React Native V/S Swift: A Complete 2024 Comparison  

These days, businesses need a mobile app to connect with possible customers in the digital world, which is very competitive. Statistics Q3 report 2023 shows that more than 70% of mobile devices are Android, with Apple’s iOS coming in second with almost 28.8%. This means that the app development platform you choose is very important.

Mobile operating system market share around the world

The ongoing argument between React Native and Swift shows how hard it is to choose between native speed and cross-platform usability. React Native is a flexible cross-platform development tool that lets you use the same code base to make apps for both Android and iOS. However, Apple’s Swift is a private language that was made just for iOS apps.

Picking between React Native and Swift can affect how well a mobile game and, by extension, a business does. Before making a decision, it’s important to think about the pros and cons of each method. This will help make sure that the strategy chosen will work perfectly for the target audience and future business goals. It can be hard to choose which business and people to target, but this React Native vs. Swift UI comparison will help you make that choice.

We will talk about the main differences between React Native and Swift in this blog post. We will also talk about how to choose the best app creation framework. Let’s find out more.

Table of Content

• What does React Native mean?
• Finding Out What React Native Can Do for You
• Problems with making a react native app
• What does Swift mean?
• FAQs

What does React Native mean?

A lot of people use the famous JavaScript development framework React Native on a variety of platforms. It works especially well for making apps that look and work like they were made for Android and iOS. Its clear instructions and strong customer service have made it a popular choice for creating apps that work on many devices. When you use the React Native app development platform, you can change the code to make it work for both web and desktop apps. This makes it more flexible.

What react native could do

Because HTML-5 apps have their limits, Facebook’s founder promised that mobile users would have a better experience. Because of this, Facebook developer Jordan Walke came up with a new way to do things. He made interface parts for mobile systems by running JavaScript threads in the background.

Because of this big change, Facebook held a Hackathon to make the idea for making native apps even better. Together, these efforts led to the release of the first version of React Native in 2015, which happened to be the same year that Facebook added it to their live apps.

React Native works a lot like ReactJS, but there are some important differences. Not like ReactJS, it doesn’t use a Virtual DOM to handle the DOM, which makes the background process run more smoothly on user devices. This part makes good use of JavaScript, which makes developers want to use it even more.

Through batch bridge and serialization, the React Native app development platform also makes it easier to talk to native devices when you’re not online at the same time. The syntax for writing code in React Native is in JavaScript and JSX, which makes the process simple and quick for writers.

Finding Out What React Native Can Do for You

React Native is useful for mobile apps in a number of ways, such as:

Pros of using react native for mobile apps

1. Better Performance

React Native is unique for mobile apps because it uses native features and modules, which makes apps run quickly and smoothly. It’s like it gets into the native parts of an operating system and then uses Native APIs to make different threads. This leads to an excellent showing.

2. Building in Modules

The modular design of the React Native programming language gives your program’s different functions their own structure in the form of flexible modules. This makes things more flexible, helps people work together better, and makes changes go smoothly. Like web APIs, it makes it easier for developers to release updates for apps and encourages modules to be used more than once. This makes things run more smoothly and lets code be used again and again.

3. New Loading Hot

With hot reloading, writers can see right away in a preview window what changes they made to the app’s code. This real-time feedback speeds up the process of making apps and makes it easy to make changes quickly.

4. Streamlined updates for apps

React Native makes it easy to update apps. With over-the-air (OTA) changes, you don’t have to make a new process for each update. This means that getting updates is faster and easier, and you don’t even have to go to the app shop. When you open the app again, the changes will be ready to go.

5. Cheap Additions of Features

You can add new features to apps that already exist with React Native, instead of writing a whole new app. Developers can add UI components to an already existing app, which makes adding new features easier and cheaper.

You should be aware of the limitations of React Native.

There are some good things about React Native, but there are also some big problems with it.

Problems with making a react native app

1. Not good for apps that use a lot of resources

React Native might not be the best choice for you if your app needs a lot of different tools. It is better for native development to handle jobs that use a lot of resources. If you choose React Native in situations where you need a lot of resources, you might experience speed issues that hurt the overall user experience.

2. Issues with Maturity

The programming language React Native is still a tool for development. This means that it’s always getting better by fixing bugs, making it run faster, and fixing problems that come up when moving native components. This steady growth is good, but it also means that the platform may not be fully stable or able to do everything it’s supposed to do yet. This often needs to be updated on a daily basis to keep it in good shape over time.

3. Language Typed Too Loosely

There are many good things about using JavaScript in React Native, but its flexible typing system can be dangerous for security. JavaScript doesn’t strictly enforce how variables and parameters can be used inside methods, which could leave code open to attacks.

4. Dependence on First Language

A lot of the time, developers have to use native plugins to add features that React Native doesn’t support. It is these modules’ job to connect the native code to the React Native code. So developers need to either know how to code in local languages or work with developers who do.

5. Problems with patents and licenses

There are some licensing and patenting issues that come up when you use React Native. This program works with a license that is like BSD, and it comes with Facebook’s Grant of Patent Rights. Because of changes made to the React Native License in 2017, Facebook can take away usage rights if there are any problems with their patent rights.

What does Swift mean?

Some of the best programming languages for making apps that work on multiple Apple devices are Swift, WatchOS, Mac, and TVOS. It is known for having a lot of useful features. Its interactive computer interface has syntax that is easy to understand and use, which makes it easier for developers to code. But Swift regularly adds new, advanced features that make it easy to make apps that are up-to-date and complex. Safety is taken into account in Swift code, which makes apps safe and speeds up working.

Use the Best Features of Swift to Make Great Apps

Swift focuses on scaling, safety, fast development, and using as little memory as possible. This not only speeds up the process of making apps, but it also makes sure they run safely and efficiently, preparing the way for a mobile experience that is ready for the future. Swift is good for mobile apps in a number of ways, such as

Advantages of Swift for making apps

1. Very Quick Growth

Because Swift has a clear language style and a short syntax, it speeds up the creation process. It takes less time to write code, which speeds up the process of making your app. Its Automatic Referencing Counting feature saves time and memory by managing it well. This saves you important development time and makes sure the app works well.

2. How to Scale

Developers can easily add new features and make your app bigger with this language because it is so scalable. These features allow developers to easily change their apps as users’ needs change.

3. Improvements to safety and performance

Swift focuses on improving safety and speed. It works 40% better than Objective-C, which it replaced. It also has strong error-handling features and a full typing system to make it less likely that production apps will crash.

4. Not much memory use

Swift app creation frameworks use flexible libraries and little memory to smartly manage resources. This makes the creation process smoother and faster because it only uses libraries when it needs to.

5. Ability to work with Objective-C

Existing codebases can be quickly combined with Swift because it works smoothly with Objective-C. This lets developers use the powerful features of Objective-C while adding new features with Swift. This makes sure that apps can be moved between systems without any problems.

6. Automatic management of memory

The ARC feature of Swift takes care of memory automatically. This lets you use memory efficiently without slowing things down. So, Swift makes sure that apps can handle their memory well.

7. Cross-device support and full stack capabilities

Since they run in the cloud, Swift app creation frameworks can handle and help with both front-end and back-end work. Making apps goes faster and better with this.

Problems with Making Swift Apps

Besides the good things about using Swift for mobile apps, there are some bad things as well, such as

Problems with making apps quickly

1. Language That Is Still New

Swift is still new, but it’s getting bigger. An older language like Objective-C might have more resources and tools than this one.

2. Not Very Big Town

The open-source community for Swift might not be as big as some others yet, which could mean that there aren’t as many experienced developers and tools for people who are just starting out and need help. For whatever reason, it keeps growing.

3. Problems with Compatibility

There are some problems that come up because Swift doesn’t allow backward compatibility. This is because projects that were made in older versions might not work well with the newest ones. But Swift has tried to face this problem head-on, especially with the release of their fifth version.

4. Not enough programmers are available

Because Swift has grown so quickly, there aren’t as many workers who are good at it as there are with other languages. This could make it harder to hire experienced Swift developers.

What Makes Swift Different from React Native

The main difference between React Native and Swift is how they are used. React Native is the best language for making apps that work on multiple platforms, while Swift is the best language for making apps that only work on iOS. Let’s look at the following points to see how Swift and React Native are different. So, we can choose the best option for making your iOS app.

1. Performance of React Native vs. Swift

React Native is great at using memory and the GPU quickly, but it’s not quite as good as Swift when it comes to CPU usage. It does, however, let you embed native code and use a variety of tools to make things easier.

Because it uses the modern LLVM compiler technology, Swift has beautiful speed. It even uses less CPU than React Native, which makes it a real star in this area.

2. Both SwiftUi and React Native User Interface

When developers use Swift, they can make beautiful user interfaces and give iOS users a great experience with SwiftUI. This makes the experience feel completely local.

JavaScript tools are used by React Native to make user interfaces. This lets developers make parts that are only available on certain systems. They have to constantly adapt to changes in their native surroundings, though.

3. How Stable Are React Native and Swift?

Swift is known for being stable. It works well with complicated jobs and visual effects, so it’s a good choice for iOS development.

React Native is known for having a cross-platform framework that works on many devices. Its main goal is to use its own APIs and libraries. This could sometimes make the development process more complicated and even make things less stable.

4. How Fast Do IOS Swift and React Native Code?

With JavaScript and a well-structured language back, React Native is an easy-to-use tool. Being easy to learn is good for developers because it lets them build a solid system quickly.

Swift makes it easier to make apps that work on iOS. It makes the process of making apps easier and faster by adding improvements over Objective-C.

5. Learning Curve for Swift vs. React Native

Utilizing React Native makes the process of learning pretty simple. But developers who are switching from making websites to making apps might need some time to get used to the new environment.

Developers of all levels can learn Swift faster with the help of detailed guides and tools like Swift Playgrounds.

6. Maturity of the React Native vs. Swift Platform

Both React Native and Swift are pretty new systems. Conversely, React Native serves as a link between iOS platforms and code, while Swift is better at handling complicated calculations and graphics tasks because it works faster.

7. Cost of a Swift vs. React Native Developer

It’s cheaper to use React Native for development, especially when you hire a team of developers. It makes sure that projects are of good quality while still keeping costs low.

Swift may have the same cost worries as others, but its extreme stability and performance will help the project succeed in the long run.

8. Availability of Swift vs. React Native Developers

A lot of people know about React Native because of JavaScript. This means that the group has a lot of skilled developers to choose from.

Even though Swift is still pretty new, it might be hard to find skilled Swift developers.

9. IOS Swift vs. React Native: Documentation and Support from the Community

A strong group of developers around the world supports React Native. It comes with detailed and thorough documentation, which means developers will have a lot of tools to choose from.

The Swift computer language is always being maintained and updated by Apple’s team of developers. They give tech help on a number of public platforms and make sure it’s well-documented. This gives writers a lot of information about how to use Swift.

In this table, we compare React Native and Swift.

Which Should You Pick? Swift or React Native?

The Swift programming language will give you a more customized and useful way to make apps that only work on iOS devices. It’s easy to make apps that need powerful graphics processing and fast speed with Swift. Without a doubt, Swift is a great choice for making apps that use a lot of images and need to run quickly.

When it’s important for your app to use memory efficiently, Swift’s memory management makes sure it does.

Swift is the best language to use if your project needs more unique features that only work on that platform instead of using shared code.

The fact that React Native lets you make apps for both iOS and Android from the same code base is very helpful for projects that are meant to run on more than one device. Because it is easy to use and code can be reused, it is a great choice for companies or small teams that are on a tight budget. React Native can be very helpful when you only have a small team and few resources.

With React Native’s fast development cycle and hot restarting feature, you can make quick changes and push app updates more quickly than ever.

React Native could be the way for your business to connect with a wide group of users on different platforms. You can reach as many people as possible because it works on multiple devices.

Cross-platform creation for mobile apps

Let Appic Softwares help you pick the best framework for making mobile apps.

It’s important to choose the right app development platform, like React Native or Swift, when making a mobile app. It’s important to make sure that the choice you make fits with your business goals and the people you want to reach, whether you go with Swift’s great features for certain platforms or React Native’s cross-platform options. We made the great app 6th Street, which works on both iOS and Android, and Appic Softwares can help you make another great app like it.

Over 3 million iOS users and 1 million Android users have downloaded 6th Street’s mobile app, which shows how well we can make strong mobile app development plans. We can help you have the same kind of success as our top React Native app developers. Get in touch with us to learn more about the differences between React Native and Swift and how to pick the best platform for your next mobile app project.

FAQs

• Do you think Swift or React Native is better?

The skills that Swift and React Native have are different, so they can be used in different conditions. In particular, Swift is better for making apps that only work on iOS, using a lot of pictures, and making the best use of memory. But React Native is better for cross-platform software that needs to be put out quickly to reach more people.

• How is the learning process for Swift and React Native different?

As for learning Swift, it’s not too hard, but coders will need to get used to its syntax and functions, which are different. On the other hand, React Native has a high learning curve that can be hard to handle at first, especially for people who already know the basics of JavaScript. Still, it’s not too hard once you get used to its complexities by switching from web development to app development.

• Which is better for making an app: React Native or Swift?

Pick Swift for iOS apps that need complex graphics and good memory management. Pick React Native for cross-platform app development that gets apps to market quickly, doesn’t cost a lot, and can reach a lot of people.

When you’re looking for a software development company to help you make a mobile app, Appic Softwares is a great choice. Our skilled programming team is here to help you with everything you need.

Give us a call at this moment!