React Native and NativeScript occupy a special place in the cross-platform development sphere. Once created, these frameworks have changed the multi-platform development paradigm, allowing developers to create both performant and user-friendly applications. Since then, they've been gaining fans and contributors from all over the world, facilitating the app's development process and making it easy, cheap, and enjoyable.
However, despite the common traits and purpose, React Native and NativeScript do the job in their own way. That's exactly what this article will be centered on.
Here, we will clash NativeScript vs React Native and reveal:
- The essence of the React Native and NativeScript.
- What native mobile apps you can create with each framework.
- The difference between React Native and NativeScript by the several vital performance metrics.
- Pros and cons of React Native and NativeScript.
- Which framework to choose for your development project.
What NativeScript and React Native are
NativeScript
NativeScript is an open-source cross-platform mobile development framework. It was founded in 2015 by Progress Software company which went by the name Telerik at the time.
Using NativeScript, developers can create cross-platform mobile applications for iOS, Android, and Universal Windows Platform with JavaScript, XML, or CSS. The framework employs a special, JS-based engine for the native rendering of apps' UIs, which makes the user experience truly native. Additionally, NativeScript is compatible with native platform components and popular frameworks like Angular, Vue.js, and TypeScript. That diversity of languages and tools opens wide creative possibilities for developers, making it easier to integrate native UI components.
In terms of architecture, the framework includes a JS virtual machine for interpreting JavaScript code, runtimes to call platform-specific APIs, and the native bridge that transforms commands into native elements to render the UI.
React Native
React Native is a free and open-source framework for developing mobile applications, as well as for web, desktop, and other cross-platform mobile apps.
Meta (formerly Facebook) released it in 2015, and it has much hype from the start. Its popularity and the fast-growing developer community around the framework were a result of impressive tools set, high React Native performance, and unique features (e.g. hot reload).
React Native offers even more development capabilities and evolves into complete platform agnosticism, bridge simplification, and streaming model upgrade.
The framework is based on the React web development framework. React Native works with the React JS library to render the app natively on various platforms. RN uses JavaScript, TypeScript, and JSX programming languages basis which makes the platform easy to use for the majority of developers. React Native controls native rendering through Objective C/ Swift on iOS and Java/Kotlin on Android.
The architecture of React Native is quite similar to NativeScript's except for the Safari core and additional libraries of the first. For the rest, it's the same JS input and the bridge. With React Native, you can use multiple UI/code frameworks, libraries (Ignite CLI, Native Base, UI Kitten), and native modules to streamline the design process.
React Native vs NativeScript: key differences and similarities
Despite both platforms' aim to create cross-platform mobile apps, they have several distinct features and major differences on several layers. Let's compare them with the following core performance points.
Learning curve
React Native and NativeScript rely on JavaScript, the most commonly used programming language in the world. Thus, both platforms are easy to learn for a large group of developers. Also, the JavaScript basis makes the frameworks strong from the front-end side.
However, React Native has a React JS background with its Immutables, Repositories, and Redux. The developers with the React background will experience a gradual and smooth RN learning process.
NativeScript, in its turn, works with all of the JavaScript frameworks. Usually, NS developers leverage Vue.js, TypeScript, and Angular development services. The learning curve with the framework will be steep in the early learning stages for Angular developers. Then, to use all the declarative programming power of the platform, developers will need to become familiar with other frameworks.
Conclusion: React Native has a smoother learning curve, making it easier to get started.
In contrast, NativeScript has a steeper initial learning curve but becomes more beneficial in the long run as you gain proficiency and get access to deeper native development features and native platform components.
Community
In terms of the developers' community behind the platforms, React Native has much more support. First of all, it was created by the Fortune 500 company Meta (formerly Facebook), which has been rapidly expanding React Native capabilities since its inception. The company provides exceptional support for newcomers that draws attention to the framework.
React Native has gathered over 2,000 contributors, who develop features and add new plugins to the framework. This popularity also boosts React Native's appeal, making it easier to find a React Native developer. Now, only Flutter is competing with it for the attention of developers focused on cross-platform mobile and web apps.
On the contrary, NativeScript's popularity has been much lower and has continued to decline each year from 2019 to 2023, according to Statista.
Conclusion: React Native is more popular among developers than NativeScript and has a large developer community, thereby making it a compelling option for mobile app development.
Performance
React Native renders native mobile apps much faster than NativeScript due to its Virtual DOM usage. Moreover, NativeScript has a single-threaded model of APIs accessing. It can hinder the app's performance while executing the intensive code.
In contrast, React Native uses separate threads. JS thread contains all the business logic and handles user interactions. The main thread, for its part, is responsible for executing native code and native API calls. React Native has the asynchronous type of communication between threads which makes rendering less laggy than on NativeScript.
As for the code-sharing and components' reuse, the frameworks are equal. Both of them can share almost all the code throughout different platforms. The percentage of the code depends on the complexity and custom features of an application. The more sophisticated the code and UI in native mobile applications, the less code you can share between the platforms.
Conclusion: React Native performs better than NativeScript due to its multi-threaded system and Virtual DOM usage. At the same time, both platforms have equal code-sharing capabilities, which is important in mobile development.
Application field
The cross-platform capacity of React Native is huge. Using it, developers can create React Native apps for the following platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and Apple tvOS. Such variety became possible thanks to contributors who developed specialized forks and adaptations of React Native.
NativeScript, in this regard, has much less to offer. Developers can build NS applications for three platforms: iOS, Android, and Windows. Though, its community is also working to use the framework on other platforms.
Conclusion: React Native works with more platforms than NativeScript at the moment, offering more flexibility in native mobile application development.
Testing
React Native supports the IDE software suite, which opens wide testing automation capabilities. So, developers can choose from Espresso, Jasmine, KIF, Appium, Calabash, UI Automation, Robotium, Frank, TestNG, and more for comprehensive testing of mobile app development.
NativeScript has its own QA workflow that was aerated in 2017. Thus, various types of testing can be launched from its CLI, but only with Mocha, Quint, Jasmine, and Appium for functional testing.
Conclusion: React Native has more convenient testing automation and gives more freedom of choice concerning testing tools.
NativeScript vs React Native: pros and cons
In this section, we will review the pros and cons of the NativeScript and React Native frameworks so you can see their strengths and weaknesses more clearly.
React Native: pros and cons
React Native pros:
- Open-source and free-to-use.
- You can access platform-specific APIs asynchronously.
- High development speed due to the code-sharing, components reusability, and hot reload feature.
- Flexible code.
- You can build apps for multiple platforms.
- Strong developer community with thousands of contributors that expand the framework's feature set and provide support.
- 3d party libraries support pre-made code patterns.
- Exceptional UI rendering capabilities with the help of Virtual DOM without using WebViews.
- Native controls that facilitate the engineering process and make it easier to integrate native features into your application.
React Native cons:
- React Native developers may need in-depth platform knowledge to solve more specific tasks that require a deeper understanding of native languages or native functionalities.
- May require additional infrastructure to maintain complex applications.
- Debugging can be challenging.
NativeScript: pros and cons
NativeScript pros:
- Remote services for NativeScript Android and iOS apps building.
- A free and open-source cross-platform development framework.
- Renders UIs natively without using WebViews, which gives developers access to more native features and functionalities.
- Works great with Angular and Vue.js.
- Includes hooks usage for client-line interfaces' customization.
- Provides direct access to Android and iOS APIs.
- Allows to reuse code across iOS and Android platforms.
- Explicit documentation along with tutorials, application samples, and forums to help developers learn how to use NativeScript.
- Improved app building and deployment backed by the Telerik platform.
- Developers can install and use various NativeScript plugins.
NativeScript cons:
- Doesn't support DOM and HTML.
- All JavaScript code executes on the main thread.
- NativeScript plugins have dubious quality.
- Testing is available on real devices or emulators, and you need to reload the system to see the changes.
- There are no ready-made UI collections.
- You should pay for some of the additional UI components (calendars, charts, etc.).
- Devs need to know native iOS and Android to reach platforms' native functionalities and integrate specific native features.
When to use NativeScript and React Native
React Native use cases and app examples
It is recommended to choose React Native in the following cases:
1) You want to build your MVP at short notice. With React Native, it will take only several weeks to develop native apps for both iOS and Android.
2) You plan to use your app across multiple platforms. React Native apps allow you to reuse a significant portion of the codebase, speeding up development for both mobile development and cross-platform projects.
3) You need easy access to platforms' hardware functionality without third-party plugins. With React Native, you can access native components directly, ensuring smoother interaction with device features.
4) Your React Native app requires complex controls and operations. React Native is capable of handling native app development with efficient native code to deliver complex functionalities.
5) You want to provide a seamless user experience. By using native components, React Native ensures that the performance and look-and-feel of the app closely resemble that of a fully native app.
6) You aim for faster updates and iteration cycles. With React Native's ability to push changes directly into the app, you can quickly make improvements and bug fixes without going through a lengthy deployment process.
7) You are looking to scale your app. React Native supports a growing ecosystem, allowing you to scale your app’s features, integrate new functionalities, and enhance your app’s native performance over time.
Examples of React Native applications
Meta (formerly Facebook)
Unsurprisingly, the company demonstrated the capabilities of its framework, creating a Meta social media mobile app for Android and iOS. Among the application's features are:
- Text/voice messaging, video chats, and phone calls.
- Location tracking through GPS.
- Photo, video, and music cloud storage.
Walmart
The largest retailer in the US, Walmart, entrusted its mobile app to the React Native developers. They've created a functional app with:
- Integrated chatbot for customer support.
- GEO-positioning of goods and customers for delivering them.
- Price scanner and medical prescriptions management.
The world's best photo/video-sharing platform is also made with React Native. The app has:
- The ability to connect with a smartphone's camera, record stories, take photos, and record videos.
- Capacious and high-performance cloud storage.
- Text chat, collaboration tools, real-time photo/video content editing.
NativeScript use cases and app examples
Leverage NativeScript framework if:
1) You are going to create a simple application without any customized or unusual platform-specific components for iOS and Android. NativeScript allows for rapid mobile application development with minimal complexity.
2) You’d like to customize your app’s interface but are not familiar with Objective-C, Kotlin, Swift, or Java. NativeScript lets you write native code in JavaScript or TypeScript. This way, it can be ideal for web developers who want to transition to mobile without learning platform-specific languages.
3) You want to create a web clone of your application with Angular or Vue.js. NativeScript supports these frameworks, making it easier to extend your web app into a mobile version, streamlining mobile development.
4) You need to build apps that require direct access to native APIs without relying on third-party plugins. NativeScript gives you the power to access native components directly and write native code when needed, allowing for greater flexibility.
5) You want to leverage a single codebase for both native apps and web apps. NativeScript allows you to share much of the same code, cutting down on development time and resources.
6) You’re a web developer looking to transition into mobile app development. NativeScript supports JavaScript and popular web frameworks like Angular, allowing you to quickly start developing native apps.
7) You aim for a high degree of customization while maintaining access to native components and APIs. NativeScript offers great flexibility in building custom mobile applications that still retain the native performance and feel of platform-specific code.
Examples of NativeScript applications
Raiffeisen Bank
One of the most reputable banks in Europe, Raiffeisen, has chosen NativeScript to build its mobile application. Its functionality includes:
- Instant money transactions within the bank environment and outside of it by phone number.
- Multiple accounts/cards monitoring and management.
- Other bank accounts and debit cards replenishment.
- See the bank branches in your area.
Ragelneef
This is the app for energy consumption control and electricity cost management. It allows users to:
- Estimate the amount of electricity you consume in a certain period of time.
- Control your expenses and save money on electricity.
- Watch your energy consumption history in a chart.
Daily Nanny
This app is a helper for parents who hire a nanny to watch after their children while they are away. Using it, they can:
- Chat with a nanny and give written instructions so that he/she won't miss any important information.
- Control nanny's actions and receive photo/video reports at any time.
- Monitor the child's nourishment and leisure.
Wrapping it up
Now, it's time to decide: NativeScript vs. React Native — which one is better?
As you can see, React Native is a more popular, fast-evolving, and performant framework than NativeScript. Besides, it has a much larger developer community that can support you during your cross-platform app development. With React Native developers, you can build an app for more platforms, reuse UI components, and render complex interfaces.
However, if you prefer to code with Angular or Vue.js rather than React, and use the related plugins NativeScript will suit you better.
In fact, both platforms make the cross-platform development process fast with their code-sharing features. The right choice depends on your tech stack preferences, project requirements, and the specific functionalities you need in your mobile app development.
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P.S. If you still have questions or want to delegate your cross-platform development to a solid and experienced team of developers, contact us. Akveo provides the full cycle of cross-platform app development services, including React Native app development, UI/UX & web design, low-code development, branding, quality assurance, and technology consulting.
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