In order to create a cross-platform app in 2021, it is important to become familiar with the various technologies. Choosing the appropriate equipment for the job may save time and money and produce better outcomes, as we are personally aware. In this post, we’ll contrast two popular cross-platform frameworks, Flutter VS Ionic, looking at their functionality, components, and other features so you can pick the best platform for your upcoming app.

Ionic vs Flutter: A comparison

Drifty Co. originally made available the Ionic framework in 2013. It makes use of widely used web technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ionic is an open-source user interface toolkit that offers simple interaction with various free and open-source frameworks and libraries, including Apache Cordova and others. Ionic is regarded as simple to understand, and over time, the developer community has given it a lot of support. Ionic has been used to create apps for some well-known companies, including Sworkit, Diesel, MarketWatch, and others.

Flutter, a more recent technology than Ionic, was developed in 2017 by Google and is currently under Google’s management with the help of the ECMA standard. The fundamental function of Flutter is to act as a UI toolkit for creating attractive and quickly functioning cross-platform apps. It uses Java for Android, Swift and Objective C for iOS connectivity, and the Dart programming language to execute. Flutter is a relatively recent technology; thus, it doesn’t have as large of a support network as other cross-platform apps. However, as more developers start to recognize Flutter’s advantages, this is changing quickly.

Usability of the code

The confined environment in which Flutter “lived” has its own rules. Ionic was created utilizing open web standards and web technologies.

A single set of code written in Ionic and Flutter functions just as well on mobile devices as it does on desktop computers since both frameworks are cross-platform technologies. Still, Flutter has certain restrictions when it comes to online deployment; therefore Ionic could be a better option if your main objective is to create PWAs (Progressive Web Apps). On the other side, because they don’t allow code uglification, previous versions of Ionic have security problems. However, Flutter is thought to make the process of sharing code between platforms faster and easier, making it a superior option for creating MVPs.

Testing

Flutter includes Hot Reload, a feature that refreshes the app immediately after you make a code change. This widens the scope for experimentation and expedites the process of upgrading the app and correcting errors.

A functionality like Hot Reload is not available in the Ionic framework. Any modification necessitates a complete app refresh, which might impede the development process.

 

Performance and user experience

The native UI components of the platform the app is operating on are not used by Ionic or Flutter. Users won’t be able to see the difference because both of these frameworks automatically change their UI components to reflect the visual aesthetics of the Android and iOS platforms.

However, Flutter triumphs with a higher FPS and fewer missed frames when it comes to complex animation and stunning aesthetics. Flutter has its own rendering engine and does not require a “communication bridge” between its modules because native components are already available by default.

The learning curve

Ionic’s foundation in web technologies makes it simple for programmers who are already familiar with JavaScript and CSS to begin developing apps on the platform. Additionally, studying Ionic is equivalent to learning how to create web apps in general, which can be useful anyhow if you’re new to coding.

The Dart language, which is only used in the Flutter framework, must first be learned, which takes some commitment. Learning Dart shouldn’t be a difficult effort, though, if a developer is already familiar with JavaScript or works with Ionic or React Native. It also gives them access to the Flutter framework’s capabilities.

Choosing what to use for your project

Select Ionic if:

– Your main objective is a PWA (web-delivered app);

– You don’t have time to study a new language because you already know JavaScript.

Select Flutter if

– You require a high-performing mobile and desktop app;

– Your app will have images and/or animation.

It’s also crucial to note that both frameworks’ performance depends heavily on the quality of the code. So, pick your developer carefully.

In conclusion

The ionic framework supports popular web technologies. Its apps run well on computers, mobile devices, and the web. A more recent technology called Flutter operates in a closed ecosystem with its own development language. Although at first, it can appear to be a restriction, it really offers better performance and other advantages.