The hot battle continues over which technology works best for iOS mobile app development.
React Native vs Swift has been a topic of perplexity among clients. The only aim of choosing the right technology stack is to make the app stand out in the market.
If you want to develop an iOS platform app, you need to understand which technology best serves its users. Today’s current projects need technology that acts as a backbone to strengthen the app’s performance in the future.
So, if you are still in a quandary for your iOS mobile app development, hang on; the blog would throw light on which technology can work like a boon for your project. Let’s talk about the strengths and weakness of React Native and Swift.
What is Swift Programming?
Swift programming language is backed up by the most influential tech companies, i.e., Apple. The language was launched in 2014, and it’s a compiled programming language for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and Linux applications.
Surprisingly, Swift language was primarily designed to replace Objective C, which was earlier developed in the 1980s. App development with Swift gave the developers the option of a much more powerful language to develop iOS applications.
Moreover, Swift gave developers the confidence that the newly launched language is safe, fast, and more expressive. Also, the language is constantly evolving and gaining popularity among clients.
What is React Native?
React Native is a popular open-source framework created by Facebook around 2015. The brownie point of creating a React Native app is that it offers extensive documentation and strong tech support. The below image shows the popularity of React Native technology.
React Native is solely used for building native mobile applications using JavaScript. Though the application is new in the market, it has become renowned for its speedy development in a very brief period.
The fantastic thing about React Native is that one can even reuse the mobile application codes for your desktop application and web applications.
Now, let’s look at some use cases of React Native and Swift. Hence, this would give you a better understanding of their concept.
Use Cases – Swift vs. React Native
Swift App Development for iOS Platform
React Native App Development for iOS Platform
This is how to choose between the technology according to the iOS app categories. However, there are a few drawbacks you should be aware of, so let’s quickly discuss the pros and cons of each technology.
Pros and Cons of React Native vs Swift
Analysis of the pros and cons will further aid us in knowing the Swift vs React Native comparison better.
Pros of React Native:-
The fabulous thing about React Native is that it provides the user with the option of reusing codes. For example, if you use React Native for iOS mobile app development and later wish to develop the same application for iOS, it won’t consume much time. Simply the developers can use 90% of the codes for Android app development.
In React Native, it’s much easier to make changes in the application. Well, the reloading time is the bare minimum. So if you need to add something to the application, you can do it without much delay.
Many of the clients like the easy reloading characteristic of the application. Hence, this makes them choose React Native for iOS app development.
As one uses the framework of React Native, one needs a small group of developers to develop the ios application. Therefore, this reduces the overall cost of your project. Moreover, when one decides to develop an application for Android in the future, the codes are reusable, resulting in significantly less development cost.
Want to provide users with an uncomplicated mobile user interface? We bet that there is no better choice than choosing React Native. Undoubtedly, developers can make an appropriate sequence of creating apps and seamless UX that take less time to load.
React Native again offers simplified data binding of the parent and child data. So, if there are any changes, react-native simply makes systematic updates in all the components.
It makes it much easier for the developers as it gives them the confidence that the new changes made in the document are done accurately.
Cons of React Native:-
As React Native is new in the market, developers have not had enough time to explore the technology. Unfortunately, these can lead to uninvited events that have been new to the developers.
Well, some of the clients fear this and avoid choosing React native for their iOS app development. They have still not built trust in the React Native framework.
Unfortunately, when your iOS app development demands many features, choosing to react Native wouldn’t be a wise choice as the app may not support those heavy features. Definitely, the app wouldn’t fail, but you can think of getting into other options.
At times there are components that demand creating a custom wrapper. As a matter of fact, there are some instances where the App store rejects react-native used libraries that dynamically update native code. Hence, it is better to avoid such scenarios.
Well, this was all about React Native. Now let’s jump to the advantages and disadvantages for Swift.
Pros of Swift
With regards to React Native, the Swift language is easier to learn. So, many developers are encouraged to learn the Swift language. Moreover, an easy understanding of the language makes it error-free.
As the name says, the technology is created like a swift. The Swift mobile app is tested on multiple yardsticks by the developers. Without a doubt, the technology is much faster and performs far better than objective C.
As observed by the developers, there is a faster development because the coding is way too transparent. Also, if you are making a long-term investment, then going for Swift is the best option to choose.
Cons of Swift
Some Swift frameworks remain to be added to the Swift technology. Therefore, there still needs to be some modifications in the technology.
As Swift is popularly known for iOS development, some clients blindly trust this technology for the development process. Therefore, they blindly ask the mobile app development company to choose Swift technology. Sometimes, this results in problems as specific applications might not gel well with Swift technology.
React Native Vs Swift – Application Architecture
All About React Native:
Simply understand that React Native acts as a mediator between the Native thread and JavaScript Thread. Next, JavaScript code communicates with the respective platform and Native API.
Hence, when it comes to Android application development, the work of React Native is to bundle the JavaScript Codes. Conversely, in iOS development, React Native takes Javascript code to write all code separately.
All About Swift:
When we talk about Swift architecture that is used in Swift, they are as follows:-
When we talk about choosing clean architecture, it uses the Xcode templates for generating components. Interestingly, these Xcodes work beautifully in the long run, as it becomes easier for the developer to make changes in the future.
When we talk about MVC, it lacks coding, making it challenging to write and maintain the application.
Lastly, Viper with Swift UI aids in separating functions; this makes it easier for the developers to test and maintain the application. Moreover, Viper aids in making faster app development.
We hope you got a basic idea about the system architecture of both technologies. But the question again stands: in react native vs. swift, which technology will work best for your iOS app development, let’s take a look at some applications built with React Native and Swift.
Popular Applications built with React Native and Swift
This was all about the apps that have used the respective platforms. However, the question stands as to which platform will benefit your application.
Which Is Better: React Native or iOS Swift?
To better understand this, let’s get an idea about how the application works in different parameters.
1. Complexity
Frankly, you can trust React Native apps for building an iOS application. As we discussed in React Native architecture, there is a bridge between JavaScript and the native thread. Therefore, if one wants to develop a high-complexity application for iOS, then with JavaScript, one needs to have expertise in native development skills.
Need to develop a complex application? Do or Need to add multiple user interfaces?
Without any doubt, the Swift application is one of the best choices for such app building. Moreover, Swift is the best pick as it guarantees performance and Safety. As per the developers, this technology gives more benefits for complex apps.
2. Community
As we all know, React Native was launched in the year 2015; though it’s new, the popularity of this technology is increasing in the market.
Interestingly, now most clients are asking the app development company to build an app in React Native. We can easily say that the results of the application are awe-inspiring.
Although Swift technology is a bit older than React Native, it’s not quite famous, especially when compared with React Native.
Many reports suggest that it is growing in the market. So, we can hope that the demand for Swift technology might rise in the future.
3. Performance
Earlier in React Native architecture, we discussed how the React Native technology acts as a mediator between native and JavaScript threads. Further, if we understand the architecture, when the user opens the application, the message is sent to the JavaScript via a thread.
Now understand that there is a limit to sending messages on JavaScript. So at times when the limit is exceeded, there is a lagging problem.
However, through third-party integrations, the problem can be resolved. Also, with some workaround, one can resolve such issues.
When we talk about the platform Swift, complex applications work incredibly fast. Moreover, the performance of iOS app development through Swift has always been the best choice.
Thankfully, simple Syntax and standard libraries improve the application’s overall performance. When we compare Objective C with Swift, Swift works 2.6x faster version-wise. Also, in react native VS. Swift performance, the latter wins the race.
Hence, when we compare React Native vs Swift performance, the latter wins the race.
4. User Experience
The user experience of React Native is improving daily. There are specific bugs in the React Native application, and as more and more iOS applications are launched, there are new bugs to notice.
On top of it, some components like activity indicators, snap carousels, and Scroll views fixed header improve the user experience.
Native tools and API can be easily integrated into a Swift app that delivers a seamless experience to its users, which adds a brownie point to it.
Additional features can also be integrated, making it much easier and faster to deploy the application.
5. Hiring Developers
Want to hire react native developers? Well, different countries react to native app development companies providing good developers. However, the development cost differs from country to country. For instance, in the USA, the hourly cost of development starts from $80. And in European countries, the yearly cost to hire developers is around $80,000.
However, in India, the cost to hire react native developers is around $3600-$4000 USD per month. You can connect with an app development company and get more details for React Native developers.
If you are thinking about swift development, then understand that the level of expertise plays a vital role in swift development. But again, with expertise comes a higher cost.
The average cost of developers in the USA would be around $90-$120 per hour. In European countries, it would start at about $70 per hour. And in India, the cost to hire iPhone app developers will be around $3500 – $4000 USD per month.
So, now the question stands: which is a better technology for iOS app development?
Frankly, it’s unfair to say that react native or swift is the best technology. But yes, one needs to understand that there are different criteria for choosing a particular technology. More details can be given by an app development company.
Also, check the cost of developing React Native and Swift applications.
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A complete understanding of the factors that are affected while developing an app.
Cost Comparison of iOS Swift vs React Native
Developing a basic React Native application would totally depend upon the features you ask the app development company to add. Similarly, the development of an application in Swift cost would also be dependent on its features.
Development time of React Native vs. Swift?
Well, the development time differs according to the requirement of your application. Also, it isn’t about the technology you choose that will decide the time. At times it is about the features you decide to add in the application.
Final Words: React Native vs Swift
Well, React Native and Swift are both in demand. So, developing an application by choosing either of the platforms might make your app stand out in the market.
You need to connect with a company providing iPhone application development services and ask them to develop your application. They would have experts who can study your application and guide you through the development process.
Is developing an iOS app on your mind? We provide the best iOS app development services!
FAQs on Swift vs React Native
Yes, most of the clients choose to react-native for the sole reason that it is much faster than Swift. It is a proven fact that React Native is 33% faster than Swift.
Well, these days the demand for React Native apps is much higher in the market. On the other hand, Swift is also here to stay for a long time and its demand may arise in the future. So, learning any of these languages might prove good for you.
No, one does not need to learn Swift for React Native. Both are different languages and they are not interdependent.
Well, React Native is a framework of Javascript. On the other hand, Swift is a language developed to replace Objective C. Hence, there might not be any similarities between these two languages.
Objective C and Swift are the two main ideal languages used for creating Native iOS apps. However, one can use frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and much more to create iOS applications.
