The type of technology stack you will choose for your cross-platform app development project will have a direct impact on the success of your product. So, there are certain programming languages and frameworks available in the market that can be used to improve the overall performance of the app and ensure a more seamless user experience.
Now, in the battle of cross-platform frameworks, two of the most popular names are “Kotlin Multiplatform” and “Flutter”. These both are popular choices for cross-platform app development and offer a unique set of features and advantages. Now you must be wondering if both of these are offering so many features than “Which one is better between Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter”? We are here to answer this!
In this blog, we will compare the strengths and weaknesses of both Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter app development services to help you decide which framework is the best fit for your next project.
What is Kotlin Multiplatform?
Kotlin Multiplatform is an SDK (Software Development Kit) that allows developers to share code between multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and the web, using the Kotlin programming language. It allows mobile app developers to write code once and reuse it on multiple platforms, which can save a lot of time and effort.
Although the concept of using Kotlin for mobile app development is new in the market, still it is used by many popular brands including Autodesk, Chalk, Yandex, and many more.
Pros of Kotlin Multiplatform
- The major advantage of this technology stack is that it allows sharing of code between the server and the client, which can be a big advantage for creating cross-platform apps that work offline as well.
- It can easily be integrated with existing codebases which can be a big time saver for those who have an existing codebase in Kotlin.
- It is backed by JetBrains (the company behind the Kotlin programming language) and a strong community of developers.
- Due to the use of a single code base for multiple platforms, it can be easier to maintain and scale the app.
- It allows the use of the same tools, libraries, and frameworks across multiple platforms which can ultimately make it easier to develop and maintain the code base.
- Programmers who are already familiar with Kotlin programming language can leverage the advantage of the knowledge they already own.
Cons of Kotlin Multiplatform
- Kotlin Multiplatform especially focuses on sharing non-UI code between platforms and because of this the UI code still needs to be written separately for each platform.
- It may not be suitable for every type of app and for projects that require complex UI or heavy use of native features.
- It is relatively a new platform and not mature as compared to other cross-platform development frameworks. So, it may take more effort to find solutions to problems and to get help from the community.
What is Flutter?
Launched in 2015, Flutter is an open-source SDK (Software Development Kit) created by Google. It can be used to create apps for different operating systems (such as Android and iOS) by using the same codebase.
Flutter comes with a lot of advantages which has made it an ideal cross-platform app development framework in no time.
Pros of Flutter
- The main advantage of Flutter app development is that it can be used to build apps for different platforms including Android and iOS by using the same codebase, which can save a lot of time and effort.
- Flutter has built-in support for accessibility, which allows developers to create apps that are accessible to users with some kind of disabilities.
- Flutter can also be used to build web and desktop applications, although this support is currently in beta version.
- It has a hot-reload feature that allows developers to see the changes they make in the code immediately. This can greatly speed up the mobile app development
- Flutter has a rich set of customizable widgets and animations which can be used to create visually stunning and innovative apps.
Cons of Flutter
- The app size can be large compared to native apps because it includes the Flutter engine, which could be a major issue for some users with limited storage.
- Some features of the Dart programming language are complex and difficult to acknowledge. That’s why it becomes difficult to understand its concepts for developers who are in the initial phase of their coding journey.
- Flutter apps may not run well on older versions with limited resources.
- Some advanced design elements and OS-specific features may not be easily integrated into a Flutter app, and mobile app developers may need to build custom solutions to achieve those features.
Head To Head Comparison Between Kotlin Multiplatform & Flutter
● Market Popularity
Both Flutter and Kotlin are free and open-source development tools. This is the reason these both are used for providing reliable app development services. But when we check Google Trends, Flutter is showing a steep rise in popularity when compared to Kotlin.
We have compared them on the basis of their GitHub presence, Kotlin has 3.5K stars and 415 forks while Flutter has 133K stars and 19.5K forks.
This is the reason why developers globally are showing interest in providing Flutter app development services & Kotlin Multiplatform development services.
● Programming Language
Kotlin Multiplatform uses Kotlin, a language that is similar to Java and is widely used for Android app development. On the other hand, Flutter uses Dart which is less popular but easy to learn for developers familiar with Java or C#.
● Code Sharing
Both Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter allow sharing of code between multiple platforms, but Kotlin Multiplatform focuses more on sharing non-UI code and Flutter focuses more on creating custom widgets and animations.
● Integration
Kotlin Multiplatform can be easily integrated with existing codebases while Flutter requires starting the code from scratch.
● Maturity
Kotlin Multiplatform is relatively new while Flutter has been around for a while and has a mature ecosystem. It has been adopted by a large number of companies and has an active community of developers.
● Learning Curve
If the learning curve is considered a factor of comparison in the Flutter vs Kotlin Multiplatform battle, then undeniably Kotlin Multiplatform wins. Want to know the reason? Well, it is interoperable with Java. Moreover, its syntax is simple to understand and shows many similarities with the existing languages such as Java and Swift for Android and iOS respectively.
On the other hand, Flutter app development uses “Dart” which is a new programming language in comparison with Java and the developers have to learn this from scratch before developing a project in Dart.
● Documentation & Community Support
In comparison with Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform is still new and in an experimental stage. Due to this, the documentation and community support of Kotlin Multiplatform will somewhat lag behind Flutter.
Although, it is expected that its documentation and community support will both improve with time.
Kotlin Multiplatform has a large community of developers but it is not as large as other cross-platform development frameworks. On the contrary, Flutter has a large and active community where developers can easily find resources and tutorials to help them get started.
● Scope In Backend Development
Both Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform can be used in backend development to an extent.
Flutter can be used to create a backend through the use of “Firebase” which is an effective BaaS (Backend-as-a-service) platform. On the other hand, Kotlin Multiplatform allows developers to write backend code.
However, it is important to note both Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform can be used for backend development services but they may not be the best choice for all use cases. This is because there are several other mature and well-established programming languages that can be used for building the backend of an app such as Node.js, Java, and GoLang.
Conclusion
Both Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter are giving tough competition to each other and are becoming more competitive with every release. So, in such a scenario it is advisable to consult with a mobile app development company to determine which one is better Kotlin or Flutter.
Lastly, we hope this blog has provided you with the necessary information and will help you in your next web app development project!
Author bio– Amara works with the editorial team of DianApps, a leading company offering website development company. Exploring the latest technologies, reading about them, and writing her views have always been her passion. She seeks new opportunities to express her opinions, explore technological advancements, and document the details. You can always find her enjoying books or articles about varied topics or jotting down her ideas in a notebook.
