React Native vs Native for Mobile App Development

Originally published at Scalable Path by Fabio Ferreira on April 7, 2020.

Mobile applications have traditionally been written in native languages. Lately, however, hybrid cross-platform frameworks have been gaining market share. The recent swell of React Native’s popularity has raised the question: should developers use React Native for mobile development instead of full native?

In the last 4 years, React Native has grown to a community of over 2,000 contributors that averages 300,000+ weekly downloads through npm. Some of the largest companies in the world have embraced React Native, including Facebook, Pinterest, Skype, Uber, and Brex. Its widespread adoption is primarily driven by the convenience of its cross-platform nature and the unique technological approach used to accomplish this.

Despite React Native’s success, many people maintain that traditional native mobile apps are still the way to go. The proponents of native primarily cite its performance advantages and robustness when compared to hybrid alternatives. Tradeoffs exist between both options, and careful consideration is required when choosing between the two technologies. This article will weigh in on the matter by delving into what makes React Native so popular, and explore how it works under the hood. We’ll also look at the pros, cons, and…