Exploring The Limitations of React Native Development

For instance, Airbnb, once a prominent React Native success story, retired the framework in 2018 when the drawbacks of cross-platform development began outweighing its benefits.

Recognizing these limitations upfront is critical to making informed decisions about React Native app development. This guide explores performance constraints, maintenance challenges, and common misconceptions to help teams anticipate hurdles and plan resilient, future-proof apps.

Key React Native Limitations in 2025

Before we dive in, it is important to clarify that React Native is not a flawed framework. As a React Native app development company, we have seen its immense potential. However, it is not a magic solution for every project. From our experience and the broader developer community, certain limitations consistently appear.

We have also compared React Native with other frameworks like React Native vs Flutter, React Native vs Ionic, and React Native vs Electron to guide teams toward better decisions.

We categorize the limitations into two main areas:

1. Performance & Native Code Requirements

2. Development & Maintenance Complexity

1. Performance & Native Code Requirements

While React Native is the preferred choice for cross-platform development, it can struggle in scenarios that demand high performance or deep hardware integration.

Here are the key areas where limitations arise:

1. Battery Drain on Android Devices

Battery usage is often overlooked. React Native runs on a JavaScript engine, which means background processes can consume more power than native apps. Developers have reported noticeable battery drain after converting native apps to React Native, which can be a problem for apps with frequent background activity or real-time features.

2. Challenges with Heavy-Duty Apps

High-performance interfaces, like rendering large media-rich lists, can push React Native beyond its comfort zone. Even with libraries such as FlashList, JavaScript-side rendering has limits. In such cases, native modules or a fully native approach may be necessary.

3. Slower Performance on Lower-End Phones

Lower-end Android devices can experience lag when running complex views or animations. Even with optimizations like Hermes, performance issues persist, affecting user experience and retention in regions where budget devices are common.

4. Native Code Still Required for Advanced Features

Features such as custom camera modules, Bluetooth integration, or sensor arrays often require native code. React Native can handle much of the work, but developers may still need Swift, Kotlin, or Objective-C modules for full functionality.

5. Threading Limitations

React Native primarily runs on three threads: JavaScript, shadow (layout), and native. This model can be a bottleneck for compute-intensive tasks or apps requiring real-time responsiveness, unlike native development, which offers more flexible thread management.

6. Bridge & JSI: Improved but Imperfect

Earlier performance issues were linked to the “bridge,” which connects JavaScript with native code. Innovations such as Reanimated v2 and the JavaScript Interface (JSI) have improved performance, especially for animations. Still, edge-case bugs can appear when using custom gestures or animation libraries.

7. Larger App Sizes

React Native apps tend to have larger binaries than fully native apps, which matters for users with limited storage or slower connections. While not critical for all projects, it is an important factor to consider.

Also read: React Native Performance Optimization Tips for Scalable Apps

2. Development & Maintenance Complexity

Beyond performance, React Native development brings challenges for building and maintaining apps at scale:

1. Dependency Management Can Get Messy

React Native relies heavily on third-party libraries, often maintained by the open-source community rather than Meta. Core features like navigation or gestures are external dependencies. Outdated or conflicting packages can slow development.

2. Platform-Specific Knowledge Remains Essential

Despite its cross-platform promise, developers still need platform familiarity, especially with iOS, for debugging, customizing behavior, or writing native code. This often requires training or hiring developers who can navigate both JavaScript and native environments.

3. Keeping Up With Updates

Updating React Native versions can be challenging. Changes in native configurations or third-party dependencies can break builds, making some teams postpone upgrades.

4. OS and Tooling Changes

React Native relies on iOS, Android, Xcode, Gradle, and other tools. Updates to these systems can break builds and require additional maintenance to ensure stability.

5. Debugging Core Code

The React Native codebase is complex. Edge-case bugs, particularly after OS updates, can be time-consuming to resolve without deep knowledge of native code.

6. Third-Party SDK Integration

Integrating third-party SDKs in React Native can be complicated due to conflicts between CocoaPods, Swift Package Manager, or the React Native bridge. Native development often provides smoother integration in these cases.

In 2025, React Native continues to evolve with features like Hermes, Reanimated 2, and JSI. However, certain limitations remain for high-performance or feature-heavy apps.”

Addressing Common Misconceptions

React Native is sometimes misunderstood. Let’s clear up common myths:

1. React Native apps are always slow

Performance issues mainly occur in apps with high computational complexity. Libraries like FlashList and Reanimated 2 keep most apps running smoothly.

2. You don’t need to touch native code

While React Native covers a lot, advanced features may still require native modules. Tools like Expo reduce, but do not eliminate, this need.

3. React Native is not production-ready

React Native has been used in production for years by companies like Meta, Shopify, and Microsoft. It is mature enough for real-world applications when limitations are understood.

4. It’s only for MVPs or startups

While it accelerates MVP development (strong choice for MVPs), React Native can support long-term products with strategic native integrations.

5. The open-source ecosystem is unreliable

The ecosystem has matured. Most widely used libraries are actively maintained, though developers must take ownership when issues arise.

When React Native Development Still Shines

Despite limitations, React Native remains practical for many projects:

1. Shared Codebase Across Platforms

Code can be shared between iOS and Android, reducing development effort and speeding up delivery.

2. Faster Iteration and Development Speed

Hot reload and familiar JavaScript syntax allow faster bug fixes and feature updates.

3. Strong Community and Ecosystem

Support from Meta, companies like Software Mansion and Callstack, and a large open-source community provide ready solutions for common challenges.

4. Flexibility With Native Code

Hybrid approach allows optimization in specific areas without going fully native.

5. Cost Efficiency

Fewer developers can manage apps for both platforms, reducing overall development and maintenance costs.

Also read:Benefits of React Native

Final Thoughts

React Native comes with challenges, from performance constraints on low-end devices to occasional native code requirements. Understanding these limitations helps teams make informed decisions and avoid pitfalls.

For many products targeting multiple platforms, the benefits, shared codebase, faster development, strong community support, and cost efficiency, outweigh the drawbacks. Knowing where React Native fits best allows teams to leverage its strengths while planning for its limitations.

If you are considering React Native development for your next project or facing challenges in your current app, evaluating these limitations is the first step toward a more resilient, scalable solution.