React vs React Native: How to Decide Which One to Use?

React powers over 12 million websites worldwide and React Native is trusted by 42% of developers for cross-platform mobile development. Popular brands like Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, and Walmart use these technologies to deliver high-performing digital experience.

Yes. In fact, React and React Native are two popular development technologies that offer a varied set of benefits to developers and businesses. But due to their similar origins and names, they are often confused with each other.

While React provides seamless & dynamic web applications, React Native drives high-performing mobile applications. For businesses exploring digital transformation, the question often arises: which one is right for my product? The choice between React and React Native is not just about coding frameworks. It is about time-to-market, scalability, user experience, and development cost.

Business owners need clarity on which technology aligns with their goals, while developers often want to know how each impacts performance, flexibility, and usability. In this blog, we’ll break down React vs React Native, from both a business and developer perspective, so you can make the right choice for your next project.

Key Differences Between React and React Native

Understanding the difference between React and React Native is essential when making a selection. While they come from the same background, they have key differences that set them apart. These differences include language, syntax, how they render, and their development environments. Let us have a quick glimpse of the differences in the table below:

Now that we have had a quick look at the differences, let us understand them in detail.

Language and Syntax Differences

React, or ReactJS, is a JavaScript library used for creating web apps and building web interfaces. You create components in JavaScript and render them on web pages. It uses JSX, which lets you write code that resembles HTML within your JavaScript files. This makes it easy to create and reuse UI components in your web app.

On the other hand, React Native is a framework for mobile development using JavaScript and native modules. It also uses JSX but includes elements specific to mobile devices. Components like <View>, <Text>, and <Image> correspond directly to native UI elements on iOS and Android. This allows developers to use features unique to each platform.

Despite these differences, both technologies allow developers to build user interfaces using reusable components and JavaScript code. This shared foundation makes it easier for developers to transition between building web applications with React and native mobile applications with React Native. When deciding between React and React Native, it’s important to consider whether your primary goal is to build for the web or to create native mobile applications, as each technology is optimized for its respective platform.

React vs React Native- How do the Technologies Work?

React and React Native are both built on the same core principles, but they serve different purposes and work in distinct ways. React is designed for building user interfaces for web applications, using a virtual DOM to efficiently update and render web elements in the browser. This approach allows developers to create fast, interactive user interfaces for web development projects.

Virtual DOM for React JS

The Document Object Model (DOM) is a programming tool that represents a web page and its content. Frameworks and libraries that handle the DOM greatly affect how web pages are used and displayed. The Virtual DOM is a virtual representation of the real DOM. This means it quickly manages the updates while crafting the dynamic UIs. Since the virtual DOM is quick, it delivers enhanced performance and a better user experience.

Let us understand the working with an example.

function tick()

{

const element = (

< div>

< p> Hello World < /p>

< /div>

ReactDom.render(element, document.getElementById(‘root’));

}

setInterval (tick,1000);

Native APIs for React Native

When it comes to React Native, the technology uses Java APIs to render Android components and Objective-C to write iOS components when rendering UI components.

To explain how React Native works, it uses a bridge architecture where JavaScript code communicates with native modules. Instead of rendering web elements, React Native renders native mobile components using a bridge that communicates between JavaScript code and the device’s native APIs. This means that while React Native shares much of its architecture and code style with React, it outputs native mobile components that provide a true native experience on both iOS and Android devices.

React Native's system translates JavaScript and JSX into native UI components for each platform, allowing for efficient cross-platform development. The bridge enables the app to send data between JavaScript and native code, and recent improvements like Turbo Modules and Fabric have enhanced performance and efficiency.

In this, JavaScript is used to create the remaining code and personalize the application for each platform. Since React Native doesn’t use CSS or HTML, developers must create style sheets in JavaScript to style React Native components.

For example, in React Native, the code works like,

import React, { component } from ‘react’;

import {text, view} from “react-native”;

export default class HelloWorldApp extends component

{ render()

{

return

{

< view>

< text> Hello World < /text>

< /view>

}}}

Navigation

When you build web apps in React, you need to use external libraries like react-router for navigation and page transitions.

In React Native, creating the user interface is easier. It has its own Navigator component, which helps you customize the app’s navigation and create smooth animations and transitions that feel familiar on both iOS and Android.

If your mobile app is not too complex and doesn’t have many different scenes, you won’t need to search for external libraries.

Efficiency

React is a great choice for creating a user-friendly interface for your project. One of its best features is that it runs on the client side while also being rendered on the server side. React makes developers more productive and gives them tools to build important components. It works well for simple items like clickable buttons and more complex elements like dropdowns.

React Native uses a unique approach to help developers work more efficiently. It consists of reusable native components that are compiled directly into native code. This allows React Native to stand out from other mobile app development frameworks by providing an app that has the look, feel, functionality, and speed of a native app.

Additionally, React Native developers can easily use native scripts like Java, Swift, and Objective-C to create a unique design.

Performance

When we compare performance, React.js is better for web applications, while React Native is best for mobile apps compared to traditional native development.

React Native creates fast mobile apps, but there are still some performance differences compared to fully Native apps. If speed and performance are your main concerns, building entirely Native mobile applications is the best choice. However, if your app does not have complex features, such as animations, then React Native is a great option.

Components

React is the base for building web applications, while React Native is for mobile applications. This means that the components used in each are different. Although they may seem similar in how they work, there are important differences in their functions.

React

Components in React are JavaScript classes or methods that create React elements and determine how certain parts of the user interface look. There are two primary types of components:

• Function components

• Class components

The component-based architecture allows developers to build apps with similar functions using either type of component. Class components have more features compared to function components, but functional components are easier to read. They allow developers to write less code, leading to better app performance.

React Native

Native UI elements are useful widgets that you can easily use in your app. They come with the platform or are offered by third-party libraries. You can also create your own unique component and reuse it throughout the application.

If React Native doesn’t have the needed functionality or module, you can use a Native Module. Developers can also use third-party libraries like react native share to implement sharing features that access native device sharing capabilities. This is a set of JavaScript functions that help access the platform’s API. You can create your own module using some tools available on GitHub.

Development Environment

React.js allows you to use common web development tools like code editors and debuggers. You can run React.js applications directly in a web browser while you develop them. For more complex web applications that need server-side logic, you can also use Node.js servers. After building and testing, React web applications are typically deployed to a web server for public access.

React Native requires a special setup for building mobile apps. You will still use JavaScript, but you need extra tools and settings to develop and test React Native apps. For testing, you can use integrated development environments (IDEs) or physical devices. You can also work with Android Studio and Xcode.

Recommended Read: Hiring A ReactJS Developer: What To Look For?

Key Differences between React and React Native from a Business Decision Perspective

When it comes to choosing a technology from a business owner's perspective, along with the technical aspects, the choice lies in different parameters. Below are some of the parameters that business owners consider while selecting one.

Faster Delivery and Lower Cost

If your goal is to launch quickly and test a product idea, React Native can offer significant advantages for developing cross-platform mobile applications. Studies show that React Native allows you to reuse 70–90% of your code for both iOS and Android apps. This means faster releases and significant cost savings compared to building two separate native apps.

If your product is primarily a web app, like a SaaS dashboard, a content-rich website, or an enterprise web portal, React is a great choice. It offers a strong and reliable frontend system that works well with SEO, server-side rendering, and user flows in the browser. This helps your web-facing products gain users more quickly.

Scalability & Ecosystem

React has a larger and more mature ecosystem, with endless UI libraries, developer tools, and frameworks like Next.js for server-side rendering. Its support from Meta and a vast open-source community makes it a safe bet for long-term and scalable web projects.

React Native, meanwhile, reduces hiring overhead and streamlines operations by letting one team handle both mobile platforms. For businesses with limited resources, this can mean lower ongoing maintenance costs and simpler project management.

Trade-offs to Consider

The promise of using "one codebase for both platforms" can come with some drawbacks. Certain features like complex animations, deep native integrations (like augmented reality, custom camera functions, or high-performance graphics), or very specific user experiences may still need native modules or even full native development.

From a business perspective, it's important to have a clear product roadmap. If providing a mobile experience that feels completely native is essential, React Native might still need native extensions or fallback options. This could reduce some of the speed and cost benefits.

The key question for your business is: Is it more important to enter the market quickly or to have the best native mobile user experience? If speed to market is a priority, React Native is a strong option. If not, or if your main users are on the web, it may be better to stick with React for web and use a separate strategy for mobile.

To effectively use both technologies, many companies choose to hire Indian developers who bring both cost efficiency and expertise in React and React Native. With the right team, you can balance speed, performance, and scalability.

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

Many popular applications use React and React Native, showing their strengths in real-life situations. Many companies use both React and React Native applications to deliver content and features across web and mobile platforms.

Below are some of the popular examples:

Facebook

React started at Facebook and is an important part of their front-end design. It helps create rich and fast user interfaces. Facebook's Ads Manager uses React Native to provide a smooth, native-like experience on both iOS and Android devices.

Instagram

Instagram uses React to build its web interfaces. This helps improve performance while providing dynamic content. React handles the rich photo-sharing interface with strong client-side rendering.

Walmart

Walmart updated its mobile app using React Native. This made the app faster and allowed for quicker updates. By sharing much of the code between iOS and Android, Walmart cut down on development costs and created a consistent user interface.

These examples highlight how powerful the technologies are when applied correctly. To achieve similar results for your business, you can hire React developers who understand how to optimize each framework based on your specific use case.

Use Cases: When to Use React and When to Use React Native

Although the choice between React vs React Native depends on your unique project's requirements and goals. However, there are several scenarios where choosing one can be done based on different scenarios.

React is a powerful tool for creating dynamic and interactive user interfaces for web development and applications. It works well for:

• Single-page applications that enable the web interface to update without requiring page reloads.

• Complex Web Dashboards for projects that need real-time data updates and detailed UI elements, like analytics dashboards.

• SEO-friendly projects, when paired with server-side rendering, can improve performance and SEO by enhancing Core Web Vitals with React.

• Multilingual Applications for building apps that support multiple languages.

React's ability to reuse components and break down large interfaces into smaller parts makes it popular for web projects. Additionally, using key React packages can simplify development and tackle common needs like state management, routing, and form handling.

React Native is designed for mobile app development. It allows developers to write one codebase for both iOS and Android. It's great for:

• Startups and MVPs for quickly testing a product idea with limited resources.

• Apps with Simple UIs are needed when you need consistent user interfaces across different devices.

• Code Reusability and Shared Logic, which is useful for projects that share code between web and mobile apps.

For businesses that want to reach mobile users without creating separate apps for each platform, React Native is a great choice, offering near-native performance and a familiar look.

Conclusion

Both ReactJS and React Native save time and offer different features to meet your needs. If your core audience is on the web, React helps you scale reliably. If you want fast mobile reach with a single team, React Native cuts time and cost. Many businesses combine both, often seeking a software engineer skilled in both technologies. If you're unsure, we, as a reliable offshore development company, can help you build the right strategy and provide skilled developers for both technologies. Get in touch today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What is the basic difference between React and React Native?

React is a tool for building web interfaces, while React Native is used for creating mobile apps.

Can I use React and React Native together?

You can use React for building websites and React Native for creating mobile apps. You can also share business logic and services between them.

Is React Native better than native mobile development?

React Native lets you build cross-platform apps quickly. Native development is better for using specific features and achieving better performance on each platform.

Do React and React Native use the same programming language?

React and React Native both use JavaScript and JSX, but they show user interfaces in different ways.