Mobile Development · head to head
Expo vs Fastlane
Expo
Mobile Development
React Native framework and cloud platform for building and shipping apps
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Fastlane
Mobile Development
Open-source automation for building, testing, and releasing iOS and Android apps.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Expo free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.; Fastlane requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.
- They diverge on capability: Expo covers Expo SDK, Fastlane covers Screenshot automation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Expo and Fastlane actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mobile Development).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Expo
- Expo SDK
- EAS Build
- EAS Submit
- EAS Update
- Expo Router
- EAS Hosting
- EAS Insights
Only in Fastlane
- Screenshot automation
- Beta distribution
- App store publishing
- Code signing management
- CI/CD integration
- Plugin ecosystem
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Expo
- Building cross-platform apps with React Native without native toolingnot Fastlane
- Running cloud builds and store submissions via EASnot Fastlane
- Shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store reviewnot Fastlane
- Adding file-based navigation with Expo Routernot Fastlane
- Hosting companion web apps and APIsnot Fastlane
Fastlane
- Automating iOS and Android release pipelinesnot Expo
- Generating localized app store screenshotsnot Expo
- Distributing beta builds to testersnot Expo
- Managing code signing across a teamnot Expo
- Integrating mobile releases into CI/CDnot Expo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Expo
- Free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
- Usage-based overage charges for builds, CI/CD minutes, and MAUs can make costs less predictable.
- Concurrent build limits on lower tiers slow down teams with frequent releases.
- Some native functionality still requires ejecting to bare workflow or writing custom native modules.
Fastlane
- Requires command-line and Ruby familiarity to configure and maintain Fastfiles.
- No hosted UI or dashboard; it is a local/CI toolkit rather than a managed service.
- Community-maintained plugins vary in quality and maintenance status.
- No built-in analytics or crash reporting; it must be paired with other tools for those needs.
Pricing, plan by plan
Expo
Free- FreeFree
- 15 Android and 15 iOS builds
- Low-priority build queue
- 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows
- Starter$19/month
- $45 build credit included
- High-priority queue and large workers
- 3,000 MAUs for updates
- Production$199/month
- $225 build credit included
- 2 concurrent builds
- 50,000 MAU support
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- $1,000 build credit included
- 5 concurrent builds
- 1M+ MAU support
Fastlane
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fastlane review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Expo if
- You need expo sdk.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, ios, android, api.
- You also want eas build.
Choose Fastlane if
- You need screenshot automation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on ios, android.
- You also want beta distribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Expo or Fastlane better?
- Neither clearly leads. Expo starts at Free and Fastlane at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Expo or Fastlane?
- Expo starts at Free and Fastlane at Free.
- Does Expo or Fastlane run on more platforms?
- Expo runs on web, ios, android, api. Fastlane runs on ios, android.
- Can I use Expo for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Expo best used for?
- Expo is most often used for building cross-platform apps with react native without native tooling, running cloud builds and store submissions via eas, shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store review, adding file-based navigation with expo router. Of those, building cross-platform apps with react native without native tooling and running cloud builds and store submissions via eas are not what Fastlane is typically brought in for.
- What can Expo do that Fastlane cannot?
- Expo covers Expo SDK, EAS Build, EAS Submit, EAS Update. Fastlane covers Screenshot automation, Beta distribution, App store publishing, Code signing management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Expo: What does Expo cost?
Expo offers a free plan, a Starter plan at $19/month with $45 build credit, a Production plan at $199/month with $225 build credit, and custom Enterprise pricing.
SourceExpo: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
The Free plan includes 15 Android and 15 iOS builds, low-priority build queue access, 60 minutes of CI/CD workflows, and support for 1,000 monthly active users on updates.
SourceExpo: How is usage metered on paid plans?
Beyond included build credit, Expo charges per build by platform and worker size, per CI/CD workflow minute, per million Observe events, and graduated per-MAU overage rates for updates.
Source