React Native vs Native App Development: Differences and Considerations

ProfilePicture of Fabio Ferreira
Fabio Ferreira
Senior Full-stack React Developer
A 3D mobile phone with an application, and the logos of React, Kotlin and Swift next to it
Originally published on Apr 20, 2021Last updated on Nov 23, 2023

Key Takeaways

Is React Native better than native?

React Native and native development each have their own advantages and disadvantages. React Native enables developers to build mobile apps with JavaScript, making development faster and allowing for code reuse across platforms. With native development, however, you have to create separate apps for each platform using different programming languages, but you get better performance and access to specific platform features. Ultimately, which is better will depend on the requirements of your project and your preferences.

Is React Native truly native?

No, it’s written primarily with JavaScript and classified as a “hybrid” framework, meaning that it’s platform-independent. React Native isn’t the best choice for applications with high-performance requirements – specifically those with graphically intensive or data-heavy workloads as they are better served by native applications.

Is native faster than React Native?

Yes. Although React Native has sufficient performance for most use cases, native frameworks are better suited for resource-intensive apps such as those using 3D/AR/VR technology, as well as data or animation-heavy applications.

Why choose native over React Native?

If your project requires advanced features and performance, native development could be the better option. Platform-specific features, complex animations, high-performance apps, and more control are just some of the advantages of native development.

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