Compare · Mobile Frameworks
React Native vs Native (Swift + Kotlin).
React Native lets one JavaScript codebase target iOS + Android. Native means Swift + Kotlin, two teams, two codebases. The tradeoffs are similar to Flutter vs native but ecosystem dynamics differ.
(01) — Strengths
What each does best.
React Native
- JS/React team can build mobile — reuse existing expertise
- ~50% cheaper than dual native
- Fast iteration with hot reload
- Massive JS package ecosystem
Native (Swift + Kotlin)
- Complete platform access with no bridge overhead
- Best-in-class performance
- Independent iOS + Android feature roadmaps
- Zero cross-platform edge cases
(02) — Head-to-head
Direct comparison.
| Criterion | React Native | Native (Swift + Kotlin) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost efficiency | Excellent | Higher |
| Team utilisation | Web + mobile shared | Two separate teams |
| Native feature access | Very good | Complete |
| Performance | Very good | Excellent |
| Debugging edge cases | Occasional bridge issues | Native only |
(03) — Decision
When to pick each.
Pick React Native when
You already run React across the org, want to reuse team, or need to ship fast on a limited budget.
Pick Native (Swift + Kotlin) when
You need maximum platform depth, absolute performance, or plan a 5+ year mobile roadmap.
(04) — FAQ
Common questions.
For teams already running React across the web, budgets that need to stretch, or products that need to ship fast — React Native wins. Roughly 50% cheaper than dual native (Swift + Kotlin) builds, one team can own both platforms, hot reload iteration is fast, and with the new architecture (turbo modules + fabric) performance is very close to native for typical business apps. For products needing maximum platform depth, best-in-class performance, a 5+ year mobile-only roadmap, or zero cross-platform edge cases — native wins. You get complete platform access with no bridge overhead. Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, Discord, Coinbase, and Tesla all ship React Native in production, so ecosystem risk is minimal. Our default: React Native for teams with existing React expertise; native for greenfield mobile-only teams or performance-critical apps.
Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, Discord, Coinbase, Tesla all ship React Native in production.
With the new architecture (turbo modules + fabric), React Native performance is very close to native for typical business apps.
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