Nowadays, two technologies stand out in software development: React and React Native.
Modular, flexible, fast... Both are developed by Facebook and share many similarities, but they cater to different needs.
This naturally raises the question of which technology best fits our needs for our projects. That’s exactly what this article aims to clarify!
Let’s start by analyzing React, and then React Native.
React
React (also known as React.js or ReactJS) was created by Jordan Walke, an engineer at Facebook, and was initially deployed internally at Facebook in 2011. The first public version of React was officially released in May 2013 at the JSConf US conference.
Advantages
React’s advantages are numerous:
- High Performance - Thanks to its virtual DOM, React optimizes page rendering by updating only the specific parts (also known as components) that need changing.
- Modular (Don’t Repeat Yourself - "DRY" 👀) - With its component-based architecture that resembles stacked LEGO bricks, pages are assembled from “mini code snippets.” This makes a React project extremely modular: modifying one button updates all similar buttons on a page at once!
- Great for SEO - With the introduction of server components, it’s now possible to run most of the code on the “backend” side. This is ideal for fast performance and pages easily readable by search engines.
- A Huge Developer Community - It’s simply one of the most widely used technologies today.
Disadvantages
Of course, it’s not all positive. Here are a few drawbacks:
- Complex for Beginners - React introduces somewhat “abstract” concepts like the lifecycle and states. These can seem complicated at first. 😅
- Requires Additional Configuration - It’s tricky to use React without setting up a base configuration to handle project dependencies (like Webpack, Babel, or ESLint).
React Native
React Native was also created by Facebook but was made public in March 2015 at the React.js Conf.
Advantages
React Native also has numerous advantages:
- Cross-Platform Development - React Native allows you to develop mobile applications for both iOS and Android. This is great news for our wallets and our sleep. 😴
- As Close to a Native App as It Gets - “Native” apps are applications developed with platform-specific programming languages. For example, Swift for Apple systems and Java for Android systems.
- Hot Reloading - This feature lets you instantly see code changes without having to restart the application, speeding up the development process.
- Large Community - Like React, React Native benefits from a strong community support.
Disadvantages
Naturally, there are some drawbacks. 🙄
- Less Stable Performance Than Native Apps - While performance is very good, apps developed in React Native aren’t as optimized as those built entirely in Swift for iOS or Java for Android.
- Relies Heavily on Native Modules - Some platform-specific features (like camera access) require additional native modules, which can complicate development and lead to incompatibilities depending on the operating system versions.
- Limits for Highly Complex Animations - Although React Native supports advanced animations, it may not offer the same fluidity as fully native solutions for extremely complex interfaces.
React or React Native?
Ultimately, React focuses on developing websites, while React Native focuses on developing mobile applications.
It’s often observed that both go hand in hand: companies generally start with React to develop their website, then move on to React Native to develop their mobile app.
Thus, with the same developers, they can easily have both a website and a mobile application thanks to a single technology.
Related Questions
Since comparing only React and React Native might not be enough to make a decision, here are a few questions you might be asking yourself.
Can I use React for mobile development?
No! 😬
You need to learn React Native, which focuses exclusively on mobile application development.
How does the learning curve of React compare to React Native?
The learning curve is similar since both use JavaScript and share core concepts, but React Native also requires additional platform-specific knowledge.
In short: Learn JavaScript first, then React, and finally React Native to become a true Swiss Army knife (that’s our best advice)! 🥸
PS: We offer a course on each of these subjects to meet your needs.
Is React better than React Native?
Neither is inherently better; they are complementary. React is used for web development, and React Native is used for mobile app development.
Is React Native still relevant in 2025?
Yes, React Native is still interesting in 2025.