React Native vs Expo: What’s the Difference?

3. Custom UI and Layout Flexibility

You are not limited to prebuilt components. React Native allows for fine-tuned control over UI across iOS and Android, which is important for apps with a unique design system.

4. Scalability for Complex Projects

Because you are not constrained by a managed environment, React Native scales well for large applications with custom business logic or platform-specific features.

5. Strong Community and Support

Backed by Meta and used in production by companies like Instagram and Shopify, React Native has an active ecosystem and tons of shared knowledge. Furthermore, there are many React Native tools that are handled by this community, which makes your development process a little bit easier.

Cons of React Native

1. More Complex Setup

Getting started with React Native requires installing and configuring native development environments like Xcode and Android Studio, which can be time-consuming for beginners.

2. Manual Configuration for Native Features

Adding things like push notifications, OTA updates, or camera access often requires manual linking or native code integration, which adds to the workload.

3. Increased Maintenance Overhead

One of the limitations of React Native is that, because you manage native dependencies directly, keeping them updated across platforms can sometimes be a challenge, especially when library versions fall out of sync.

Pros and Cons of Expo

Expo is designed to simplify the app development process with React Native. It handles much of the native setup for you, making it ideal for rapid prototyping, small teams, or solo developers. But that convenience comes with a few trade-offs. However, Expo is evolving and getting better. For example, previously, Expo Go only supported JavaScript libraries and built-in native modules, limiting the use of custom native code. Now, with custom development builds, you can use almost any native module or third-party library in an Expo-managed project.

Pros of Expo

1. Simple setup

Expo allows you to start a new project without installing native development tools like Xcode or Android Studio. This is helpful for developers who want to get up and running quickly without dealing with system-level configuration.

2. Easy device testing with Expo Go

You can preview your app on a physical device in real time using the Expo Go app. All it takes is scanning a QR code, which makes testing changes fast and convenient.

3. Prebuilt APIs for common features

Expo includes built-in support for features like camera access, push notifications, location tracking, and more. You do not need to install or link separate libraries to use these functions.

4. Support for over-the-air updates

Expo provides a built-in update system that lets you push changes to your app without resubmitting to the App Store or Google Play. This can save time, especially when fixing bugs or delivering minor updates.

5. Cloud-based build services

Expo application Services let you create Android and iOS builds in the cloud. This is useful for developers working on Windows or Linux machines or those who want to avoid local setup for native builds.

Cons of Expo

1. Larger build size

Apps built with Expo often include unused features because the SDK bundles many APIs and native modules by default, whether your app uses them or not. This leads to a larger final binary compared to a custom React Native (CLI) build, where only the needed native libraries are included.

2. Tied to Expo SDK versions

Expo SDK versions are tied to specific React Native versions. Each release targets a particular React Native version, and there's often a lag between a new React Native release and full Expo support.

3. Ejecting introduces overhead

Moving from the managed to the bare workflow gives you more control but also brings the need to configure native environments manually.

Expo vs React Native: Features Comparison

This section provides a side-by-side overview of how React Native and Expo compare across key development features. It's useful for quickly identifying which tool better fits your project needs.

Key Points

1. Expo is well-suited for fast development and prototyping, particularly when deep native integration isn't necessary. Its managed workflow simplifies the process by handling much of the configuration behind the scenes, and its built-in tools and cloud-based build system make it especially appealing to beginners or teams focused on speed and ease of use.

2. React Native CLI is better suited for experienced developers building apps that demand full access to native code, deeper integration with third-party libraries, or custom performance tuning. While it involves more initial setup and ongoing maintenance, it provides the flexibility and control needed for complex or highly customized projects.

3. With recent improvements like development builds and config plugins, Expo has significantly narrowed the gap in native module support, making it possible to use many custom native modules without leaving the managed workflow entirely.

When to Use React Native

React Native is a better fit when your project requires some deep customization or access to advanced device features. It's a flexible option for building robust applications that need to go beyond the limitations of managed environments.

Here are some situations where React Native is a strong choice:

1. Custom native functionality

If your app needs to integrate with a device’s native APIs or uses third-party libraries that require native code changes, React Native gives you the access needed to do that.

2. Performance-sensitive applications

Apps that require optimized performance, especially for animations, real-time updates, or large data handling, benefit from the ability to fine-tune behavior at the native level.

3. Long-term scalability

For projects expected to grow in complexity over time, React Native offers the flexibility to adapt. You can swap out libraries, optimize performance, and build native modules as needed.

4. Team with native development experience

If your team includes iOS or Android developers, React Native allows them to work directly on platform-specific code when required, without being limited by Expo’s abstraction.

5. Apps that need full control over build and deployment

Some apps require greater control over build and deployment—enterprise apps are a good example. React Native provides full access to platform build tools, which is essential if your release process or CI/CD pipeline involves custom steps.

When to Use Expo

Expo works best for projects that prioritize speed, simplicity, and low setup overhead. It's especially helpful when you want to focus on building your app without managing native code or platform-specific configurations.

Here are some common scenarios where Expo is a good fit:

1. Prototyping or MVPs

When you need to build and test an idea quickly, Expo provides a fast setup, built-in tools, and over-the-air updates to get your app in users' hands with minimal delay.

2. Apps with standard functionality

If your app uses features such as image picking, push notifications, maps, or camera access—and doesn’t require anything outside of what Expo provides—you can likely stay within the managed workflow without needing to eject.

3. Small teams or solo developers

Expo simplifies development, allowing you to manage projects without needing a dedicated iOS or Android developer, ideal for early stage startups or individual developers.

4. Cross-platform cloud builds

With EAS Build, you can compile production-ready apps for both Android and iOS in the cloud, even if you’re not using macOS. This is useful for developers working on non-Apple devices.

5. Beginner-friendly environment

For developers new to React Native or mobile development in general, Expo removes many of the technical barriers that can slow down progress early on.

Final Thoughts

This debate of React Native vs Expo was aimed at educating readers about the core and basics of both worlds. React Native Expo might not be as popular as React Native, but it surely becomes the logical choice in some certain situations. Each development process demands the utilization of the right tools, which can help you build and deploy with better quality. As a React native app development company, we know the intricacies of both, and honestly, both are remarkable tools if used right. We suggest you understand your own approach for the mobile app project and experiment with it. Once you get the hang of it the decision will be much easier to make.