads

Google Ads are wonderful for product/service marketing campaigns. The application of Google Ads is made with Flutter. This easy cross-platform app framework helps the users to maintain their analysis of the campaigns very easily.

Xianyu

This e-commerce platform is also made with Flutter. Xianyu is made by Alibaba. For all the users-seller or buyers, the application is easy to use and trustworthy. You can run it on Android or IOS easily.

PostMouse

For updated Insta stories, people use the templates of PostMouse. Offers sharing photos, easy edits, and making videos that are on trend. Using cross-platform like Flutter to build this made the App easy to access and maneuver.

Advantages of Flutter

• Open-source codes: Flutter is an open-source platform. So, developers don’t need to pay high and use the code bucket. They can easily find the dart and flutter code and then use it for the application. 
• Easy installation and use: When you decide to develop your app with Flutter, you can install it quickly and then start working. As mentioned, it’s free; developers don’t need to worry. However, though it’s a new platform, developers can learn quickly because it has similarities with the native languages. 
• Ensuring Hot Reload: What if you experience seeing real-time changes? Yes, Flutter enables you to see the changes you make in real-time. This is termed a hot reload. Developers who make changes to the back end can readily see the changes in the front end.  
• Less but quick in time: The development process with Flutter is quick. With hot reloads, you see the change in the app and correct it the way you want. The completion time is less. So, a developer loves this cross-platform development.
• Feels like Native: Fewer bugs and quick machine code help the developer to praise Flutter just right after the native App development. 
• Great Graphical Interface: Flutter helps to automate the pictures and fonts like native applications in the logical work.

Disadvantages of Flutter

• Limited Community: Unlike the other programming languages, Flutter has a small community. As a result, the new developers will find it a struggle. The limited adaptation and learning scope make Flutter a bit hard.
• Weighty Apps: Those developers who are always in the trend of making small apps may not switch to Flutter. No doubt, Flutter is a speedy, interactive platform. But it takes up a lot of space in Android and ios. So, users love to download apps that take up less space. It is one of the drawbacks of the Flutter. Improvements are happening with the recent release of Flutter 2.

Kotlin Vs. Flutter- Final Comparison

No doubt, both platforms are now on the list of upcoming developers. Companies with big or small sets up are now more oriented to building user-friendly apps simultaneously, with editable options for the developers. We know cross-platforms are popular for building mobile apps today. Flutter is one of the frameworks. If you are a company that has a small start-up and low budget can easily choose Flutter and have a “one-stop code base” for multiple developments. Also, hiring developers is easy. On the other hand, Kotlin has compatibility with Java language, and it is easy to use in any pre-existing Java code base. But you need more money and time. Experienced developers are needed to work with Kotlin, so hiring is a bit tough. In the case of testing support, Flutter provides in-built widgets and an app testing system, and Kotlin provides vast unit testing functionality for Android app developments. Where Flutter is more of a platform for Android and ios, but Kotlin also provides a native experience. Again, Flutter has a huge range of tool integration like- VS code, Android Studio Code, Codemagic, Appetize, Adobe Plugins, and Supernova. Kotlin supports standard build tools like Gradle, Ant, and Maven.

Let’s Develop

So, now that you know in detail about both frameworks, you can find the best for you. Is it Flutter or Kotlin? Both are powered by Google and have many pros to offer developers and companies. Kotlin and Flutter are easy to handle. In 2023, Flutter is one step ahead of Kotlin due to its ease of mobile app development. Both frameworks provide the users to design and customize the codes. Developers can adopt it easily. So, yes, what’s the best next option for you to develop with?