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Flutter and Swift are popular technologies that have generated heated debates in recent times. However, the demand for these technologies by organisations and mobile app developers is rapidly increasing.
Why would a company select either of these two for their iOS app development and what are the essential details that differentiate these two giant technologies?
Firstly, before you can determine the best option to go for, you need to understand the core differences between these two technologies: Flutter and Swift.
Flutter is an open-source framework by Google which is a multi-platform software development tool for flutter app development services while Swift is a native mobile app development language built by Apple for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS app development.
According to Statista, the total revenue in the app market is estimated to be at a market volume of $755.50bn by 2027. As the app market continues to thrive, the demand for iOS application development services will increase. Therefore, both technologies will continue to thrive as well.
Although they are both efficient, there are some distinct features that set them apart.
Differences between Flutter and Swift
Flutter is a multi-platform open-source UI designed by Google while Swift as the name implies is a fast, intelligent and robust programming language designed by Apple for iOS app development services and swift development services.
Here is a tabular representation of some of their key features and differences.
| Parameters | Flutter | Swift |
| Language Type | Static | Static |
| Open-Source | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-platform compatibility | Yes | No |
| Type of Programing Language | Object-Oriented | Object-Oriented and possesses Functional Elements |
| UI Builders | Flutter UI Toolkit | Swift UI |
| Cost | Less expensive | Expensive |
| IDE utilized | Visual Code,
Android Studio, IntelliJ |
XCode |
| Accessibility | Supports accessibility for external tools | In-built accessibility support for iOS apps. |
| Development Time | Swift | Relatively slow |
| Learning Curve | Easy because of the Dart properties | Much easier because of its detailed documentation |
| Reloading | Real-time changes are allowed | Has swift Reloading Feature that allows Real-time Changes |
| Testing | Has inbuilt testing support | Native Tools like XC Test which makes testing possible |
| Application size | Robust | Flexible |
| Integration | Never Code Tool | Jenkins Tool |
Comparison between Flutter and Swift
Integration and Development
Flutter has a core feature, which Swift lacks and that is its multi-platform compatibility. It also has several elements and packages which can be integrated into applications.
On the other hand, Swift also has multiple elements which can be used to develop proficient iOS apps but it is not multi-platform compatible.
Development Speed
Swift is rapid, enhanced and fast-paced just as the name implies. Developers who have used Swift to build iOS apps from scratch attest to its speed and agility. In addition, Swift makes the app development process seamless because of its XCode feature.
The XCode features makes it easy to calculate the entire time it takes to complete the app development process. The Swift interface is user-friendly and it offers a variety of System APIs which further accelerates the speed of the development time.
Similarly, Flutter’s Hot Reloaded feature reduces the amount of time it takes to build an iOS application. Apart from that, developers don’t have to be overly concerned with the fine details of the UI elements because Flutter does this automatically. Moreover, Flutter is backed by several widget options which include libraries, navigate and testing tools which speed up the coding process. In comparison to Swift, Flutter requires a single codebase for all platforms, enabling cross-platform app development within a short time frame.
Application Size
When it comes to size, once again, Flutter and Swift differ. When developers create a native iOS app using XCode, the app artefact obtained from the XCode-derived data is approximately the size of 25 MB.
For Flutter apps, the build artefacts are generated in the build/iOS/Debug-iPhone simulator directory. The file size of this locally generated app is about 52.4 MB which is slightly heavier than the native one. Based on this comparison, it is evident that Flutter apps are heavier in size.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Swift is the best option to go for. Being a native programming language enables it to offer an optimum level of speed, efficiency, and seamlessness. It makes the app development process quick, and smooth and it helps developers to deliver dependable mobile applications.
However, this doesn’t mean that Flutter is lagging behind. Flutter can also be trusted to help developers deliver mobile applications on time as it utilizes a Dart garbage collector which can be compiled ahead of time. Hence, it enables quick communication with the device. If you don’t seek much from your iOS application, then Flutter will do just fine and perform as well as Swift.
Accessibility
Accessibility is focused on improving the user experience and interface (UI/UX) for users with disabilities. When designing an IOS application, it is important to make the UI accessible to users who may not be able to access the device due to certain disabilities.
Swift has inbuilt accessibility features within its UIKit framework, however, to ensure that the UI elements are accessible to everyone, developers have to input the appropriate accessibility information when using the UIAccessibility Protocol. In a nutshell, by default, Swift has an accessibility feature.
On the contrary, Flutter, by default does not have native accessibility features integrated into it but it can be modified using the XCode’s Accessibility Inspector feature. Overall, Swift has an edge over Flutter when it comes to accessibility.
Stability
Both technologies, Swift and Flutter are relatively new in the market but they have gained stability and have become popular amongst developers and product users. Although Flutter isn’t as reliable as Swift, it is being continually improved by Google’s dedicated team to match Swift’s dexterity.
On the other hand, being a native language for iOS app development, Swift is more dependable, stable, and has enhanced reliability than Flutter. So this is another area in which Swift has an edge over Flutter.
Platform Maturity
When it comes to timelines, Flutter was introduced into the market in May 2017 while Swift has been around since June 2014. Therefore, Flutter is relatively newer compared to Swift.
However, Flutter shouldn’t be overlooked because of its newness. Although it is young, it isn’t immature and it is rapidly evolving and gaining popularity. Flutter’s growth is impressive and its strength lies in its robust ecosystem of third-party packages and plugins which allows developers to have the flexibility to improve their web applications with added functionalities.
In comparison, Swift has gained more maturity and has several competitive edges over Flutter. It has a broad collection of frameworks and tools which come in handy for developers seeking to extend the functionality of their apps.
Reusability
Flutter makes it possible for developers to have a vast range of widgets and elements which can be reused on multiple aspects of an application, thus making it easier to carry out duly maintenance processes and develop applications quickly.
Although Swift enables reusability across different Apple Platforms, it also gives access to a variety of System APIs and Frameworks that make it possible to build more reusable features. This makes the app development process effective and efficient. But Flutter’s multi-platform capabilities give it a slight edge over Swift when it comes to reusability. However, when it comes to reusability, most developers tend to go for Swift.
Documentation
Both technologies offer fantastic learning experiences, due to their comprehensive documentation. This valuable and well-detailed information can be found on their website as it has been made available to the public. Any developer, programmer or individual can access Swift and Flutter’s documentation on their respective websites.
In this regard, Swift and Flutter are on the same level. Having access to comprehensive materials makes it easier for developers to know which option to go for.
Community Support
Both technologies have thriving and supportive communities and extensive codebases. These communities provide developers with an arsenal of resources and support for mobile app development.
Firstly, let’s examine Flutter’s support base. Flutter’s community is growing at a tremendous rate with strong backing and support from Google.
They offer a great number of resources through their official packages such as tutorials, sample code, forums and as well other benefits which simplify the app development process. Since the Flutter ecosystem is vast and rapidly growing, new offerings are being added every day.
Nevertheless, Swift isn’t left behind. Swift’s community is vast and active and they are backed by Apple. They also offer numerous resources like learning materials, documentation and third-party packages which makes it easy for developers to get the support they need.
Onboarding Process
Flutter makes the onboarding process seamless through clear documentation. They provide an easy-to-understand step-by-step guide which can be used to set up the development setting on Windows, Mac or Linux. It also offers a variety of educational resources like videos and sample applications which will help developers master the process and when stuck, they can easily reach out to the community for assistance until the entire app development process is completed.
In comparison, Swift’s onboarding process is daunting and complex. It requires the XCode and a macOS machine which will initiate the process. However, there are materials on the internet that can be sourced for and studied to make the process easier.
Development Cost
Flutter and Swift are both open sources, however, Flutter is less expensive due to its cross-platform capabilities.
While Swift has more benefits and edges over Flutter, the latter offers the benefit of building both iOS and Android apps with a single codebase. Contrarily, Swift is limited to using only iOS applications and this is the reason why it is a bit more costly than Flutter.
Learning Curve
If you are not tech-savvy or new to the tech landscape, you have nothing to worry about. Flutter provides a straightforward and easy learning curve that makes it easy to learn and familiarize with object-oriented programming languages such as Java. In addition, there are other ways to learn more about Flutter which could be through their website, the community or the comprehensive documentation they have made available.
Although Swift’s learning curve isn’t as simple or straightforward as Flutter’s, one can gain deeper insights about it from their community. So it would require patience and dedication when it comes to mastering the intricate details of Swift.
Reloading
One core aspect of mobile app development you need to be aware of is reloading. So, when developing an iOS app, it is required to make some code changes and test them on devices. A typical example is changing a button which has the title ‘Click here to download a free e-book’ to ‘Sign up for your free e-book now!’
When such changes are made with XCode, which is for Swift, it takes 7-12 seconds for it to reflect. However, Flutter’s hot reload features enable rapid real-time changes which is about a second or two. This feature also speeds up the app development process.
Profiling
Profiling is an analytical process which evaluates the various performance factors of an application such as memory usage, resources and CPU. Both Flutter and Swift offer support for app profiling which helps to optimize app performance.
Conclusion
Both Flutter and Swift are great options for mobile app development. However, your needs and preferences will largely determine which one you should go for.
At Hidden Brains we have a large team of Swift and Flutter developers who can build intuitive, feature-rich, and interactive mobile applications that will improve your technical excellence.
