Quick Summary

Now is the time when you watch your dreams which open your eyes and not when you are sleeping. This blog might be helpful to you if you are trying to determine which technology is best for you Ionic or Flutter. Today’s tech world is faster than our thoughts. With the emergence of technologies like Flutter, Ionic, Python, Ruby on Rails, Node, React and so on, there comes the arising dilemma amongst them. In this blog, I would be talking about Flutter vs Ionic.

If you are trying to figure out Flutter vs ionic which is better then don’t worry this blog is perfect for you. The two technologies- Flutter and Ionic are for the hybrid development of apps. Flutter vs Ionic comparison is the real debate here. Your target audience could be anybody having iOS or Android which directly creates a need for cross-platform applications, that is to have hybrid developing applications like Ionic and Flutter. And to solve your confusion about Ionic vs Flutter, you have this blog right here!

Introduction to Ionic vs Flutter

Undoubtedly, the frameworks of Flutter and Ionic are very popular cross-platforms with a huge team working for the development of the two. And it is obvious that there exist pros and cons of ionic and pros and cons of flutter as any technology, no matter how perfect it looks will have some drawbacks and so there are ionic disadvantages and flutter disadvantages. In this blog you can see a clear comparison of ionic framework vs Flutter. But before we delve into the pros and cons of ionic and pros and cons of flutter, you need to know what exactly they are and how they work.

1. What is Ionic?

• Drifty Co released the first version of Ionic in the year 2013. Ionic gives an option of easy integration with other libraries and frameworks and it is an open-source UI toolkit. Standard web technologies like Javascript, CSS and HTML. Ionic uses Webview for mobile and its framework is very easy to learn. More than 86% of developers prefer Ionic for mobile applications.

2. What is Flutter?

• Flutter was developed in the year 2017 by Google. The first version of flutter was supported by ECMA standards in the year 2018. Flutter is supported by Google Dart’s language, and is a free and open-sourced framework. Flutter primarily functions as a UI toolkit which helps in creating powerful cross-platform applications. For building cross-platform mobile applications, more than 35% of developers use flutter at a global level.

Pros and Cons of Flutter

Like any other technology, flutter has its own advantages and drawbacks. Like a few mentioned below:

Pros of Flutter/ Flutter Advantage

• It is the best choice for MVP development as sharing codes is easier and faster in flutter across various platforms.
• You don’t lose the state of the application while loading it again as it uses fast/hot reloading, also reflecting changes instantly.
• It is integrated with Swift or Objective C to support iOS and for Android, it uses Java.
• Here, only one code needs to be tested which saves development time as it has Swift iteration cycles.
• Widgets that are strong and feature-rich that adhere to iOS Cupertino and Android Material Design standards.

Cons Of Flutter/ Flutter Disadvantages

• Flutter is not as feature-rich as Ionic, despite having extensive tools and libraries.

• Vector graphics and animation support might be improved.
• It has incompatibility with apps like watchOS, CarPlay, Android Auto, or tvOS.
• Patches and updates cannot be instantly pushed into apps without following the standard release procedure.

Pros and Cons of Ionic

Just like flutter disadvantages and advantages, here are Ionic disadvantages and advantages:

Pros of Ionic/ Ionic Advantages

• Ionic reduces resource usage and reduces the time and efforts which are required to develop a cross-platform app and that is why it is called a platform-independent framework, which also provides a native look to the app.
• Ionic utilises a capacitor to speed up development. Professional Ionic developers can assist you in making straightforward interfaces to access native API and native SDK on platforms.
• The performance is unaffected by the number of concurrent users as Ionic effectively scales it. It is one of the main advantages of Ionic technology and here you can see Flutter vs Ionic performance based comparison.
• Ionic reduces the need for code rewrite as it enables u to use javascript familiar frameworks.

Cons Of Ionic/ Ionic Disadvantages

• Despite the fact that Ionic offers a tonne of plugins, app developers must still construct extremely specialised functionality.
• Outdated versions do not support code uglification causing real security threats.
• The total speed of development decreases as hot reloading is not present.
• Because Ionic renders apps using WebView, its memory performance is unsuitable for memory-intensive and complicated applications. A hefty app built using Ionic could run sluggishly and slowly.

Read More: Swift vs Flutter: Which is better for iOS app development in 2024?

Uses of Ionic & Flutter

Below, find the major uses of Ionic vs Flutter:

Uses of Ionic:

• Wrapper which is native
• The app which enables hardware functionality
• Mobile app development which is hybrid
• UI/UX applications that are high-performance
• Mobile app development that is cross-platform
• MVC mobile apps

Uses of Flutter:

• Apps which have OS-level features
• Apps for Material design
• OS plugins which are advanced with simple logic
• Apps which are reactive and have massive data integration
• Apps which have high-performance featuring Skia rendering engine
• MVP mobile applications
• UI which is flexible and widgets which are brilliant

The Comparison between Flutter vs Ionic

Selecting a new hybrid or cross-platform framework is a tough job, especially if that has the needed functionalities without going over budget is difficult. It’s a complex industry which is developing at a high speed, and each new technology has its advantages and disadvantages as well as special features to offer, so there are pros and cons of ionic and pros and cons of flutter which you need to consider before starting your project. What you need is a thorough examination, which is always a wise thing to do so examine frameworks’ resilience, functionality, user interface, and other factors.

Flutter and Ionic, the two technologies which are as good as one another, are at the top of the list when it comes to cross-platform development frameworks. These days, a lot of companies like hybrid frameworks for creating mobile apps since they adhere to the coding idea of writing code once and using it everywhere. It drastically cuts costs while speeding up development.

Performance: Flutter vs Ionic

When comparing the performance of Flutter vs Ionic, efficiency level is a key factor in determining which is best for your company. Flutter is a better fit for aggressive animations and Ionic gives the best results in the case of standard consumer applications. It is advisable to build sample apps on both platforms in order the check their viability. Don’t forget that it should align with your use case and later compare between the two. How you write your code reflects more on the performance than which framework you choose.

The performance of your app’s bundle will determine how well Flutter or Ionic performs. Ionic makes use of primitives and the default browser runtime (smallest processing unit). The ionic bundle size is 2,991 bytes as a result. While Flutter requires much coding to even construct a simple app. Hope that you understood the comparison between Ionic vs flutter performance and choose the best platform for you.

Modularity: Ionic vs Flutter

Modularity in app development refers to a framework’s capacity or scope, enabling collaborators from various backgrounds and technical expertise. For instance, creating a large application with a disorganised code structure could take a while and your project can get stuck for the time being.

If we try to look out for the important features, Flutter’s improved accessibility to assure team diversity and project code separation into several sub-package system models is one of its best advantages. With the ability to install plugins, the team can create different modules and add to or modify the source.

The NgModule class from Angular is used by Ionic to support modularity as well. Using modules, app developers can assemble different parts to create an application framework with one root module for bootstrapping. Additionally, feature modules were developed to enable the parts which need to be loaded.

Popularity and market share: Flutter vs. Ionic

Framework	Usage Statistics
Flutter	As per Statista the market share of Flutter was 30% in 2019 which increased to 42% in 2021.
	Stack Overflow’s survey shows that more than 68% developers love Flutter.
Ionic	The market share of Ionic was 28% in 2019 which decreased to 16% in 2021.

Architecture: Ionic vs Flutter

A layered architect is supported by Flutter where simple applications are built on the framework’s hierarchy which actually begins with the function called top-level root. These is also called platform-specific widgets. When it renders layers it also follows basic widgets which interact with one platform. The application foundation, also known as Scaffold and powered by C/C++ engines and platform-specific embedders, is also accessed using animation gestures that transfer API requests.

Flutter BLoC is an easier-to-use architecture that allows developers to build complex applications out of basic and minor components. This architecture is useful for those who desire a separate display layer and business logic. Ionic’s architecture is built on Angular JS MVC, which uses a Model View Controller as part of a normal software design. For all types of mobile devices, it is used to create elegant single-page and multi-page cross-platform apps. Multiple developers can work on the same project at once thanks to the architecture. As a result, it speeds up productivity while reducing the overall turnaround time for development. Additionally, the application is resistant to recurring errors thanks to the Ionic architecture, which enables developers to generate many views.

Internal framework: Flutter vs Ionic

The internal structure of a framework provides us with a clear, transparent picture of the viability and future of each framework product.

1. Flutter:

• Flutter has a high-level architecture that contains three layers that are popular as developer framework, flutter engine, Embedder app (Skia).
• Dart-based framework: All of the widgets, animations, and essential building elements that programmers regularly use are implemented.
• C++-based engine: With the aid of the Dart runtime and Dart-to-native communication channels, it integrates the embedder app layer with the framework layer built using the Dart programming language.
• Platform-specific Embedder app: It means final app or host app.

2. Ionic:

• Ionic contains three layers that are known as developer framework, JavaScript/Native Bridge, Host app (WebView).
• Web components: It is a widgets framework that is based on various web components.
• JavaScript to Native Bridge
• The Host Application

Comparing user experience – Flutter vs Ionic

With streamlined tools, features, and even personalised widgets, Flutter provides a comprehensive user experience. There are no restrictions on how you can personalise your user interface once you grasp FutureBuilder, StreamBuilder, and AnimationBuilder. Dart includes a feature called generational garbage collection that aids in the creation of UI frames for perhaps transient object codes. By allocating objects within a single pointer bump, Dart’s functionality prevents UI clutter, garbage, and shutter of animation latency while the application is being developed.

For both iOS and Android applications, Ionic provides a rich, seamless in-app experience that enables persistent and transient UI navigation that closely resembles native navigation. Its hybrid strategy does away with the requirement to upload an updated version to the app stores. This makes it possible for features to develop quickly.

Testing – Flutter vs Ionic

Flutter has strong support for automated testing because it uses the Dart programming language. The ready-to-use unit test framework in Flutter makes unit testing a breeze for developers who have experience with Mocha, Spek, or Spec. The tools required for widget testing are provided by a library like Flutter test. XCUITest and Appium are two tools that may be used to simulate UI testing. An instrumental testing suite for widgets and integrated testing is provided by Dart packages like Flutter Driver.

Ionic apps are created using web-based technologies and testing them is often straightforward. Since the programme is tested using WebView across many browsers, you won’t need any additional testing equipment or emulators. To make the testing process more convenient, browsers come with built-in testing and debugging capabilities.

Flutter vs Ionic Developers: Find Efficient Developers

A flutter developer often costs $20 to $100 per hour to hire. For major firms like Alibaba, BMW, Watermaniac, PostMuse, and others to create their applications using Flutter, it only took five developers. It not only makes it easier for developers to write code, but it also makes it simpler for new developers to comprehend that code. You don’t need to recruit several experienced developers because even a rookie developer can be trained quickly using Flutter and Dart due to their affordable training costs.

Depending on their skill set and years of experience, Ionic experts may be hired for an average fee of $10 per hour to $150 per hour. However, it is advised to work with a specialist team of Ionic developers to handle the development process if your application has a complex structure.

Code Maintainability – Flutter vs Ionic

A Flutter application is simple to maintain. The code’s clarity aids developers in finding problems, locating outside tools, and supporting third-party libraries. Additionally, the stateful Hot Reloading feature immediately fixes the current problems. It is seen to be better to release updates in a timely manner and make rapid modifications to the programme.

Code maintenance is a significant difficulty when using Ionic because developers frequently find themselves having to rewrite codes to keep their applications stable. What makes things worse is that backward compatibility frequently breaks, which makes the experience more irritating.

The most popular applications built with Flutter and Ionic

Apps made with Flutter:

Google Ads – Used Flutter’s static utility classes, Dart packages, and Firebase Admob plugins to create a portable user interface for iOS and Android.

Tencent – With fewer than 5 developers, they created a multi-platform connected and shared device experience for users.

Alibaba – Developed a high FPS, single-codebase navigation experience for all applications.

eBay – Integrated Flutter and Firebase to create autoML for eBay Motors, leveraging sophisticated and customizable edge-powered AI features.

BMW – Used flutter bloc for management while creating high-performance user interfaces.

Reflect – Switched to the Flutter framework and used the StreamBuilder widget to provide high-quality data events to enhance data synchronisation.

Apps made with Ionic:

TD Ameritrade Mobile – In order to deter hackers, TD Ameritrade Mobile developed a user-friendly application for both novice and seasoned traders that strengthened security by incorporating facial and touch authentication.

Sworkit – By building a single codebase to construct its iOS and Android apps, the company cut the development time in half and saved over $200K per year in additional labour.

MarketWatch – In addition to being familiar with existing technologies, we improved user experience by utilising features like code reuse, WebView, reuse of the existing framework, and plugins.

Diesel – Found new branding opportunities and made it easier for merchandising teams to report on and analyse store and product performance.

Microsoft Flow – For enterprise-grade, lag-free performance, Ionic was integrated with Azure and AAD authentication to create a process automation engine.

Ionic vs. Flutter: Future-friendly

If you are thinking about switching from ionic to flutter then it won’t be easy because it can take some time. The project’s lifespan and the freedom and flexibility you’ll have as your app develops are the final things to think about. Developers of Flutter are placing all of their eggs in the Flutter basket, which means that if Google abandons the project your skill set and codebase will be functionally homeless.

By using Ionic, you’re placing your bet on the web, ensuring that no matter what platform you decide to build on in the future, all of your work will still adhere to open web standards. Additionally, you may use Ionic with any JS framework because it is based on Web Components. That’s crucial because, even if React and Vue are popular right now, that might not be the case tomorrow.

Conclusion

Here you can see a clear difference between ionic and flutter. To conclude, here is a tabular comparison of Flutter vs Ionic:

Characteristic	Flutter	Ionic
Language used	Dart is used	HTML, Javascript and CSS are used
Runtime	Custom graphics engine	Web browser
Elements of User Interface	Propriety widgets	Ionic components are Web Components that adhere to standards
Portability of Code	Utilises one code base	Flexible high-end apps perform better
Learning Curve	Dart language, Android, iOS, and native development fundamentals are required	Should be familiar with Angular and JavaScript, as well as the CLI, HTML, and CSS
Library/ Documentation	We can find all the information we need in its well-organized, more instructive documentation	The developers are also given well-organized documentation by it. Its libraries are subject to change at any time because it is still in the development stage
Native API access	Using native packages for Flutter, a native plugin library	Utilizing Capacitor with Cordova, a native plugin library
Mobile performance	Is Excellent	Is Good
Web performance	Is Good	Is Excellent
Popular Apps	Some examples are Google Ads, Alibaba, Cryptograph, etc	Examples include Pacifica, Just watch, Nationwide, etc

If you are thinking about having a flutter application for your business then you need to hire a Flutter developer that can create a customized application.

Consult with a Flutter Development Company like Tagline Infotech to get the best flutter application to take your business to a next level.