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Flutter and Swift are the two most demanding technologies that allow companies to address their iOS app development needs. Both of these have gained a lot of popularity in the iOS app market and have become the top choice for companies over the years. Flutter and Swift differ in their frameworks, features, and benefits which is why a lot of businesses get quite confused about which to choose for their iOS development needs. To help you out, we have curated this article on Flutter vs Swift that deals with the major points of the debate.
We will also talk about the differences between these frameworks in detail to help you choose the one that best caters to your needs. So, what are you waiting for? Jump right into this article to learn more about Flutter vs Swift and choose a framework that suits your project needs and requirements!
Flutter Vs Swift – A Brief Overview
In the iOS development industry, Flutter vs Swift has been an ongoing debate and has attracted a lot of attention. And, we have to say that it is rightfully so because both of these frameworks aid developers in the design and development of the industry’s top iOS applications. Before we jump directly into comparing both, let us have an overview of each and ensure that you have an idea about what these frameworks are all about.
Flutter In Short
Flutter, a cross-platform user interface tool kit, is popular due to its feature that allows developers to reuse code and develop applications that work on different operating systems. The best part about Flutter is that it is free as it is completely open-source. Moreover, it is built on Dart, a language that facilitates object-oriented programming. Since Flutter was created by the Google team, the technology includes a lot of great ideas and concepts.
The framework also consists of several features that are a breakthrough in the field of cross-platform app development. This is why Flutter app development is in demand and a number of companies are striving to build an experienced Flutter team. After all, Flutter includes the Skia graphics library and Material Design concepts that allow the development of mobile apps that include lightning-speed transitions.
Key Features Of Flutter
Some key features of Flutter that have helped it gain popularity in the iOS development field include:-
- Open-source with huge community support
- Allows hot reload
- Includes rich widgets
- Allows developers to maintain a single codebase
Swift In Short
Traditionally, Objective-C language was used for the development of iOS apps, but with Apple introducing Swift, developers have shifted their tech stack. Swift is said to be an improved version of Objective-C that offers developers better syntax, code readability, safety, and maintainability. Another great advantage is that Swift follows programming standards that are also followed by JavaScript, Kotlin, Ruby, and other modern languages.
Swift is perfect for companies looking to create applications filled with multiple functionalities that work specifically on iOS. Companies and businesses choose Swift to develop scalable apps that include complex architecture and offer multiple benefits. Moreover, the language has a clean syntax and allows developers to build functional iOS apps within less time and at a lesser cost.
Key Features Of Swift
Some key features of Swift that have had a major contribution to its popularity include:-
- Completely open-source
- Simple programming syntax
- Compatible with Objective-C
- Includes powerful generics
- Has a functional package manager
Flutter Vs Swift – Tabular Comparison
Now that we know about Flutter and Swift, let us look at a brief comparison of these platforms based on the same factors.
| Basis Of Comparison | Flutter | Swift |
| Type of Language | Static | Static |
| Open-Source | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-Platform Compatibility | Yes | No |
| Programming Language Concept | Object-Oriented | Object-Oriented and Functional |
| UI Builders | Flutter UI Toolkit | Swift UI |
| IDE In Use | Visual Code, IntelliJ, Android Studio | Xcode |
| UI Paradigm Used | Declarative | Declarative |
| Multi-Threading Concept | Async/Await with Combine | Futures with Streams |
| Accessibility | Allows accessibility for external tools | Offers in-built support for iOS apps |
| Development Time | Fast | A bit slower |
| Learning Curve | Easy as it is based on Dart | Easy due to the presence of detailed documentation |
| Reloading | Allows real-time changes | Allows changes in Real-time with hot reloading |
| Testing | Has an in-built testing support | Allows the usage of native testing tools |
| Application Size | Large | Flexible |
| Integration | Nevercode Tool | Jenkins Tool |
Flutter Vs Swift – Detailed Comparison
Now that we have had an overview of the differences between these frameworks, we will assess both Flutter and Swift based on the same standards. Here, we consider that the frameworks have been used to design and develop the same application.
Integration And Development
The app development process is one of the most crucial factors that we must consider when talking about Flutter and Swift. Both of these frameworks have a lot of differences that majorly contribute to the overall app development process. In Swift, the XCode server continuously delivers integration to ensure that an iOS app is developed and delivered. However, this means that the potential of scaling apps might be limited and the solution is not ideal. On the other hand, Flutter offers development tools that do not need any configuration. So, Flutter is better than Swift when talking about the integration and development of an iOS app.
Accessibility
Adding accessibility to your app can be really beneficial to users and will also help boost your overall reputation. Apple offers developers with accessibility tools that are built-in with their UI kit framework. The framework offers developers the Accessibility API but requires developers to offer accurate availability data to each iOS app component. On the other hand, Flutter offers developers accessibility information via its documentation and guides developers on how to boost accessibility. When talking about accessibility of iOS apps, Swift outperforms Flutter and takes the lead in the Flutter vs Swift debate.
Onboarding Process
Since Swift is dedicated to native iOS development, the onboarding process is less tedious and less time-consuming. On the other hand, with Flutter, developers have access to fewer resources for the development of native iOS apps. So, Swift wins again in the aspect of developer onboarding.
Performance
Performance is a crucial factor that we must consider when discussing the Flutter vs Swift debate. Since Swift is the default language of iOS apps, apps written in the programming language definitely perform faster. However, Flutter does not lag too much and functions identically to native iOS applications written in Swift.
Development Cost
Since both Flutter and Swift are open-source technologies, companies do not need to worry about additional development costs. However, we recommend spending a bit more and hiring experienced developers to develop fully functional apps and reduce your investment in the long run.
Development Time
Although some developers say that clean build development in Flutter is a bit slower than in Swift, it becomes quicker once the initial clean builds are done. Since Swift consistently performs faster than Flutter in both the initial build and later phases, we pronounce the technology as the winner in this aspect.
Application Size
Flutter apps include embedded app icons and a lot of components which is why they are often bigger in size. So, Flutter apps are heavier when talking about the size of the application.
Conclusion
We hope the above article helped you take a stance in the Flutter vs Swift debate to jump into iOS app development. If you are a tech beginner or have no coding experience, we recommend getting in touch with a top app development company and outsourcing your development needs. This will take the burden off your shoulders and allow you to relax while you get access to a fully functional app for your business.
