Top IDEs for Flutter App Development in 2024

Another tight deadline, another project that doesn’t seem to go as smoothly as you initially planned it. As a developer, you think to yourself “I know better than this, I should’ve planned this better.”

You decide to do a little research. Why not google something like the best IDE for Flutter development? — and voila — you stumble upon this article.

Today, we’ll try our best to shed light on some of the best IDE for Flutter options that are available online. Even if you’re not a programmer, but rather a client interested in what different technologies there are, don’t worry — there’s still a thing or two you might pick up here and there.

What is Flutter?

Flutter is a free, open-source software development kit (SDK) created and released by Google in 2017. It allows developers to build visually appealing applications for multiple platforms — and it does all of that by using a single codebase, which is quite convenient.

Initially focused on mobile app development for iOS and Android, Flutter has evolved to support not only web and desktop — Windows, macOS, Linux — but also embedded devices. Its key advantage is the "write once, run anywhere" capability which enables developers to maintain a single codebase for multiple platforms.

What is an IDE?

If you’re a developer, you can just skip this part. On the other hand, if you’re a client interested in learning about different technologies, feel free to stay tuned.

Now, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development — to put it simply, imagine software like Word or Google Docs — but made specifically for developers.

IDE typically includes:

A source code editor
Build automation tools
A debugger

IDEs are designed to maximize productivity by providing tightly-knit components with similar user interfaces.

What is the difference between IDE and Text Editor?

While a regular text editor is a tool for writing and editing plain text, an IDE offers additional functionalities. Functionalities like:

Code completion
Debugging
Version control

IDEs integrate various tools into one application, which then streamlines the development process and enhances both productivity and software quality. Imagine writing something in a Google Doc file, but instead of only seeing errors that come up when you misspell a word, you also get various indicators that pinpoint an exact issue in your code. Quite convenient.

The benefits of using an IDE

Using an IDE for Flutter development offers several benefits — some of which we briefly mentioned above:

Code Completion and Syntax Highlighting — This benefit helps reduce errors and ultimately speeds up the coding process which is quite convenient for those who are working on a tight schedule.
Debugging Tools — Various debugging tools allow developers to go through the code, inspect variables, identify, and ultimately resolve issues quickly.
Integrated Version Control — Facilitates collaboration and code management.
Performance Analysis — By analyzing performance, an IDE helps optimize the code and improve the application in general.
Project Management — An IDE organizes files and components which makes the development process more efficient. This is yet another bonus for those who need to complete a project within a strict deadline.

Factors to consider when choosing an IDE for Flutter

Now that IDE is not an abstract concept, let’s focus on different factors that a developer needs to have in mind when selecting an IDE for Flutter development:

Features — Just like when you’re looking to buy a new phone. The more features, the better. Even if you’re not going to use some of them on a daily basis, it’s still good to know that your phone, or in this case, IDE, can perform efficiently. Look for features like code completion, debugging tools, and version control integration, just to name a few.
Ease of use — Choose an IDE with an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. You don’t really want to commit to a tool that not only has a steep learning curve but is also quite complicated to use.
Cost — Some IDEs are free, while others require a subscription. Consider your budget. Free versions usually come with a different kind of price. They may lack some of the features we mentioned above. At the end of the day, it really matters how often you’re going to use that IDE.
Community support — A strong community can provide valuable resources and support. This means that you really want to use an IDE which has, for example, a large Reddit community in which people could answer your questions right away. As a developer, you’re probably already used to constantly googling your issues and finding solutions on platforms like and similar to Reddit.
Integrations — Check if the IDE supports the tools and plugins you need. This one is pretty much straightforward. No support for the tools and plugins — no reason for you to commit to that IDE.
Platform compatibility — Another quite obvious factor — ensure the IDE works on your operating system. If you’re a, let’s say, a Linux user, you don’t want to change your OS solely because you found one IDE that would really help on one project. Think long-term and focus on what’s the most convenient for you.
Performance — Choose an IDE that performs well on your hardware. Similarly to the integrations and platform compatibility factors, the idea is to be aware of your working environment. Some IDEs tend to be problematic and quite “cluttered” on certain hardware, while others might just be the perfect fit for your machine.

The best IDE for Flutter in 2024

Finally, let’s switch focus to the main point of this article — the best IDE for Flutter development. There are many options available, but we narrowed down these four. All of the alternatives below are relevant to both experienced developers and those who have only started their Flutter journey recently.

Android Studio

While this list isn’t set from the best to the worst, or vice versa, the first one here is Android Studio. Many would agree that this one could be the best option out there as Android Studio is developed by Google, the same company that developed Flutter. This means that optimal compatibility and support are ensured.

There are still both pros and cons to using this IDE though. Let’s see what Android Studio has to offer to its large user base.

Key features

Built-in support for Flutter development
Advanced code completion and debugging tools
Hot reload for faster iteration
Integration with Firebase and Gradle

Pros

Comprehensive toolset for Android development
Powerful debugging features
Fairly intuitive UI

Cons

Resource-intensive — may slow down lower-end machines
Can be complex for beginners

Visual Studio Code

The next one on the list is another familiar name — Visual Studio Code, commonly referred to as VS Code. Visual Studio Code is a top-tier choice for Flutter development. This IDE, developed by Microsoft, has gained a reputation for a huge number of its lightweight and powerful features.

Many developers favor VS Code due to both its extensive customization options and fast performance. Let’s see what VS Code has to offer.

Key features

VS Code is both lightweight and fast
It offers an extensive range of extensions
It’s an IDE with an integrated terminal and Git support
Visual Studio Code has hot reload and Flutter-specific plugins

Pros

Highly customizable
Fast performance
Excellent community support

Cons

Requires additional extensions for full functionality
Might need supplementary tools for native code development

IntelliJ IDEA

The third one on this list is an IDE with a quite intelligent name — IntelliJ IDEA. This IDE was developed by JetBrains and is a powerful tool known for not only its advanced code editing but also its refactoring capabilities.

IntelliJ IDEA offers built-in support for Flutter which makes it a strong candidate for developers looking for a feature-rich environment. Keep in mind that despite its comprehensive toolset, there are pros and cons to using IntelliJ IDEA — particularly if you are already using Android Studio.

Let’s explore what IntelliJ IDEA has to offer and what makes it slightly different from other IDEs on this list.

Key features

Advanced code editing and refactoring features
Built-in support for Flutter
Integration with other JetBrains tools
Hot reload and UI debugging tools

Pros

Powerful code analysis and refactoring tools
Rich set of features

Cons

Can be redundant if already using Android Studio

Emacs

Emacs is a highly customizable text editor that has stood the test of time. While it’s not an IDE in the traditional sense, Emacs offers a vast range of plugins that can transform it into a powerful development environment for Flutter.

Known for its lightweight and fast performance, Emacs appeals to developers who appreciate extensive customization options — something that can be quite interesting both for those with not so much experience in the field and those who know exactly what they want out of an IDE. However, Emacs does come with its own set of challenges. Let’s take a closer look at it and its features.

Key features

As mentioned, Emacs is highly customizable with plugins
It supports syntax highlighting and code completion
Built-in terminal and Git integration

Pros

Emacs is lightweight and quite fast
It has extensive customization options

Cons

A slightly steeper learning curve
Lacks official Flutter extension — there are community-driven packages though, but no official support from the Flutter team

Sublime Text

Sublime Text was released in 2008, which makes it an IDE with quite a tenure. While some of its key features seem similar to what we’ve seen before, there’s still a thing or two that Sublime brings to the table.

Key features

Sublime is lightweight and fast
It has a clean interface
Customizable through plugins — such as those for Flutter support
Supports multiple selections and split editing for increased efficiency

Pros

Excellent performance even on lower-end machines
Highly customizable with a range of available plugins
Easy to use and navigate

Cons

Requires plugins for features that are built-in to other IDEs
Lacks an integrated debugger
A paid license is required for continued use

Xcode

What makes Xcode different is that it is Apple's official IDE for macOS and iOS development. Xcode provides various tools for not only building and testing but also debugging apps specifically for Apple platforms, making it a go-to choice for developers focused on iOS and macOS projects ever since it was released back in 2003.

Key features

Comprehensive toolset for iOS and macOS development
Integrated Interface Builder for designing UIs
Supports Swift and Objective-C with robust debugging and testing tools

Pros

Full support for Apple platforms with advanced tools
Excellent native code support for iOS development
Regular updates from Apple

Cons

Mac-only, limiting accessibility for non-Mac users
Resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware
A steeper learning curve due to its extensive features

Conclusion

To sum everything up, choosing the best IDE for Flutter development can immensely impact your productivity. In our opinion, Android Studio, Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and Emacs are top contenders — each with its strengths and weaknesses.

While VS Code offers speed and modularity, Android Studio provides a comprehensive toolset out of the box. Of course, experienced developers often use both, along with Xcode and Sublime Text, for a versatile development environment. It’s up to you to find the right fit.

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FAQs

What is the best IDE for Flutter?

The best IDE for Flutter depends on your needs — Android Studio and Visual Studio Code are the most popular choices, while options like IntelliJ IDEA, Emacs, Xcode, and Sublime Text could be exactly what you’re looking for.