React vs React Native: A Detailed Comparison Guide

React vs React Native – the names sound similar, but these technologies aren’t.

Choosing between React and React Native can be confusing for beginners.

Both are popular technologies created by Facebook, and both use JavaScript and a component-based architecture.

However, they serve different purposes and operate in different environments.

In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll explain React vs React Native in simple terms, compare their features side by side, and help you understand which one is right for your needs.

What is React (React.js)?

React (also called React.js or React JS) is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces on the web.

It was released by Facebook in 2013 to simplify the development of dynamic web applications.

React allows developers to create reusable UI components and manage the state of those components efficiently.

A key feature of React is the virtual DOM, an in-memory representation of the real browser DOM that enables efficient updates and rendering.

Instead of directly manipulating the browser’s HTML DOM (which can be slow if done frequently), React updates the virtual DOM first and then syncs only the necessary changes to the real DOM.

This approach boosts performance and makes UI updates smoother.

Key Characteristics of React.js

• Library, not a framework: React is focused on the view layer (UI) only. You might use additional libraries for routing or state management (like React Router or Redux) in a React project.

• Uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript: UI in React is typically defined using JSX, a syntax extension that lets you write HTML-like code in JavaScript. Under the hood, JSX is transpiled to regular JavaScript. You style components using regular CSS (or CSS-in-JS techniques) since React ultimately renders HTML elements in the browser.

• Runs in the browser: React apps run in web browsers. During development, you can use tools like Chrome DevTools to debug and inspect your components.

• Wide adoption and ecosystem: React has a huge community and ecosystem. There are many libraries, tools, and resources available for React, making it beginner-friendly and well-supported.

When to Use React

• Building a Website or Web Application: Use React if you are building a web application or website that runs in a browser.

• Dynamic and Interactive UIs: React is ideal for dynamic single-page applications (SPAs), dashboards, and any project where you want a fast, interactive UI on the web. It excels at rendering parts of the UI in response to user actions (like updating just a feed or a form section) quickly. If you need a highly interactive interface with lots of state changes (e.g., a live chat widget, form wizards, etc.), React’s virtual DOM will efficiently handle those updates.

• Large-Scale or Complex Web Projects: Because of React’s component-based structure, it’s great for large applications where many developers collaborate. Teams can build isolated components that fit together, which helps maintainability. Many large companies use React for their web front-ends (Facebook’s web version, Netflix’s UI, Airbnb’s website, and countless others).

It’s also a good choice if you’re already comfortable with front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, because React will build on that knowledge.

If you want to build the foundation, you can check out the following courses:

• Master Java: From Beginner to Advanced
• Master JavaScript: From Beginner to Advanced
• HTML for Web Development

Check out the JavaScript guide.

In short, choose React for web-based projects – especially if you need to support desktop browsers, need SEO, or are adding interactive components to an existing website. React will run anywhere a webpage can run.

What is React Native?

React Native is a framework that lets you build native mobile applications using React and JavaScript.

It was released by Facebook in 2015 as an extension of React’s ideas from the web to mobile development.

With React Native, you use the same React library for building the UI, but instead of web elements, you work with native mobile components.

In other words, React Native allows you to create real mobile apps for iOS and Android without having to write Java (for Android) or Swift/Objective-C (for iOS) directly.

React Native is often described as “learn once, write anywhere.” It means you can apply your React knowledge to build mobile apps, but you still have to write UI code tailored for mobile platforms.

A React Native app is not a mobile web app or a hybrid app – it’s a real native app.

In fact, the official React Native documentation emphasizes that with React Native, you don’t build a “mobile web app,” an “HTML5 app,” or a “hybrid app.” You build a real mobile app that’s indistinguishable from an app built using Objective-C or Java.

How React Native Works

Under the hood, React Native uses a bridge to translate your JavaScript code to native code.

Your app’s logic is written in JavaScript and runs in a JavaScript engine (for example, V8 on Android or JavaScriptCore on iOS).

The UI components you declare (like <Text> or <View>) are internally mapped to real native UI components (like UILabel on iOS or TextView on Android). This bridging happens asynchronously, giving you near-native performance for most use cases.

Essentially, React Native wraps native UI building blocks (buttons, text, images, lists, etc.) and exposes them to JavaScript. As a result, the app looks and feels like any other native app.

Key Characteristics of React Native

• Framework with native components: React Native includes everything you need to build a mobile app (UI components, modules for accessing device APIs, etc.). You still write JavaScript and JSX, but the JSX tags correspond to native widgets instead of HTML elements. For example, you use <View> and <Text> in React Native instead of <div> and <p> in React.

• Uses Native APIs: React Native provides access to device features like camera, GPS, contacts, etc., via JavaScript interfaces. You can also write custom native modules in Swift/Objective-C or Java/Kotlin if needed and hook them into your React Native app.

• Cross-platform development: You can build for iOS and Android with one codebase. In many cases, around 80% or more of the code can be shared between platforms, with some platform-specific adjustments for the rest (for instance, styling or certain platform-specific features).

• Requires mobile development tools: To run and test React Native apps, you’ll need an emulator or physical device and typically use tools like Xcode (for iOS) or Android Studio (for Android). During development, you might use React Native Debugger or Expo tools instead of the browser DevTools.

• Growing ecosystem: React Native has a strong community and plenty of libraries, but it’s slightly younger than React. There are specific UI libraries (like React Native Paper, or NativeBase) and modules for React Native. The ecosystem is vibrant, and many companies use React Native in production for their mobile apps (e.g., Instagram, Airbnb, Discord).

When to Use React Native

• Building a Mobile App for iOS & Android: If you want a mobile app and you’d rather not maintain two separate codebases (one in Swift/Objective-C for iOS and one in Java/Kotlin for Android), React Native is a fantastic choice. It enables cross-platform development – write once (mostly) and run on both platforms.

• Rapid Mobile Development / MVPs: For startups and projects where speed is crucial, React Native can dramatically cut down development time. You can often get to market faster because you’re building two apps at once. Hot reloading also speeds up the dev cycle, and you can share code between platforms. If you’re prototyping a product that needs a mobile app on both iPhone and Android, React Native lets you iterate quickly.

• Apps with Simple (or Typical) Mobile Functionality: React Native is excellent for apps that primarily involve standard mobile UI elements (lists, text, buttons, forms, etc.) and network communication. For example, a news reader app, e-commerce shopping app, social network app, or messaging app can work very well with React Native. In fact, many such apps use React Native – Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Skype, Uber Eats, Tesla, Bloomberg are notable examples of apps partly or fully built with React Native.

• When You Have Web Dev Experience: If you or your team are already good with React for web, you can leverage those skills to make a mobile app. The learning jump to React Native will be much smaller than learning two completely new languages for iOS/Android. This makes React Native a strategic choice for web-focused teams expanding into mobile.

• Need for Native Features with Shared Code: React Native can also be used in a hybrid approach. For instance, if you have an existing iOS/Android app but want to add some screens quickly with React Native, you can integrate RN components into an existing app. This is advanced, but companies have incrementally adopted React Native in parts of their apps to speed up development of new features. Generally, if you want to utilize device features (camera, location, etc.) and still mostly work in JavaScript, React Native provides a bridge to do so.

On the other hand, there are times when React Native might not be the best choice.

If you’re building a very graphics-intensive game or an app that demands full use of native APIs and custom native code (like some AR/VR apps or heavy 3D games), a pure native approach or using specialized frameworks might be better for performance reasons.

But for the majority of typical mobile apps, React Native strikes a great balance by giving near-native performance with far less development effort.

React vs React Native: Key Differences

Now that we know what React and React Native are, let's compare them directly.

While React and React Native share the same core ideas and syntax (both use JavaScript and React's component model), they have distinct differences in terms of platform, installation, development process, and capabilities.

Below is a comparison table summarizing React vs. React Native:

Table: A side-by-side comparison of React vs React Native.

As the table shows, React and React Native have different domains: React is for web UIs, whereas React Native is for mobile apps. Next, we’ll explain some of these differences in detail and provide more context for beginners.

Platform and Purpose

The primary difference between React and React Native is the platform they target and the type of application you build:

• React.js is for the web. It runs in a web browser, allowing you to build interactive web pages or single-page applications. If you are making something that users will open with a URL (in Chrome, Firefox, etc.), React is a suitable choice. For example, Facebook’s web interface is built with React.
• React Native is for mobile. It runs as a native application on a phone or tablet (outside of the browser). If you want to create an app that users install from an app store and tap to open on their phone, React Native lets you do that using React techniques.

For instance, Facebook’s mobile app (parts of it) and Instagram are built with React Native.

It’s important to note that React Native is not used for building websites. Even though React Native uses React, it cannot directly produce HTML/CSS for a web page. Conversely, React (for web) doesn’t produce a mobile app package. They are separate environments.

There is a project called React Native for Web (RNW) which allows some React Native code to run on the web by mapping React Native components to web components.

RNW can be useful if you want to share code between a React web app and a React Native app.

However, RNW is essentially a compatibility layer – under the hood, your app still runs in a browser for the web part.

Beginners don’t need to worry about RNW unless you are specifically aiming for a multi-platform project with a single codebase. In most cases, choose React for web projects and React Native for mobile projects.

Check out beginners' guide to web development.

Installation and Setup Differences

Setting up a development environment for React vs React Native can be quite different:

React (Web) Setup

Getting started with React for the web can be as easy as including a <script> tag for React and ReactDOM in an HTML file, and writing your React code in a <script> or separate JS file. This works for learning and small demos.

More typically, developers use toolchains like Create React App or frameworks like Next.js to scaffold a React project.

These tools set up everything (Node.js, Webpack/Babel for bundling JSX, a dev server, etc.) so you can start coding. Essentially, if you have a text editor and a web browser, you can build a React app. No special OS-specific SDKs required.

React Native Setup

Starting a React Native project requires installing its CLI and setting up native development tools.

For example, on macOS you’d need Xcode for iOS development; for Android, the Android SDK (often via Android Studio) is required. The React Native CLI (react-native init) creates a project with all the native code under the hood.

If this sounds complex, there’s an easier route: Expo, a toolkit that lets you start a React Native app without immediately dealing with Xcode/Android Studio. Expo provides a managed workflow where you can run your app on a device or emulator by scanning a QR code, etc.

It simplifies a lot of setup for beginners. Still, eventually, you may need the native tools to build release versions of your app.

Overall, expect a bit more overhead in setting up React Native – you’re essentially setting up two platforms’ development environments.

Development experience

In React, you typically hit “Refresh” in the browser to see your changes (though modern setups have hot-reloading that updates the page automatically as you save code).

In React Native, there is a concept of Fast Refresh which automatically reloads your app in the simulator or device when you save changes, so you get a quick feedback loop.

Debugging React web apps is done with browser dev tools; debugging React Native involves either printing logs to the console (Metro bundler) or using debugging tools that can connect to the running app (like React Native Debugger or Flipper).

While both offer live reload, the cycle in React Native can sometimes be a bit slower due to launching an emulator and the bridge, but tools like Expo have made it pretty fast and seamless.

User Interface Components & Rendering

When building UIs, React and React Native have similar syntax but different building blocks:

• React uses HTML elements: In React, your JSX will include standard web tags like <div>, <h1>, <span>, <button>, etc. These get rendered to the DOM in the browser. You style them with CSS. Essentially, React is a layer on top of the browser’s capabilities. You still rely on the browser to draw elements and apply CSS styles.

• React Native uses native components: In React Native, you cannot use HTML tags. Instead, you use components provided by the React Native library, such as <View> (a generic container, similar to a <div> in concept), <Text> (for displaying text, similar to a <p> or <span>), <Image> (for images), <ScrollView> (for scrollable containers), <TextInput> (for input fields), and many more. These components are proxies for real native UI elements. For example, <Text> in React Native will render as a UILabel on iOS and a TextView on Android. React Native also has community-provided components for things like video players, maps, etc., which under the hood use the native platform’s capabilities.

Because of this difference, React DOM and React Native are not directly compatible. You can’t take an HTML/CSS-based React component and drop it into a React Native app without rewriting it using React Native components.

Conversely, a React Native component using <View> and <Text> won’t work in a web React project unless you use something like React Native for Web to translate it.

The rendering process also differs. React uses the virtual DOM diffing to efficiently update the browser DOM. React Native, instead of manipulating a DOM, communicates with native modules.

Think of it this way: React Native has a “shadow DOM” similar to virtual DOM which it uses to calculate changes, and then it applies those changes via the bridge to native UI elements.

This is why React Native can achieve high performance – it’s not drawing your UI in a webview; it’s actually using the platform’s native rendering.

Styling and Theming

Styling in React vs React Native might trip up beginners because they look similar but have differences:

• Styling in React (Web): You use standard CSS. This could be in separate .css files, embedded in JSX as style objects, or using CSS-in-JS libraries. Regardless, the browser ultimately applies CSS styles (like colors, fonts, positioning, etc.) to HTML elements. You have the full power of CSS, including flexbox, grid, animations, media queries for responsiveness, pseudo-classes like :hover, etc. You can also use preprocessor languages (SCSS/LESS) or CSS Modules. Essentially, if you know CSS, you can style React components because they are normal DOM elements.

• Styling in React Native: There is no CSS file in React Native. Instead, styles are defined in JavaScript, usually via the StyleSheet.create() method that React Native provides, or simply as objects. The style properties in React Native are similar to CSS but not identical. For example, you still use properties like color, margin, fontSize, and flexDirection, but there are differences: React Native uses Flexbox for layout by default (and it only supports Flexbox, not CSS Grid or other layout modes). Some web-specific CSS properties may not exist or work differently. Instead of classes and IDs, you style an individual component via props.

Example:

In this example, View and Text are styled using the JavaScript objects. There is no cascading like in CSS; styles don’t automatically apply to child components unless you pass them down.

This means you might repeat certain styles or compose them via component logic rather than global CSS classes. The styling approach is component-scoped by default.

Another difference: Responsive design on web often uses CSS media queries.

In React Native, you might use the Dimensions API or percentage/flex values to adjust layout for different screen sizes, or use a library for responsive utilities.

Also, React Native does not have the concept of hover states (since it’s mobile), and handling different screen densities (for images/icons) is a consideration (using 2x/3x images or SVGs).

Performance Considerations

In terms of performance:

• React (Web) Performance: React on the web is highly performant for updating the DOM, thanks to the virtual DOM diffing and efficient reconciliation algorithm. However, ultimately the performance is bounded by the browser. Complex animations or very heavy computations in JavaScript might cause jank in a web app. React is not magic – if your code or the browser’s limits are strained, performance can suffer. But for the majority of typical use cases, React is more than fast enough, and you can build very snappy web apps with it.

• React Native Performance: React Native aims for near-native performance. Because it renders native components, the UI performance (scrolling lists, transitions, etc.) is generally smooth and close to apps written in Swift/Java. There is some overhead in the JavaScript bridge, meaning if your app is doing a ton of continuous calculations in JavaScript that need to update the UI every frame, you might see performance issues or need to optimize by moving some logic to native modules. But typical application UIs (forms, feeds, chats, etc.) run very well. It’s significantly faster than traditional hybrid mobile approaches (like Cordova/PhoneGap or Ionic, which used WebViews), since RN is not using a WebView for UI.

In summary, both technologies are performant in their own domains.

If you are building a web app, React will handle performance for typical needs. If you are building a mobile app, React Native will give you performance close to writing in the native language. For extreme performance needs on mobile (like a graphics-intensive app), a fully native approach might have an edge, but those are niche cases.

Ecosystem and Community

Both React and React Native enjoy strong community support and rich ecosystems, but there are differences:

• React Ecosystem: Since React is older and incredibly popular for web, it has a vast ecosystem. Need a component for a date picker or a carousel? There are dozens of React components on NPM. Need state management? You have Redux, MobX, Zustand, Context API, and more. Routing? React Router is standard. Form handling? Formik, React Hook Form, etc. There is an enormous number of tutorials, courses, and extensions. The React community tends to consolidate around best practices, and you can often find an answer on Stack Overflow for almost any issue.

• React Native Ecosystem: React Native’s ecosystem is also very active, but more specialized. For example, for navigation you might use React Navigation or React Native Navigation. For gestures and animations, react-native-reanimated and react-native-gesture-handler are popular. You might use Expo’s SDK or community packages for device features. While slightly smaller than React’s, the RN community still has plenty of open-source contributions and support. The main difference is that sometimes you must handle platform-specific issues (e.g., iOS vs Android) or wait for libraries to update after a new OS release.

Learning Curve

• If you are completely new to programming or JavaScript, jumping into React Native can be overwhelming because you have to learn React concepts and mobile development. Learning React first is often recommended.

• If you already know web development (HTML/CSS/JS), learning React is straightforward. You mainly adapt to JSX and React’s component-based approach.

• Learning React Native after React: you’ll find many things are the same (lifecycle, state, props, hooks), and just need to learn mobile-specific APIs and components.

• Learning React Native as your very first framework is doable but has a steeper learning curve, since you’ll also tackle mobile-specific intricacies.

Use Cases and Choosing the Right Tool

It’s not about which is “better,” but which is better for your specific needs:

• Use React (Web) when... you need a website or web application that runs in browsers. This includes SPAs, dashboards, e-commerce sites, etc. If you want maximum reach without forcing users to install an app, the web is ideal.

• Use React Native when... you need a mobile app for iOS and Android. You’ll have access to device features and can distribute via app stores. It’s great for cross-platform mobile development.

• Use both in many real-world cases: a company might have a React web app and a React Native mobile app. Some non-UI logic can be shared between them.

• Other alternatives exist (Angular, Vue, Flutter, Ionic, etc.). React and React Native remain popular due to JavaScript ubiquity, community size, and strong backing from Meta (Facebook).

Check out Java vs. JavaScript.

Conclusion

React and React Native are powerful tools for developers, each excelling in its own domain.

If you’re a beginner, start by deciding whether you want to build for the web or for mobile.

Learn the appropriate technology (React for web, React Native for mobile). They share many concepts, so knowledge of one will help you with the other.

Together, they enable cross-platform development using the popular React paradigm. Happy coding!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Are React and React Native the same thing?

No – React and React Native are related but not the same. React (sometimes called ReactJS) is a JavaScript library for building web user interfaces. React Native is a framework for building mobile applications using React. They share syntax and principles, but they target different platforms.

Q2: What is the main difference between React and React Native?

The main difference is the target platform and rendering method. React targets the browser and uses HTML/CSS for UI, updating the DOM via the virtual DOM. React Native targets mobile devices and uses native components for UI, updating them via a JavaScript bridge.

Q3: Which is better, React or React Native?

Neither is universally “better.” If you need a website/web app, use React. If you need a mobile app, use React Native. They excel in different domains. Often, you might learn or use both, depending on the project.

Q4: Do I need to know React to learn React Native?

It’s highly recommended because React Native uses React under the hood. Knowing React fundamentals (components, state, props, hooks) will make it much easier. It’s not absolutely required, but you’ll face a steeper learning curve if you jump straight into React Native without React knowledge.

Q5: Can I use React Native for web development?

Not directly. React Native is designed for mobile apps, not websites. A tool called React Native for Web can map React Native components to HTML/CSS, but if your main target is the web, you should use React.

Q6: Should I learn React or React Native first?

Most people learn React (web) first because it’s simpler to set up (just a browser) and teaches core React concepts. Then they move to React Native to expand into mobile. However, if your sole goal is mobile app development, you can start with React Native directly; just expect more initial complexity.

Q7: Can React and React Native code be shared or used together?

They run in separate environments, so you can’t directly mix them. However, you can share non-UI logic (like validation or state management in plain JS) between a React web app and a React Native mobile app. There are also solutions like React Native for Web to render RN components on the web, but it’s more of a special-case approach.

Q8: Is React Native still relevant in 2025 (or is it outdated)?

React Native is actively maintained and widely used. Major companies use it, and the community is robust. It’s not outdated; it continues to evolve with new architecture improvements and remains a top choice for cross-platform mobile development.

Q9: What are some examples of apps built with React Native?

Well-known apps that use React Native (fully or partially) include Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Discord, Tesla, Skype, Shopify, and Uber Eats. These high-profile apps show that React Native can handle large-scale production environments.

Q10: Can I use TypeScript with React and React Native?

Yes! Both React and React Native can be used with TypeScript. Many libraries provide type definitions, and you can initialize your projects with TypeScript templates. It’s optional but can improve code quality and developer experience.