There is no looking back at the expansion of the global app market. The global mobile application market size was valued at USD 206.85 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8% from 2023 to 2030.
With the horizons of mobile applications expanding, the market of iOS app development will keep spreading far and wide. Here comes the time to analyze popular iOS development tools, and as we talk about that, the two names often compared are Flutter and Swift.
Both frameworks have a quotient of loyal clients and have been proving their popularity worth for a long time. Hence, comparing the world of Flutter app development and Swift app development is a perplexing equation.
This article examines the two popular iOS programming languages—Swift and Flutter—and explains their intricacies. This will help you decide which one to choose and why for your iOS developmental objectives.
What is Flutter App Development?
Flutter is an open-source framework by Google for building beautiful, natively compiled, multi-platform applications from a single codebase. As a free and cross-platform UI toolkit, it assists in reusing code across different operating systems. It is based on Dart, yet another object-oriented language from Google.
Flutter lets you build two versions of the application simultaneously. It is more like a platform for creating applications that consist of Dart as a programming language and other widgets. Developers can write code faster with Flutter on multiple platforms. It establishes a type-safe framework with features like layout rendering, high performance, etc.
Flutter helps in the seamless creation of cross-platform applications through a unified codebase. It is ideal for novices and experienced programmers because of its variety of Flutter widgets. It offers excellent productivity and helps in fastening performance. It is regarded as a perfect platform for creating intuitive applications.
Key Features of Flutter
Enriched widgets
Single codebase
Hot reload feature
Open-source and cross-platform
Google Firebase support
Advantages of Flutter
Supports old devices
High speed and performance
Wider reach with fast time to market
Apps for multiple platforms with the least effort
Strong language and robust tools
Extension and documentation support
Clean syntax and development approach
Faster learning curve
Easy integration with editors
The fast development of interfaces
What is Swift App Development?
Swift is a powerful and intuitive programming language for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, TVOS, and watchOS. Writing Swift code is interactive and fun. The syntax is concise yet expressive, and Swift includes modern features developers love. It empowers developers to create their own iOS-powered devices.
It is a modern, secure, high-performance language that is easy to write apps in and suitable for native iOS app development. Its fast and intuitive programming style, easy maintainability, and readability make it a developer’s delight. It has an expressive syntax with modernized features.
The entire ecosystem of Swift app development services and its tools help create faster apps with robust and communicative development capabilities. It offers intensive documentation that helps novices learn faster. The primary environment that is needed to build native apps with Swift is Xcode.
Google Ads, Philips Hue, Realtor.com, Alibaba, Groupon, Square, eBay, Reflectly, Hamilton Musical, Tencent, Google Assistant, Cryptomaniac, SpaceX Go and many more.
Companies Using Swift
Asana, Lyft, Slack, Airbnb, Facebook, WhatsApp, Uber, Firefox for iOS, LinkedIn, SlideShare, Eventbrite, Robinhood, DoorDash, Twitter, Firefox for iOS, and many more.
As we observe the intricacies of Flutter app development services and Swift app development services, there are similarities, as mentioned below, and specific differences that make them distinct in their good ways. Let us have a look at them:
Flutter vs Swift: The Similarities
Static language type
Open source and free to use
Object-oriented with stability
Real-time changes are possible
High-performance tools
Good community support
High-quality documentation
Easy access to skilled resources
Flutter vs Swift: Which One is Better for iOS Development?
Parameters
Flutter
Swift
Overview
Open source, UI, cross-platform software development kit
High-level, multi-paradigm compiled iOS programming language
Release Year
2017
2014
Developed By
Google
Apple
Cross Platform Compatibility
Yes
No
Native Development
No
Yes
IDE Involved
Visual Code, Android Studio, IntelliJ
Xcode
UI Builders
Flutter UI Toolkit
Swift UI
Accessibility
Supports accessibility for external tools; Flutter needs development to offer better applications for people with disabilities about accessibility support.
With built accessibility support for iOS apps, programmers offer reliable data availability to each UI component in the iOS application using the UI Accessibility method.
Performance
Highly performant because of support from the Dart properties
It is highly performant because it is essential for iOS apps
Ease of Use
Easy to use because of the simplistic Dart language
Easy to use because of intensive documentation
Application Size
The file size is around 52 MB, larger than Swift apps
The file size is around 25 MB, lighter than Flutter apps
Testing Support
Inbuilt testing support
Native testing tools like XCTest
Development Time
Performs consistently after cleaning and development time
Performs consistently throughout the cleaning and development time
Integration With
Nevercode tool – automated setup and configuration, support for multiple platforms
Jenkins tool – easy installation and easy configuration, Changeset support
Learning Curve
There is a simple learning curve if exposure to Java and Kotlin exists—good documentation to support it.
Complex learning curve if not exposed to iOS app development.
Architecture
Flutter’s architecture is based on three major components – engine, platform, and framework
Swift’s architecture is based on Ruby, CLU, C#, Python, and other projects
Costs Involved
Less expensive
More expensive
Onboarding Process
Flutter needs macOS + Xcode + Flutter Binary, an easy onboarding process
Swift needs macOS + Xcode, a slightly complex onboarding process with a code editor, simulator, etc.
Reloading
Real-time changes can be made
Hot Reload for real-time changes
Application Size
Large sized apps
Flexible sized apps
GitHub Stars
116k
55.4k
Forks
16.5k
8.9k
Time to Market
Flutter is fast after the initial clean builds, slow in the start
Swift is speed and agile, as per its name
Ecosystem
Large ecosystem of plugins and third-party packages
Large ecosystem of tools, libraries, and frameworks
Reusability
Easily reusable widgets and components resulting in faster development and easy maintenance
Easily reusable code across Apple platforms, APIs, and frameworks, enabling effective development
User Interfaces
Customizable and responsive user interfaces with pre-built UI widgets and components
iOS native user experience with customizable and responsive UI kit and components
App Profiling
Helps developers to profile iOS apps through IDE or command line
Helps developers to profile iOS apps in Xcode by instruments
When should you use Swift or Flutter for iOS app development?
Swift app development can be used when
A high-functioning application needs to be created
There is a complicated architecture with higher expectations
Users need a perfect native iOS app with different features
Flutter app development can be used when
There is a need to develop an MVP product or prototype
Developers need to explore popular marketplaces
There is a need to maintain a singular codebase
Swift vs Flutter: As We Wind Up
As you compare the two tech stalwarts—Swift vs. Flutter—there is no ‘one size that fits all’ solution. Many factors could influence the section of the language. Here are some of them: tool accessibility, project deadlines, skilled resources, budget and timelines, API levels, smooth integration, accessibility to flexibility, speed, and performance.
Both Swift and Flutter are competent in creating feature-rich iOS apps. The significant difference is that Swift is constructed for initial native iOS apps, while Flutter is designed for developing hybrid apps.
As a renowned Flutter app development company, we offer widespread Flutter app development services for building progressive, highly functional applications that can reform your business practices.
Hire our Flutter Developers, who are competent at transforming your requirements into a rational, business-ready application with an attractive and high-quality user interface.
As a famous Swift app development company, we build convincing and secure apps for servers, desktops, phones, and other devices. Leveraging Swift app development services, we focus on enterprises and smaller businesses across the industry domains.
Hire our qualified Swift developers to attain the business aim through robust and quality software solutions that are secure, scalable, and superior.
Contact us for any application development or hiring services in Flutter app development or Swift app development. When you compare Flutter vs. Swift, whichever you choose, you are leveraging the best of the best!
Author
SPEC INDIA
SPEC INDIA, as your single stop IT partner has been successfully implementing a bouquet of diverse solutions and services all over the globe, proving its mettle as an ISO 9001:2015 certified IT solutions organization. With efficient project management practices, international standards to comply, flexible engagement models and superior infrastructure, SPEC INDIA is a customer’s delight. Our skilled technical resources are apt at putting thoughts in a perspective by offering value-added reads for all.
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