Migrating a native app to Flutter: a strategy guide for decision makers
Decision-maker's view on Flutter add-to-app - why, when, and how to organize the migration.
Migrating a native app to Flutter doesn't have to mean a big-bang rewrite. For most enterprise teams, legacy mobile app modernization works best as a gradual process: with Flutter add-to-app, you convert the native app to Flutter screen by screen while it keeps shipping to users.
The strategic tier is written for decision makers: CTOs, VPs of engineering, product leaders, and anyone who has to defend the migration plan to a board or a budget committee.
It covers why and when add-to-app makes sense, the trade-offs in planning the migration, and the team and ownership questions. In our experience, those last ones often decide whether the migration ever finishes.
What is Flutter add-to-app?
How embedding Flutter in a native app lets you adopt Flutter gradually, without a rewrite.
When should you consider it?
The situations where add-to-app pays off, and the ones where a full rewrite is the better answer.
Limitations of Flutter add-to-app
Engine startup, memory, developer experience: the real limitations of Flutter add-to-app and how to work around them.
Why a framework?
The recurring add-to-app problems that pushed us to build Inlay.
Planning the migration
Picking the first screen, phased rollouts, and planning the exit to a pure Flutter app from day one.
How much does it cost?
What drives the cost and timeline of migrating a native app to Flutter, and how to estimate it per screen.
Organizing your team
Team shape, hiring vs upskilling, platform team, and ownership of the native-Flutter boundary.