Choosing Between UIKit and SwiftUI in 2025: A Practical Guide
If you’re an iOS developer, chances are you’ve wondered whether to use UIKit or SwiftUI for your next project. With SwiftUI gaining traction and UIKit remaining a tried-and-true framework, the decision isn’t always straightforward. In 2025, the choice comes down to your app’s needs, your team’s skills, and where you see your project heading. Let us break it down.
UIKit: The Veteran Framework
UIKit has been around since 2008, forming the backbone of iOS app development for years. It is incredibly reliable and offers all the tools you need to build complex, high-performance apps. However, it does come with a steeper learning curve and requires more manual work.
When to Go with UIKit
- Complex UIs: If your app needs intricate layouts, custom animations, or highly specific designs, UIKit’s flexibility is hard to beat.
- Older iOS Support: For apps targeting users on older devices, UIKit is the safer choice.
- Working with Legacy Code: Updating or extending an existing UIKit-based app? Sticking with UIKit simplifies the process.
- Precision Animations: UIKit shines when you need precise control over animations or custom graphics.
Pros
- Time-tested and stable.
- Extensive documentation and community support.
- Advanced debugging tools.
- Handles complex UI designs effectively.
Cons
- More boilerplate code.
- Can feel outdated compared to modern approaches.
- Slower development for simple tasks.
SwiftUI: The Future of Apple Development
SwiftUI, introduced in 2019, takes a fresh, declarative approach to building UIs. It simplifies code, integrates smoothly with Combine for reactive programming, and works across all Apple platforms. By now, it is a mature and capable framework, though some advanced use cases might still require UIKit.
When to Choose SwiftUI
Modern App Development: Starting fresh? SwiftUI’s faster development cycle and clean syntax are major advantages.
- Prototypes and MVPs: Its simplicity makes SwiftUI perfect for quick prototypes or Minimum Viable Products.
- Cross-Platform Apps: If you want to target macOS, watchOS, or tvOS alongside iOS, SwiftUI’s shared APIs are a huge plus.
- Future-Proofing: SwiftUI is where Apple’s focus lies, making it a solid bet for the long term.
Pros
- Cleaner, more readable code.
- Faster development cycles.
- Built-in support for responsive and dynamic UIs.
- Unified development for multiple platforms.
Cons
- Doesn’t support iOS versions below 13.
- Some advanced features still need UIKit.
- Smaller knowledge base compared to UIKit.
- API changes as the framework evolves.
Performance: UIKit vs. SwiftUI
Both frameworks offer excellent performance, but UIKit gives you finer control over details, making it better for demanding tasks like custom graphics. On the other hand, SwiftUI’s declarative nature excels in apps with dynamic data and reactive flows. For mixed projects, combining both frameworks can give you the best of both worlds.
What About Your Team and Goals?
Team Expertise
- If your team has a deep UIKit background, you might want to stick with it for complex projects.
- Teams already comfortable with Swift and declarative programming will find SwiftUI more intuitive.
Project Goals
- If your app needs to support older devices, UIKit is the way to go.
- For quick turnaround and future-proof designs, SwiftUI is a better fit.
A Hybrid Approach
In practice, many developers use a mix of UIKit and SwiftUI. SwiftUI views can embed into UIKit projects, and UIKit components can integrate into SwiftUI apps. This flexibility makes it easier to choose the right tool for each part of your app.
Example
Imagine you’re building a modern app with a highly customized camera feature. You could use UIKit for the camera interface while developing the rest of the app in SwiftUI to save time.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, deciding between UIKit and SwiftUI depends on your app’s needs. UIKit remains a workhorse for complex or legacy projects, while SwiftUI is ideal for modern, future-ready apps. Evaluate your requirements, your team’s expertise, and the project’s timeline to make the best choice.
For most new apps, SwiftUI is the way forward. But UIKit isn’t going anywhere, and its reliability makes it a solid choice for many situations. Sometimes, the best approach is combining both frameworks to leverage their strengths.
Whichever you choose, focus on building great apps. The tools are just a means to that end.