When Facebook (now known as Meta) first created React Native, the goal was to give app developers a flexible, affordable framework for building cross-platform apps in no time — and at a low cost.
Now, React Native has emerged as one of the most popular cross-platform mobile development frameworks among developers, lauded for its ability to enable code sharing across iOS, Android, and the web. At Leanware, we use React Native to build versatile cross-platform applications, saving weeks of development time and substantially cutting costs for our partners.
By learning everything there is to know about React Native, we’ve taken this popular app-building framework and broken it down to its basics. Let’s get into the details.
What Is React Native?
React Native is an advanced open-source mobile application framework that developers use to efficiently build mobile apps for iOS, Android, and the web. Despite being built with one codebase, these apps perform just like native applications.
Essentially, native applications that are specifically built for a particular mobile platform, which is also known as an operating system (OS), can be expensive and time-consuming to build. After all, developers must take one app idea and customize it to each individual platform/OS.
To combat this, Facebook (Meta) created React Native, a framework that enables the development of mobile applications using one single JavaScript codebase for multiple platforms/OSs, significantly cutting time and development costs. This mimics the look and feel of native components while avoiding the lofty expenses that come with native app development.
React Native’s Growing Popularity
Released in 2015 and maintained by Facebook, React Native has quickly gained popularity for being an efficient and affordable app development framework.
React Native is used by major companies like Walmart, Bloomberg, Uber Eats, and Tesla
Over 180,000 apps are currently built with React Native
React Native enables nearly 60% code reuse between iOS and Android
React Native vs Native Applications
What kind of savings can you expect with React Native compared to native applications?
At a glance, the cost of React Native app development ranges from $25,000 to $300,000, depending on app complexity, unique features, developer fees, the location of the development company you choose, and other factors. In contrast, native app development can cost anywhere between $40,000 to $600,000 and above.
A Rough Cost Breakdown of React Native App Development vs Native App Development
App Complexity | React Native Fixed Cost | Native App Fixed Cost |
Simple app with basic features | $25,000 - $50,000 | $40,000 - $80,000 |
Medium complexity app | $100,000 - $250,000 | $200,000 - $400,000 |
High-complexity app with custom features | $300,000+ | $600,000+ |
Feature | React Native Fixed Cost | Native App Fixed Cost |
User authentication | $5,000 - $10,000 | $8,000 - $15,000 |
Chat/messaging | $8,000 - $20,000 | $12,000 - $30,000 |
Social media integration | $3,000 - $8,000 | $5,000 - $12,000 |
Payments | $5,000 - $15,000 | $8,000 - $20,000 |
Analytics | $3,000 - $10,000 | $5,000 - $15,000 |
*These numbers may vary depending on project complexity.
9 Ways React Native Saves You Money
As we can see above, React Native costs are 25-50% lower compared to native app development. How is this possible?
Here are nine ways React Native is so cost-effective:
1. Single Codebase: Unifying iOS and Android Development
With React Native, developers can unlock the ability to use one JavaScript codebase to create apps for both iOS and Android. This streamlined approach means that developers don’t have to worry about separate codebases for each platform, significantly reducing development and testing costs. It's like having a master key that opens multiple doors, simplifying the development process and ensuring a unified experience across platforms.
2. Streamlined Teams, Enhanced Efficiency
Don’t recruit a large, expensive development team to build out your app for each individual platform. By enabling cross-platform development with JavaScript, React Native allows for smaller, more focused teams to manage the entire project. That means easier communication, a better development process, and faster results — all at a lower cost.
3. Ready-Made Components & Hot Reloading: Accelerating Development
React Native provides a treasure trove of pre-built UI components, allowing developers to bypass the time-consuming process of building common elements from scratch. Coupled with the hot reloading feature, which refreshes the app instantly with each code update, developers can see their changes in real-time. This significantly speeds up the development cycle, making it easier and faster to iterate and improve apps.
4. A Rich Ecosystem: Expanding Possibilities
The popularity of React Native has led to the creation of a rich ecosystem filled with third-party libraries, plugins, and tools. This abundance of resources means developers can easily add complex functionalities to their apps without the need for custom development. From integrating payment systems to enhancing user interfaces, the React Native ecosystem opens up a world of possibilities, saving time and reducing costs.
5. Global Talent Pool: Accessible and Affordable Development
React Native uses JavaScript, which is one of the most widely used programming languages out there. This means that companies don’t need to spend time looking for specialized native developers — instead, they can look to companies like Leanware to find skilled developers at a more affordable rate. React Native breaks down geographical barriers, making it easier to manage development costs without sacrificing quality.
6. Embracing JavaScript: A Common Language
Of course, JavaScript is popular for a reason. React Native’s use of JavaScript not only taps into a large community of developers but also leverages a language known for its versatility and ease of use. This eliminates the steep learning curve associated with native development languages, making it easier for developers to jump into mobile app projects and contribute effectively.
7. Third-Party Plugins: Enhancing Functionality with Ease
React Native's architecture is built for flexibility, seamlessly integrating with a wide range of third-party plugins and APIs. This allows developers to extend the functionality of their apps effortlessly, from adding analytics to incorporating social media features, enhancing the user experience without the complexity of native development.
8. Leveraging the GPU: Optimized Performance
React Native takes full advantage of a device's GPU, ensuring smooth and responsive app performance. This focus on optimization means animations and transitions run optimally, giving users a fluid experience expected from top-tier apps. The use of GPU for rendering minimizes performance bottlenecks, keeping apps running smoothly.
9. Community Support: A Wealth of Knowledge
The vibrant community surrounding React Native is one of its greatest strengths. Developers have access to an extensive array of documentation, forums, and tutorials, providing a solid foundation for overcoming challenges and learning best practices. This wealth of knowledge and support makes React Native an approachable and appealing option for developers looking to build high-quality mobile apps that will keep on growing.
The Exciting Future of React Native Development
The world of React Native development is on the brink of some truly exciting advancements, thanks to relentless innovation from Facebook, the open-source community, and countless developers worldwide.
Here are some important developments on the horizon:
AI Integration
Imagine a world where artificial intelligence (AI) streamlines your mobile app development, automating tedious workflows and freeing up your creative and technical teams to focus on what truly matters—innovation and user experience. AI integration in React Native is setting the stage for this reality, promising to drastically reduce development time and costs while offering unprecedented levels of versatility.
TurboModules
Performance is key in the mobile app world, and React Native's upcoming TurboModules re-architecture is a game-changer. By enabling even faster app performance, TurboModules helps React Native apps handle complex operations with ease. For businesses, this means happier customers, better engagement, and the ability to run more sophisticated apps without a hitch.
Simplified Bridge
The introduction of the Simplified Bridge heralds an era of enhanced and more efficient communication between JavaScript and native code, making it easier and quicker for developers to create and maintain applications. For businesses, this translates to lower development costs and shorter time-to-market, enabling them to launch new features and products faster than ever before.
Fabric Threading Model
User experience can make or break an app, and the Fabric Threading Model is poised to significantly enhance how React Native apps handle animations and gestures. By enhancing the smoothness and responsiveness of your app’s interface, this model can deliver a fully immersive and engaging experience — all within your users’ hands.
Further Native Integration
React Native now lets app creators use more built-in phone features, opening up exciting new opportunities for the future. As native integration expands, React Native apps will be able to do things that were once hard or even impossible to conceive from a single codebase. Soon, these apps will be virtually indistinguishable from full native apps regarding capabilities and performance.
Why Choose Leanware to Unlock the Cost-Saving Potential of React Native?
With Leanware on your team, you're not just collaborating with developers; you're uniting with true app professionals who thrive on pushing the boundaries of tech innovation. Here are three major reasons to choose Leanware for React Native app development:
A Global Edge
At Leanware, our Colombia-based team of seasoned React Native developers is at your service. With a deep understanding of the framework and a wealth of experience, we ensure that your app leverages the best practices and the latest features of React Native. Our overseas development teams bring cost efficiency without compromising quality, allowing your project to benefit from diverse perspectives and global talent.
Tailored for Your Success
We understand the dynamic nature of app development, which is why we employ flexible and customized agile methodologies. This approach enables rapid iterations and adaptability to changes, ensuring that your app evolves in alignment with user feedback and market demands.
From Concept to Launch and Beyond
Beyond just coding, Leanware provides end-to-end support throughout the app development lifecycle. From initial concept discussions and testing to final launch and beyond, we offer strategic insights, design expertise, and post-launch support. We want to not only help our clients bring their visions to life but also achieve sustained success in the competitive app market.
Maximize Your Budget with Leanware’s React Native Development
At nearly half the cost of native app development, it’s no secret why many choose React Native for affordable app development. Plus, if you choose a Nearshore development company like Leanware, you can slash costs and truly maximize your budget.
Unsure if React Native is right for your app idea? Let’s talk about it.
At Leanware, you can meet with our developers face-to-face in a virtual meeting to discuss the ins and outs of your vision for your app. Then, we’ll help you decide if React Native is the right solution for your cross-platform project.
Our team is ready to hear from you, so get in touch today. Your users — and your budget — will thank you.
FAQs: React Native Benefits
What are the key benefits of using React Native for mobile app development?
React Native is a powerhouse for cross-platform development, offering rapid deployment across iOS and Android with one codebase. It slashes development time, cuts costs with smaller teams, taps into global talent, and accelerates progress with a wealth of ready-made components. In short, it's your fast track to market with substantial savings.