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Mobile Development · head to head

React Native vs Expo

React Native logo

React Native

Mobile Development

Build native mobile apps with React and JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Expo logo

Expo

Mobile Development

React Native framework and cloud platform for building and shipping apps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: React Native the JavaScript bridge has historically been a bottleneck for animation-heavy and list-heavy screens, though the New Architecture addresses much of it; Expo free tier build counts and MAU support are low, pushing active projects to paid plans quickly.
  • They diverge on capability: React Native covers Renders to native components, Expo covers Expo SDK.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which React Native and Expo actually diverge.

Attributes where React Native and Expo differ
AttributeReact NativeExpo
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Webweb, ios, android, api

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 React Native

  • Renders to native components
  • React programming model
  • Native modules
  • Fast Refresh
  • Wide platform reach
  • Large package ecosystem

Only in Expo

  • Expo SDK
  • EAS Build
  • EAS Submit
  • EAS Update
  • Expo Router
  • EAS Hosting
  • EAS Insights

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

React Native

  • Teams with React experience on the web extending into mobilenot Expo
  • Apps that should feel like the platform rather than look identical across bothnot Expo
  • Adding a mobile client to a product whose engineers already write JavaScriptnot Expo
  • Reusing business logic between web and mobile codebasesnot Expo

Expo

  • Building cross-platform apps with React Native without native toolingnot React Native
  • Running cloud builds and store submissions via EASnot React Native
  • Shipping over-the-air updates to bypass app store reviewnot React Native
  • Adding file-based navigation with Expo Routernot React Native
  • Hosting companion web apps and APIsnot React Native

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

React Native

  • The JavaScript bridge has historically been a bottleneck for animation-heavy and list-heavy screens, though the New Architecture addresses much of it
  • Upgrading between versions has a reputation for being painful, particularly with many native dependencies
  • Anything the framework does not wrap requires native code in Swift or Kotlin, so a purely JavaScript team can still get stuck
  • Because it renders to real platform components, small behavioural differences between iOS and Android surface in your code rather than being hidden

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.

Pricing, plan by plan

React Native

Free
  • React NativeFree
    • Full framework
    • iOS and Android targets
    • Native module system

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

Which should you pick?

Choose React Native if

  • You need renders to native components.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want react programming model.
React Native review

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.
Expo review

Questions people ask

Is React Native or Expo better?
Neither clearly leads. React Native starts at Free and Expo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, React Native or Expo?
React Native starts at Free and Expo at Free.
Does React Native or Expo run on more platforms?
React Native runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web. Expo runs on web, ios, android, api.
Can I use React Native for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is React Native best used for?
React Native is most often used for teams with react experience on the web extending into mobile, apps that should feel like the platform rather than look identical across both, adding a mobile client to a product whose engineers already write javascript, reusing business logic between web and mobile codebases. Of those, teams with react experience on the web extending into mobile and apps that should feel like the platform rather than look identical across both are not what Expo is typically brought in for.
What can React Native do that Expo cannot?
React Native covers Renders to native components, React programming model, Native modules, Fast Refresh. Expo covers Expo SDK, EAS Build, EAS Submit, EAS Update.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

React Native: Is React Native free?

Yes. React Native is open source from Meta with no licence fee, and it is free for commercial use.

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.

Source
React Native: Does React Native produce a real native app?

Yes. JavaScript primitives render to the platform’s own UI components using the same native APIs a Swift or Kotlin app would call, rather than to a web view.

Expo: 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.

Source
React Native: Which well-known apps use React Native?

Meta cites Facebook, Microsoft Office, Teams and Outlook, Amazon Shopping, Discord, Coinbase and Tesla among thousands of apps built with it.

Expo: 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
React Native: Should I use Expo or plain React Native?

Expo handles builds, updates and native configuration for you and is the recommended starting point. Plain React Native gives full control of the native projects, which matters when you need native code the managed workflow does not cover.

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