Why I'm Still Betting on React Native in 2026

This video explains why I continue to bet on React Native for mobile development in 2026, even as native platforms and AI-powered tools improve rapidly. I share my honest perspective on the trade-offs between native development and React Native, especially for teams targeting both iOS and Android.

If you’re wondering whether to learn Swift UI, Jetpack Compose, or stick with React Native, this video breaks down the multi-platform math and how Expo and AI are closing the native gap. It’s for developers and founders who want to build cross-platform apps efficiently without sacrificing native capabilities.

What's inside

• Building an Android app quickly with AI-powered tools
• Feeling limited by React Native in some cases
• Native platforms investing heavily in Swift UI and Jetpack Compose
• The ongoing cost of maintaining two native codebases
• How React Native and Expo reduce the multi-platform tax
• Bringing native views into React Native with Expo UI
• AI’s role in making native and cross-platform development easier
• The importance of developer skill and knowing what to ask AI

Building an Android app quickly with AI-powered tools

I started by building an Android app using Android Studio’s new Gemini window, which lets you describe screens and generates the app automatically. It handled dependencies and installed the app without me writing much code. I did the same on iOS with Claude inside Xcode. The output was impressive and made me question why I still choose React Native.

This shows how AI is speeding up native app creation, lowering the entry barrier for developers to ship something real quickly. But it also raised the question of whether React Native still makes sense in this new landscape.

Feeling limited by React Native in some cases

I admit React Native has felt limiting at times, especially when aiming for truly native iOS experiences. The pull toward native development has never been stronger with tools like Swift UI and Jetpack Compose improving fast. If you only target one platform, going native looks more attractive than ever.

However, these limitations don’t tell the whole story when you need to support both iOS and Android efficiently.

Native platforms investing heavily in Swift UI and Jetpack Compose

Apple and Google are pouring resources into their native UI frameworks. At Google I/O, they recommended Jetpack Compose for all new Android apps. At WWDC, Apple shipped many new Swift UI features. Both companies are moving fast to improve native development experiences.

This is great if you live on a single platform, but it creates challenges for cross-platform teams who must maintain two separate codebases.

The ongoing cost of maintaining two native codebases

Going fully native means either picking one platform and hoping you never need the other or maintaining two separate codebases with different languages, frameworks, and teams. This “two codebase tax” is a heavy burden that many companies have tried to avoid by moving to React Native.

Maintaining two codebases means doubling the effort to stay current and ship features, which is costly and inefficient for most teams.

How React Native and Expo reduce the multi-platform tax

React Native combined with Expo offers a way to opt out of the two codebase tax. Expo UI now lets you bring any Swift UI or Jetpack Compose view directly into your React Native app. When you need native functionality that isn’t available yet, you can write custom Expo modules to tap into it.

This means you’re not locked out of native capabilities but only reach for them when the use case demands it. The old trade-offs are mostly gone, making cross-platform development easier and more practical.

Bringing native views into React Native with Expo UI

Expo UI bridges the gap by allowing native views from Swift UI and Jetpack Compose to be embedded seamlessly. This hybrid approach lets you leverage the best of both worlds: a single React Native codebase with native components where necessary.

You can write custom native modules when needed, so you’re never stuck waiting for React Native to support a feature. This flexibility is key to maintaining productivity and quality.

AI’s role in making native and cross-platform development easier

AI is not only making native development easier but also simplifying cross-platform workflows. It lowers the skill barrier dramatically, allowing developers to ship apps faster. Maintaining one codebase across iOS and Android is easier than ever with AI assistance.

However, AI doesn’t replace the need for developer judgment. It answers questions well but doesn’t know which questions matter most. Skilled developers who know what to ask will get the most out of AI tools.

The importance of developer skill and knowing what to ask AI

Even though AI dropped the entry bar close to zero, you still need technical knowledge to avoid hitting walls. If you don’t know what to prompt for or how to solve problems, you’ll get stuck.

My advice: build something simple like a tip calculator or a silly app to learn the ropes. Experimenting and shipping small projects is the best way to understand mobile development today, regardless of your background.

Resources

CourseReact Native course

Fundamentals through shipping: the concepts behind the prompts, with lifetime access.

Pro MembershipPro membership

Get early access to new React Native content, including the upcoming Expo UI section.

PlatanoShip a launch-ready React Native app this weekend

See Expo UI and React Native in action with a production-ready template.