Kotlin Multiplatform vs Flutter: Which Is Better for Your App Development?

There is a large pool to choose from when it comes to cross-platform app development. We understand that it is complicated to pick one when so many are accessible.

However, we are here to make things much easier for you. It is always an ambiguous answer to a definitive question like which cross-platform framework suits your business best. 

Two of the most promising options in the answer include Kotlin multi-platform and Flutter.

Each one has its strengths and weaknesses.

We will break down what separates these two frameworks apart and how important they can be to your business. But before we do that let’s break down some facts about these languages.

• According to the Stack Overflow Survey of developers of 2023, Kotlin was preferred by 9.06% of developers around the world.
  
• Another report from the PYPL index states that the market share for Kotlin is 1.75%.
  
• The TIOBE Index states that Kotlin was rated as one of the top 20 most popular programming languages in the world with a rating of 0.85%.
  
• On the other hand, Flutter was preferred by 9.12% of developers around the world according to the Stack Overflow Survey of 2023.
  
• Flutter is based on Dart programming language which ranks at 28 in the TIOBE Index with ratings of 0.58%.
  
  

Understanding Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform was developed by JetBrains to facilitate flexible cross-platform development.

You can develop apps for multiple platforms and effectively reuse the code across the app to instill native app features.

This can also develop apps for iOS, Android, server-side, web, and multiple other platforms. 

Once the Kotlin code is shared, it is integrated into any project.

Not only do the language features allow you to utilize platform-specific APIs, but also eliminate the need for deciding between native or cross-platform app development.

Key Features and Benefits

Code Reusability

The best thing about KMP is that it allows you to write code for a platform once and then regurgitate it in other platforms if you want to, without re-writing it.

For instance, APIs are specific to a particular platform. Native platforms utilize APIs that are developed by the creators of a framework.

However, in KMP you can develop your common API with platform-specific capabilities utilized for cross-platform app development. 

You can also easily add a new feature or functionality with the help of KMP. If an Android or iOS application exists and a distinct feature needs to be added in both, KMP is here to save the day curtail development time, and facilitate convenience. 

Kotlin Language

Due to consistency in coding languages, the iOS and Android developers found working with Kotlin a lot more convenient as it uses only the Kotlin programming language.

• The Stack Overflow Survey of developers of 2022 suggested that Flutter is more popular and preferred than Kotlin as the numbers showed 12.64% to 9.16% in popularity amongst developers.

• However, the 2023 Stack Overflow Survey shows a significant drop in both these languages with Kotlin standing at 9.06% and Flutter at 9.12%

About JavaScript, Kotlin offers more compilation safety. This implies that if a minor issue surfaces, the developers are notified of it before the compilation has been executed.

As developers can now detect bugs early on, this feature boosts productivity.

Also due to the high traction for Kotlin in the developers’ community, many developers are active, deriving solutions for new problems in the framework. 

Platform-specific code

There is carte blanche accessibility for the developer when it comes to using platform-specific code.

An iOS UI in Swift UI and an Android UI in Jetpack Compose UI can be integrated as a common codebase for business logic. 

A KMP library can also be used such as Compose Multiplatform which will allow the sharing of both UI and business logic.

Regardless of this, if a certain feature demands different approaches for the two platforms, there are other tricks up Kotlin Multiplatform’s sleeve to solve the issues and add to a common codebase. 

Easy to Learn

Kotlin is quite a simple and convenient language to understand. It is statically typed and is the ideal choice for developers who are new to cross-platform development.

Due to the concision of the language, more code can be written in less time. While developing code for two different platforms, this becomes a big advantage for you. 

Future-driven

JetBrains, the company that developed Kotlin also made Kotlin Multiplatform.

This implies that the company is going to work on their product for years which leads to future-driven results for the framework.

This is significant since cross-platform frameworks are notorious for being outdated shortly.

A framework with not much maintenance creates issues to solve any issues encountered in it. 

Understanding Flutter 

The counterpart to Kotlin Multiplatform, Flutter provides cross-platform app development as well making it a healthy competitor of Kotlin Multiplatform.

It allows the development of native cross-platform apps with a single language and codebase. Not just that, it also builds an app that does not entail a specific platform but for both iOS as well as Android that can later be released worldwide. 

It was first launched in 2018 and mainly supported mobile app development. Flutter now oversees six platforms namely Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, MacOS, and the web. 

Features and Benefits of Flutter

As Kotlin Multiplatform’s age-old rival, it is obvious that some multiple features and benefits define Flutter. These features and functionalities have taken to great heights and keep on continuing to do so:

Dart Programming Language

Flutter utilizes the open-source, modern programming language Dart and has been created to be interactive and convenient to use, consisting of a robust community of developers. I

Its USP is the functionality approach of its codebase on multiple platforms. Developers make use of their code in Dart and utilize native code for every targeted platform.

Due to the code’s reusability, a consistent user interface can be observed on multiple platforms. 

Google Assistance and Community

Certain development use cases are unique and allow the gateway of possibilities for new plugins, packages, or capabilities.

The recency of this platform is compensated by its ever-increasing community of developers creating newer and better open-source UI components.

The Google team also responds to user feedback and keeps on extending Flutter’s limits and boundaries.

Multi-Platform Features

Being a cross-platform framework, Flutter saves time, effort, and cost for both clients and their developers.

Flutter is the ideal pick for most of the companies who want to create an app from scratch. They can also pivot the existing software to Flutter, one element at a time.

Such an approach allows companies to focus on a low-overhead future which is also scalable for their significant applications. 

OS support for web and desktop applications

App development in this day and age implies ‘mobile app development’ however, there is also an unexplored market to prospect beyond the world of iOS and Android app development.

Flutter in this area emerges as the obvious winner since its development team has integrated its support for web app development with Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

A single codebase is then allowed to elevate its horizons and reach a wider audience.

Flutter vs Kotlin Multiplatform- A Comparative Study

Now that you understand the individual traits of both these frameworks, it is time we dissect them based on certain categories determining which one has the upper hand in each one. So let’s begin:

Performance

When it comes to the development and iteration speed of an app, Flutter is the best example of it. This is because the apps developed are automatically compiled into machine code.

It renders every component with its rendering engine without the widgets offered by the web view or the device’s OEM.

This widget collection contains a complete range of platform variations like navigations, scrolling, typefaces, and other UI elements. 

Kotlin on the other hand, has its code sharing abilities that can help in enhancing the development speed of the app, however, the development experience might be diametrically opposite to that of Flutter’s hot reload feature. 

Performance Conclusion: From the above information, it is clear that Flutter outperforms Kotlin Multiplatform when it comes to iteration and development speed.

However, it is still too early to say anything about Kotlin Multiplatform.

Learning Curve

When it comes to Flutter, it is quite simple and convenient to understand if you are familiar with the Dart programming language.

The simple and extensive documentation facilitates learning for anyone new to the language and framework regardless of their prior experience with other languages.

Additionally, UI development becomes simpler as well due to the descriptive UI library as well as components of Dart. Dart’s layout makes it easier for the developer to understand and implement due to its easy-to-read and visual language. 

It is not very difficult to learn Kotlin. Its interoperability with Java makes it all the more easier for developers to learn the language.

Google provides enough courses and material for budding developers who want to learn to input and execute this language.

However, due to the implementation of Kotlin multiplatform, the developers are focusing more on the platform itself than the language which makes the learning process relatively difficult than Flutter but easy, nonetheless.  

Learning Curve Feature Conclusion: It is quite evident that both these frameworks are easy to learn with their simple syntax and extensive documentation, however, due to Kotlin’s focus on its Multiplatform counterpart, Flutter is the winner. 

Community support and resources

Just like in the previous categories, the options seem limitless when it comes to Flutter and its ecosystem. It incorporates a wide range of available resources and a robust community.

It also contains a rich network of plugins and packages that allow developers smart solutions when they seem to hit a brick wall during development.

Kotlin Multiplatform, on the other hand, is not there yet. Due to its strong ecosystem and growing community, it does not nearly sufficient resources to assist the developer in figuring out a solution to their issues.

Comparatively less extensive to Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform is still a growing ecosystem specifically when it comes to third-party plugins and libraries. 

Support and resources feature Summary: This implies that due to a shorter-lived life, Kotlin Multiplatform lacks leverage on Flutter when it comes to its community and resources.

However, it still inculcates certain unique resources addressing the unique problems of the developer.

Tooling and Developer’s Ecosystem

Due to its wide range of available resources, it is no surprise that Flutter entails a range of versatile tools to its rescue. It consists of in-built widgets as well as design tools.

To support customized solutions, you can utilize design hierarchies as well as widget architecture. You can also develop more unique and as well as consistent UIs with this architecture. 

The best tooling that Kotlin Multiplatform offers its developers is its reusable code. Since it becomes a hassle to write separate code for multiple platforms, it becomes much easier to reuse the same code you have written once.

Hence, you can execute your command easily on different platforms. 

Developer’s Conclusion: This one evens the playground for a bit since both these frameworks are equally delivering on the solution scale.

The different approaches are the only reason to pick one above the other otherwise. Specific businesses use both Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter for an array of tools that aid them in specific ways. 

Conclusion

Now that you understand the realities and facts of both these frameworks, we leave the verdict for you to decide which one is better.

Although Flutter being the better of the two, Kotlin Multiplatform has still much room to grow and has a lot of potential to unravel. 

Picking one above the other entirely depends on your business needs and requirements.

Consider the framework whose USP better suits your business instead of picking the better one.  

Frequently Asked Question

1. How do Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter differ in languages?

Kotlin Multiplatform utilizes Kotlin which is a statically typed, modern, and complex language to learn and execute. Flutter uses Dart programming language due to its convenient and simple learning curve. 

2. Can one use Native libraries in Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter?

Yes, multiple existing native libraries in Kotlin Multiplatform support this framework’s integration into the code facilitating platform-specific features. Flutter offers the same including the libraries and native code through platform channels permitting ease of access to developers for native functionality. 

3. For a small-scale project, which one might be more suitable?

Due to its beginner-friendly nature and descriptive documentation, Flutter is the better choice. Kotlin requires you to learn the Kotlin programming language which is makes it a steeper learning curve than Flutter. 

4. What are maintenance and updates like in Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter?

Both frameworks support a single codebase which makes things easier for developers to update and manage these platforms only once. However, the maintenance convenience varies based on the complexity and specific features of the application.