Flutter, React Native or native: which should you choose?
A plain-language comparison of the main ways to build a mobile app and when each one makes sense.
EvoAstra team14 Nov 2026 · 3 min read- Cross-platform frameworks suit most business apps
- Native makes sense for heavy device features or top performance
- The team's experience matters as much as the technology
When you commission an app, you will hear about Flutter, React Native, Kotlin and Swift. You do not need to become an expert, but understanding the trade-offs helps you ask the right questions.
- One codebase for Android and iOS
- Faster to build
- Lower cost
- Best performance
- Full device access
- Two codebases to maintain
Flutter
Google's framework draws its own interface, so apps look the same on every phone and feel smooth. It is a strong choice for custom designs and apps that must look identical on Android and iOS.
React Native
Meta's framework uses JavaScript and native components. Teams with web experience often move quickly with it, and it has a large ecosystem of libraries.
Native: Kotlin and Swift
Building separately for Android in Kotlin and iOS in Swift gives the best access to device features and the highest performance, at the cost of two codebases.
- 1List device features
- 2Check design needs
- 3Consider budget
- 4Ask about team experience
- 5Choose
When native is worth it
- Heavy use of camera, Bluetooth, background location or sensors
- Demanding graphics or very large data processing on the phone
- An app that must adopt new platform features on day one
Our usual advice
For marketplaces, booking apps, stores, internal tools and most consumer apps, a cross-platform framework gives the best balance of cost, speed and quality. We recommend one after understanding your features.
Ask any agency which framework they would use and why, and to show live apps they built with it.
Tell us what you’re working on. Free estimate within 24 hours, NDA on request.