React Native in 2025 and Its Role in Cross-Platform Mobile Development

Last updated 27 Days ago | 6 Min Read | 45 views


Mobile apps have become an essential part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for shopping, banking, education, or connecting with family and friends, apps are the main way people use their phones today. Having a good mobile app is now a need for every business.

However developing apps can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you want to serve both Android and iOS users. That’s where React Native can help with it.

Meta (previously Facebook) created React Native, a framework that allows developers to develop apps for both Android and iOS with a single piece of code. It saves organizations money, speeds up development, and builds apps that users find natural.

In this blog, we’ll look at what React Native is, how it works, the improvements it has seen by 2025, why cross-platform development matters, and why React Native continues to be one of the best options for businesses and developers.

What is React Native?

React Native is a cross-platform application development tool. Rather than creating separate apps for iOS and Android, developers can use the same codebase.

It uses JavaScript, one of the most popular coding languages in the world, and React, a technology already widely used for building websites. This makes it easier for web developers to start building mobile apps without learning entirely new skills.

How It Works (Simple Example)

Let's say a developer wishes to include a button in an application:

  1. In React Native, they write the button in JavaScript.
  2. React Native then “translates” that into a real button on each platform, which is a UIButton on iOS and an Android Button on Android.
  3. The user sees no difference. It feels like a normal, smooth, native button on their smartphone.

This approach makes apps built with React Native look and perform like apps designed specially for each platform, but with much less work.

Why Did It Become Popular?

Before React Native, companies had to develop two different apps for iOS and Android. That meant double the cost, double the time, and double the work. With React Native, most of the code is shared, which means apps can be launched faster and maintained more easily.

For this reason, well-known companies like Microsoft, Airbnb, Walmart, and Instagram have used it in their apps.

Latest Features in 2025

React Native has improved significantly  over the last few years. In 2025, it is more powerful, adaptable, and stable than ever before.

  1. Fabric Renderer
    - Fabric is React Native’s next-generation rendering engine. It replaces the previous design, leading to faster rendering and more consistent UI performance.
    - Apps now load faster, animations feel smoother, and performance is closer than ever to purely native apps.
     
  2. TurboModules & JSI (JavaScript Interface)
    - Previously, communication between the JavaScript and native layers caused performance bottlenecks. TurboModules and JSI help to speed this process.
    - The result is faster access to device APIs (such as cameras, GPS, and sensors) and improved performance for apps that handle huge amounts of data.
     
  3. Concurrent React & Suspense Support
    - React Native now supports React Concurrent Mode, which allows for more fluid UI updates.
    - Even with data-heavy apps, suspense allows apps to retrieve data in the background without interfering with the user experience, allowing for a smooth user experience.
     
  4. Expanded Platform Support
    - React Native now extends beyond iOS and Android to support Windows, macOS, and Web.
    - Businesses can use a single codebase to deliver apps across multiple platforms, making it one step closer to a true “build once, run everywhere” framework.
     
  5. Improved Developer Experience
    - Tools like Flipper (for debugging), Hermes engine (optimized JS engine), and enhanced hot reloading have become standard.
    - These make development cycles shorter and error detection faster.

Why Cross-Platform Matters in 2025

In today's mobile-first environment, cross-platform development is frequently a requirement rather than an option. Businesses are always under pressure to develop apps fast, reach a large audience, and control expenses.

The Market Reality

  1. Over 6.9 billion smartphone users worldwide in 2025.
  2. Android has the largest global market share, although iOS remains popular in North America, Europe, and high-income nations.
  3. Ignoring one platform means losing access to millions of potential customers.

Benefits of Cross-Platform Development

  1. Cost Efficiency
    - Developing two native apps requires hiring two specialist teams, which doubles the expense.
    - Cross-platform frameworks allow businesses to cut development expenses by 40–60%.
     
  2. Faster Time to Market
    - A single codebase means apps can be developed and launched much quicker.
    - This speed is crucial for startups competing in crowded markets.
     
  3. Consistent User Experience
    - Uniform design and functionality across platforms improve brand perception.
    - Businesses avoid scenarios in which the iOS app appears professional but the Android version feels outdated.
     
  4. Simplified Maintenance
    - Updates, bug fixes, and new features can be rolled out simultaneously across platforms.
    - This reduces downtime and ensures that every user has the same experience.
     
  5. Scalability for Growth
    - Businesses can start with a minimum viable product (MVP) and scale quickly without doubling work.

In 2025, businesses looking for agility and cost-effectiveness find cross-platform development a strategic choice.

React Native’s Role in Cross-Platform Development

React Native stands out in the cross-platform landscape because it provides near-native performance while also allowing for developer-friendly workflows.

How React Native Simplifies Development

  1. Code Reusability: Developers can reuse 70–90% of the code for iOS and Android.
  2. Access to Native APIs: Unlike some hybrid frameworks, React Native smoothly integrates with device features.
  3. Modular Architecture: Code is organized into reusable components, making development more efficient.
  4. Ecosystem & Community Support: Thousands of open-source libraries speed up development (e.g., maps, payment gateways, chat integrations).

Real-World Examples

  1. Shopify rebuilt parts of its app with React Native to unify teams and reduce technical debt.
  2. Microsoft Teams uses React Native to maintain consistency across mobile and desktop platforms.
  3. Walmart saw improved performance and reduced development cycles by switching to React Native.

These success stories highlight how React Native is trusted by both consumer apps with millions of users and enterprise-level solutions.

Pros and Cons of React Native

Advantages

  1. Cross-Platform Codebase: Write once and deploy everywhere.
  2. Near-Native Performance: Smooth animations, responsive UI, and natural feel.
  3. Cost Savings: Reduced development and maintenance costs.
  4. Faster Iteration: Hot reloading provides instant previews of changes.
  5. Talent Pool: JavaScript developers can transition into React Native easily.

Limitations

  1. Complex Apps May Need Native Code: High-performance 3D games or AR apps may require full native development.
  2. Dependency on Third-Party Libraries: Although many exist, some may not be well-maintained.
  3. Lag Behind OS Updates: New iOS/Android features sometimes take time to be supported.
  4. Performance Optimization: Large, resource-heavy apps may need careful optimization.

Future Outlook of React Native

React Native’s journey is far from over. In fact, its relevance may grow in the coming years.

What to Expect

  1. Unified Development Across Devices: Stronger support for Windows, macOS, and the Web will transform it into a genuine multi-platform framework.
  2. AI and Automation Integration: AI-powered assistants for coding, testing, and debugging will accelerate app delivery.
  3. Closer to Native Performance: Continuous development in Fabric and JSI mean that React Native will compete with fully native apps even in more demanding contexts.
  4. Adoption in Emerging Markets: Startups in Asia, Africa, and Latin America will increasingly use React Native to develop cost-effective apps for a wide range of audiences.
  5. Enterprise-Grade Applications: More large-scale businesses will migrate to React Native for consistency and scalability.

Conclusion

In 2025, React Native continues to be a leading framework for cross-platform mobile app development. With its ability to deliver near-native performance, reduce costs, and speed up development, it is the ideal choice for businesses aiming to maximize reach while staying agile.

For developers, it offers a future-ready skillset backed by one of the strongest communities in the software world. For businesses, it provides the perfect balance of speed, quality, and affordability.
If you’re considering building a mobile app in 2025, React Native deserves a serious look.

FAQs

  1. Is React Native still relevant in 2025?
    Absolutely. React Native remains one of the top cross-platform frameworks due to continuous updates, strong backing from Meta, and adoption by global enterprises.
     
  2. Can React Native apps match native performance?
    Yes, for most applications like e-commerce, social media, or productivity tools. Only extremely resource-heavy apps (like advanced 3D gaming) may require purely native development.
     
  3. How much code is reusable between platforms?
    In many cases, 70–90% of the code can be shared across iOS and Android.
     
  4. What kinds of businesses should use React Native?
    Startups, SMEs, and enterprises that want to save costs, reduce time to market, and reach a broad user base benefit the most.
     
  5. Does React Native support desktop and web development?
    Yes. React Native for Windows, macOS, and Web expands its reach beyond mobile, making it more versatile.
     
  6. How does React Native compare to Flutter?
    React Native has a larger ecosystem and leverages JavaScript, which many developers already know. Flutter, powered by Google, offers strong UI capabilities. The choice depends on specific project needs.