Most mobile app development companies face the problem of choosing the correct framework. While choosing the right framework, you should go through a lot of criteria. The features, advantages, and disadvantages of the framework define the development efficiency.
Looking at current trends, Flutter and NativeScript are the best app development frameworks. But, which one is the better between them? In this article, you will have a detailed comparison between Flutter and NativeScript.
What Is NativeScript?
NativeScript, an open-source framework introduced by Progress in 2014, empowers developers to create native mobile applications using JavaScript or TypeScript. Unlike other frameworks relying on Cordova rendering, NativeScript boasts its own rendering engine, ensuring a truly native user experience and optimal performance. With its own rendering engine NativeScript app development is faster than traditional app development.
Developers can access nearly every native platform API directly, leveraging their web development skills to craft high-performance apps. With support for Angular, Vue.js, and plain JavaScript, NativeScript accelerates development with a plethora of templates and plugins.
Its key features, including seamless Angular and Vue.js integration, platform-independent UIs using XML, and code reusability, have made it a popular choice among both enterprises and developers.
What Is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source framework developed by Google. It uses Google's Dark programming language. Flutter helps developers build high-performing and powerful apps by reusing codes with a strong foundation of the basic code.
Its UI software development kit enables developers to create natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Flutter provides a rich set of pre-designed widgets and tools for building attractive and high-performing applications. Flutter apps compile native code for multiple platforms, which results in high performance and native-like user experiences.
Flutter can develop an efficient app for multiple platforms including iOS and Android. Flutter provides the best and perfect foundation that helps in complex coding. With the readily available basic codes, you can build the best app and focus on the most important coding tasks.
The Detailed Comparison Between Flutter and NativeScript
Now, let's have a comparison for complete clarity about the choice between Flutter and NativeScript.
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Programming Language and Ecosystem
NativeScript provides web developers with familiarity by supporting TypeScript and JavaScript. It interacts with the Vue.js, Angular, and standard JavaScript frameworks.
Since Flutter uses the Dart programming language, developers might need to pick up a new language. On the other hand, it offers a thorough ecosystem along with extensive documentation and tooling.
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User Interface (UI) Development
NativeScript employs XML-based UI development, providing flexibility and platform-independent UI design. Supports CSS for styling.
With the use of widgets and Flutter's proprietary UI framework, developers can construct highly flexible and responsive user interfaces (UIs) with this declarative approach.
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Performance and Rendering
NativeScript relies on native platform rendering, ensuring native-like performance. However, performance may vary based on the complexity of UI elements.
Flutter utilizes its Skia rendering engine to deliver consistently high performance across platforms, resulting in smooth animations and UI interactions.
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Access to Native APIs
You can get access to native APIs with NativeScript. It allows developers to leverage platform-specific features easily.
Flutter provides platform channels for access to native APIs. It facilitates platform-specific integration, however at a slightly more complex procedure.
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Community and Ecosystem
NativeScript boasts an active community and ecosystem with a variety of plugins and community-contributed resources. However, the ecosystem may not be as extensive as Flutter's.
Flutter benefits from strong support from Google and a rapidly growing community. It offers a rich ecosystem with numerous packages, plugins, and tooling for various use cases.
Use Cases
Flutter
- Flutter’s Skia rendering engine enhances performance and boosts the development process with fast rendering.
- Flutter offers an extensive collection of customizable widgets. This empowers developers to craft distinctive and adaptable user interfaces tailored precisely to their application's requirements.
- Flutter provides faster creation of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). It enables businesses to promptly validate their concepts and ideas.
- The cross-platform development ability of Flutter sets it apart. With a single codebase, you can develop code for different operating systems such as Android, iOS, and Windows. Its versatile and flexible codebase makes it suitable for hybrid app development.
- Flutter simplifies the implementation of intricate OS plugins, empowering developers to enhance their application's functionality with ease.
NativeScript
- NativeScript supports building applications that require extensive communication with servers. This includes apps that handle large amounts of data, interact with APIs, and perform real-time updates or synchronization with remote servers.
- NativeScript and Flutter are suitable for building enterprise-grade applications that meet the requirements of large organizations. This includes apps with complex functionalities, security considerations, scalability, and integration with existing enterprise systems or databases.
- Using web technologies like JavaScript and TypeScript, developers can develop native mobile apps with NativeScript. This implies that programmers can produce strong, native-like programs for Android and iOS by utilizing their current web development knowledge and tools.
Pros and Cons of Flutter
For a Flutter app development company, it is crucial to learn how to take maximum advantage of its features and how to smartly deal with the disadvantages. So, before making the decision to become a Flutter development company, let’s see what are the pros and cons of Flutter.
Pros
- Flexible development for hybrid apps.
- High-performance, Skia rendering engine.
- Single codebase for Android, iOS, web, and desktop.
- Rich customizable UI with Flutter widgets.
- Strong community support and extensive documentation.
- Access to native APIs via platform channels.
Cons
- Steeper learning curve due to the Dart programming language.
- Larger app size compared to native counterparts.
- Limited support for some native features.
- Less mature ecosystem compared to some competitors.
Pros and Cons of NativeScript
Pros
- Utilizes familiar web technologies like JavaScript and TypeScript.
- Provides native UI rendering for high performance.
- Offers access to native APIs for platform-specific features.
- Supports integration with Angular and Vue.js for efficient app development.
- Features an active community and growing ecosystem.
Cons
- Performance may vary based on the complexity of the application.
- XML-based UI may be less intuitive for some developers.
- Offers less extensive tooling and documentation compared to some alternatives.
- Limited support for certain advanced native features.
Make a Decision
Both Flutter and NativeScript are best for cross-platform development. If you want fast native app development then hire NativeScript developers and choose TypeScript and JavaScript for efficient app development.
Now, The Flutter is most suitable for the high-performance app. In terms of compatibility, performance, and branding, Flutter outperforms NativeScript. Hire Flutter app developers for highly efficient apps.
Conclusion
Both frameworks have advantages and disadvantages. With this guide, you can get complete clarity to choose the framework based on your development project requirements. Consider the speed, efficiency, features, and performance you want with the app development before deciding the framework.
