Mobile Development · head to head
Expo vs Xcode
Expo
Mobile Development
React Native framework and cloud platform for building and shipping 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.; Xcode slow build times, particularly in Xcode 13 with builds 10-20 times longer than Xcode 12
- They diverge on capability: Expo covers Expo SDK, Xcode covers Source code editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Expo and Xcode 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 Xcode
- Source code editor
- Interface Builder
- iOS Simulator
- Debugger
- Instruments profiling
- Version control
- Asset catalog
- App Store integration
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 Xcode
- Running cloud builds and store submissions via EASnot Xcode
- Shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store reviewnot Xcode
- Adding file-based navigation with Expo Routernot Xcode
- Hosting companion web apps and APIsnot Xcode
Xcode
- iOS app developmentnot Expo
- macOS app developmentnot Expo
- watchOS app developmentnot Expo
- tvOS app developmentnot Expo
- Apple ecosystem developmentnot 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.
Xcode
- Slow build times, particularly in Xcode 13 with builds 10-20 times longer than Xcode 12
- Indexing performance issues causing multi-second delays and freezes during coding
- macOS-only development environment with no Windows or Linux support
- Memory and disk space requirements of 4GB+ RAM and 40GB+ storage
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
Xcode
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Xcode 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 Xcode if
- You need source code editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on macOS.
- You also want interface builder.
Questions people ask
- Is Expo or Xcode better?
- Neither clearly leads. Expo starts at Free and Xcode at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Expo or Xcode?
- Expo starts at Free and Xcode at Free.
- Does Expo or Xcode run on more platforms?
- Expo runs on web, ios, android, api. Xcode runs on macOS.
- 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 Xcode is typically brought in for.
- What can Expo do that Xcode cannot?
- Expo covers Expo SDK, EAS Build, EAS Submit, EAS Update. Xcode covers Source code editor, Interface Builder, iOS Simulator, Debugger.
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.
SourceXcode: Does Xcode work on Windows?
No, Xcode is exclusively available for macOS and cannot be installed on Windows or Linux systems.
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.
SourceXcode: Is Xcode free?
Yes, Xcode is completely free and available for download from the Mac App Store.
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.
SourceXcode: Can I develop iOS apps without Xcode?
VS Code and other editors can be used for Swift code editing, but Xcode is required for compilation, simulator testing, and app signing necessary for iOS deployment.
SourceXcode: What platforms does Xcode support for development?
Xcode develops apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS across all Apple platforms.
Source