5 Top React Native Alternatives

When to Look for a React Native Alternative?

Many mobile projects can benefit from React Native, but it does not always work well. You may sometimes encounter situations where your app development requires extra power, more functions, or improved flexibility. This is when looking for an alternative to React Native makes sense. However, here's when to consider it:

Performance Issues

React Native works effectively for several apps, but it cannot handle high-speed demands. Running video games, editing videos, or using live-streaming apps can cause lags because of the JavaScript bridge. This makes it difficult to render images quickly and with very low latency on devices.

You Require More Scalability

Dealing with big application projects can be hard for React Native. This is because it uses many third-party libraries, which might limit performance. So, if your company needs an app that can scale with many users, look for a better alternative.

System Needs Advanced Features

It is difficult to work with React Native when you need to implement advanced features, such as augmented reality, complex animation, or deep access to device functions. In this case, you need to prioritize React Native alternatives to match complex requirements.

You Look to Handle Complex Gestures

React Native offers ways to handle gestures. But working with complicated gestures is not always convenient. There might not be the same degree of smoothness in gesture handling within the framework. So, you need a better and safer alternative to React Native to tackle the situation. Pick something that ensures a smooth user experience and easy navigation.

Best 5 React Native Alternatives to Pick in 2025

Given the increasing demands from users and technology, selecting the correct mobile app framework is very important in 2025. So, if you do not wish to use React Native, many React Native alternatives are available. They feature better performance, more flexibility, or stronger native features. These are five alternatives for React Native that you may check out.

1. Flutter

Because Google created it, Flutter is now frequently seen as an alternative to React Native. Thanks to this open-source toolkit, developers can easily develop apps for mobile, web, and desktop, all using a single and unified codebase. As a result, 46% of software developers are now using Flutter, proving just how powerful and useful it is.

Key Features:

• Cross-Platform Support: Flutter-built apps serve users on all the major platforms, including iOS, Android, web, and desktop.
• Near-Native Performance: It delivers smooth, native-feeling user experiences. Some features of the framework encourage it to work quickly and efficiently.
• Hot Reload: Code edits get instantly visible to developers even without reopening the app. As a result, they get through testing and development quicker.

Pros:

• Faster Development Cycles: With hot reload, developers can experience live updates to their work. This decreases the amount of time needed to get the product to market, which also cuts development costs.
• Consistent User Interface: It is responsible for every single pixel seen on the display. As a result, all platforms share the same appearance and feel.
• High Performance: Apps are turned into native code using Dart AOT. As a result, the app performs better, and animations play without skipping.

Cons:

• Dart Programming Language: JavaScript is more well-known than Dart. Developers might initially find it challenging and need more time to get used to the new framework.
• Larger App Size: Flutter tends to build heavier apps than React Native. As a result, you may notice that downloads take longer and storage is taken up quickly.

Flutter

Because Google created it, Flutter is now frequently seen as an alternative to React Native. Thanks to this open-source toolkit, developers can easily develop apps for mobile, web, and desktop, all using a single and unified codebase. As a result, 46% of software developers are now using Flutter, proving just how powerful and useful it is.

Key Features:

• Cross-Platform Support: Flutter-built apps serve users on all the major platforms, including iOS, Android, web, and desktop.
• Near-Native Performance: It delivers smooth, native-feeling user experiences. Some features of the framework encourage it to work quickly and efficiently.
• Hot Reload: Code edits get instantly visible to developers even without reopening the app. As a result, they get through testing and development quicker.

Pros:

• Faster Development Cycles: With hot reload, developers can experience live updates to their work. This decreases the amount of time needed to get the product to market, which also cuts development costs.
• Consistent User Interface: It is responsible for every single pixel seen on the display. As a result, all platforms share the same appearance and feel.
• High Performance: Apps are turned into native code using Dart AOT. As a result, the app performs better, and animations play without skipping.

Cons:

• Dart Programming Language: JavaScript is more well-known than Dart. Developers might initially find it challenging and need more time to get used to the new framework.
• Larger App Size: Flutter tends to build heavier apps than React Native. As a result, you may notice that downloads take longer and storage is taken up quickly.

2. Ionic

Since 2013, Ionic has been a top alternative to React. This open-source tool allows programmers to develop mobile applications with web technologies. You may not know, but there are already over 8 thousand apps exist that have been developed with Ionic.

Key Features:

• Web Advancements: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the main technologies used in Ionic. By doing this, web developers can move on to mobile app development with ease.
• UI Components: It allows you to use pre-made UI components to reduce your design time. Developers can create clean and functioning interfaces in no time.

Pros:

• Accessibility: Having learned HTML and CSS, web developers do not need to learn additional languages. Developers find it easier to work on mobile apps using tools they already understand.
• Pre-designed UI Components: You can find a wide range of current UI components in Ionic. They are easy to adjust to suit different user needs.
• Ionic Capacitor: The Capacitor connects JavaScript from the website to the app's unique capabilities. It allows the use of cameras, GPS, and file storage.

Cons:

• Dependency on WebView: Your ionic app gets loaded into a WebView container. It can mean your computer will not perform well in animation or graphics apps.
• Native Functionality: Using native features often needs additional tools. As a result, this method is less simple than those that provide direct access to the device's native APIs.

3. Kotlin Multiplatform

Kotlin Multiplatform is one of the latest open-source software development kits. In 2020, JetBrains introduced KMP, which is one of the best React Native alternatives. It allows for hassle-free cross-platform development.

Key Features:

• Kotlin Language: KMM works with Kotlin, which is a well-liked and up-to-date language for Android.
• Code Sharing: Designers can easily share business logic. This speeds development and maintains a fully native user interface.

Pros:

• Bright Future: Google has supported Kotlin. A united community and constant updates have helped maintain the protocol for years.
• Reduced Duplication: With KMM, you can reuse business logic among different platforms. It means no duplicate code can be made. It reduces the number of flaws and simplifies app development.
• Platform-Specific Code: KMM generates native code whenever it is essential. It can also build platform-specific features, including a custom interface.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: New developers may find it hard to learn the language initially.
• No Hot Reload: There is no hot reload available in Kotlin Multiplatform. This can make the testing and revision process time-consuming.

4. NativeScript

NativeScript is another reliable alternative to React Native that allows developers to create native apps for iOS and Android. It uses JavaScript, TypeScript, or Angular as its programming languages. It runs on the same native APIs, so you don't need extra tools.

Key Features:

• JavaScript/TypeScript: You can build fully native apps with JavaScript or TypeScript.
• Native APIs: You can use native APIs without extra modules or libraries.
• Cross-Stage: Make your app work on both Android and iOS by writing one codebase.

Pros:

• Hot Module: Every change you make is reflected without restarting the application. It allows teams to work on different parts concurrently, which saves time.
• Native-like Performance: These apps use native UI components. The OS handles both simple and complex actions without losing performance.
• Framework Flexibility: Users can use JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular and Vue when developing with NativeScript. Developers are able to work with the framework that fits their needs.

Cons:

• Learning Curve: API integration with NativeScript may be difficult for people just starting with it.
• Smaller Community: Although the community is active, its size is limited. In this case, there are fewer plugins, resources, and tools available.

5. Apache Cordova

Apache Cordova currently holds an approximately 5.25% share in the cross-platform app development tools market. This makes it one of the best React Native alternatives, which uses advanced web technologies. They include CSS3, JavaScript, and HTML5.

Key Features:

• Cross-Platform Development: Using a single codebase, you can deploy your app to iOS, Android, and Windows platforms.
• Web Technologies: Web developers can create apps using CSS3, JavaScript, and HTML5
• Access to Native Features: The Cordova platform gives access to device features through JavaScript APIs.

Pros:

• Cost-effective: Write a program once and let it run on many different platforms. This reduces the cost of creating and maintaining the program.
• Familiar Technologies: People with web development expertise can move seamlessly into mobile app development. Swift, Kotlin or Java are not necessary to learn for a web developer.
• Access to Device Features: Cordova allows you to use native features. They include push notifications and sensors with greater ease.

Cons:

• Performance Limitations: Most developed apps run on WebView. It significantly affects performance.
• Plugin Reliance: Cordova relies on plugins. So, it may often cause problems.

Conclusion

Selecting the best React Native alternatives relies on many factors. It can be your project's aims, performance requirements, and your team's skillset. Every framework provides specific strengths and weaknesses. So, check that out and pick the framework you want. Carefully assess and plan to produce great, expandable mobile apps. Reach out to Owebest Technologies if you need expert assistance in developing powerful apps for different platforms.