How I explain FlutterFlow to clients (and when I recommend custom Flutter)

Table of Contents

1. How I explain

2. When I Recommend FlutterFlow

How I Explain FlutterFlow to Clients (And When I Recommend Custom Flutter)

Every new client asks me the same question: "What exactly is FlutterFlow?"

Here's my go-to explanation:

"FlutterFlow is like building with smart LEGO blocks. Instead of writing thousands of lines of code, we drag, drop, and connect pieces visually. The result? A real, native app — not some cheap website wrapper."

That usually clicks.

When I Recommend FlutterFlow

FlutterFlow is my default choice when:

• Speed matters — MVP needed in 4–6 weeks? Done.

• Budget is tight — No point burning cash on custom code for a simple app.

• The app is straightforward — Forms, lists, dashboards, user auth, payments — FlutterFlow handles all of this beautifully.

• Client wants control — They can make small edits themselves later without calling me for every button change.

For 80% of projects, FlutterFlow is more than enough.

When I Recommend Custom Flutter

But sometimes, I'll tell a client: "Let's go custom."

That's usually when:

• Complex animations — Fancy transitions, custom gestures, game-like interactions.

• Heavy offline-first logic — Apps that need to work seamlessly without internet and sync later.

• Deep hardware access — Bluetooth, NFC, sensors, background processes.

• Third-party SDKs — Some SDKs don't play nice with FlutterFlow yet.

• Scale from day one — If you're expecting 100k+ users and need a very specific architecture.

How I Frame It to Clients

I never say FlutterFlow is "less than" custom Flutter. Instead, I frame it like this:

"FlutterFlow gets you 90% of the way in 30% of the time. If your app needs that last 10%, we go custom. But let's be honest — most apps don't."

Clients appreciate the honesty. And it saves everyone time and money.

Bottom line: Pick the right tool for the job. Not every project needs a Ferrari — sometimes a reliable Honda gets you there faster.