Flutter Apps: Why Businesses of All Sizes Choose to Build Them

With over 6 billion smartphone users globally, businesses, both large and small, are on a quest to find the most impactful way to engage a larger audience. And entering the realm of cross-platform development seems to be a smart choice. 

According to a recent study by Globe Newswire, the global revenue for the cross-platform app development industry is poised to reach a whopping US$120 billion in 2023. Plus, the forecast suggests a 16.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for global demand in the next decade, up to 2033. 

So, how can businesses leverage this trend to build apps that are not only cost-effective but also highly efficient? A short answer is Flutter apps. In this article, we’d like to explain why you should seriously consider this option, featuring some bright success stories and the best Flutter apps examples.

Key reasons businesses build Flutter apps

When it comes to picking a framework for cross-platform mobile app development, Flutter stands out with a host of advantages that make it the go-to choice for businesses. More and more companies already use Flutter as their preferred cross-platform framework for launching an app, and here’s why: 

Cross-platform efficiency. Flutter's unified codebase facilitates the creation of apps for both Android and iOS, enabling developers to use a single codebase for both platforms. This capability substantially reduces development time and expenses.

High performance. Apps made with Flutter showcase exceptional performance due to the compiled code, which is a crucial element in guaranteeing a smooth and seamless user experience.

Beautiful UI. Flutter offers a wide range of customizable widgets, enabling developers to create stunning and consistent interfaces across multiple platforms.

Efficient compilation. Flutter supports both Just-In-Time (JIT) and Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation. JIT enhances code performance by translating interpreted code to native code in real time. AOT, on the other hand, optimizes app execution during the creation phase, ensuring smoother performance.

Lower development cost. Flutter apps generally cost 30%—40% less than native apps. A single codebase that caters to both Android and iOS not only helps companies reduce the cost to develop an app but also eliminates the need for separate development teams and saves time.

Fast development. Flutter’s “hot reload” feature enables real-time code changes and instant previews, speeding up the development process and decreasing time to market.

Large and active community. Flutter's thriving community serves as a robust support system for businesses, offering an extensive knowledge base. Since Flutter is an open-source framework, anyone can take part in its development and success. Plus, such a vibrant community of developers ensures that any problem-solving becomes a breeze.

Proven success. Flutter has proven its reliability, earning the trust of the most reputable companies like Google, eBay, BMW, and others. This promises its enduring relevance for businesses seeking to develop top-notch and budget-friendly apps. And we see that Flutter's robust track record will experience continued growth in the future.

"Flutter has earned a stellar reputation in app development by addressing a crucial challenge in cross-platform development: application performance and resource efficiency.

In terms of growth potential, Flutter demonstrates exceptional promise. With a rapidly expanding developer community and high-quality materials for studying from Google, Flutter benefits from a large number of implemented libraries that solve common tasks, and large services (Stripe, Agora, etc.) have added platform support to their SDKs.

Such an ecosystem empowers businesses of any size to leverage the full potential of Flutter, resulting in innovative and feature-rich applications."

Andrei Savich, CTO at SolveIt

Flutter apps examples from established companies

Having already explored the reasons behind companies opting for this framework, let's now delve into some standout examples of successful apps built with Flutter:

Xianyu

Company: Alibaba Group

🙋 Target audience: Chinese consumers interested in buying and selling secondhand goods.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app

Xianyu has made a big impact in the e-commerce world, boasting over 300 million registered users and earning its place as a standout player in the industry. A key factor in its success? The smart use of Flutter for app development.

Crafted by the Alibaba Group, the Xianyu app has soared to success, attracting millions of users and solidifying its position as a leading marketplace for secondhand goods in China. Thanks to Flutter, Xianyu delivers a seamless cross-platform experience. This efficient integration has resulted in speedy load times, smooth navigation, and consistent performance across both Android and iOS devices.

Google Ads

Company: Google

🙋 Target audience: Marketers, advertisers, and businesses managing online advertising campaigns.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app

The Google Ads team selected Flutter for its capacity to deliver accelerated development cycles, aesthetically pleasing and customizable widgets, and the ability to build apps that look and feel like native ones.

This decision sparked a mobile advertising revolution. Tailored Google Ads features like paid keyword optimization, ad creation and editing, advanced insights, and campaign management alerts completely transformed the landscape for online marketers.

Google's strategic move to create a Flutter app wasn't just a choice – it was a game-changer that helps advertisers efficiently oversee their ad campaigns, track performance, and make precision-driven decisions based on real-time data.

eBay Motors

Company: eBay

🙋 Target audience: Car owners, mechanics, auto enthusiasts, and businesses involved in the automotive industry.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app

Standing among the most successful apps built with Flutter, eBay Motors aims to provide a comprehensive online marketplace to a wide-ranging audience, offering a dedicated platform for individuals and businesses alike to buy and sell vehicles, automotive parts, and accessories. 

Flutter not only streamlined the development process but also contributed to the app's efficiency, allowing users to effortlessly navigate through listings, place bids, and connect with sellers.

My BMW

Company: BMW Group

🙋 Target audience: BMW owners.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app

Developed in-house, the My BMW app serves as a universal interface, seamlessly connecting drivers to their vehicles. Offering features such as remote operation, Amazon Alexa integration, and enhanced services for electrified vehicles, the app provides a holistic solution for BMW enthusiasts. 

After years of predominantly concentrating on their iOS version, the BMW team acknowledged that the gap in features and design between their iOS and Android offerings had become too substantial. Thus, BMW engineers decided to explore cross-platform solutions. Since no other frameworks matched the desired user experience without web-based content, they opted to create a Flutter app. 

This innovative approach allowed the BMW team to ensure scalability and enable easy implementation of continuous app updates.

Realtor.com Real Estate

Company: Realtor.com

🙋 Target audience: Individuals interested in buying, selling, or renting residential properties.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app  

The Realtor.com apps for iOS and Android were released in 2010. However, moving forward, the team recognized the need for a unified approach to app development, as the original apps were hard to scale. Plus, both iOS and Android teams found themselves addressing very similar problems, which were beyond inefficient.  

After switching to Flutter, the team saw a significant productivity boost by developing features only once for both their Android and iOS apps, with no negative impact on the app's performance or user experience.

Flutter apps: Inspiring success stories

What apps use Flutter in other industries? It’s time to discover more success stories:

Groupon

Company: Groupon

🙋 Target audience: Bargain-seeking consumers interested in discovering discounted deals, offers, and promotions.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app  

When Groupon sought to elevate its in-app functionality, the decision to integrate Flutter into an existing solution proved strategic. Rather than embarking on a complex journey of rewriting code, Groupon opted for Flutter's seamless integration, enhancing the app's performance and user interface.

Now Groupon is one of the best Flutter apps examples which trailblazed in the realm of online deals. With exclusive coupons and deals at their fingertips, users easily navigate through unique offers for specific brands and explore a myriad of discounts.

Tencent Apps

Company: Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Tencent, a technological powerhouse in China, has embraced Flutter for the development of its diverse range of applications, including gaming, social media, and beyond. Flutter's exceptional flexibility has enabled Tencent to seamlessly integrate it into various projects, both transitioning existing apps and building new ones from scratch.

Notably, Flutter accelerated debugging and reduced team efforts by 33%. Among the most popular Tencent apps made with Flutter are Mr. Translator, Qidian, and DingDang, to name a few.

Philips Hue

Company: Philips

🙋 Target audience: Smart homeowners looking to enhance their homes with intelligent lighting options.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app  

Being at the forefront of intelligent solutions, Philips embraced Flutter to elevate their mobile app for controlling smart lights, Philips Hue. Despite initial challenges, the transition to Flutter was indeed transformative. The app's functionality and performance remained efficient while prompting streamlined development and the delegation of teams to more critical areas. 

This success story not only highlights the power of Flutter in the development of high-performance intelligent home apps but also positions Flutter as a game-changer for companies aiming to innovate in the dynamic home sector.

SpaceX GO

Company: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation

🙋 Target audience: Space enthusiasts, followers of SpaceX launches, and individuals interested in real-time information about SpaceX missions.

Who would have thought 5 years ago that Flutter apps would tap into space exploration? A Flutter development enthusiast from Spain proved it right by developing an unofficial open-source SpaceX launch tracker. The app leverages the open-source r/SpaceX REST API, ensuring a fast and user-friendly interface for enthusiasts tracking SpaceX launches.

ByteDance apps

Company: ByteDance Ltd.

ByteDance is a company that created TikTok and its Chinese counterpart, Douyin, popular video-sharing social networking services and apps. In 2019, their team embarked on a transformative journey, recognizing the need for a more efficient approach to app development. In search of an advanced toolkit, they turned to Flutter. It not only streamlined their workflow but also reduced the need for frequent updates by enabling automatic synchronization between Android, iOS, and web versions. 

Flagship apps like Lark, Xingfuli, Jike, Xiaohe, and Volcano experienced an increase in team productivity, with over 700 Flutter developers actively contributing to ByteDance's thriving ecosystem now.

Top 5 Flutter apps in 2023

Flutter remains at the forefront of active development, and 2023 is certainly no different. Let’s explore the standout Flutter apps making waves this year.

GoodHabitz 

Company: GoodHabitz 

🙋 Target audience: Professionals seeking online learning opportunities for personal and career development.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app  

GoodHabitz is a cutting-edge online learning platform. Boasting an extensive library of courses covering diverse topics, from leadership skills to technical proficiency, GoodHabitz makes learning super easy. With a cool blend of innovation and a commitment to lifelong learning, GoodHabitz has become a valuable resource for 1500+ businesses.

KlasterMe

Company: KlasterMe

🙋 Target audience: Creators, bloggers, and photographers.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app

KlasterMe is another example of a Flutter app that stands out in 2023. The platform's use of strategically placed hashtag feeds ensures that users stay informed about trending topics and have the opportunity to gain recognition. KlasterMe's one-click accessibility and endless possibilities for finding, creating, and sharing content make it a vibrant space for those looking to explore and contribute to a thriving online community.

Reflectly

Company: Reflectly

🙋 Target audience: Individuals seeking a structured and personalized approach to journaling.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app 

Reflectly is a cool journaling app that provides a personalized journey for users. Its use of artificial intelligence sets it apart from traditional journaling apps, offering tailored prompts and insights based on individual preferences. Flutter's near-instant hot reloading, high performance, and ease of code maintenance contributed to Reflectly's impressive jump in ratings on app stores.

PostMuse

Company: PostMuse

🙋 Target audience: Individuals and businesses leveraging Instagram for social media marketing and personal expression.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app 

As a cool Instagram Story editing app, PostMuse offers a streamlined solution for users looking to enhance their social media presence. Built with Flutter, the app not only provides essential templates but also recommends the best pictures, stickers, and fonts, contributing to eye-pleasing Stories.

GetEase

Company: GetEase

🙋 Target audience: Individuals seeking convenient access to health and beauty services.

🔗 Android app

🔗 iOS app 

GetEase is an innovative on-demand lifestyle service marketplace, revolutionizing the way how customers connect with trusted health and beauty providers. Eliminating the need for manual searches, GetEase automatically matches users with the needed professionals.

Collaborating closely with one of Flutter app development companies, the GetEase team managed to create a reliable and scalable application that prioritizes an exceptional user experience.

Conclusion

We hope that the success stories across various industries helped you better see Flutter's great impact on the business landscape. Whether you’re looking to build an MVP or planning to revamp your existing app, Flutter can become your solid foundation for success. 

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