A fast, reliable, and secure Framework is the heart of modern industries. The rapidly expanding world demands the tools that help developers build the new-age application within the deadline. Also, the application should be ready to perform high-end tasks without shattering. 

Cross-platform app development is becoming more popular among developers. The Cross platforms apps perform various tasks simultaneously and produce necessary results in the blink of an eye. 

Surprisingly, all modern applications and software are powered by the two major app development frameworks, “Flutter” and “Kotlin.” Both of these frameworks offer the required support to build large-scale applications. Pre-build foundation gives you the needed support to create the application quickly and serve the objectives of the business. It reduces the need for making the software from the ground level.

However, many developers get confused when deciding which Framework to choose for their projects. You are not alone if you have also gone through this experience. In this article, we will try to resolve your confusion and put you in a position where you can confidently choose the best programming language for your next project.

What is the Kotlin framework?

Kotlin is a highly advanced programming language for application development that comes with added features. It is packed with modern languages that widen the horizon of the developer. With the Kotline Framework, the developer can share the codes and perform business logic with the help of multiple platforms, including web, Linux, iOS, macOS, Android, and Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Due to the high-performance elements and unbelievable application speed, Kotlin is the first choice of big brands to build a business application.

What is the Flutter UI Framework?

The flutter framework was launched in 2015 to support the developers for Google Fuchsia. It is released on the open-source platform. It was developed to build native-looking mobile, web, and desktop applications with the help of a single codebase. The framework changed the developers’ perspective back then because developers relied on several different codebases to build each platform’s application. Flutter frameworks demonstrated that it is possible to create a multifunctional application using a single codebase. With Dart used as the programming language to power Flutter framework makes it more resourceful.

Flutter answered numerous market challenges caused due to the use of multiple programming languages to build the application. When flutter entered the industry, it received an extraordinary response from the developer community. Within a few years, flutter became the ideal cross-platform for building an app. Several large enterprises are using flutter as their core app development technology and serving millions of users worldwide. Flutter development is easy and time-saving; that’s why many developers trust Flutter over Kotlin.

Comparison of Kotlin and Flutter frameworks 

Before we conclude which is better, we should check essential factors that decide how the framework performs on different occasions.

Popularity in the developer community

Kotlin and flutter are released as open-source platforms that grab the large community’s attention. Today, both framework holds enormous followership. If we consider the Google trends data, the flutter depicts a steep rise in searches over time. Kotlin, on the other hand, is enjoying stable growth. Another data from GitHub shows that flutter received 3.5k stars with 415 forks, and Kotlin has received 13.3k stars with 19.5k forks. Considering data as a base to decide the popularity of these two frameworks, it clearly shows that flutter is winning the race in the popularity game. 

Learning Curve

Another major factor when rating the frameworks is the learning curve. Simple to code, easy syntax, and flexibility are some ingredients that make the frameworks popular. Any programming language that is difficult to learn would never gain acceptance from the large developer community. As a result, the programming language will die within a few years. But this is not the case with Flutter and Kotlin. Flutter is considered easy to learn compared to Kotlin. The primary reason for the success of the flutter is the ability to interoperable with the popular programming language JAVA.

Whereas the Kotlin Multiplatform comes with the new ecosystem. When you compare it with flutter, limited resources in the modern frameworks are the biggest drawback of Kotlin. 

Flutter also share some complex process that affects the users who decide to learn this language. The Flutter app development utilizes the Dart programming language. Thus, the developer must learn the new language from scratch if they want to develop the project in the Dart. It is not the scenario with Kotlin. Kotlin is an independent language, so there is no need to spend time learning other programming languages, saving significant time.

Performance

Flutter language is developed to support the same programming language to build layout and backend. It reduces the requirement for excess code, making the rendering smooth and the development process speedy. As a result, flutter wins in the parameters of performance. You can run heavy animation at speed and enjoy an outstanding performance. Kotlin lacks these vital features, which place it in the second position.

Integration of Third-party Libraries

Kotlin is designed to work in close ecosystems where the flutter enables the developer to integrate third-party libraries and tools without restriction. 

Backend Development

Mobile app developers need reliable and easy-to-code programming language. In this category, both give tough competition to each other. Considering the ease of use, Kotlin has the edge over flutter in developing a user-friendly backend system. 

Flutter programming language works with Firebase. The Firebase is an effective backend development platform. With the help of the Firebase tools, the developer can build an interactive backend system for the users. When you hire Flutter developers for your projects, ensure they have deep knowledge about the Firebase platforms. 

Development for Multiple Platforms

When comparing Flutter vs Kotlin programming language, the Framework is selected based on its backing for multiple platforms. The application is designed to serve mobile users on Android and iOS platforms. At the same time, the web platform plays a critical role in engaging users through a web application. 

Flutter works best for producing an app for these two platforms, but it lacks the features to build the application for the other growing platforms such as WatchOS, CarOS, Android Auto, and tvOS. 

Kotlin development will not have these issues. Kotilin is a multiplatform coding language that goes beyond mobile and helps the developer build the application without needing to change the language. You can use Kotlin to produce an application for all widely used operating systems and platforms. 

Hire Kotlin developers with years of experience developing an application for all popular platforms and OS. Experienced developers will be aware of the challenges faced during the development. The Kotlin app developer will take the help of the essential tools and supporting frameworks to complete the job as quickly as possible. Besides that, Hire Kotlin app developers who are aware of modern trends because their understanding of the language will allow you to save time and money during the development. 

Pros and Cons of Kotlin

Pros:

• It is SDK, not Framework
• Helpful in applying existing business logic
• Native UI experience
• Great performance
• Complete flexibility
• Support Scalability

Cons:

• Not fully developed. Still in an experimental stage
• Limited libraries
• The developer should be familiar with the Tech Stack
• Development cost is comparatively higher
• Compilation speed fluctuations

Pros and Cons of Flutter

Pros:

• Open-Source programming language
• Fast reloading functionality
• Highly Customizable
• Low-cost development
• Google Firebase support
• Helpful for building MVPs and App prototypes

Cons:

• Large app size
• Limited access to Third-party libraries
• Comparatively lower support for iOS apps
• Lack of  password manager support

If you want to know more about flutter, on how it can help develop a mobile app following the Flutter app development guide will be helpful to learn about the programming language and its various aspects.

Who is the winner between Flutter vs Kotlin?

Businesses look for high performance and proficiency to save time while developing applications. As we can see from the comparison, Kotlin and Flutter are both reliable when developing an application for popular platforms. 

Both programming languages, Kotlin & Flutter, give each other cut-throat competition when choosing one for future development. As time passes, new features will be added to improve language efficiency. 

If you go with the popular belief, most developers would suggest going with Kotlin because it also has support from Google. However, It is advisable to understand the client requirements and only based on that after weighing all the relatable aspects should you determine which platform to choose for app development.