Flutter for Business: Challenges and Benefits

30 November 2022

When looking to build an app for your business, deciding between native apps or mobile sites is not the only choice you have. In the last few years, there has been a rise in cross-platform app frameworks that allow developers to build apps once and release them on multiple platforms at the same time. These are known as hybrid app development frameworks, and Flutter is one of them. So, what is Flutter? What kind of challenges can you run into when using it as part of your business and its services? Let’s take a closer look at Flutter, its benefits, and potential challenges.

What Is Flutter?

Flutter is a mobile app development framework. It is used for cross-platform app development for both Android and iOS. The idea behind Flutter is to make it easier for developers to write code for both Android and iOS apps. Flutter uses what’s known as widgets. A widget is a UI element that you can put together to form an app. Widgets can be buttons, text fields, images, and much more. The idea behind Flutter is that you can take these widgets and put them together to create an app for Android and iOS at the same time. This is different from React Native, which uses the same code but renders it differently for each platform.

Why Use Flutter for Business?

Flutter has a lot of potential benefits. One of the biggest reasons to use Flutter is that you can build one app, and then release it on both Android and iOS at the same time. This can help cut costs, as you don’t have to hire two separate developers, and it can speed up the process. With one app, you can reach a bigger audience, and they don’t have to worry about what type of device they’re using. Building one app can also help with making sure the experience is consistent between Android and iOS. This can be difficult when separate teams are building separate apps. It can also help with maintaining the app in the long term. With one app, you can make sure any bugs and issues are fixed across both platforms.

Benefits of Using Flutter for Business

• • One app that works across both Android and iOS devices – This is the biggest benefit of using Flutter. Instead of creating two separate apps, one for Android and one for iOS, you can build one app that runs on both platforms. This can save you money and time, as you don’t have to create two different apps.

• • Improved consistency – If you are building one app, you have the opportunity to make sure that the experience is consistent across both Android and iOS. This can help users who are switching between devices, as they will have a consistent experience.

• Improved maintenance – With one app, you have the opportunity to make sure any bugs, issues, and updates are applied across both Android and iOS. This can save you time in the long run and help keep your users happy.

Challenges of Using Flutter for Business

• • Limited device testing – As you are using the same app across multiple platforms, you don’t get the same opportunity to test the app on each device as you do with separate apps. This can make it more challenging to test the app to make sure it works as expected on each device.

• • Limited third-party library support – Flutter is a relatively new framework compared to other popular frameworks like React Native, Xamarin, and Ionic, and as such, it has limited third-party library support. This means that developers may have to write code from scratch or make use of libraries that are not optimized for Flutter, which can lead to development delays and added costs.

• • Integration with legacy systems – Many businesses already have legacy systems in place, and integrating them with new applications can be challenging. Flutter may not have the same level of integration capabilities with older systems compared to other frameworks, and as a result, businesses may need to invest more time and resources into developing custom solutions.

• Compatibility issues – Flutter’s rapid development cycle means that newer versions of the framework may not be compatible with older versions. This can be a challenge for businesses that have already developed applications using older versions of Flutter, as they may need to invest additional time and resources into upgrading their applications to the latest version of the framework.

Final words: Should your business use Flutter?

If you are looking to build an app and are having trouble deciding between a mobile site or a native app, Flutter could be a good option for you. It can help with managing costs, as you don’t have to hire separate teams for Android and iOS apps. It can also help with consistency and maintenance, as you have the opportunity to manage your app’s content from one place.

This can help make sure your users have a consistent experience across both platforms. If you are looking to build an app that is cross-platform and you have struggled to decide between a mobile site or a native app, Flutter could be a good option for you. It can help with costs, as you don’t have to hire separate teams for Android and iOS apps. It can also help with consistency and maintenance, as you have the opportunity to manage your app’s content from one place.

Contact us to hire flutter app developers to get the best quality mobile applications.