React Native vs Flutter vs KMP
The three-way comparison nobody else is writing — including Kotlin Multiplatform
Quick Recommendation
React Native
Our RecommendationChoose if you need:
- ✓Your team knows JavaScript/TypeScript and React
- ✓You want the largest ecosystem and hiring pool
- ✓Code sharing with React web is valuable
- ✓You prefer native platform UI components
Flutter
Best Custom UIChoose if you need:
- ✓Pixel-perfect custom UI is the top priority
- ✓You want one framework for mobile, web, and desktop
- ✓Your team is comfortable learning Dart
- ✓Custom animations and graphics are central to the app
Kotlin Multiplatform
Best for Native UI TeamsChoose if you need:
- ✓You want to share only business logic, not UI
- ✓Your Android team already uses Kotlin
- ✓Native UI on each platform (SwiftUI + Compose) is non-negotiable
- ✓You are incrementally adding shared code to existing native apps
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | React Native | Flutter | Kotlin Multiplatform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript/JavaScript | Dart | Kotlin |
| UI Approach | Native components | Custom rendering engine | Native UI per platform |
| Code Sharing | UI + logic (90%+) | UI + logic (95%+) | Logic only (50-70%) |
| Performance | Near-native (JSI) | Near-native (AOT) | Truly native |
| Ecosystem Size | Very large (npm) | Large (pub.dev) | Growing (Maven/Gradle) |
| Hiring Difficulty | Easy (JS devs) | Moderate (Dart) | Moderate (Kotlin + Swift needed) |
| Maturity | Mature (2015, Meta) | Mature (2018, Google) | Stable (2024, JetBrains) |
| Best For | Business apps, startups | Design-heavy apps | Native-first teams |
Our Verdict
React Native remains our top recommendation for most projects due to the JavaScript ecosystem breadth, large hiring pool, and the New Architecture's strong performance. Flutter is the right choice for design-centric apps requiring pixel-perfect consistency. Kotlin Multiplatform is the most interesting newcomer -- it is ideal for teams with existing native apps who want to gradually share business logic without adopting a cross-platform UI framework. KMP requires maintaining two UI codebases (SwiftUI + Compose), which increases cost but delivers truly native experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need help choosing between React Native and Flutter?
Our engineers have production experience with both tools. We can help you make the right choice based on your specific requirements, timeline, and budget.