Swift vs Flutter: Which is Best for iOS App Development in 2021

When it comes to iOS app development, Swift and Flutter are the two most popular frameworks that play a vital role in the market. However, it would not be wrong to say that Flutter is the most preferred language among mobile app developers globally. Undoubtedly, Swift provides a solid competition to Flutter and creates a dilemma of choosing the right platform for iOS app development. With the increasing demand for Hybrid mobile app development, the Flutter vs Swift battle is getting fueled.
So, if you are confused between Swift vs Flutter for developing a successful iOS business app for 2021, here is a detailed comparison between both frameworks. Before that, let’s learn each platform individually first for a better understanding.
What is Swift?
Swift is one of the most powerful and intuitive programming languages for the iOS world in 2021. This modern language keeps adding new features regularly to enhance the experience of developers. The reasons developers love Swift for iOS apps are writing Swift code is interactive and fun, it is safe by design and it still develops fast and powerful apps for business. The tech giant Apple offers various features to the language, such as exceptional tools, frameworks and documentation to work with native apps efficiently.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is an open-source mobile software development kit, which is widely used for cross-platform. Launched and maintained by Google, this platform is widely used for developing highly efficient hybrid apps from Dart language and a single codebase. This platform provides you with detailed documentation for every development project. Flutter is ideal for making dynamic hybrid app development.
Detailed Comparison: Swift Vs. Flutter
Both Flutter and Swift are widely used frameworks among iOS app developers. So, it is very challenging to select the right platform for your successful iOS application. But, don’t worry! Here is a detailed comparison of mobile app development between Swift Vs. Flutter.
#1 – Development Time
With Swift, Xcode or Xcode build command line is used for measuring the development time of native iOS apps. Here, it is a clean build tool that usually takes around 13.334 seconds to develop an iOS application. However, a consecutive build takes less than a second in Xcode.
With Flutter, you can use the same command line to find out the app’s development time. But, finding that time on Flutter is slower than Swift. However, it can become relatively faster if you move past the threshold of initial clean builds.
Winner:
In development time, Flutter app development takes a little more time than Swift for clean builds. Well, Swift is the winner!
#2 – Performance
Swift is a great way to go if you have a big budget to build different apps for each platform. This native framework is ideal for developing smooth, fast and reliable applications.
Flutter apps provide native-level performance across all platforms as they use natively compiled code without interference. What’s more, the Flutter animation package makes it easy to develop a sleek, intuitive UI.
Winner:
Flutter performs virtually as well as Native Swift unless you need to make an iOS platform. But the fact is Swift is the winner in the case of iOS app performance.
#3 – Reloading Features
App development with Swift requires an array of changes in button names, data and accessibility. The reloading features help make changes to the application in real-time. It enables faster iOS app development and accurate evaluation.
Flutter comes with an excellent Hot Reload feature that helps make changes in-app as per your choice. You can find these changes on the simulator in a few seconds.
Winner:
When it comes to reloading apps, Flutter is faster than Swift. So, the winner is Flutter.
#4 – Process of Onboarding
To write the code for an iOS application, you need native tools and Xcode. This will help create a new project in Xcode easily. After that, you can name an app and choose Swift as the programming language. After filling in all details, Xcode will build an iOS template code and use them for developing a fantastic iOS application.
In Flutter, you need Xcode plus to develop an iOS. Moreover, you can use Android Studio or IntelliJ IDEA for flutter app development. After completing the setup for developing an iOS app, you can use all commands for building a new Flutter app.
Winner:
Swift wins the game! When comparing both platforms for the onboarding process, the integration process for Swift appears to be less stressful and less configurable.
The Bottom Line!
The Comparison discussed above clearly announces Swift is the winner. Undoubtedly, Flutter provides quick reload, but Swift is still better. While choosing Swift can be a perfect choice, this choice depends on you and your business’s requirements. For example, If you are looking for native iOS apps, Swift is the best way to go, while Flutter is perfect for hybrid apps development projects. If you want to know more about these frameworks, get in touch with a dedicated mobile app development company.