Kotlin Multiplatform vs. Flutter: Making the Right Choice for Your App

Cross-platform development has become incredibly popular lately for the ability to optimize the development process, save time and resources and deliver the app to the market faster.

Currently, the most prominent contenders among cross-platform app development frameworks are Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, so deciding between them is a tough decision for developers.

In this article, we will explore the peculiarities of Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter, helping you to make a smart choice for your upcoming app development project.

What Is Flutter?

Flutter, made by Google, is an open-source UI toolkit for creating native-like apps on mobile, web, and desktop.

It is built on the Dart programming language and has a wide range of pre-designed widgets that allow developers to create visually impressive and fast applications.

One of the prominent capabilities of Flutter development is its “hot reload” feature, which allows developers to immediately view and test adjustments made to the code during the development process.

Why Flutter Stands Out for Cross-Platform Development: Key Benefits

Flutter is a standout cross-platform development framework with numerous advantages. These benefits make it an appealing choice for developers aiming to create apps for several platforms using a single codebase.

• Single Codebase for Several Platforms: One of Flutter’s most prominent benefits is its ability to consolidate development efforts by employing a single codebase for multiple platforms. This feature saves development time and minimizes code redundancy.
• Rich and Customizable Widgets: Flutter boasts a diverse selection of customizable widgets that help create consistent and visually appealing user interfaces across various platforms.
• Swift Development with Hot Reload: The “hot reload” capability in Flutter speeds up the development process. Developers can adjust code and see the results right away without recompiling the entire application.
• High-Performance Applications: Flutter’s applications are renowned for their superior performance, primarily because they are based on natively compiled code. This capability guarantees that your app always runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Large Community and Resources: The Flutter community is thriving, offering plenty of help, libraries, and resources for developers. This active ecosystem is a valuable asset when dealing with demanding development tasks.

Disadvantages of Using Flutter

While Flutter is a powerful and versatile framework for cross-platform app development, it’s essential to be aware of its disadvantages and potential limitations. Here are some of the key drawbacks of using Flutter:

• Learning Curve for Dart: Learning Dart, the programming language associated with Flutter, may pose a learning curve for developers who are more accustomed to other languages like JavaScript or Python.
• App Size: Flutter applications tend to have a larger file size compared to their native equivalents. This can negatively impact download times and device storage.
• Performance Limitations: While Flutter offers excellent performance for most applications, it may not be as performant as native development, especially for apps that require high computational power or complex animations. For graphics-intensive or game applications, native development might be a better choice.

What Is Kotlin Cross-Platform Development Solution?

Kotlin Multiplatform, often shortened to KMP, is a cross-platform development solution made by JetBrains.

It allows developers to write shared business logic and code in Kotlin for multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, web, and more.

The key idea behind Kotlin Multiplatform lies in code reuse. It allows developers to share a substantial portion of their codebase across different platforms while having the flexibility to write platform-specific code when necessary.

Why Kotlin Multiplatform Stands Out for Cross-Platform Development: Key Benefits

Kotlin Multiplatform is earning popularity as a robust solution for cross-platform app development. It stands out for many benefits, making it a great option for developers and businesses.

Here are the primary advantages of using Kotlin cross-platform capabilities:

• Shared Codebase: Kotlin Multiplatform’s main benefit is its ability to share business logic across various platforms. This capability reduces code duplication, simplifies maintenance, and provides consistency in your app’s core functionality.
• Native Performance: Kotlin Multiplatform mobile apps achieve performance similar to fully native apps by utilizing platform-specific UI components. This feature is especially important for resource-intensive applications.
• Access to Native APIs: Developers using Kotlin Multiplatform can easily tap into platform-specific features and APIs. This means you can use the unique capabilities of each platform while keeping your core logic shared.
• Interoperability: Kotlin has excellent interoperability with both Java (for Android) and Swift (for iOS). This compatibility simplifies the integration of Kotlin Multiplatform into existing codebases and provides a flawless transition for developers.
• Strongly Typed Language: Kotlin is a statically typed language, so it can catch many errors during compilation instead of during runtime. In simpler terms, this helps improve code quality and lowers the chances of bugs in your app.

Disadvantages of Using Kotlin Multiplatform

As with Flutter, it’s important to be aware of the limitations and potential shortcomings of Kotlin development. Here are some of the drawbacks of using Kotlin Multiplatform:

• Complex Setup: Setting up Kotlin Multiplatform can be more involved compared to using a framework like Flutter. It requires wise consideration of platform-specific requirements and dependencies.
• Platform-Specific UI Code: While Kotlin Multiplatform allows you to share business logic, you still need to write platform-specific user interface code. This can be a drawback if you want a truly unified UI across platforms.
• Smaller Community: Kotlin Multiplatform has a smaller community compared to Flutter. This could affect the availability of libraries, third-party tools, and the responsiveness of community support.

Flutter vs. Kotlin: How to Decide Between the Two?

Deciding between Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter for your cross-platform app development project is an important decision, and it largely depends on your project’s specific demands, your team’s skills, and your development priorities.

To help you make the right decision, let’s examine some key factors to consider when deciding between these two frameworks:

1. Language Preference and Expertise:
   • If your team is already proficient in Kotlin, Kotlin Multiplatform may be a more natural choice, as it allows you to use your existing Kotlin skills.
   • On the other hand, if your team has experience with Dart or is open to learning it, Flutter could be a more viable option.
2. User Interface (UI) Complexity:
   • Consider the complexity of your app’s UI. Flutter has a large set of pre-designed widgets for creating complex and customizable UIs.
   • Kotlin Multiplatform does not offer a complete UI framework like Flutter. If your UI requires a high level of customization, you might need to rely more on platform-specific components and designs.
3. Platform Support:
   • Determine which platforms you need to target. Flutter primarily focuses on Android and iOS but also gets along well with web and desktop.
   • Kotlin Multiplatform supports a broader range of platforms, including Android, iOS, web, macOS, and more. Choose the framework that aligns with your platform strategy.
4. Community and Ecosystem:
   • Assess the availability of libraries, instruments, and community support for your framework. Flutter has a large community and a rich network of plugins and packages.
   • Kotlin Multiplatform’s ecosystem is growing but may not be as extensive as Flutter’s, especially in terms of third-party libraries and plugins.
5. Development Speed and Efficiency:
   • Consider your project’s timeline and development efficiency. Flutter’s hot reload feature promotes rapid development and iterative testing, which can be a significant time saver.
   • Kotlin Multiplatform’s code-sharing capabilities can also improve development speed, but the development experience might differ compared to Flutter’s hot reload.

Conclusion

Both Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter are robust instruments for cross-platform mobile app development.

Nonetheless, both options have their pros and cons. Therefore, the right choice should depend on your project’s needs, your team’s skills, and performance criteria.

By wisely considering these factors, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your development objectives and guarantees the creation of a thriving cross-platform application.

Are you prepared to turn your app concept into reality using Kotlin or Flutter? Contact SCAND for expert development services today! Let’s get started on your project.