Top 10 Flutter Packages Every Developer Should Know (But Probably Don’t) 🚀

Flutter developers, we all love our widgets, our hot reloads, and — oh yeah — our packages! While some packages get all the glory, there…

Flutter developers, we all love our widgets, our hot reloads, and — oh yeah — our packages! While some packages get all the glory, there are plenty of lesser-known yet equally powerful gems that can supercharge your app development. Ready to add some sparkle to your toolkit? Let’s dive into ten underrated Flutter packages that you’ll wish you had known about sooner. Grab your coffee ☕, and let the fun begin!

1. in_app_review

Ever wondered why your app doesn’t get enough reviews? Maybe your users forgot, or maybe they’re too busy leveling up in your game (hopefully). That’s where in_app_review comes in! This package prompts users to review your app without them leaving the app—pretty cool, huh?

final InAppReview inAppReview = InAppReview.instance;

if (await inAppReview.isAvailable()) {
  inAppReview.requestReview();
}

Why you should care:
You can get those 5-star reviews ⭐️ without losing users to the app store forever.

in_app_review | Flutter package

Flutter plugin for showing the In-App Review/System Rating pop up on Android, iOS and MacOS. It makes it easy for users…

2. in_app_update

“New version available. Please update now.” We’ve all seen that message before, and with the in_app_update package, you can nudge your users into keeping your app fresh and up-to-date.

InAppUpdate.checkForUpdate().then((updateInfo) {
  if (updateInfo.updateAvailability == UpdateAvailability.updateAvailable) {
    InAppUpdate.performImmediateUpdate();
  }
});

Why you should care:
No more emails saying, “The app isn’t working!” when the solution is literally just an update.

in_app_update | Flutter package

Enables In App Updates on Android using the official Android APIs.

3. introduction_screen

First impressions matter. And with introduction_screen, you can make sure your app’s first impression is a great one. It allows you to add slick onboarding screens to guide your users through your app’s features.

IntroductionScreen(
  pages: [
    PageViewModel(
      title: "Welcome!",
      body: "This is the best app you’ll ever use.",
      image: Center(child: Icon(Icons.star, size: 100)),
    ),
  ],
  onDone: () => print("Onboarding done!"),
  done: const Text("Done", style: TextStyle(fontWeight: FontWeight.w600)),
);

Why you should care:
Users are more likely to stick around if they know what’s happening in your app from the get-go.

introduction_screen | Flutter package

Introduction/Onboarding package for flutter app with some customizations possibilities

4. package_info_plus

Ever needed to know your app’s version number or package name dynamically? package_info_plus gives you easy access to package information like version, build number, and app name, so you can display or log it when needed.

final info = await PackageInfo.fromPlatform();
print('App Name: ${info.appName}');
print('Version: ${info.version}');

Why you should care:
Goodbye hardcoded version numbers, hello seamless updates.

package_info_plus | Flutter package

Flutter plugin for querying information about the application package, such as CFBundleVersion on iOS or versionCode on…

5. showcaseview

If you want your users to actually use those cool features you worked so hard on, show them off! showcaseview lets you highlight and explain UI elements interactively.

ShowCaseWidget(
  builder: Builder(
    builder: (context) => SomeAwesomeScreen(),
  ),
);

Why you should care:
It’s the easiest way to make sure your users don’t miss out on hidden gems in your app.

showcaseview | Flutter package

A Flutter package to Showcase/Highlight widgets step by step.

6. change_app_package_name

Need to rebrand your app quickly without manually renaming all the package files? change_app_package_name has your back. It allows you to easily change the package name of your Flutter app in seconds.

flutter pub run change_app_package_name:main com.new.package.name

What It does?

Update AndroidManifest.xml files for release, debug & profile
Update build.gradle file
Update MainActivity file. Both java & kotlin supported.
Move MainActivity file to new package directory structure
Delete old package name directory structure.
Update Product Bundle Identifier in iOS.
Specify which platform they want to rename the package for.

Why you should care:
No more wrestling with files just to update your app’s identity.

change_app_package_name | Dart package

Change App Package Name with single command. Update AndroidManifest, build.gradle, MainActivity files & move…

7. image_input

We all know users love to upload images. Whether it’s for avatars, product listings, or memes (probably memes), image_input allows users to select and input images effortlessly.

ImageInput(
  onImageSelected: (file) {
    print("User selected: $file");
  },
)

Why you should care:
Smooth image selection makes everyone happy — and happy users make a successful app.

image_input | Flutter package

A package to be used for image input in flutter. It can be used to take image from camera or gallery or from a url.

8. pinput

Creating secure input fields just got easier. pinput provides a highly customizable and beautiful pin input field, perfect for OTPs, passcodes, or secret agent stuff (who knows, right?).

Pinput(
  length: 6,
  onChanged: (pin) => print(pin),
)

Why you should care:
It turns boring OTP inputs into something visually appealing and functional.

9. confetti

Nothing says “Congratulations” like a burst of confetti! This package lets you add fun, customizable confetti effects to your app. Perfect for celebrating user achievements, milestones, or just when they finish your tutorial. 🎉

ConfettiWidget(
  confettiController: _controller,
  blastDirectionality: BlastDirectionality.explosive,
  numberOfParticles: 30,
)

Why you should care:
Who doesn’t love confetti? 🎊

10. octoimage

Tired of your images taking forever to load? octoimage comes to the rescue by offering better image loading experiences, including placeholders, fades, and retries.

OctoImage(
  image: NetworkImage('https://via.placeholder.com/150'),
  placeholderBuilder: OctoPlaceholder.blurHash('LEHV6nWB2yk8pyo0adR*.7kCMdnj'),
  errorBuilder: (context, error, stacktrace) => Icon(Icons.error),
)

Why you should care:
No more awkward blank spaces! Smooth image loading is the way to go.

Final Thoughts 💡

These packages might not be at the top of every “must-have” list, but they certainly deserve a spot in your Flutter toolkit. From smoother user experiences to handling updates and celebrating achievements, these hidden gems will save you time and elevate your app.

Now go ahead — give them a try and watch your development process become a whole lot smoother ! 🎉

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