For a long time, mobile app development companies have used all the existing frameworks, libraries, and technologies while developing an app to boost the user experience. When we are talking about Android and iOS app development services, it becomes necessary to discuss what kind of app development approach businesses are going to prefer. It must be according to the ongoing trend and need of the hour to match the potential audiences’ expectations.
There are considered two app development approaches: Native and React Native. The battle between both has been continued for a long as some of the firms prefer to choose React Native and some go for native only. Though, both of these are key market performers in the application development industry.
Those who were previously using the Native app development approach have turned their heads towards React Native as it provides cross-platform opportunities to them. Enterprises that are on their way to getting mobile app development solutions must be in dilemma about choosing between Native and React Native. In the below guide, we are going to talk about which is the perfect choice for mobile app development: Native vs React Native. Though, it will not be as easy as flipping a coin. Let’s dive into the detailed discussion:
Table of Contents
Get to Know About Native App Development
If as an enterprise, you are looking for developing a mobile app specifically for a single platform, be it for the Google Play Store or App Store, then get yourself focused on Native app development. Native apps are developed with the help of effective mobile app development tools that facilitate them to perform well and smoothly on one app platform. With the native app development, enterprises will need to hire two different development teams, one for Android development and one for iOS development.
There is a requirement for coding in Kotlin or Java for Android applications and Swift or Objective-C for iOS apps and IDE is Xcode. Native applications deliver fast and smooth performance along with a better user experience, soothing visuals, & interactive UI in comparison to other apps.
Get to Know About React Native App Development
Be it iOS or Android app development services, React Native is suitable to develop applications for different platforms. In this generation that demands customized experiences and instant indulgence, React Native is the most suitable framework for them. It helps to deliver an amazing experience while using different devices. It is becoming the most chosen framework because of the provided benefits. With React Native, there is no need to write separate code bases for iOS and Android apps. Most of the code will be written in JavaScript and included native visual elements that will maintain the performance same as a fully native application.
Before selecting between both frameworks, you must look at different aspects such as overall development cost, user experience, duration, and application type. The choices you make here will directly have an impact on the app performance, investment return, and customer retention rate. Also, think from the different perspectives like the market need, pros & cons of both the frameworks, contrast, etc. before making any decision or investment.
Pros of Choosing Native App Development
When a business chooses to go with the Native mobile app development framework, there comes a long list of benefits provided to iOS and Android apps. Native apps are always known as superior to others regarding features’ accessibility, performance, and post-launch performance metrics. Here are some advantages of the native framework:
1. System-specific Scalability
When it comes to React Native vs Native, native apps have always worked well because they are particularly created for one platform only. And, when a mobile app is developed for a dedicated platform, it tends to have easier integrations, lower code writing, a simple debugging process, better user experience, and many others. The created app is not reliant on any other platform than a specific one.
2. High-end Security
Native applications comprise features of a system’s operating system and hence, it provides a tightened security for users’ data. It is necessary to hire mobile app developers who can deliver you native apps with such security features. If we talk about React Native, they are based upon third-party integrations including system browser security that can lead to the entry of malicious attacks. Whereas native apps only use APIs, not third-party integrations which make it securer than other apps.
3. Large Developers’ Community
Included technologies in native apps, be it Android or iOS are capable to provide you access to a massive knowledge base and a lot of different tools & solutions rather than trial and error every time. The whole developers’ community is available there in case of any problem or query occurs.
4. Access to Different Features
When businesses chose to go with a native app, they automatically get access to the features of the software and OS. For example, native apps can access device hardware directly such as a microphone, camera, location, etc. to augment the user experience, unlike React Native. Looking at another advantage; it offers offline usage, in which, after downloading the app features, they can be used without any connectivity. Various planners, organizers, games, productivity timers, etc. use it.
5. Better Stability and Lesser Bugs
As we know that native apps are involved with one respective platform, whether it is Play Store or App Store, there are always continuous stable updates for a better user experience to provide flawless and glitch-free application function. It depends upon your chosen mobile app development company as native apps can be built with minor bugs because of the less dependency on the cross-platform tools. The mobile app development team can also manage the troubleshooting better due to the different codebases in comparison to a single code base for cross-platform.
Pros of Choosing React Native App Development
The use of React Native allows developers to build cross-platform apps with fast performance & deployment while saving their efforts and time. In 2015, Facebook came up with this framework for developing apps efficiently along with retrieving all the features of native applications. At present, various popular apps are using it such as Instagram, Airbnb, Walmart, etc. Let’s dive into more benefits of React Native:
1. Quick Development Time
Between React Native vs Native mobile app development, the developers’ community is prioritizing React Native due to its amazing benefits such as less effort and fast development time. This open-source app development framework doesn’t need to write similar code twice which leads to saving approx. 40% time of app developers. Not only time, but it also saves the efforts they put to write the code for different platforms.
2. Hot Reloading
The feature ‘Hot reloading’ or ‘live reloading’ is beneficial for developers to see the changes before the implementation. It also allows for ‘real-time feedback’. There is automatic app reloading after saving the new code leading to the reduced development time. Live reload is helpful for app reloading with a code change, whereas hot loading covers the changed code, and the entire app will not be reloaded. It helps developers in conducting operations, unlike the native app development process.
3. Cross-platform Development
With React Native, there is no need to write different codes for different platforms. A single code would go for both the platforms Android and iOS. A single code base written in JavaScript is way easier-to-use & maintain, can reuse, and simple-to-maintenance. It directly saves a lot of effort and development duration.
4. Native like Performance
When businesses decide to go for cross-platform development services, they are always concerned about the app’s performance. They don’t need to worry about it with React Native as it provides similar performance to Native apps. Though there are some APIs and third-party integrations React Native needs to work upon but other than that, it has still managed to provide a satisfactory customer experience for comparatively intricate apps. To provide a native-like performance through React Native, there can be added graphic processing units and the latest tech stack such as IoT and AR/VR.
5. Ease of Programming Language
JavaScript is the popularly known and most used programming language worldwide that is used by a large segment of developers regularly. It reduces mobile app development companies’ effort to find out developers with different programming skills as they can hire the team based on expertise in some of the specific languages only. Due to the instinctive modular architecture, React Native applications can also be upgraded easily.
6. Cost-efficient Apps
Nowadays businesses are preferring to build apps using React Native while hiring a top cross-platform app development company, which facilitates them to reduce the app development cost by 25%. It is possible due to the need for only one development team rather than two of them. Things will also be manageable for the project manager due to not having unessential resources.
7. Ready-to-use UI Libraries
React Native framework comprises component UI libraries to deliver developers an integrated user interface. Libraries such as Expo, Shoutem, native base, & others are supposed to save time, otherwise, it will lots of time to create these from scratch. With this, now app developers can spend extra time on the development and app ideas except for creating libraries.
When to Prefer Native App Development
Before choosing Native app development over React Native mobile app development, you must know if it is suitable for you in the current business situation or not. The following reasons will provide you with clarity about your decision:
- When you are going to create a complicated mobile application.
- When you are targeting a specific audience base.
- When you have decided to update the users regularly.
- Use RN to create an IoT-friendly app.
- When you want to be more centered on the native user experience.
When to Prefer React Native App Development
Enterprises choosing React Native application development services have always got various advantages. Let’s get details on when is the right time to prefer React Native framework:
- While creating a simple and standardized application.
- You have a time shortage and a limited budget for building an application.
- If you are planning to create a social media app that is somehow related to Facebook. It would be more appropriate as RN has a Facebook original programming environment with the optimal integration capabilities.
- When you want to enter the market in less time.
Famous Applications Built with Native and React Native
While discussing React Native vs Native app development, we can see there are a lot of differences between them. In the marketplace, apps built with Native and React Native are performing well to be on the top of the users’ preferences. Though, React Native is comparatively new but still it is getting all the attention from the users. Various businesses are choosing it to develop apps, on the other hand, some are still sticking with the Native.
With Native
Let’s get to know about the mobile applications created with the native framework-
With React Native
You must hire React Native app developer to get these below-mentioned apps built using React Native framework.
Cost to Develop a Mobile App in 2022: Native vs React Native
While conducting prior research about both Native and React Native app development, you must also look at the estimated cost. There are various factors responsible for impacting the overall cost. These are:
- App Complexity
- Used Framework
- UI/UX Design
- Integrated Features
- Regular Updates
- App Maintenance
- App Development Team
1. Native App Development Cost
At the time of Native mobile app development, there are required a lot of aspects such as a development team, QA engineers, project management, and business analysts. Enterprises that prefer native app development target a specific platform. Depending on all the necessary elements, the native mobile app development cost would be around $10,000 to $15,000 for a simple app. The estimated price will be increased if there is any complexity in the application, app type, long list of features, etc. If there is both Android and iOS app development, the budget will be high.
2. React Native App Development Cost
When businesses choose React Native app development company to get a cross-platform app, they tend to manage resources and budget efficiently. Cross-platform app development is an affordable option in comparison to hiring an in-house team. The use of RN comes with a lot of advantages with the inexpensive cost of development. The starting range of an RN mobile app will be from $15,000 to $20,000, further, it depends upon different aspects that can vary the cost.
In Essence
The world has experienced different kinds of mobile applications, Native and React Native is also included among them. After Native, RN has also come up as a suitable option to develop cross-platform apps. However, these both have their own importance and benefits, but RN has streamlined the mobile app delivery process regarding resource usability, communication, budget, and various other ways. At last, it depends upon the different business requirements, which framework will be more suitable for the mobile app development.
Be it any framework, Native or React Native, SemiDot Infotech has expertise in both of them as we are ruling the industry with years of experience in mobile app development. You can contact us in case of any query, and we will be glad to help you anytime.
