REACT NATIVE VS. NATIVE: WHICH PATH FOR YOUR APP?

The Fundamental Question: One Codebase or Two?

When developing an app, you face a fundamental decision: Do you develop natively for each platform (iOS with Swift, Android with Kotlin) or use a cross-platform framework like React Native that enables one codebase for both platforms?

The answer depends on your priorities: budget, performance requirements, development speed, and long-term maintainability.

Native Development: The Original

What Does "Native" Mean?

Native development means using the official tools and languages of the platform:

• iOS: Swift or Objective-C with Xcode
• Android: Kotlin or Java with Android Studio

You have direct access to all platform APIs and can use every feature of the devices.

Advantages of Native Development

Maximum Performance

Native apps run directly on the platform without an abstraction layer. For graphics-intensive applications, games, or apps with complex animations, this is crucial.

Full Platform Access

New iOS or Android features are immediately available. You don't wait for a framework maintainer to implement support.

Best UX Possible

Native apps feel "right." Each platform has its own UX conventions, and native development allows you to implement them perfectly.

Disadvantages

• Double development costs: Two teams, two codebases
• Longer time-to-market: Features must be implemented twice
• Harder synchronization: iOS and Android versions can diverge

React Native: One Code, Two Platforms

How Does React Native Work?

React Native uses JavaScript/TypeScript and React concepts. The code isn't compiled to a web app but to real native UI components:

import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity } from 'react-native';

function WelcomeScreen() {
  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>Welcome</Text>
      <TouchableOpacity
        style={styles.button}
        onPress={() => navigation.navigate('Home')}
      >
        <Text>Let's go</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
    </View>
  );
}

The code looks like React for web but renders native iOS and Android components.

Advantages of React Native

One Codebase, Two Platforms

70-90% of code can be shared. This means less development effort and consistent behavior on both platforms.

Faster Development

• Hot Reloading: Changes visible immediately
• Familiar technology for web developers
• Large selection of ready-made components

Cost Efficiency

One team instead of two. Especially for startups and MVPs, a decisive factor.

Web Developers Can Build Mobile Apps

If your team knows React, they can do React Native. The learning curve is much flatter than Swift or Kotlin.

Disadvantages

Performance Overhead

The JavaScript bridge between React Native and native components costs performance. Imperceptible for most apps, but noticeable with very complex animations or real-time graphics.

Platform Updates Delayed

New iOS/Android features are only available when React Native supports them – sometimes with weeks or months of delay.

Native Modules for Special Features

Some features require native code. You then need Swift/Kotlin knowledge or rely on community packages.

The Performance Comparison

| Aspect | Native | React Native |

|--------|--------|--------------|

| Startup Time | Faster | Slightly slower |

| UI Rendering | Maximum | Very good |

| Animations | Perfect | Good (with Reanimated) |

| Memory Usage | Optimal | Slightly higher |

| Everyday Performance | Excellent | Very good |

For 95% of apps, React Native is performant enough. The differences are hardly noticeable to end users.

When to Choose Native?

• Graphics-intensive apps: Games, AR/VR applications
• Hardware-close features: Complex camera/audio processing
• Maximum performance critical: Trading apps, real-time applications
• Platform-specific UX: Apps that must feel 100% native
• Large budget and time: When cost is no concern

When to Choose React Native?

• MVPs and startups: Quick to market with limited budget
• Business apps: CRUD applications, dashboards, e-commerce
• Content apps: News, social media, streaming
• Existing React team: Web developers can be productive immediately
• Fast iteration: Frequent updates, A/B tests

Our Recommendation

For most business applications, we recommend React Native:

1. Faster time-to-market: Often 30-40% less development time

2. Lower costs: One team instead of two

3. Easier maintenance: One codebase means fewer bugs and more consistent behavior

4. Good performance: More than sufficient for typical apps

Native development makes sense when performance is absolutely critical or you need access to the latest platform features on day 1.

The Middle Ground: Native Modules

React Native allows embedding native modules. You can develop critical parts natively and the rest in React Native:

// JavaScript side
import { NativeModules } from 'react-native';
const { CustomCameraModule } = NativeModules;

// Uses native code for camera features
await CustomCameraModule.captureWithFilters();

This way you get the best of both worlds: fast development with React Native and native performance where needed.