React Native vs Flutter in 2025

After building apps with both frameworks, I want to share my honest perspective on choosing between React Native and Flutter for your next mobile project.

My Experience

I've used React Native extensively for Bubbo, a movie recommendation app available on both iOS and Android. I've also experimented with Flutter for smaller projects. Here's what I've learned.

React Native Strengths

JavaScript/TypeScript Ecosystem

If your team already knows React, the learning curve is minimal:

function MovieCard({ movie }: { movie: Movie }) {
  return (
    <View style={styles.card}>
      <Image source={{ uri: movie.poster }} style={styles.poster} />
      <Text style={styles.title}>{movie.title}</Text>
    </View>
  );
}

Expo Ecosystem

Expo has matured significantly. Features like:

• EAS Build - Cloud builds without local setup
• Expo Router - File-based routing
• Over-the-air updates - Push updates without app store review

Hot Reloading

The development experience is excellent. Changes appear instantly.

Flutter Strengths

Performance

Flutter compiles to native code, often resulting in smoother animations:

class MovieCard extends StatelessWidget {
  final Movie movie;
  
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Card(
      child: Column(
        children: [
          Image.network(movie.poster),
          Text(movie.title),
        ],
      ),
    );
  }
}

Consistent UI

"Write once, look the same everywhere" - Flutter's rendering engine ensures pixel-perfect consistency.

Growing Ecosystem

Dart and Flutter have improved significantly, with strong tooling and package availability.

My Recommendation

Choose React Native if:

• Your team knows JavaScript/React
• You need to share code with a web app
• You want extensive npm ecosystem access
• You prefer the Expo development experience

Choose Flutter if:

• You're starting fresh with no framework preference
• Performance-critical animations are essential
• You want complete UI consistency across platforms
• You're building for desktop as well

The Bubbo Experience

For Bubbo, React Native with Expo was the right choice because:

1. Shared TypeScript codebase with our web platform
2. Faster iteration with OTA updates
3. Team already experienced with React
4. Excellent Firebase integration

Conclusion

There's no wrong choice. Both frameworks are production-ready and capable of building excellent apps. Your team's expertise and project requirements should guide your decision.

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Check out Bubbo on the App Store to see React Native in action!