Swift is the best iOS app. React Native is the best cross-platform app.
Swift delivers the most performant, most native iOS experience. React Native delivers iOS + Android from one codebase. For applications targeting both platforms, React Native's cost advantage is significant. Understanding when native Swift is worth the trade-off.
Choosing between native iOS Swift development and React Native for a mobile application — and understanding the long-term cost and performance implications
Swift builds iOS apps. React Native builds iOS + Android apps. The trade-off is capability vs. scope.
Native Swift advantages:
- Full access to every iOS API and framework, always up to date
- Best possible performance — no JavaScript bridge
- Best iOS design system adherence (SwiftUI follows Apple's design language natively)
- First access to new iOS features (widgets, App Clips, Live Activities, Dynamic Island)
- Apple's development tools (Xcode, Instruments, Swift Playgrounds)
React Native advantages:
- One codebase for iOS + Android (reduces development and maintenance cost by ~40-50%)
- JavaScript/TypeScript — same language as web development
- Expo ecosystem and OTA updates (ship JavaScript updates without App Store review)
- React component model familiar to web developers
When Swift is the right choice:
- iOS-only application with no Android plans
- Application that requires the latest iOS capabilities (Live Activities, Custom Keyboard, widget extensions with complex logic)
- Team that has iOS expertise and prefers native tooling
- Application where the highest possible iOS performance is critical (games, AR experiences)
When React Native is the right choice:
- Both iOS and Android required
- Team with JavaScript/React experience
- Cost constraint that makes two separate native codebases impractical
- Startup speed where shipping both platforms quickly matters
For most startup applications, React Native + Expo is the correct choice: both platforms, one codebase, TypeScript, and fast iteration via OTA updates.
Platform decision based on target platforms, team skills, and the specific native iOS capabilities vs. cross-platform cost savings
React Native applications via Expo — cross-platform, TypeScript, with access to native modules when platform-specific capabilities are needed.
One honest number to start.
Fixed-scope, fixed-price. The number below is the starting point — final scope is built from your brief.
Platform decision based on target platforms, team skills, and the specific native iOS capabilities vs. cross-platform cost savings
Three steps, every time.
The same repeatable engagement on every project. No surprises, no mystery, no billable ambiguity.
Brief & discovery.
We send you questions, then get on a call. Output: a written scope with every step, feature, and integration listed.
Build & ship.
Fixed schedule, weekly reviews. No scope creep unless you change the scope — and if you do, we reprice it transparently.
Warranty & retainer.
30-day warranty on every launch. Most clients stay on a monthly retainer for ongoing features and maintenance.
Why Fixed-Price Matters Here
Platform selection affects scope directly. React Native (both platforms): one fixed price. Native Swift (iOS only): different price, iOS only. The decision is made upfront.
Questions, answered.
Most. Common iOS features (push notifications, camera, biometrics, location, maps) are available via Expo modules or React Native community packages. Cutting-edge iOS features (new in the last 6-12 months) may require custom native modules.
The platform decision affects scope. A single-platform native app is priced differently from a cross-platform React Native app.
Tell Ryel about your project.
Describe what you’re building and what outcome you need. You’ll have a written, fixed-price scope within the week.