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Mobile apps traditionally are written in native languages, however, hybrid cross-platform frameworks gain market share. Additionally, the battle of React Native vs Native has outgrown since the presence on both iOS and Android platforms. We find few users who continue using the native application development approach while few shift towards using a new method of using a cross-platform framework that React Native offers.

In the year 2012, Mark Zuckerberg commented, “The biggest mistake we made as a company was betting too hard on HTML5 as opposed to Native. React Native announced at the Facebook React.js conference in February 2015 and later open-sourced in March 2015.

Therefore, we see a rise in React Native popularity, and a growing number of mobile apps like Instagram, Facebook, Uber, Pinterest, etc., are entirely written in React Native. But there’s a question around whether we should use React Native for mobile development instead of going full Native with Java or Swift. Before we start comparing React Native vs Native development, let’s understand how they work and how they’re used.

React Native Application

It’s a framework for building native iOS and Android applications using JavaScript. Moreover, it’s used for the native component to render the user interface with providing the same native look and feel and giving extra portability. React Native was created by Facebook and enables smooth and easy cross-platform mobile development. React Native uses JavaScript as their primary programming language.

For Android development, one can write views on Java or Kotlin. For iOS development, one can use Objective C or Swift. Using React Native, one can invoke the views with JavaScript using components of React. It’s the best choice for developing a cross-platform mobile app that establishes hybrid tools like Phone Gap and Cordova. Jordan Walke, a Facebook developer, introduced React Native on 26th March 2015 as a new technology for native development.

Pros of React Native

• Single Codebase

It allows single-writing code that works for both Android and iOS. It is easier to maintain and reuse the same code that requires less time, effort, and resources. There’s no issue if the app looks the same on both platforms.

• Hot Reloading

It comes with one of the best features like Hot reloading, through which any mobile app developer can view or modify the change made in-app on their screen in real-time. Here the files are saved automatically and used as React Native, where the output can be seen directly on the device. Also, it reduces the effort, and there’s no need to reload the application when changes are required.

• Saves Development Time

As we do not need to write the same code twice for a different platform, you can build an app using React Native. Additionally, 40% of the time is saved in developing a React Native App. So, from the start to the development process, one can compare saving time in React to Native development.

• Cost-efficient solution

One can create an app and reduce it by 25% if you use React Native. Here, the saving is done because we have one development team instead of two, making it easier for the manager to control its uniformity.

Cons of investing in React Native

• Limited Third-party Libraries

React Native lags behind when comparing native development. If the development company uses Native libraries, then it incorporates native modules, which increases the development efforts of the developers.

• Lack of Native elements

Most developers face a common disadvantage where the react-native does not allow any mobile app development to use the native element of your devices like a camera and voice recorder.

• No Support of All Native APIs

React comes with significant updates introduced by React Native, like debugging tools in the latest version. Also, there are still some restrictions used as APIs.

Native Application

A native application is developed for use on a particular device or platform. It’s built for using a specific device with its OS having the ability to optimize performance by taking advantage of the latest technology. It uses augmented reality as compared with web apps or mobile cloud apps developed by generic across multiple systems.

Pros and Cons of Native Development

Pros of Native Development

• Availability of Third-party libraries

The third-party library creates an app using Native development. iOS and Android are supported compared to React Native counterparts, making it free to choose third-party libraries that suit your needs.

• API accessibility

The feature is provided by Native development, which lays build-in functionality and APIs with an integrated Native app development ecosystem.

• Specialized for Specific system

Here the dedicated platform gives better control over the environment with less code required. It becomes simple, easier, and faster for you to debug the code and analyze troubleshooting. It’s possible to choose Native development where you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with another iOS system.

• Parental Security and Support

Support from the platform gives native technology and benefits of being dependable by putting few steps ahead of cross-platform competitors and providing reliable data protection.

Cons of Native Development

• Consumes high development time and effort

To build an application with the native framework, one needs effort and time that slow down the development process. If you plan to develop iOS and Android apps, one can create two applications separately as the app happens from scratch twice by manifold.

• Development of two application

If you’re using Native mobile app development for your project, create an application for each platform separately without using Java. For Native development, it’s a common disadvantage to investing in iOS app development and Android app development.

Picking and Choosing

When to use Native Development

• One needs performance to make a game like Unity by using a device like 3D/AR/VR capabilities and building a complex application.
• If you’re looking to target a single platform for your app iOS and Android is the only option you have. Also, you cannot expect a change in this.
• You’ll need the process and resources to support the logistical demand of running two mobile development streams while keeping them in sync.
• One needs direct access to device capabilities which only native can provide.

When to use React Native

• If you’re seeking to build a cross-platform app, then it’s fair to get easy use in this case.
• Get logistical benefits that come with the hybrid framework and provide a single codebase supporting the development process.
• If you want to make a prototype or MVP, then consider react native input something together quickly. Get a proven valuable test framework and make use of the full react-native that you need.

Wrap up

A mobile app is not just a bunch of code, but it’s a business. One needs to make a proper decision to choose one path over another and is not purely a technical one. Whether to choose React Native or traditional Native depends on your business needs and the features you need to add.

On paper, it makes sense to develop a native instead of another framework. Native provides excellent performance and offers complete developer access to capabilities on each device. It’s the fact that few require a level of control, and it comes with the literal sense. The work duplication and taxing on a business may not support this framework.

While this gives the best to the world, with lower efforts and associated cost with time to market, it offers a robust app against the native competition. Additionally, it’s a clear choice for those who get a clear preference for rapid prototyping and the production of the MVP process. It meets the long-term requirements of your project and remains the way you go