The battle between React Native and Hybrid Apps has been ongoing for decades. The debate is not about the efficiency of the two, but rather about which platform is the most suited for startups’ business needs and requirements.
Today, great giants like Instagram, Walmart, and Airbnb have opted for and are currently using React native for their distinct applications. React native is highly popular among app developers for some reasons that we will know through the below-mentioned points.
Look and Function like Native Applications
The React Native framework utilizes the same components platform that the native iOS or Android app languages leverage.
On the other hand, Hybrid apps, are web view that is wrapped in a native container and runs and behaves like web apps. The traditional hybrid app frameworks don’t stand anywhere near the super-smooth user experience and speed offering that React Native apps bring to the board.
Even the most well-designed web application would never be as smooth as apps built with React Native.
Sharing of a Single Codebase
One of the most vital reasons why startups should choose React Native is because of its write once and run on various platforms nature. One of the primary features of the React Native framework enables it to provide startups with a high-performing application with half the time and cost restrictions that Native apps bring to the board. At Copperchips, we have a decent experience in building several React Native apps, and we remain stunned as to how more than 80% of the code can be shared among iOS and Android versions of the app, further making the process extremely seamless and cost-efficient.
Advanced code
JavaScript is the easiest to learn and implement, especially for the novice.
The low coding enhancement is yet another important characteristic to be kept in mind. In React Native, code lines are fewer in number and shorter in length. This further reduces the testing time and provides an opportunity to release the product into the market rapidly. Hence, enterprise visionaries hire React Native developers to make mobile applications user-friendly.
Reusable native components
Cross-platform app developers rely on WebView components for improving the functionality of native components when it comes to hybrid app development. However, in React Native, counterparts of native iOS and Android components co-exist.
One time coding
Initially, Facebook utilized the iOS platform to implement a creative idea. After the impressive and gigantic achievement in the iOS application, Facebook told a similar React Native development group to extend their JavaScript libraries to assist Android platforms too.
This indicates that similar libraries are rendering for iOS and Android platforms with a similar code base. Hence, proficient and diligent React Native programmers provide the framework compatibility for Windows and tvOS. A single codebase enables React Native developers to save considerable time and resources without compromising on the quality of apps.
Hardware compatibility
For applications, the paraphernalia support for diverse gadgets running on various platforms is a significant issue. With React Native, one’s applications don’t rely on WebView for every native function. Instead, the application can access the in-built hardware components of mobile devices like GPS, Maps, and Bluetooth, effortlessly. Developing apps through React Native is performance-oriented and the delivered user experience is excellent.
Key Differences Between React Native and Hybrid Apps
| Parameters | React Native | Hybrid Apps |
| You only write once | React Native does not aim to impart a way to write just once and run on every platform. Rather, React Native developers utilize components that adhere to the Native behavior of every platform. | The particular hybrid apps will run the same code on every platform. Ionic is such a framework that provides some Native behavioral aspects as per every platform. |
| Stack of Language | React Native was born from the JS React framework. It sticks to a JS code and shares semblances with HTML. Along with it, the display logic is mixed with the business logic. | Hybrid apps are based on Angular, a Javascript framework. Since views and logic are separated, it is in sync with the MVC pattern. A hybrid framework renders templates from HTML. |
| Testing While Developing | React Native assists you in seeing the outcome of your customizations as you make them. React Native does not require recompilation or rebuilding. It delivers the result instantly. | Hybrid Framework assists you in previewing your app in browsers and smart devices instantly. It refreshes rapidly as you make the modifications to the applications. |
| Plugins and Community | There are innumerable plugin options available for React Native on Node Packet Manager. Moreover, the option for Cordova/Phone Gap plugins implies that one has access to so many plugins from a diverse community. | The existence of Cordova and Phone Gap is proof that there is a possibility of a plugin that will highlight the native features one needs for the review. One can even purchase Ionic plugins online. |
| Developer Experience | React Native renders native views. Hence, there is no scope for WebView in that place which means every browser compatibility jargon vanishes. One gets time to focus on vital stuff rather than simply indulging in bug fixes. | The hybrid framework consists of web components. Hence one gets to deal with a lot of pestering bugs. Additionally, every browser has a different working style which makes the entire app-building task much more complex and challenging. |
| User Experience | The performance apps built using React Native will be much better and users will receive the Native feel with extremely smooth animations and exactly how you want the user experience to be. | Hybrid Apps lack performance. The web was originally built for web pages and not for the complex apps that we make today. On advanced phones, a hybrid app will work fine however, not as smooth as you want it to be. Things would worsen with less advanced phones. |
Conclusion
Most startups in many countries, where time and resources are limited, look up easier options, in general, to enable them to reach out to more people. But when they take up much more complicated projects than the benefits that hybrid offers, they look up to react native development companies.
Copper Chips, a React native development company has been delivering successful apps for quite a while now. Our experience coupled with the distinct skills of our team members makes us the best fit for React Native app development.
