FAQ about Flutter

In this publication we answer the most frequently asked questions about Flutter. Looking for basic information about Flutter development? Thinking about building mobile apps with Flutter? This is a place for you.

You will also find links to articles that delve more deeply into specific topics. 

What is Flutter?

Flutter SDK (Software Development Kit) is an innovative technology for creating applications on mobile, desktop, and web platforms. It’s a free, open-source UI framework from Google which has hit the market in 2017. 

Flutter refers to two important things:

• An SDK (Software Development Kit): A collection of tools that are going to help you to develop your applications. It includes tools to compile your code in native machine code (code for IOS and Android).
• A Framework (UI Library based on widgets): A collection of reusable UI elements (buttons, text inputs, sliders, etc.) that you can personalize for your personal needs (source). 

Learn more about Flutter SDK in general in What is Flutter?.

What is Flutter app development?

What’s most important about Flutter app development is that with this technology, developers can create cross-platform apps – mobile apps both for iOS and Android with a single codebase. Developers use Dart programming language to build Flutter apps. 
Find more information in What is Flutter?.

What is cross-platform app development? 

It means to develop apps for multiple platforms (operating systems) or devices with one code base, at the same time, instead of building separate apps for each one. This way, one developer can for example develop mobile apps for Android and iOS. Sometimes it’s about compiling different versions of the same software for different operating systems and sometimes developers build one code to then make minor changes to it for each platform with the use of APIs. 

Generally, cross-platform app development enables the app to be made available to a wider audience in a shorter time. There are different methods of building such an app.
Want to know more? Jump to What is cross-platform app development?.

Is Flutter good for mobile app development?

Flutter SDK is a great solution for many projects but of course it isn’t a perfect technology for every app. Flutter app development is known for being faster than e.g. native app development, also because it’s usually used for less complex apps. That’s why it’s a good idea to use it for example for MVP (minimum valuable product) development – to release the product quickly and test the idea. 

Also, startups usually choose to create MVPs as their aim is to launch the product as soon as possible and check if it’s a market fit. That’s why Flutter is a way to go for them. The app is built faster and owners can check its viability to decide whether they should continue or not. It’s also a very cost-effective solution as only one developer is enough to build a functional MVP with Flutter. 
So the answer is: yes, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for every app. The choice concerning technologies for your app depends on your project specifications. 

Does Flutter reduce costs of mobile app development? 

When Flutter is used to create a functional MVP or any simple mobile app, which this technology is the best for, the development takes less time and as a result it also helps to reduce costs of mobile app development. 

If you’re building a mobile app with Flutter, for iOS and Android, but also with native code inserted in specific places, then the development will probably not be very much shortened, nor you’ll cut costs. 

In a nutshell, you can take advantage of cheaper and faster app development with Flutter when you decide to use it for a simple app/MVP and to target multiple mobile platforms. Native apps are built separately for each operating system. 

Are Flutter apps worse than native apps?

No. You can’t say mobile apps built with Flutter are any worse than native apps. 

These are two different topics. A Flutter app is different from a native app from a technical point of view, we can agree on that. But it doesn’t mean they’re worse, even if we admit that Flutter is the best solution for simple apps. It all depends on your project specification. 

Learn more in Native vs cross-platform mobile app development. Which one to choose?

Is a Flutter app performance as good as native app?

Yes, you can say so. 

If you don’t need to use any system-specific features, or latest technology solutions in your app, you wouldn’t see any difference in performance whether it’s created with Flutter or natively. The difference is that with Flutter, you can get it done faster. 

Can I have the same features in Flutter app as in native app?

Yes. There are some system-specific features that can only be implemented in the app with a native code. But the good news is that even in Flutter apps you can insert native parts to implement native features! 

So yes, you can have the same features, but if your mobile app is very extensive and complex, it may turn out that it’s just more reasonable to create the whole app natively and this time, Flutter framework won’t be in handy. 

Is Flutter a good choice for startups?

Absolutely! Startups owners knowing the advantages of Flutter choose for their mobile app development more and more often. It’s a great solution for those who want to release the app as fast as possible to test the idea and the product, if it has reached the target audience and if it can be used to make a profit. Flutter apps can be developed further anytime later. 

Is Flutter good for MVP development?

Yes. As mentioned above, companies often use Flutter for their mobile app development to test and validate the idea, which is what MVPs are all about. Flutter apps can be released faster than native apps, that’s why it’s a good choice for MVPs as well. 

Then, you can also implement native features in a Flutter app. 

What are some popular Flutter apps?

• Alibaba – one of the world’s leading B2B ecommerce marketplaces. The app allows you to source products from global suppliers, all from the convenience of your mobile device.
• Google Pay – a quick and easy way to pay online, in shops and other places.
• Google Ads – it’s an app that helps you supervise your campaigns using your smartphone from any place.
• Ad Stats for AdMob – an app to check your income in Google AdMob.
• Reflectly – a journal utilizing artificial intelligence to help you structure and reflect upon your daily thoughts and problems.
• eBay – an app for one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world
• iRobot – an app connected to your iRobot hoover to configure a map of your home, create cleaning schedules and much more.
• ABOUT YOU – e-commerce mobile app of a german online fashion shop.

If you’d like to see more, here’s an open list of apps built with Flutter.

And here you’ll find a list of 10 apps built with Flutter at FiveDotTwelve.

What language does Flutter use?

The official language for Flutter is Dart, a language also created by Google. Dart programming language is a client-optimized language focused on object-oriented concepts, to write code for iOS and Android apps, as well as for desktop apps. 

How has Flutter changed mobile app development globally?

According to the FlutterDevs community, since the day an alpha version of Flutter was released, Flutter framework grew into a massive community of millions of people and became the most loved framework. This has naturally contributed to the popularity of this technology among app creators. 

At FiveDotTwelve we also support developing Flutter apps, in fact, most of our current projects include cross-platform mobile apps we build with Flutter. Compared to native apps, it’s just cool to have the possibility to create the same app easier, with one code base. 

Is Flutter the right choice for my app?

Flutter development is definitely the right choice for your app e.g. if you: 

• are planning to create an MVP, 
• want to build an app for iOS and Android,
• want to have a simple app not using system-specific features or latest trends,
• run a startup.

But if you’re still hesitating and you’re not sure what technology to choose, the best idea will be to take some advice from your development team. 

The experienced developers are always able to help with such decisions, especially when it comes to technological cases and issues.

How long does it take to build a Flutter app?

It’s not really possible to predict how much time your mobile app development will take. Doesn’t matter which technology you choose, the development time depends on different factors and specifics of your project. 

If you decide to take advantage of app development company’s help, once you describe all your requirements, prepare analyses and create designs for the app, you’ll get an estimate. 

Flutter framework is usually used to create simple apps and MVP which take around 3-6 months to be built. 

Can you build web apps with Flutter?

Yes, web apps also can be built with Flutter. 

In fact, Flutter delivers the same experiences in web and desktop apps as on mobile apps. The same codebase will work for iOS and Android platforms, and for web apps as well.

Are there many Flutter developers?

According to Statista’s Cross-platform mobile frameworks used by software developers worldwide from 2019 to 2021, the number of Flutter developers has increased rapidly over the past few years – in 2019 only 30% of software developers used Flutter. But the 2021 survey established that Flutter is the most popular cross-platform mobile framework used by global developers. Based on the survey, 42% of software developers used Flutter in 2021. 

With over ​​129.700 followers on Facebook and 178.000 followers on Twitter, Flutter has become the most popular cross-platform framework in the world. 

Is it easy to build apps in Flutter?

Flutter is relatively easy to learn for developers. The number of developers using Flutter is constantly growing. There are thousands of tutorials and articles on how to build particular features in Flutter. Following these hints, mobile app development is much easier than when inventing everything by yourself. 

What’s particularly special about the Flutter framework community is that the available resources that can help answer your questions are very high quality.

What are the advantages of Flutter app development?

• Building apps for iOS and Android at the same time – thanks to Flutter you can build apps for iOS and Android with one codebase. 
• Saving time and money – Flutter is designed to help you write code faster. It offers ready-to-use widgets and its syntax requires less code to write.
• Great performance – Flutter’s widgets incorporate all critical platform differences such as scrolling, navigation, icons and fonts
• Growing community from around the world – the number of developers using Flutter is constantly growing
• Creating beautiful app designs conveniently – Flutter framework enables developers to achieve native end-user experiences 
• Hot Reload feature – Hot Reload gives developers the possibility to see the result of changes in the code in real time on the screen.

Conclusion

Although it’s not a solution absolutely for everyone, Flutter is definitely worth considering when planning both iOS and Android apps, for startups, for MVPs and MMPs and in many other cases. 

Want to know more? Here are other articles in this topic on our blog: 

• What is Cross-Platform Development? – For those who would like to focus on this way of development and learn about its advantages.
• 10 Flutter mobile apps examples – If you’d like to see some examples of apps we created using this technology. Maybe it will help you decide if that’s a solution for your app.
• What is Flutter? – To go back to the basics or to learn about Flutter in a more detailed and organized way. 
• Why Flutter is a great solution for cross-platform app development – If you’d like to see some arguments on why it’s a great idea to choose Flutter when you want to build an app for both Android and iOS.