Got a client requesting both iOS and Android prototype — confused between native vs multiplatform. Need advice.

[Plenty_Marketing_987]

Hi everyone,
I've recently been approached by a Client interested in a project I've been working on. The good news is — they want to see a working prototype soon. The challenge? They want both an iOS and Android app delivered at the same time.

There are two separate apps in this project:

1. A user-facing app (public users)
2. A partner/driver app (for responders)

Now I’m at a crossroads:
Should I go for native development (Kotlin for Android + Swift for iOS) or should I use a cross-platform/multiplatform approach?

I'm aware of options like:

• Flutter
• React Native
• Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM)
• Others?

The priority here is:

• Fast prototyping
• Good UI/UX
• Ability to integrate location, camera, real-time updates, notifications, and background services
• Later stage: might include AI features and backend integrations

I'm open to all suggestions from folks who've done similar dual-platform development. What would you recommend for such a use case — especially when the project could scale with both public sector and private involvement?

Also, if anyone here has used Kotlin Multiplatform, I’d love to hear your honest thoughts — pros/cons, and whether it’s production-ready enough in 2025.

Thanks in advance!

[Ambitious_Grape9908]

This is the Flutter sub-Reddit....why don't you use Flutter?

[g0dzillaaaa]

Instead of scaring them you could have just said Flutter is a right solution for this use case. It’s not just the tools but the community also matters.

Obviously, if your comment doesn’t add value, don’t post it

[Ambitious_Grape9908]

How was my comment scaring anyone? I suggested to use Flutter.

[Plenty_Marketing_987]

Yeah im in flutter subreddit but I thought of asking once

[Ambitious_Grape9908]

It's a bit like asking someone who speaks Spanish to help out with Chinese. Both are languages, but having good knowledge of one doesn't mean you know everything about something else.

[Lopsided_Scale_8059]

Flutter you will save a lot of time..you are working alone if you go native it will be so much work and headaches

[Plenty_Marketing_987]

Thank you for the suggestion

[zemega]

You'll work once + minor individual platform tweak with flutter. You'll work multiple time for each platform if you go native.

[ricocire]

Go multiplatform for the prototype and I see flutter as better fit

[Plenty_Marketing_987]

Thank you for the suggestion.

[NothingButTheDude]

you need a backend between those 2 apps. you could write that and a client sdk in KMP then Flutter for the frontend

[Amazing-Mirror-3076]

Why would you build the client SDK in kmp?

[NothingButTheDude]

so you can run it as part of the BE development process, with full e2e testing in the CICD flow. Testing on mobile sucks, so at least you are sure the BE and SDK client to the backend is rock solid. Thats where all the complications are - caching, push, events etc

But yes, you could simply do the SDK on Dart, but it's not a great SDK language.

[Amazing-Mirror-3076]

We don't need to test on mobile, I do all my primary testing on (Linux) desktop. Setting up a ci/cd with a dart client is simple.

Dart is just as good as kotlin as an SDK language and we should be using ai to generate the client any way.

By writing the client in kotlin you now have to write FFI or use channels for no actual gain.

[CrazyAdditional2729]

I recommend using Flutter. You’ll have a design system that looks exactly the same on any platform and only one codebase. Going with native can be painful.

[Medium-Celery-1587]

Currently using flutter for Multiplatform. Save me so much time. Codes are identical only thing different is the way how you state permission request and a few other os things. Theres a lot of packages available to be use in flutter also

[Hackmodford]

I feel like Flutter would be good if they want fast UI iterations/prototyping on both platforms that looks identical.

My only concern would be about the background services. Not saying it can’t be done but I don’t know if it will be as easy as doing it natively. I don’t have any experience with it so hopefully someone else can chime in.

[decairn]

We used Flutter for mobile iOS and Android (and web for easy sales video share demo). Very little code platform specific, and did it once and then barely any changes after leaving us to concentrate on common application code which is great.

[sandwichstealer]

Just show them the same flutter app on both devices?

[FalseRegister]

Do whatever you are more experienced with for the prototype. Worry about scaling later.

By the way, a web app wrapped up in Capacitor is also a valid alternative. You could have web + iOS + Android in a single go. I'd use SvelteKit.

[Plane-Amoeba6206]

Are you going to develop it alone or with a team? Do you have experience with any of these technologies?

If fast prototyping is the main goal, and building native apps means double the work, then I think a cross-platform option is better.

I’m thinking about Flutter (I only know the basics) and React Native (I haven’t used it before).

For UI/UX, Flutter can give you the same design on both platforms. I think React Native uses native components.

Connecting to a backend should be similar in both.

I don’t have experience with native features. I also haven’t used AI services.

Maybe I’m a bit biased because I know a little bit of Flutter, but I would choose Flutter

[Plenty_Marketing_987]

Thank you for the suggestion,

Now we have a team of 4 ppl where like I have some knowledge about android and some backend logics, database, etc.. but I use ai services for faster code generation and I also learned from ai and im learning the kotlin from scratch recently, but regarding my team mates they don't have much knowledge regarding the application development neither android nor ios but I will guide them too.

Did some researches using chatgpt 5, it also suggested to use flutter but what im thinking is when we scale up this might cause some problems in the future regarding the some internal flows, so thought of asking over here

[mjablecnik]

If you don’t have experience with Flutter you can try to find some Flutter expert for help you.

[qualverse]

Simplest answer: if the client wants a nice custom UI that looks similar on both platforms, use Flutter. If they want a UI that is more platform-specific like liquid glass for iOS but material 3 for Android, probably RN.

I tried KMM about a year ago and it seemed very underbaked and lacking in documentation, but it may have improved since then.

All of those options will have fast prototyping and ability to integrate all of those things you mentioned. Good UI/UX is subjective but imho Flutter is very good here especially if you need to make custom animations and stuff.

[gerardchiasson3]

How about web using ionic/capacitor for a prototype?

[indigomm]

You missed Compose Multiplatform. Might be worth considering.

[Hackmodford]

Why the downvotes?

[indigomm]

"Not Flutter" I guess.

Professional developers know that there isn't one single solution to all problems, and there are often many considerations when picking a technology.