Flutter and Ionic have been popular names in the hybrid app development industry for a while now. Both frameworks have their pros and cons and are used by millions of developers around the world to build scalable applications. So, if you are confused about picking one of these options for your next project, let us help you.
Furthermore, in this blog, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of Flutter vs Ionic to compare them and eventually find out which technology stands on the top as the perfect option for hybrid app development. Let’s begin without any further ado!
Ionic
Max Lynch, Ben Sperry, and Adam Bradley of Drifty Co. released Ionic in 2013. The original version of this open-source framework used technologies like AngularJS and Apache Cordova to come into existence but now users are free to choose any UI framework or can use Ionic components with no UI frameworks at all. Some many pros and cons that accompany this one of the most popular alternatives for Flutter companies. Let’s have a look.
Pros of Ionic
Superfast development speed
The top advantage that influences developers to use Ionic is its ability to deliver a very fast development speed to create mobile applications. Users can use a single codebase and build apps that run on Android and iOS platforms as well.
A large community support
As Ionic has been existing for almost a decade now, the community that uses Ionic is massive and spread across the globe. These developers contribute to making Ionic a comfortable framework by contributing a range of resources regularly. Not only that, but Ionic developers also get access to a range of third-party libraries, tools, plugins, and pre-built app resources to use.
Uses popular technologies
The framework uses popular technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript which makes it an easy-to-use option. For new developers or developers looking for a quick app development alternative, Ionic is a perfect choice.
A simple framework to use
Ionic boosts the speed of development by being a very simple app development framework to use. It is easy to learn and users prefer it due to its simple-to-understand user interface. The UI of Ionic includes ready-to-go components as well to reduce the development time effectively. There are pre-built app features, UI elements, themes, typography, and more to use and its intuitive UI design makes it very easy to find these resources.
Combines native and web app properties
Ionic is known for building apps with native features and performance but for the scalability of web apps. Its apps are fast to load and very adjustable on various devices and operating systems. To run a web application, Ionic uses a Capacitator or a web browser.
Cons of Ionic
Not suitable for 3D games
If you are planning to build a 3D game, sadly Ionic is not a suitable framework for the same due to its limitations in creating graphically enriched app elements. The platform uses CSS which limits its ability to create 3D games.
Debugging takes time
An application built on Ionic can take more time to debug the unclear error messages that the framework delivers if there are errors. It just increases the overall app development time as unclear messages make it hard for developers to locate sources of glitches.
Lacks Hot Reloading
A convincing reason why a Flutter development company will be a better choice to build apps faster is the Hot Reloading feature. Hot Reloading makes it easy to review any app modifications in real time. It saves time by helping developers review the impact of every change they make in the app instantly.
Flutter
Well, we talked a lot about Ionic and now, it’s time to have a look at its most popular alternative- Flutter. Flutter is an SDK product created by the tech-giant Google and was first released in May 2017.
The open-source software development kit (SDK) uses Dart as its main programming language and helps developers build apps for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and more. Now, to find out where it stands in comparison to Ionic, let’s get to know the pros and cons of this framework a little bit better.
Pros of Flutter
The Hot Reload feature
The Hot Reload feature is simply the key point that makes Flutter a perfect choice over Ionic anytime if you want to reduce the app development time effectively. By reviewing all modifications made to the app in real-time, you are simply speeding up the app development time and building apps that will be ready to join platforms sooner. For UI modifications and bug fixing, this feature is a literal blessing.
An extensive library of resources
Flutter has a massive library of resources available for integration into new apps. These resources help customize UI, features, and more seamlessly. The best thing about Flutter is that it massively supports 3D graphics as well and has a huge range of pre-built resources to build apps with 3D elements faster.
Delivers native performance
Another top reason why Flutter companies could be the best option for your app is due to the ability of Flutter to build apps with native performance. These progressive web apps can load faster as Flutter helps developers get rid of any performance issues during the development process itself.
Shareable UI code and elements
With Flutter, the need to write platform-specific UI codes gets eliminated as it allows developers to write shareable UI codes and even share UI elements. Additionally, developers can even monitor and get rid of any consistency issues as well to save time and development efforts with Flutter.
Cons of Flutter
Less iOS compatibility
Flutter is a Google-owned product and offers better compatibility with Android devices. The platform, despite offering hybrid app development services, is better optimized for Android apps. So sometimes iOS users face a few drawbacks.
Less pre-built resources
Even though the Flutter community is huge, the framework still lacks resources that could fasten up the overall development process, especially compared to its more popular alternatives like Ionic.
You need to learn Dart
To become a Flutter developer, you have to learn an additional language Dart which is not very useful unless you are working on the Flutter framework. So, in a way, it’s an extra step you need to take to use Flutter for your apps.
Which one should you choose?
Well, as you can see, both Ionic and Flutter have their pros and cons. If you require to build a high-quality scalable application that could also use 3D elements, Flutter is a good option. Flutter is also great if you want to build a gaming app and want to keep the modern touch on the UI of your app. However, Flutter is going to be a heavy app and will demand more device specifications you must be aware of emerging trends for mobile app development.
Ionic, on the other hand, is a simple framework. It will let you build apps faster but its app will look dull compared to what Flutter can offer. However, for performance, fast development, and lightweight apps, Ionic is perfect. It is also a perfect choice if you do not want to learn an additional language such as Dart.
Ultimately, the choice is yours!
————————————————————————————————————————
Mustafa Al Mahmud is the founder and owner of Gizmo Concept, a leading technology news and review site. With over 10 years of experience in the tech industry, Mustafa started Gizmo Concept in 2017 to provide honest, in-depth analysis and insights on the latest gadgets, apps, and tech trends. A self-proclaimed “tech geek,” Mustafa first developed a passion for technology as a computer science student at the Hi-Tech Institute of Engineering & Technology. After graduation, he worked at several top tech firms leading product development teams and honing his skills as both an engineer and innovator. However, he always dreamed of having his own platform to share his perspectives on the tech world. With the launch of Gizmo Concept, Mustafa has built an engaged community of tech enthusiasts who look to the site for trusted, informed takes on everything from smartphones to smart homes. Under his leadership, Gizmo Concept has become a top destination for tech reviews, news, and expert commentary. Outside of running Gizmo Concept, Mustafa is an avid traveler who enjoys experiencing new cultures and tech scenes worldwide. He also serves as a tech advisor and angel investor for several startups. Mustafa holds a B.S. in Computer Science from HIET.