React Native vs Ionic for Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

Mobile app development is certainly not an easy task as it seems to be. Especially in this highly competitive market, where everything that starts and ends is solely customer-centric. Selecting the right platform is paramount, as one decision can make or break your mobile app popularity.

When it comes to app development, it is thus apparent for you to make thorough comparisons over selecting the right platform before jumping directly to one. A cross-platform framework intends to empower developers to make use of technology which they already are aware of to create the apps with technologies they are not aware of.

In this context, the two prevalent and widely acceptable frameworks for cross-platform mobile app development are React Native and Ionic.

React Native v/s Ionic: Characteristics

React Native (2015) is a framework created by Facebook. Few of its characteristics are reusable components, top JavaScript framework, modular and intuitive architecture, UI focused approach, expertise in native app development, code reuse, and live reload.

Ionic (2013) is an open-source framework and is into developing high performing mobile and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). Irrespective of platform or device, it aims to create an app whose look and feel is aesthetic. Both are opposite to each other.

React Native v/s Ionic: Performance

It is one of the most distinguishing features, which enhances the framework’s importance among the rest. React Native provides unmatchable performance and scalability as it compiles the native code, thereby can easily access native phone features. While in Ionic, it is not that seamlessly possible. It uses web view so it cannot access device hardware components that easily. To access phone hardware functionality, Apache Cordova is used in Ionic 2.

The ionic apps are backend agnostic, built in a modular way, which makes updating more relaxed, and have strong community support. It uses AngularJS MVC architecture, CSS and JavaScript components, Cordova plugins, and possess MIT license. The ionic team works closely with Google.

React Native v/s Ionic: Framework

To build iOS and Android apps, React Native uses the JS framework, React. During the run time, it can render the native UI elements. It is famous for its Virtual DOM, declarative programming style, and reusable components. While, Ionic uses HTML/JS/CSS to build iOS apps, Android apps, PWAs, or any app with a web platform.

The universal web components can quickly gel up with the entire JavaScript framework. As Ionic uses HTML framework, for running the codes in smartphone as native apps, it needs native wrappers like Cordova or PhoneGap.

React Native v/s Ionic: User Interface and User Experience

The mobile app with an appealing look and feel attract users attention, ultimately enhance the user interface and user experience. React Native is acing in the UI/UX as compared to Ionic. React Native build and combine the native components to develop an app. The look and feel are just like the native app. Even without rewriting, you can apply User Interface (UI) elements to the existing app’s codes.

It has native UX, third-party plugin compatibility, and strong community support. React Native aims at providing a compelling look and feel with a seamless experience. As with Ionic, the finally created app is a web application wrapped in native features, which can adversely affect the look and feel of the app.

React Native v/s Ionic: Codebase

The best part is both these mobile app development frameworks facilitates code sharing. If you are constructing a mobile app with React Native, be it iOS, Android, or a web app, the same codes (front-end codes) can be used. Which saves a tremendous amount of cost and unnecessary costs. The UI component, which is written in React Native can be used in Android and iOS codebase, respectively. Even in Ionic, the same codebase can be used for all.

React Native v/s Ionic: Testing and Cost

In both cases, testing is not a complicated task. A React Native app can be tested in a real device or an emulator. In React Native, testing is simplified due to emulators. The app which is built with Ionic can be tested in a browser. Here, emulator loading is not required. Testing is simplified in ionic, due to web apps. Cost is the most sensitive aspect of every company.

Ionic, and React Native both are an open source framework which is available free of cost. Along with flexibility, React Native saves cost, time, efforts, and resources. The cost estimation of building apps would be somewhere close in both frameworks. Though even with a small margin, but React Native wins here.

Yes, it is evident from the above paragraphs that both the frameworks are unique in their ways. Complexities intensify even more, as it is essential to decide of ‘when to choose’ instead ‘what to choose.’ Focusing on ‘what to choose,’ React native is ahead in the race against Ionic. Not only it leads to rapid app development but also maintains superior quality over all the platforms.

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