React Native is one of the most popular frameworks today among mobile app developers. It’s built on top of React.js, a widely used web development library developed and backed by Meta. Initially created as an internal tool by a team at Meta, it later evolved into an open-source framework that transformed how mobile apps are built.
For individuals, business owners, and C-suite professionals, it remains a go-to choice when selecting a cross-platform framework for mobile app development. Many turn to a React Native app development company to make the most of its capabilities. Being JavaScript-based is a major plus, and it offers a number of features that contribute to its growing popularity.
Is React Native a good choice for your next mobile app? In this blog, we’ll break it down and provide a clear guide on React Native development.
This guide covers everything, from why React Native continues to lead, to the tooling, performance improvements, and best practices developers should follow in 2025.
Why React Native Still Makes Sense in 2025
The developer’s survey reveals that demand for mobile apps is outpacing supply. React Native is one of the solutions that empowers companies to build apps in less time while maintaining performance on par with native apps.
React Native allows companies to leverage the JavaScript developers (already abundant) to build mobile apps. This means companies can build apps without hiring Swift and Kotlin experts. This means you will get talent at an affordable cost with React Native development.
The cross-platform development feature is another advantage, eliminating the need to manage two different codebases. On average, you can build an app at 40% less cost compared to Native development. A critical feature for startups and mid-sized businesses competing against larger players.
App stores are saturated with over 5 million apps combined on Google Play and the App Store. React native rapid prototyping capabilities enable developers to launch MVPs faster than native alternatives.
React Native is the perfect solution for those balancing budget and speed. Equipped with cutting-edge fabric render and JSI, React enables developers to build performance-critical apps.
JavaScript remains the backbone of modern development, with tools like Node.js, Next.js, and TypeScript dominating. React enables developers to reuse code across web and mobile.
Beyond these benefits, if you want to target foldable, wearable, and IoT devices, React works well with platforms beyond mobile devices, such as Wear OS and Vision Pro.
Beyond legacy adopters like Meta, React powers many mobile apps you might be using.
React Native hasn’t faded into the background—it’s adapted, matured, and become more developer-friendly. Here’s why it still holds strong:
- Cross-Platform at Its Core: One codebase for both iOS and Android saves time and budget, especially for startups and mid-sized companies.
- Backed by Meta (Facebook): The framework benefits from strong corporate support and regular updates.
- Large Talent Pool: Hiring or scaling a team is easier due to the widespread use of JavaScript and React.
- Improved Performance: With Hermes (a lightweight JavaScript engine), apps run faster and smoother.
- Modern Architecture: The New Architecture (with TurboModules and Fabric) unlocks better native integration and performance.
What’s New in React Native in 2025?
React Native continues to roll out improvements that make a real difference:
1. The New Architecture is Now Standard
In 2025, React Native’s new architecture—Fabric and TurboModules—comes enabled by default. You don’t have to set them up separately anymore. These changes mostly solve long-standing performance issues.
Fabric helps reduce delays in rendering UI elements, especially when there’s a lot going on in the app. It makes interactions feel more immediate by improving how the UI updates. TurboModules, on the other hand, solve the problem of slow app startup by loading only the native modules your app actually needs at runtime, instead of all of them upfront.
Together, they make the app feel smoother and more responsive, without requiring major changes in how you write your code.
- Faster startup times
- Improved UI responsiveness
- Smoother animations and gestures
2. TypeScript by Default
TypeScript has slipped into the default choice for most web developers. There are many good reasons behind its rapid growth among developers. It offers code safety, beneficial tooling, and a more organized development experience. Developers receive instant feedback in their editors, catching potential bugs early and facilitating teamwork.
For big codebases, TypeScript adds sanity and consistency. Its type system works as a safety net, particularly when dealing with unknown code or integrating new developers. That is why most frameworks and templates, be it Next.js, React Native, or Node.js, now come pre-installed with TypeScript.
It’s not a matter of complexity. You can still write code in the JavaScript way and incrementally pick up types as your project expands. But starting with TypeScript places a solid foundation without putting you in the position of a steep learning curve.
3. Expo Dev Tools Are More Powerful
Expo is no longer just for getting started—it’s now a serious option for building production-ready apps. With powerful new tools and deeper native capabilities, Expo has become a go-to choice even for experienced teams.
The developer experience is much smoother now. You get better native module support, easier configuration, and fewer roadblocks when adding custom native code. Expo Application Services (EAS) also simplifies complex tasks like continuous integration, over-the-air updates, and app store deployment.
Rather than having to configure individual tools for builds, testing, and distribution, Expo rolls it all into one efficient process. That means you can spend more time developing your product and less time managing your build pipeline.
4. Better Web Support
React Native for Web has quietly grown into a stable and practical solution for building universal apps. It allows you to reuse a significant portion of your mobile codebase to target the browser or desktop—without starting from scratch.
This means you can maintain a single codebase that works on iOS, Android, and the web, which simplifies development and reduces long-term maintenance. Core components like buttons, views, and text inputs behave consistently across platforms, making it easier to build cross-platform UI without writing separate code for each.
For teams aiming to ship faster and scale across platforms, React Native for Web now offers a mature and efficient path forward.
React Native vs. the Competition in 2025
Although platforms such as Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform, and SwiftUI are picking up momentum, React Native remains current and for very good reasons. It provides an perfect balance of performance and developer efficiency, so it’s a practical option for teams that need to get something shipped quickly without having to compromise on quality.
React Native also doesn’t lock you into a one-size-fits-all setup. If your app needs platform-specific features or intensive performance tuning, you can drop down into native code using Native Modules. This flexibility allows teams to fine-tune performance where it matters most—without having to fully rewrite parts of the app.
Another advantage is real-time updates. Tools like CodePush let you push updates instantly without waiting for app store reviews. This is especially useful for fixing bugs or pushing minor content updates quickly.
In short, React Native remains competitive by offering flexibility, strong community support, and the ability to balance speed with performance—all in a single framework.
- It strikes a balance between performance and developer speed.
- It has a large open-source community.
- It allows seamless native integration when needed (via Native Modules).
- It supports real-time updates through tools like CodePush.
Tech Stack for React Native Development in 2025
React Native has come a long way from its humble beginnings. With new libraries, stable ones, and better performance, the modern React Native stack is capable enough to handle full-fledged production apps. Here’s what a typical setup usually consists of:
- TypeScript
TypeScript is now a default language for React Native developres. There are many good reasons why typescript is gaining traction among JavaScript developers. It has a static typing feature to developers catch bugs early, improving overall code quality. With strong editor support and type safety, TypeScript makes working on large or long-term projects more manageable.
- Navigation
For handling screens and app flow, React Navigation remains the most widely used library. Version 7+ offers better performance and cleaner APIs. For more advanced UI transitions, the Reanimated Transition APIs provide smoother, gesture-based animations that feel native.
- State Management
While Redux is still relevant, Zustand has gained popularity for its minimal setup and ease of use. It’s lightweight, scalable, and plays well with React’s hooks-based architecture. Redux Toolkit, on the other hand, is great for more complex apps that require structured state logic.
- Styling
NativeWind brings the power of Tailwind CSS into React Native, making it easy to style apps with utility-first classes. For those who prefer component-scoped styles, styled-components offer flexibility with a more traditional CSS-in-JS approach.
- Backend
Depending on the project, Firebase and Supabase are solid choices for fast backend setup, offering authentication, databases, and real-time features. For more control or scalability, many teams go with custom APIs built in Node.js.
- CI/CD
Expo Application Services (EAS) streamline the entire build and deployment process. For bare workflow projects, combining Fastlane with GitHub Actions offers a flexible and customizable CI/CD pipeline.
- Testing
Testing has become easier and more reliable. Jest handles unit testing, while Detox is used for end-to-end testing on devices. The React Native Testing Library bridges the gap by offering tools that test components in a user-focused way.
- Performance
Hermes boosts startup time and performance by optimizing JavaScript execution. Skia brings advanced rendering capabilities, while Reanimated 3 provides smoother and more efficient animations—making modern apps feel more fluid and responsive.
Best Practices to Follow
Building in React Native is easy to start—but scaling it efficiently requires discipline. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Keep components and business logic loosely coupled.
- Build shared logic across platforms but isolate platform-specific code.
- Performance Profiling: Use Flipper and React DevTools regularly to catch bottlenecks early.
- Write unit and integration tests for critical paths. Detox helps with end-to-end tests.
- Secure API keys, use secure storage, and follow platform-specific security guidelines.
Common Challenges (and How to Handle Them)
- Complex Native Modules? Use pre-built modules from the community, or create custom native bridges using TurboModules.
- App Size Bloat? Minimize dependencies, enable Proguard, and strip unused assets.
- Debugging Pain? Tools like Flipper, LogBox, and Source Maps in production builds help a lot.
When React Native May Not Be Ideal
React Native is great for most use cases, but it might not be the best choice when:
- Your app heavily relies on custom, high-performance native UI or graphics.
- You’re building a platform-specific application with deep OS integrations.
- You have an existing native team already skilled in Swift/Kotlin.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, React Native is going strong. It remains a favorite among companies that desire flexibility, developer productivity, and native performance from one codebase. Its growing community, constant updates, and expanding ecosystem render it even more applicable today.
Yet, like any technology, all it depends on how it is implemented. A lot of companies choose to hire React Native developers with hands-on experience to really get the most out of the framework. It is a reliable option, whether you’re launching a new application or expanding an existing one, having quality developers can prove to be the decisive factor.
