React Native Vs Native Development: What to Choose For Cross-Platform App Development?

Last Updated on November 5, 2020

Quick Summary: For every enterprise-level organization, it is a dream of having one framework that can cover all the platforms and access most of the functions using one application. To make the dream come true; mobile and web development went utterly different from each other with cross-platform development for years. If you’re confused between React Native and Native development, read this blog and you’ll have a clear understanding of which development suits your project. In this blog, we’re going to resemble React Native VS Native; the best mobile app development platform in detail and clear all your doubts about React Native and Native.

Introduction (React Native Vs Native)

React Native VS Native are the never-ending debate topics having its own advantages and features. Often, digital product owners and tech enthusiasts failed to decide which one would be the best for their project. To solve their doubts and answer their questions about the comparison between React Native and Native mobile app development in detail and every possible way to understand. Before we start, let me help you with what is React Native and what is Native for a newbie and looking for solutions to their doubts.

What is React Native App Development?

React Native is a widely used framework for mobile app development that allows you to develop amazing apps Using JavaScript. It is an open-source framework and the next big thing in mobile app development for a simpler and better user experience. React Native is said to be one of the choices for building cross-platform mobile applications over established hybrid tools like Cordova or Phone Gap.

A Facebook software engineer named Jordan Walke introduced React Native on 26 March 2015 as a new technology for Native development.

What is Native App Development?

Native mobile app development allows you to build apps for a particular mobile OS, and users can access them from dedicated app stores like Google Play or App Store. If you’re planning to build an application for iOS, then developers will use programming languages Objective-C or Swift.

Native can write a cross-platform app using .NET and C# programming language. They are launched without external help or browsers and store data in the gadget’s memory or a cloud service.

Here are the pros and cons of investing in React Native Apps:

Let’s discuss each of them in detail, so that you can clearly understand the good and bad about React Native before investing in it:

Pros of Investing in React Native Apps

Single codebase

React Native allows you to write single code that works for Android and iOS both. This means it becomes easier to maintain and reuse the same code, which requires fewer resources, efforts, and time.
However, there is no issue if the app looks the same on both platforms, then using React Native will speed up the entire development process.

Saves development time

As we know that you’re not required to write the same code twice for different platforms if you’re building an app using React Native. So it is apparent your 40% time is saved when creating a React Native app.

So from the start till the development process completes, it takes comparatively little time than Native app development.

Open-source framework

React Native is an open-source app development framework that comes with the benefit of examining the code. You can freely download and develop the entire application in real-time using its rich features as it is an open-source framework.

You have also got the opportunity to understand the React Native framework by analyzing the code and solving the errors if they come across any bugs in it.

Hot reloading

Hot reloading is one of the best features of React Native through which any mobile app development company can view every modification they’re making in the app on their screens in real-time.

All the files are saved automatically when you’re using React Native, and the output can be seen directly on the device after making any modifications. Here the effort reduces, as there is no need to reload the application again and again when the changes are done.

Cost-efficient solution

When creating an app, the cost can be reduced by 25% if you’re choosing React Native. The savings are done because we’ve just one development team instead of two, which means it will be easier for the project manager to control its uniformity.

Cons of Investing in React Native Apps:

With some powerful advantages, there also comes some disadvantages when developing apps with React Native. Here are a few disadvantages of React Native:

Lack of Native elements

The common disadvantage faced by most of the developers is that React Native doesn’t allow any mobile app development company to use the Native elements of your device, such as a Voice recorder and Camera.

Limited Third-Party Libraries

React Native development lags behind when comparing it with Native development as there are any severe lack of third-party libraries. If the development company is required to use the Native libraries, the incorporation should be made in Native modules that increase development efforts.

No Support for All Native APIs

There are significant updates introduced by React Native, like debugging tools in the latest versions, but there are still some restrictions in using some APIs.

Quick Read: 06 Add-On Features To Optimize React Native App Performance

Here are the pros and cons of investing in Native Apps:

Let’s discuss each of them in detail, so that you can clearly understand the good and bad about Native before investing in it:

Pros of Investing in Native development:

API accessibility

All the features provided by Native development lags behind when the built-in functionality and APIs are integrated with the Native development ecosystem.

Availability of third-party libraries

There is availability of third-party libraries when creating an application using Native development. Android and iOS are fully-supported compared to their React Native counterparts because you’re free to select third-party libraries that suit your needs.

Parental support and security

There is support from the platform providers that gives Native technology the benefit of being dependable by putting a few steps ahead of the cross-platform competitors and providing reliable data protection.

Specialized for specific systems

A dedicated development platform gives better control over the environment and writes less code, so it becomes easier for you to debug the code and analyze troubleshooting. This is possible because of the Native development where you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with any other system than iOS.

Large community of developers worldwide

Native technologies like iOS and Android are mature that allow you to access a vast knowledge base and palette of tools and solutions to learn from your mistakes instead of trial and error.

Cons of investing in Native development:

Development of two application

When you’re using Native mobile app development for your project, you can create an application for each platform separately without using Java. This is one of the common disadvantages of using Native development, so you have to invest in iOS app development and Android app development.

Consumes high development time and effort

Building an application with the Native frameworks requires many efforts and time that may slow down the development process. So if you plan to develop Android and iOS apps, you must create two applications separately because the app development happens from scratch twice by manifold.

Factors to Consider Before Building a Business Mobile App

App Development time

With Native, you’re required to run the entire application whenever you edit your code, which needs extra effort and time to build a mobile app using Native development.

In React Native, the single code is suitable for both the platforms, which means you can quickly develop Android and iOS applications using the same code. Additionally, React Native addressed the feature of Hot Reloading that makes it easier for you to deploy the application and reduces the efforts and time required to develop React Native applications.

App Performance

Performance is the main factor for every business, whether it is a startup or an enterprise-level organization. React Native cannot perform multiple tasks simultaneously as it only works with JavaScript and does not support trending modules and functionalities.

In Native app development, the applications are developed using Java, Swift, or Kotlin which are better than JavaScript and allows you to create various types of Native applications easily.

Intuitive UI/UX experience

Intuitive UI/UX experience is another factor that can help you to examine which is better React Native or Native for your project. React Native allows you to reuse the code functionality when creating a complex UI such as navigation patterns and custom views.

In Native mobile app development, every screen is designed individually for iOS and Android devices for higher mobile app UI/UX experience.

Scalability

React Native offers excellent features with a comprehensive set of opportunities when creating an app with higher-functionality compared to Native mobile app development, so the clear winner is React Native in terms of scalability.

Interaction with native apps

If you’re choosing Native app development, you can easily communicate with other Native apps and access their data. Whereas, it is not possible to React Native development because they rely on third-party libraries to interact with other Native apps.

API and third-party libraries support

If you need to access all the APIs and perform related tasks, then you should choose Native development.

As React Native only allows you to use a few APIs and build a connection layer with Native technologies.

App Security

React Native uses JavaScript, which is not strongly typed like Native mobile app development, i.e., Kotlin, Java, Objective-C, and Swift.

So it makes React Native less secured compared to Native mobile app development.

Mobile app development cost

If cost is your main concern, you must select React Native development for your project as it saves upto 35% cost compared to Native mobile app development.

As we have understood, what kind of advantages you can get if you opt for Native app development or React Native app development for your project.

Now, let’s check what kind of situation you can opt for.

When to choose React Native for Mobile App Development?

🢂 When you’re planning to build a small and simple application.
🢂 When you want to use React Native that can build uniform applications.
🢂 When you want to complete the entire application in a short time.
🢂 When you want to create a new e-commerce application or any social media application like Instagram and Facebook.
🢂 When your budget is limited and don’t want to invest more on the project.
🢂 When you have a limited budget and want to invest less on the project

When to choose Native for mobile app development?

🢂 When you’re planning to develop a complex application.
🢂 When you want to make an application-focused more on Native users.
🢂 When you’re required to update your users regularly.
🢂 When you want to develop an IoT friendly application.
🢂 When you want to build an app for a specific platform only.

Which Brands are using React Native and Native Development Environments?

🢂 Pocket casts, Telegram, Apple, Swiftkey, Lastpass, Google now launcher, Buzz widget are developed natively.
🢂 While Facebook, Instagram, Bloomberg, Pinterest, and many more are the best apps built with React Native development environment.

Difference between Native and React Native is huge. However, React Native is new and seeking the attention of all and becoming the most preferred programming language for SMEs, large-scale enterprise, and especially for Start-ups.

We have built excellent solutions in less time for various industries. Our out-of-the-box services provided to businesses are capable of developing the next generation solution, for example:

nTrust application:

🢂 The dedicated team of React Native developers created an app known as nTrust, allowing users to rent their own goods.
🢂 Here a user is both the borrower and lender.
🢂 Users can also communicate with the lender/borrower using the nTrust, which is easily accessible.
🢂 The user gets notified of any new item available in the app.

There are more such mobile apps developed using React Native that are successfully delivered to our clients.

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading the comparison between React Native VS Native, as it was a blast between the two most widely used mobile development frameworks.

Creating an app with React Native, we knew that it is a perfect tool for fulfilling our client’s requirements with limited resources, time, and efforts. We deliver our out-of-the-box services to a broader marketplace and achieve the honor of a globally reputed development company. If you are looking to develop an application using React Native, Bacancy Technology is the best react native development company for you. So without any delay, get in touch with our expert and start your development journey with us.

Kiran Bhatt View all post

Kiran is a content associate at Bacancy Technology. Kiran Bhatt has an astounding affinity for reading and writing about trending technologies that allow her to be creative. She is a social aficionado. When Kiran is not scrolling down her Instagram feed, she can be found reading novels of Jhumpa Lahiri, Stephenie Meyer, Harper Lee and more.