How to Collect In-app Feedback With Flutter SDK?

Flutter has revolutionized app development by allowing developers to build apps for both iOS and Android with a single codebase. However, maintaining consistent user experiences across platforms comes with its own challenges—especially when it comes to collecting user feedback.

Relying on App Store or Google Play reviews doesn’t provide real-time, actionable insights. You need a native, cross-platform in-app feedback software that seamlessly works across both ecosystems. By integrating the Zonka Feedback Flutter SDK, you can:

• Trigger surveys at key touchpoints across both iOS and Android versions.
• Collect feedback while users are actively engaged, increasing response rates.
• Analyze and act on feedback in real-time to optimize user experience.

In this blog, we’ll walk through how to set up the Zonka Feedback Flutter SDK, ensuring your app captures valuable user insights seamlessly—on both platforms. 

Unified In-App Feedback for iOS & Android  

Streamline feedback collection across both iOS and Android with a single integration. Capture real-time insights, enhance user experience, and optimize your app with Zonka Feedback Flutter SDK.

Flutter: A Cross-Platform App Development Framework 

Imagine you are creating a stunning mobile app that works seamlessly on both iOS and Android—without writing two separate codebases. Looks cool, right? Well, that's exactly what Flutter makes possible!

Flutter is an open-source UI toolkit developed by Google that allows developers to build high-performance, cross-platform applications using a single codebase. With Flutter, you can create apps for iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, and Linux without needing to write separate code for each platform.

At the core of Flutter is Dart, a modern programming language optimized for fast performance. Flutter uses its own rendering engine, Skia, to provide smooth animations, flexible UI components (widgets), and a native-like user experience.

Why Collect In-App Feedback in Flutter Apps?

Developers choose Flutter for its ability to build cross-platform apps with a single codebase—but achieving consistency across iOS and Android isn’t always straightforward. Users may experience platform-specific issues, UI inconsistencies, or performance variations based on their device.

In-app feedback ensures that you capture real-time insights across both platforms, helping you maintain a seamless experience. Here is how in-app feedback is helpful for Flutter developers:

1. Ensure Cross-Platform Consistency

A feature that works flawlessly on iOS might not feel the same on Android (or vice versa). Collecting platform-specific feedback helps identify inconsistencies in performance, layout, or navigation.

2. Improve UX by Understanding Platform-Specific Expectations

While Flutter provides a unified development approach, user expectations vary. iOS users prefer fluid transitions and gestures, while Android users expect back navigation and more flexibility. In-app feedback helps fine-tune the experience for both audiences.

3. Capture Insights Across Different Devices & OS Versions

Flutter apps run on a wide range of devices, screen sizes, and OS versions. In-app feedback ensures you’re aware of device-specific performance issues, helping you optimize responsiveness.

4. Get Higher Response Rates Than Email Surveys

Since Flutter apps are often used on mobile and web, users may not check emails for surveys. In-app feedback captures responses while users are engaged, leading to more accurate insights.

By integrating in-app feedback with the Zonka Feedback Flutter SDK, developers can ensure cross-platform consistency, detect platform-specific issues, and improve UX for all users.

When to Trigger In-App Surveys in Flutter Apps?

Building a mobile app with Flutter is a game-changer—it lets you create a seamless experience for both iOS and Android users without managing two separate codebases. However, what works well for iOS users may not resonate with Android users, and vice versa. This is where in-app feedback becomes essential.

As an app developer working with Flutter, you need to understand how your app performs across different devices, OS versions, UI interactions, and user expectations. While Flutter helps maintain consistency, collecting real-time, platform-specific feedback ensures that your app delivers an optimal experience for both audiences.

Here are the best moments to trigger in-app surveys in a Flutter-built mobile app and what insights they can provide.

1. After Feature Usage – Understanding Platform-Specific Behavior

A feature that looks and functions perfectly on Android might feel unnatural or less intuitive on iOS. Different platforms have different design standards, navigation patterns, and user expectations. Triggering a survey after a user interacts with a new feature helps determine:

• Is the feature intuitive across both platforms?
• Are gestures, interactions, or layouts causing confusion?
• Is the feature performing well on different devices (iPhones vs. Androids with different screen sizes)?

2. Post-Onboarding – Ensuring a Smooth First-Time Experience

Your first impression matters, and onboarding is your chance to set the right expectations for users. However, iOS and Android users have different expectations for usability and navigation. Triggering a post-onboarding survey helps you understand:

• Did users feel the onboarding was helpful and easy to follow?
• Was the tutorial too long, too short, or just right?
• Did iOS vs. Android users have different preferences?

3. Before an App Update – Collecting Pre-Release Feedback

Rolling out updates can sometimes cause unintended issues, especially when you’re maintaining a cross-platform app. Users on different devices may experience bugs, crashes, or UI glitches that were not caught during testing. Before pushing an update, trigger a survey to beta users or early adopters to:

• Identify device-specific UI inconsistencies.
• Find out if the new changes are well-received across both platforms.
• Detect potential bugs that slipped through internal testing.

4. Post-Customer Support Interaction – Measuring User Satisfaction

Customer support is a critical part of app retention, and measuring the effectiveness of your support system is crucial. However, user support preferences differ across platforms. By triggering a survey after a user interacts with support, you can:

• Identify if your help center, chatbot, or live support is effective.
• Compare satisfaction levels between iOS and Android users.
• Understand if users found a resolution or still need assistance.

5. Before Users Churn – Understanding Drop-Off Reasons

Many apps struggle with user retention, and waiting until users uninstall your app means you’re too late. Instead, you can detect churn risk signals and proactively collect feedback before users abandon your app.

By tracking inactivity patterns and triggering a survey before users leave, you can:

• Discover why users are disengaging.
• Offer solutions (e.g., feature guides, incentives, or fixes) before they leave.
• Compare churn reasons between iOS and Android users.

Because Flutter apps cater to both iOS and Android users, it’s critical to recognize the key differences in user behavior, expectations, and challenges. A well-timed in-app survey helps you bridge these gaps, ensuring that your app delivers a flawless experience on both platforms.

How to Collect In-app Feedback with Flutter SDK: Step-by-Step Method

Collecting in-app feedback in your Flutter app is simple with Zonka Feedback’s Flutter SDK. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from setting up your account to configuring surveys within your app.

1. Pre-Requisites

Before integrating the Flutter SDK, ensure you have the following:

• Active Zonka Feedback Account – If you don’t have one, create a free account here.
• Survey Setup – Create a new survey with your preferred question types (ratings, multiple-choice, open-ended, etc.).
• SDK Token – Go to Distribute > In-App tab, enable the toggle, and copy the SDK token.

Once you have these, you’re ready to proceed with the installation.

2. Minimum System Requirements

Ensure your development environment meets the following criteria for a smooth integration:

Flutter Requirements

• Flutter version 3.0.0 or higher

Android Requirements

• CompileSdk version 34 or higher
• Android Gradle Plugin version 8.1.0 or higher

iOS Requirements

• iOS version 14 or higher

These requirements ensure your app runs efficiently and supports in-app feedback collection seamlessly.

3. Installing the Zonka Feedback Flutter SDK

To integrate Zonka Feedback into your Flutter app, add ZonkaFeedback SDK as a dependency in your pubspec.yaml file. This enables your app to collect and manage in-app feedback easily.

Once installed, you’re ready to initialize the SDK.

4. Initializing the SDK

To start using Zonka Feedback SDK, you need to initialize it within your Flutter application. The initialization should only be done once, ideally in the main component (e.g., lib/main.dart).

import 'package:zonkafeedback_sdk/zonkafeedback_sdk.dart';

class _MyAppState extends State<MyApp> {
@override
void initState() {
super.initState();
ZFSurvey().init(token: ,zfRegion: '',context: context);;
}
}

Additionally, you must specify the region your Zonka Feedback account belongs to:

• US – for users in the United States
• EU – for users in Europe
• IN – for users in India

Once initialized, your app is ready to collect feedback in real time.

5. Setup

Create a ZFSurvey object to configure and start the survey for feedback in your function.

import 'package:zonkafeedback_sdk/zonkafeedback_sdk.dart';

ZFSurvey().startSurvey();

6. Optional Parameters for Enhanced Feedback Collection

Collect Device Information Automatically

Enable sendDeviceDetails to capture device-related details, such as OS, version, and device type. This helps in identifying technical issues that users might face.

import 'package:zonkafeedback_sdk/zonkafeedback_sdk.dart';

ZFSurvey().sendDeviceDetails(true);

Capture Additional User Data (Custom Attributes)

You can associate user responses with specific details like order IDs, transaction history, or screen activity, making feedback more actionable.

Benefits of Custom Attributes

• Identify respondents (default responses are anonymous).
• Trigger surveys based on user actions (e.g., feature engagement).
• Filter and segment feedback for deeper insights.

import 'package:zonkafeedback_sdk/zonkafeedback_sdk.dart';

Map<String, String> properties = {
'property1': 'value1',
'property2': 'value2',
};

ZFSurvey().sendCustomAttributes(properties);

7. Identifying Logged-In Users

If your app allows users to log in or sign up, you can pass user details to automatically associate feedback with specific users. This includes:

import 'package:zonkafeedback_sdk/zonkafeedback_sdk.dart';

Map<String, dynamic> properties = {
'contact_name': 'Robin James',
'contact_email': 'robin@example.com',
'contact_uniqueId': '1XJ2',
'contact_mobile': '+14234XXXX'
};

ZFSurvey().userInfo(properties);

Resetting Visitor Data on Logout

If your app stores user information, it’s good practice to clear visitor data when users log out. This prevents feedback from being linked to the wrong account and ensures accurate data collection.

ZFSurvey().clear();

By clearing visitor attributes upon logout, your app will start fresh for each new user session, maintaining accurate survey responses.

Best Practices for Collecting In-App Feedback with Flutter SDK

To make the most of in-app feedback collection with Zonka Feedback’s Flutter SDK, follow these best practices to ensure high response rates, accurate insights, and meaningful improvements to your app.

1. Ask for Feedback at the Right Time

The best time to collect feedback is when users are actively engaged with your app. Avoid interrupting them mid-task— instead, trigger microsurveys at optimal moments, such as:

• After a key interaction (e.g., completing a purchase, using a feature).
• On app exit (to capture final impressions).
• Post-customer support interaction (to measure satisfaction).

2. Keep Surveys Short & Engaging

Users are more likely to respond if the survey feels effortless. Keep it:

• 1-3 questions max—avoid long forms.
• Multiple-choice or rating-based for quick responses.
• Optional open-ended fields for detailed feedback.
• Use microsurveys instead of long surveys to increase survey response rate.

3. Customize Surveys for a Seamless Experience

Ensure surveys blend smoothly into your app’s UI/UX:

• Match the design and branding of your app.
• Use non-intrusive prompts that don’t disrupt user flow.
• Allow users to skip or dismiss surveys if they aren’t interested.

4. Capture Actionable User Data

To get deeper insights, use custom attributes:

• Identify users with email, phone number, or unique ID.
• Track order ID, feature usage, or subscription status for segmented feedback.
• Store device details (OS version, device type) for debugging issues.

5. Act on Feedback & Close the Loop

Collecting feedback is only valuable if you act on it:

• Regularly analyze responses in the Zonka Feedback dashboard.
• Identify patterns and common issues to prioritize improvements.
• Show users their input matters by implementing changes and communicating updates.

Efficient Way to Integrate In-app Feedback With Flutter SDK

Integrating in-app feedback with Flutter SDK is a smart, efficient, and scalable way to gather real-time insights from your users.  With Flutter SDK, you can gather insights from both iOS and Android users without the hassle of separate integrations.

By embedding Zonka Feedback’s Flutter SDK into your app, you unlock a direct communication channel with your users, enabling you to:

• Identify issues early before they impact user experience.
• Understand feature adoption and optimize your app based on real data.
• Enhance user satisfaction by listening to feedback and implementing improvements.
• Reduce negative app store reviews by addressing concerns proactively.

The beauty of Flutter SDK lies in its efficiency and scalability—with a single integration, you can seamlessly run feedback surveys across multiple platforms, making it a cost-effective and time-saving solution. Whether you're building a new app or improving an existing one, in-app feedback helps you create a user-driven product that grows with your audience.

Ready to enhance your app with seamless in-app feedback? Get started with Zonka Feedback’s Flutter SDK today! Start your free 14-day trial or schedule a demo now!

FAQs

Q1: How is in-app feedback different from Firebase Analytics?

Firebase Analytics shows what users do (clicks, screen transitions), but it doesn’t explain why users behave that way. Zonka Feedback’s in-app surveys collect direct user sentiment along with OS, screen size, resolution, and device type, allowing you to correlate feedback with behavioral data for deeper insights.

Q2: Can I collect feedback on both iOS and Android using the same Flutter SDK?

Yes! The Flutter SDK captures real-time feedback across both iOS and Android. Since it also tracks device type, OS version, and resolution, you can compare how feedback differs across platforms and optimize UI accordingly.

Q3: Will my app’s performance be affected by in-app feedback surveys?

No, the SDK is designed to be lightweight and non-intrusive. To further optimize performance, combine in-app feedback with analytics tools to track how user experience varies across different devices, screen sizes, and OS versions.

Q4: Can I use in-app feedback for feature validation?

Yes! You can trigger surveys after users interact with new features to gauge satisfaction. Since Zonka Feedback’s SDK collects data on OS and device type, you can analyze feature reception on different screen sizes (e.g., tablets vs. phones) and fine-tune usability for different devices.

Q5: How does in-app feedback compare to using a general web survey in my app?

Web surveys require users to leave the app, leading to low response rates. In contrast, Zonka Feedback’s SDK collects structured feedback within the app and correlates it with OS, screen size, and resolution, ensuring data-rich, platform-specific insights for better UX optimization.

Q6: How does the Zonka Feedback Android SDK handle data security and compliance?

Zonka Feedback is fully GDPR and HIPPA compliant, ensuring secure data collection and storage.