Detailed Comparison of Dart vs Kotlin: What to Choose in 2025?

Dart and Kotlin are two vastly popular programming languages with a rich ecosystem of dedicated users. Dart alongside its programming framework (Flutter) is famous in the cross-platform mobile app development space. Dart was originally designed for client side web development, which contributes to its versatility across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Kotlin on the other hand is the most popular programming language for building native Android apps. As a relatively new language, Kotlin has quickly gained popularity due to its modern features.

To choose between both options developers or businesses looking to build functional web and mobile apps have to compare their peculiarities while weighing their pros and cons. This post is a comprehensive guide on Dart vs Kotlin, providing an overview of each of them.

• Dart is an open-source programming language developed by Google and commonly used alongside Flutter to build web and mobile applications from a single code base. Dart also benefits from an active developer community that supports its rapid adoption and ecosystem growth.
• Kotlin is a general-purpose development language designed by JetBrains. It is currently one of the most popular languages used for native Android development and is considered a relatively new language with modern features.
• Dart and Kotlin share several similarities including a similar C-like syntax that’s easy to write and read.
• The main difference between Dart and Flutter is their respective use for cross-platform development in the case of Dart and native app development for Flutter.

Dart Overview

Dart is an open-source programming language developed by Google for client-side app development. Over time, it has evolved into a popular language for building web and mobile applications. Dart was initially designed with a focus on client-side web development, making it highly relevant for building modern web applications as well as cross-platform solutions.

Although it can be used to create software programs on its own, Dart is more popular as the foundation for the Flutter app development framework, a UI toolkit developed by Google for building cross-platform mobile apps. With this framework, developers can create fully responsive apps for mobile, web, and desktop platforms from a single codebase.

Dart is a modern object-oriented programming language, meaning it creates apps using reusable pieces of code known as objects. This allows developers to structure their app code in an organized manner promoting simplicity, performance, and scalability.

This language uses a clean C-style syntax which is easy to learn. It also comes with a set of ready-to-use libraries and packages that help simplify common tasks. Dart simplifies memory management through its garbage collection system, reducing the need for manual memory handling and minimizing potential errors for developers. This makes Dart an appealing option for building high-quality apps quickly and efficiently. To learn more about Dart and how it compares to popular languages and technologies, read our articles on “Swift vs Dart” and “Dart vs Flutter“.

Dart Examples

• Google Ads
• Tencent
• Dream11
• eBay Motors
• Nu Bank
• Reflactly

Dart’s Key Strengths

• Cross-platform development: Enables developers to build applications for mobile, web, and desktop using a single codebase.
• Integration with Flutter framework: Provides a rich set of pre-built widgets and tools for building responsive user interfaces quickly.
• Rapid development: Features like the hot reload feature allow developers to see changes instantly, speeding up the development process.
• Modern programming language: Offers a clean, easy-to-learn syntax inspired by C-style languages.
• Sound null safety: Helps prevent null pointer exceptions, improving code safety and reliability.
• Efficient memory management: Uses garbage collection to simplify memory handling and reduce errors.
• Strong community support: Backed by Google and a growing active developer community contributing to its ecosystem.
• Versatility: Suitable for client-side web development as well as mobile and desktop platforms.
• Asynchronous programming support: Uses Futures and async/await for managing asynchronous operations effectively.
• Performance: Compiles to native code with both Just-In-Time (JIT) and Ahead-Of-Time (AOT) compilation for optimized runtime performance.

Kotlin Overview

Kotlin is a general-purpose development language designed by JetBrains as a simpler alternative to the Java programming language. It is designed to be interoperable with JVM (Java virtual machine), Android, JavaScript, Java Class libraries, and other languages in the Java ecosystem. Kotlin is a programming language designed to be compatible with the JVM, Android, and JavaScript, offering streamlined syntax and productivity benefits.

Kotlin’s full interoperability means that developers can use it interchangeably with other Java-based languages and libraries within the same project. This makes it quite flexible and convenient to use. Consequently, Kotlin has grown to become one of the world’s most popular programming languages adopted by over 60% of professional Android developers.

In addition to its simple and concise syntax, Kotlin offers several other advantages over Java such as its improved type inference and better null safety. Kotlin supports functional programming, enabling developers to write more concise, modular, and reusable code. This makes it a popular choice for developers looking for a simpler and user-friendly alternative to Java.

It is a statically typed language commonly used alongside Java for server-side development, full-stack web development, and multiplatform mobile app development. While Kotlin is primarily famous for building apps for the Android platform, it can be used to build for other platforms as well including Apple iOS, Apple watchOS, and Linux. To learn more about Kotlin, its pros, and how it compares to other languages and technologies, read our articles on “Kotlin vs Swift” and “Flutter vs Kotlin“.

Kotlin Examples

• Google
• McDonald’s 
• Trello
• AWS
• Netflix
• Basecamp
• Airbnb
• Tinder

Kotlin’s Key Strengths

• Full interoperability with Java: Kotlin can be seamlessly integrated with existing Java libraries and code, allowing developers to use both Kotlin and Java code within the same project.
• Concise and expressive syntax: Kotlin reduces boilerplate code, enabling developers to write more efficient and readable code compared to Java.
• Null safety: Built-in null safety features help prevent null pointer exceptions, improving code reliability and safety.
• Supports functional programming: Kotlin includes functional programming features that promote modular, reusable, and concise code.
• Excellent support for Android development: Kotlin is officially supported by Google and is widely adopted for native Android app development.
• Statically typed language: Helps catch errors at compile-time, enhancing code quality and maintainability.
• Modern language features: Includes coroutines for asynchronous programming, extension functions, and smart casts, which improve developer productivity.
• Strong tooling and IDE support: Deep integration with Android Studio and IntelliJ IDEA provides robust development tools and debugging capabilities.
• Growing developer community: A large and active community contributes to extensive libraries, frameworks, and resources.
• Versatile usage: Beyond Android, Kotlin is used for server-side development, web development, and multiplatform mobile app projects.

Dart vs Kotlin – How Are Dart and Kotlin Similar?

Dart and Kotlin are both modern, open-source languages. While they have several notable differences, these two programming languages are known for their simple, concise syntax, excellent tooling, and strong community support. While both languages are known for their approachable syntax, developers may encounter different learning curves depending on their background. Both Dart and Kotlin can be used to develop cross platform apps, enabling deployment across Android, iOS, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Here’s an overview of their major similarities:

Open-Source

Dart and Kotlin are both open-source. Google and Jetbrains have made the source code and documentation for these programming languages freely available to the public. Although Dart has a smaller community compared to Kotlin, both languages are maintained by an active community of developers who contribute to their code-base and build valuable third-party tools or libraries to help improve performance while also saving time and resources. 

Simple Syntax

Dart and Kotlin are built on similar, C-like syntax, which is relatively easy for developers to learn and understand. The syntax for both languages has been inspired by Java, which is known for being both concise and expressive. Both languages also support object-oriented programming paradigms, with similar concepts like classes, inheritance, objects, polymorphism, and so on. 

Seamless Interoperability

Both Dart and Kotlin are known for their interoperability. Dart is interoperable with JavaScript, which makes it an ideal choice for web development. Dart code can be converted to JavaScript through a process known as transpilation. 

It is also possible to use JavaScript libraries in Dart apps. Kotlin, on the other hand, is interoperable with existing Java libraries and code, making it a great choice for Android development. Kotlin code can be used alongside Java code in the same project without issues. 

Server-side Development 

Although their mechanisms differ, these two languages can be used for server-side programming. For Dart, frameworks like Shelf or Aqueduct allow seamless integration of your Dart code with backend systems. Kotlin’s multi-platform feature also makes it easy to share common code with different platforms for backend development like JVM. 

Null Safety

Null safety is one of the core features of Kotlin. Dart has adopted this as well starting from version 2.12. Both languages have built-in null safety features that help developers avoid common null reference errors in development. This reduces the chances of null-pointer exceptions which is a common problem with other programming languages.

Kotlin’s null safety is built in by default and can differentiate between null references. Dart, on the other hand, supports sound null safety. This allows compiler optimizations and runs even faster compared to normal null safety.

Modern Language Features

Both Kotlin and Dart are modern languages. Consequently, they share a few modern programming features or concepts such as garbage collection, string interpolation, or lambda expressions. These concepts boost productivity and make coding more efficient. 

Concurrency Support

This refers to the ability of a programming code to handle multiple computations at the same time. Although they work slightly differently, both programming languages have built-in support for handling concurrent execution. 

For Dart, concurrency is handled with a single-thread event loop model, which isolates each computation. Kotlin on the other hand uses coroutines. These are lightweight concurrency design patterns that facilitate asynchronous programming without relying on traditional threading and callbacks.

Support for Developing Mobile Apps

You can use both languages to build fully functional mobile applications. While Kotlin is primarily used for Android development, Dart is used alongside the Flutter framework to build functional User Interfaces for both Android and iOS applications. They also offer robust tooling and libraries for building mobile apps. 

Dart vs Kotlin – How Are Dart and Kotlin Different?

Dart and Kotlin have gained significant traction in recent years due to their performance, efficiency, and uniqueness. When choosing between Dart and Kotlin, it’s essential to consider the project’s specific requirements, as performance and compatibility depend on the unique needs of each project. Both coding languages share several similarities but also differ in terms of platform support, type system, popularity, and documentation. Here’s an overview of the major differences between Kotlin and Dart.

Platform Support

Dart was designed by Google for building apps for multiple platforms. This includes web development, desktop apps, as well as iOS and Android apps all from a single codebase. It is the primary language used by Flutter, one of the most popular app development frameworks used for building cross-platform applications.

Kotlin, on the other hand, is mainly used for Android development. It offers excellent support for Android development and has become the preferred tool for building Android apps over older alternatives like Java. Although the more recently introduced “Kotlin Multiplatform” supports cross-platform mobile development, Kotlin is still primarily focused on Android development. With Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile, developers often need to write platform specific code to customize native user interfaces alongside shared business logic, whereas Dart with Flutter emphasizes minimal platform specific code for consistency and performance across platforms.

Type System

Although Dart and Kotlin both have robust type systems, with great performance and efficient safety checks, there are key differences in how their respective type systems work. Dart is dynamically typed, meaning variable types are determined at runtime. This promotes flexibility, especially for certain development instances. 

Kotlin, on the other hand, is a statically typed programming language. This means variables are declared during development. This makes it more efficient at catching type-related errors early in the development process instead of waiting till runtime like Dart. So while Dart wins in terms of flexibility, Kotlin tends to work better for large-scale projects. 

Community and Documentation

One of the factors that make it easier to learn Dart is the robust developer community built around it and the language’s comprehensive documentation. Thanks to the growing popularity of Flutter for cross-platform app development, more and more developers are adopting this programming language and actively contributing to the development ecosystem. 

Kotlin offers extensive documentation as well, but it’s a little behind Flutter. Its libraries can also be changed at any time since it is still in development. Kotlin has a mature ecosystem with lots of developers but is a bit more restricted since it’s only used for Android app development.

Kotlin vs Dart Performance 

Both Dart and Kotlin are simple, easy-to-write languages. However, their mode of execution is slightly different, leading to differences in their performance. Dart uses a combination of Just-in-Time (JIT) and Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation. The JIT method compiles code directly, while AOT compiles it first to native code before running. Dart with Flutter achieves near-native performance on mobile and web platforms.

These mechanisms are slightly more efficient than Kotlin’s method of compilation which involves converting the code first to Bytecode (a type of machine code that runs on the Java virtual machine.) Kotlin’s native access and JVM optimizations make it well-suited for CPU intensive tasks. Consequently, Dart outperforms Kotlin’s natively compiled applications in some scenarios, especially for frequently used functions.

Development Process and Tools

The development process for Dart and Kotlin is shaped by the robust set of tools and frameworks available for each language, enabling developers to streamline mobile app creation for both cross platform development and native android development. Dart’s primary strength lies in the Flutter framework, which empowers developers to build visually appealing, natively compiled applications for Android, iOS, web, and desktop platforms—all from a single codebase. Flutter’s extensive library of widgets and APIs accelerates the development process, making it a top choice for cross platform projects and rapid prototyping.

On the other hand, Kotlin is deeply integrated with Android Studio, the official IDE for Android development. This integration provides a seamless experience for building, testing, and debugging native android apps, leveraging the full power of the Android SDK. For teams looking to target multiple platforms, Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) offers a compelling solution by allowing developers to share business logic code between Android and iOS apps, reducing duplication and simplifying maintenance across cross platform mobile apps.

Both Dart and Kotlin support a wide range of modern development tools, including command-line interfaces, powerful IDEs, and package managers. These tools help developers efficiently write code, manage dependencies, and optimize their mobile apps for performance and scalability. Whether you’re building native android apps or cross platform mobile apps, the mature ecosystems around both Dart and Kotlin ensure that you have access to as many development tools as you need to support your app development process.

Learning Curve and Adoption

When considering Dart vs Kotlin, the learning curve is an important factor for mobile app developers and teams. Dart’s syntax is straightforward and approachable, especially for those with experience in JavaScript or other C-style programming languages. This makes Dart a popular choice for web developers transitioning into cross platform development or mobile app development. However, Dart introduces unique concepts such as its type system and asynchronous programming model, which may require some additional learning for those new to these paradigms.

Kotlin, meanwhile, is designed to be familiar to Java developers, making the transition to this modern programming language relatively smooth for those with a background in Java or other statically typed languages. Its expressive syntax, modern features, and deep integration with the Android ecosystem have contributed to its rapid adoption for native android development. Nevertheless, features like coroutines for asynchronous programming and advanced null safety mechanisms can present a learning curve for developers who are new to these concepts.

Both Dart and Kotlin are experiencing strong growth in adoption. Dart, powered by the popularity of Flutter, is widely used for cross platform development, enabling developers to build mobile apps for multiple platforms efficiently. Kotlin remains the preferred programming language for native android development, with increasing support for cross platform mobile development through Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile. As the demand for high-quality mobile apps continues to rise, choosing the right programming language and framework is crucial for a successful app development process, and both Dart and Kotlin are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of modern app development projects.

Detailed Comparison of Dart and Kotlin Mobile App Development

Dart vs Kotlin are almost equally matched in terms of popularity and adoption. So how do you choose between these two modern programming languages? The table below summarizes the differences between Dart and Kotlin for mobile application development.

When to Use Dart?

Dart is the most commonly used language for cross-platform app development. Using Dart with the Flutter framework, developers can build apps that work on both Android and iOS devices without writing separate codes for each platform. Features like hot reload in Flutter can make the development process faster and more efficient for developers.

You may also use Flutter to build apps that work on desktop devices and web interfaces. Dart’s clean and concise syntax, makes it an easy-to-learn option for developers who are new to the language. Web developers who are familiar with Javascript will find it particularly easy to learn and use Dart for mobile or web app development.

When to Use Kotlin?

Kotlin is practically the official language for Android development now. Although innovations like Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile supports cross-platform development from a single codebase, Kotlin is still more popular as a native development tool for building apps with Android Studio. Native Kotlin projects can leverage native device features, optimizing their performance and reliability. 

Kotlin’s interoperability with Java also makes it the ideal choice when working on existing Java-based projects. Your existing Java code can be integrated within Kotlin projects seamlessly with no need to rewrite the code. It’s also easy to adopt Kotlin if your team consists of developers with basic knowledge of the Kotlin programming language. 

Conclusion

As our Dart vs Kotlin performance comparison shows, these programming languages are similar in a lot of ways but have several unique features as well. It all comes down to the type of app you intend to build and the peculiarities of your project.

Ready to bring your mobile or web app idea to life? CrustLab can help you pick the right programming language and framework for your project. We are a modern software development company that provides app design and development services to clients using the best and newest technologies available. 

Our experience spans across iGaming, Sports, Fintech, and related industries and our skilled developers are familiar with Dart, Kotlin, and other programming languages for native and cross-platform development. We have an agile team with all the skills needed to build an app that’s fully fit for purpose. Let’s discuss your vision!