Android, Flutter, Kotlin & React — What I learned after getting confused myself
A personal, human guide that explains these terms simply — with real examples and my own beginner mistakes.
When I first started learning about mobile development, I was honestly super confused. Everywhere I looked people said Android, Flutter, Kotlin, React and it felt like everyone was speaking another language. If you’re here because you feel the same — good news: you’re not alone. Below I explain these tools like I wish someone had explained them to me, using plain language and small real-life examples.
1. Android — the base of it all
When someone says “Android” they usually mean apps made for phones that run Android. Android is the operating system from Google — like Windows for computers but for phones. When we talk about Android development, we mean building apps that run on those phones.
I still remember my first “Hello World” app. It did nothing fancy, but seeing it open on my cheap Android phone felt real — like I’d built something. Android apps are often written in Java or Kotlin, and most people use Android Studio as the main tool.
- Platform: Android OS
- Languages commonly used: Java, Kotlin
- Tool: Android Studio
2. Flutter — one code, two platforms
Flutter is a framework from Google. The big advantage: you write once, then run the same code on both Android and iPhone. For someone who doesn't want to build and maintain two separate apps, that’s a huge time-saver.
Flutter uses the Dart language. It feels friendly to pick up, especially if you already understand basic programming concepts. I made a tiny calculator in Flutter and the exact same app worked on my Android phone and on a friend's iPhone — that was the "aha" moment for me.
3. Kotlin — the official Android language
Kotlin is a programming language made by JetBrains and officially supported by Google for Android development. Think of Kotlin as a modern, cleaner version of Java — less boilerplate, fewer frustrations.
Learning Kotlin helped me understand how Android really works under the hood. After that, other frameworks made a lot more sense.
4. React Native — for the JavaScript people
React Native was made by Meta (Facebook). Like Flutter, it helps you build for Android and iPhone with one codebase — but it uses JavaScript. That makes it a friendly pick for web developers who already know HTML/CSS and JS.
From my experience, React Native felt familiar because of JavaScript. The trade-offs are slightly different from Flutter, but for many projects it’s a very practical choice.
Android vs Flutter vs Kotlin vs React — quick comparison
| Feature | Android (Native) | Flutter | Kotlin | React Native |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | OS / Platform | Framework | Language | Framework |
| Language | Java / Kotlin | Dart | Kotlin | JavaScript |
| Run on | Android only | Android + iOS + Web | Android only | Android + iOS + Web |
| Beginner difficulty | Medium | Easy–Medium | Medium | Easy if you know JS |
| Best for | Deep native Android features | Fast cross-platform UI | Native Android apps | Cross-platform with web skills |
Which one should you learn first?
This is the part I struggled with the most. From my experience:
- If you want Android-only apps: start with Kotlin.
- If you want both Android & iOS quickly: try Flutter.
- If you already know JavaScript/web: React Native is a natural fit.
- If you want deep device control: Native Android with Kotlin gives the most power.
A bit of my personal journey
I started with Flutter because the idea of one codebase felt awesome. I built small things and learned a lot. Still, there were moments I felt stuck because I didn't understand what was happening at the device level. So I took a step back and learned basic Android + Kotlin — and suddenly those gaps closed.
After that, diving back into Flutter or trying React Native felt easier. If you can, try the same: pick one path, stick with it long enough to finish a small project, and then iterate.
Final thoughts — your path matters more than the tool
These are just tools. Android, Flutter, Kotlin, React — none of them is "the enemy". They're different choices for different goals. The most important thing is to start building, make mistakes, fix them, and ship small projects. That practice is what turns confusion into confidence.
If you’re stuck deciding: pick one and commit for a few weeks. You’ll learn much more by building than by endlessly comparing options.
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