This isn't another "which is better" article. I've built real apps in both React Native and Flutter, and the honest answer is: it depends.
When I Reach for React Native
If the team already knows JavaScript/TypeScript, React Native is the obvious choice. The ecosystem is massive, npm packages cover almost everything, and sharing logic with a Next.js web app is trivial.
For startups that need to move fast and might pivot, React Native's flexibility and the ability to share code across web and mobile is a real advantage.
When Flutter Makes More Sense
Flutter's rendering engine means pixel-perfect UI across platforms with zero platform-specific quirks. If the app is heavily custom UI — think animations, complex layouts, branded experiences — Flutter delivers consistency that React Native sometimes struggles with.
Dart is also a genuinely pleasant language once you get past the initial learning curve.
Performance in 2026
Both are fast enough for 95% of apps. The "React Native is slow" narrative is outdated — the new architecture with Fabric and TurboModules has closed the gap significantly. Flutter was always fast.
My Default?
For most client projects, I default to React Native because my web stack is already TypeScript-heavy. But I genuinely enjoy Flutter and reach for it when the project calls for it.