Created by Meta, React Native keeps speed, flexibility, and ease of usage at the forefront. React Native is JavaScript-based and creates stunning and interactive user interfaces with a native feel and experience. The reusable codebase performs across multiple platforms.
Native apps, however, are built for specific platforms using different programming languages. This means developers have to build an Android app using Java or Kotlin, and an iOS app using Swift or Objective-C. This is great for building apps intended for a single platform. However, multi-platform applications need separate development teams with expertise in different programming languages.
A quick look at their features will help us better understand what React Native and Native are and how they function.
Development time and cost
Using React Native helps save precious development time and costs. The hot reloading and live reloading features keep the app constantly running, save the state, and automatically reload the app with every code alteration.
In native app development, separate development teams for Android and iOS make the app development process long and complicated. Code changes and rewrites take significant time during development, making it a costly process.
Maintenance and updates
With React Native apps, you just need to update and resolve bugs on one platform. Strong community support also ensures seamless updates and troubleshooting.
Two separate native apps require separate updates, maintenance, bug fixes, and maintenance support, which makes the process complex and doubles the cost and work involved. Native apps also need to be updated constantly.
Learning curve and ease of use
Using JavaScript – the most commonly used programming language in the world– gives React Native an edge over native apps. It is easy to learn for web developers with good HTML, CSS, and JavaScript knowledge.
Native programming languages for Android and iOS, such as Kotlin, Java, or Swift, have separate documentation and rules. Developers who can code in these languages are scarce to find and expensive to employ.
User interface
React Native renders the app’s interface into native-like components with native APIs and modules. This makes the app experience similar to natively built Android or iOS apps. The average user will be unable to tell the difference between the two.
Native apps do have the upper hand when it comes to superior user interfaces and native app experiences. However, the average user will generally not be able to tell whether an app is Swift or JavaScript-based.
Flexibility and cross-platform development
React Native is multi-platform by default. You can develop apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and the web using a single JavaScript codebase. Only minor native improvements and additions dramatically cut down development costs and time. Planning, testing, deployment, and associated logistics are also easier to handle.
Native apps are platform-specific and require separate development teams. This is because the source code and development processes are completely different for different target platforms. This means a significant rise in development cost for two separate apps for Android and iOS–by about 35% to 40%. React Native is thus a clear winner here.
Some other factors to consider
Additional features such as active and ever-growing community support and regular open-source contributions make React Native perfect for quickly developing straightforward mobile apps and MVPs. Integrating React Native into existing native apps is also an uncomplicated process.
While native apps offer superior performance and native app development languages are strongly typed and secure, the logistics and complicated development processes make native apps a less viable option for app developers.
