Difference between React JS and React Native?

React.js was originally developed by Facebook team to create a highly responsive and dynamic UI with uncompromised performance.

The react.js library was released in 2011 with an intent to leverage JavaScript speed and ability to render pages and dynamic user input. Two years later, as React.js became quite recognized, the team open-sourced React.js.

React-Native was developed and launched by Facebook team in 2015 and became quite an interesting and popular framework among mobile app developers.

It can be used for building cross-platform mobile apps. The framework was later customized by contributors to use it for building desktop apps as well.

Though React-Native looks very similar to ReactJS, there are certain differences in their use and structure. In this post, we will see a few points that separate React Native from React.js technology.

Read Also: 13 Famous Apps Built with React Native

React.js

React.js is basically a JavaScript library built to create user-friendly and responsive UI components. Also known as React, the library is responsible for the rendering of UI components in a typical technical sense. It is leveraged to support both front-end and server-side operations.

React Native

React Native is a powerful JavaScript framework used to build native applications as it compiles to React Native components. Like React JS, React Native also has the base abstractions of React DOM.

This suggests that while components are different, their syntax and workflow remain similar.

1) Setup and running process

React.js is a JavaScript Library that you can use for the web development. While starting a new project and setting up ReactJS, you will need to choose Webpack which is actually a bundler. You will then decide which bundling modules will specifically suit your project.

setup react

In React Native, you have everything you need to set up and get started. It is so easy and fast to launch the framework. All it takes is to run one command line in terminal and you are ready to start coding your first ever React native app.

You will need Xcode (for iOS) or Android Studio (for Android) installed on your computer to run the app. Use an emulator of the target platform or test its performance on your own devices.

2) Animations

Unlike React JS where CSS helps bring alive animations, React Native makes you learn entirely new ways to use JavaScript and create animations for components of your app.

With React Native, developers can animate components in the app by using the Animated API. There is quite known JavaScript library Velocity.js that you can use and compare Animated API with it.

react animations

The famous Velocity.js allows developers to form assorted animations. They work based on time and velocity of gesture and can be used in many combinations. You also have LayoutAnimation in React Native that comes off cool for transitions especially on iOS platform.

Compared to React JS that allows you to play with creative animations, React Native offers you good freedom to do a lot more in animation space.

Read Also: React Native App Development Company in UK

3) Developer tools

Rapid app development seekers would be happy to use React in their native project since you already get a few great tools without actually installing anything.

This unique quality saves a lot of time and efforts for developers. In addition, hot reloading enabled by React JS comes handy when there is a need to make small changes to overall app styles.

You can leverage Live Reload if there are bigger changes to add to the app logic so that your app reloads upon changing the code.

React Native developers can use many developer tools present in React JS. You can use Chrome Dev Tools to inspect the network requests, handle logs and for debugging.

You also have Redux DevTools for further assistance in inspection. However, the native inspector is not much helpful since you can’t inspect DOM with React Native like you are able to do on the web.

4) Business benefits of React.js

  • React’s DOM (document object model) that manages data inputs and outputs is much faster than the conventional refresh model. Since it only partially refreshes certain parts of the page, Facebook never knew the process of refreshing would prove faster. By positively affecting the re-build time, the partial DOM refresh eventually boosts performance and speed while writing program.
  • The phenomenon of reusable code components in React JS further saves you a lot of time.
  • React.js also improves the debugging speed which highly favors developers’ work.
  • The possibility of rendering the pages from the server to the browser helps positively with SEO part of your app.
  • React quite easily comes to even beginners in the space. Because it is effortlessly readable, unlike other frameworks, React doesn’t require you to get thorough with an extensive list of concepts.
  • Since it is based on JavaScript, developers are free to reap the maximum benefits of all the progress and updates in the Java ecosystem.

5) Business benefits of React Native

  • React Native contains Native modules and components that help render certain code components directly with Native APIs to improve performance and speed. It does not depend on WebView for code rendering unlike other cross-platform frameworks.
  • Since React Native also lets developers reuse code and common logic layer across iOS and Android, the need for building the applications separately for both is avoided.
  • React Native offers all the mentioned benefits of React.js such as delivering a user-friendly UI.
  • The component-based development model of React Native framework creates an agile web-style approach for developers to build apps without actually relying on any web.
  • React Native is easy to learn if you are familiar with JavaScript. A front-end developer could turn into a mobile developer if they know enough about JavaScript and platform-specific APIs, native UI elements or other design essentials.
  • By delivering high performance, agility and responsiveness in app development, React Native gets rid of typical struggles involved in native app development such as inefficiency, slow deployment and unsatisfying developer productivity. It also results in best user experience of native apps.
  • Another React Native speed booster is its ability to add UI components directly into existing app’s code without aiming to rewrite. So you don’t have to overhaul the entire app when updating.

Read Also: A Comparison Between Flutter & React Native

Final remarks

The process of mobile app development using React Native framework is swimmingly fast. So you can quickly get an app ready in its mature shape. Building the complex UI design elements in React Native is also quick as it usually is with React JS across both iOS and Android.

For React Native learners who are especially keen on JavaScript programming, it is easy and agile to switch from React JS web to React-Native app development.

Developers also have a huge advantage of getting the best out of the big and benevolent React Native community. Thus, Facebook’s original framework React Native has a lot to offer and is a recommendable technology for any web developer who wants to build mobile apps.

20 Famous Apps Built with React Native

React Native has evolved to be a fascinating lynchpin amid the most preferable and trending technologies today ever since Facebook developed it for its own internal apps projects in 2013.

Developers adopted this powerful framework for iOS and Android app development. The technology was made available on GitHub in 2015 as announced by Facebook in F8 conference and now it is vibrant with 1,408 contributors.

The future possibilities of what React Native development can produce add thrill to the anticipation around its potential among mobile app developers, which makes the technology quite popular across the globe.

The big brands including Fortune 500 companies have already leveraged the power of this incredible tool and created compelling apps.

We have put together a list of 20 famous apps built with React Native here.

Airbnb Pinterest Grasshopper SoundCloud
Instagram Myntra Townske Wix
Salesforce Skype Tesla Discord
Ubereats Bloomberg Walmart Shine
Delivery.com Facebook Ads Manager Facebook Analytics KFC

 

1. Airbnb

airbnb - react native apps

AirBnB is another remarkable examples of React Native success for mobile app development. the company uses RN to build its service booking app that demanded real-time performance. React Native worked miraculously and brought delight for software engineers at AirBnB.

The company has an extensive development team that involves as many as 60 individuals who are all dedicated to working on this JavaScript technology.

The technology helped them to build reusable code across iOS and Android platforms and refactor them, saving a lot on their development cycle.

App Features

  • Local experiences led by native experts
  • Holiday home rentals across 191+ countries
  • Ability to search by price, neighborhood and amenities
  • Add experiences and events to your itinerary

Ratings: 4.7

Installs: 50,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

2. Pinterest

pinterest - react native apps

Pinterest runs on Pins, so that when you have interesting ideas for projects or have other fascinating stories, you can simply pin them on your personal boards. It is used as a photo sharing and visual bookmarking social media app where you can save posts and even upload your ideas.

You can promote a blog story under a post, share DIY tasks such as home improvement inspirations and cooking recipe or define travel plans and do much more using pins boards on Pinterest.

App Features

  • Find pins, people, brands and whatever you would love to see in feed
  • Discover more than 100 billion possibilities in life
  • Let’s invite and collaborate with friends

Rating s: 4.6

Installs : 100,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

3. Grasshopper

grasshopper - react native apps

This app is the best way to start your coding experience with fun games and puzzles that teach you to develop or code JavaScript. You can go through different programming levels and expertise with fundamental skills as a coder or developer.

App Features

  • Develop your problem-solving skills
  • Use industry-standard JavaScript
  • Real-time feedbacks
  • Collect achievements as you learn

Ratings: 4.6

Installs: 1,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

Read Also: Comparison Between Flutter & React Native

4. SoundCloud

soundcloud - react native apps

SoundCloud is a brilliant app for artistic creators where they can create and manage their accounts and keep their community alive. React came handy when the company struggled with the lack of enough developers to design the second set of react native apps.

Due to insufficient number of iOS developers, they faced the possibility of a large gap between iOS and Android release. The SoundCloud research team tested React Native prototypes for user experience and found a few challenges.

Even then, they found themselves positive about the technology since working with React Native application was easier than a pure native approach. To top it all, SoundCloud team was able to successfully build the complete app without much efforts from specialized developers.

App Features

  • Find and connect with your community
  • Connect directly with artists and fellow listeners
  • Create playlists for any occasion
  • Access the most diverse catalog of content

Ratings: 4.5

Installs: 100,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

5. Instagram

instagram - react native apps

After Facebook, if there is any other social networking app that made sensation, it is Instagram. Instagram was thought to have a unique leverage due to its ability to allow users to share photos and videos.  Users relished the idea of capturing and sharing on the app the best and most important moments of their life.

Instagram lets you take a snap with your phone’s camera and turn it into a work of art using its various filters that you can apply. You can even post them on other popular media like Facebook and Twitter and use it as your investable marketing platform.

App Features

  • Let’s you post photos and videos
  • Browse feeds posted by other users
  • Go live in public or with your followers’ group
  • Let’s you add Hashtags, Filters, etc.

Ratings : 4.5

Installs: 1,000,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

6. Myntra

myntra - react native apps

Myntra is one of the shopping apps that one must have to shop while on the go is built on react native. With 5 lakh of products and 2500 brands of clothing, footwear, accessories, etc. categories, customers can get 100 percent original products.

App Features

  • 30-day hassle free product returns
  • EMI option included in the payment gateway option
  • Get the best prices of products with Myntra coupon codes

Rating: 4.4

Installs: 50,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

7. Townske

townske - react native apps

This social media publishing platform allows people to share and discover any city on earth. In other words, Townske is a community of thousands of local people blogging about the places they love.

You can look quickly through city guides and ‘like’ anything that you may like to visit later.

App Features

  • No need to create account
  • Allows you to create a list of the places that you may like to visit and share it with your friends
  • Helps you to discover nearby places

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 5,000+

Downloads: Android

Read Also: React Native App Development Company in UK

8. Wix

wix - react native apps

Wix is a software company that provides web hosting and web designing. Users can design using HTML and CSS using drag and drop functionality.

App Features

  • Developers can create their own application
  • Create website without knowing codes
  • Share your latest content
  • Manage and edit past, present and future events

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 5,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

9. Salesforce

salesforce - react native apps

This app allows you to run your business faster and easier.  The Salesforce mobile app unlocks a whole new level of productivity, personalization, and speed.

App Features

  • Includes all your favorite Lightning Apps
  • Navigation bar makes easier to find your most used apps
  • Dynamic and rich mobile record pages

Ratings: 4.4

Installs: 1,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

10. Skype

skype - react native apps

This telecommunications application is mainly used for video chats and voice calls over the internet, using devices like phones, PCs, and smartwatches.

It offers instant messaging services and allows users to transmit and receive multimedia messages. Currently, there are approximately 4.9 million active users.

App Features

  • Let users to make free or low-cost calls locally or internationally
  • Offers a large selection of emoticons and emojis to express yourself
  • Anyone who has Skype and a webcam or compatible smartphone can make free video calls
  • Anyone who has Skype on a mobile device or computer can make free group video calls with friends and family

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 1,000,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

react native app developer

11. Tesla

tesla - react native apps

The world’s most talked about creators of electric cars, Tesla has also signed up for React Native club. By leveraging Facebook’s powerful framework, Tesla developed the application for its electric car and Powerwall battery owners.

At the core of this app lies the function of diagnosing and locating vehicles. It also allows users to control certain parameters to an extent using smartphone. Though much of the effect of React Native is still undeclared, the customer feedback for the app is quite positive.

App Features

  • Check charging progress in real time
  • Lock or unlock from far
  • Lock or unlock from afar
  • Update your vehicle software from wherever you are

Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 500,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

12. Discord

discord - react native apps

Discord sets another bright example of cross-platform app development by React Native. The app is intended for voice and chat app for gamers. So Discord enables users to chat among team members, check online availability and engage in conversations.

The great thing about Discord is that its iOS and Android apps have 98% of shared code. This indicates how react native helps build mobile apps even in tight deadlines.

App Features

  • Reliable, high quality communication wherever you go
  • Have fun with text, voice and voice
  • Assign specific roles to members

 Ratings: 4.3

Installs: 100,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

Read Also : React Native Tutorials For Beginners

13. Ubereats

uber eats - react native apps

Find your local flavors anytime you want with Uber Eats. Customers can either search for all near or around restaurants, specific restaurant, dish, or cuisine or order it. This app is currently available in all metro cities across countries.

App Features

  • Pay easily with your existing Uber account
  • Track your order in real time
  • Nearest or farthest, order from anywhere

Ratings: 4.3

Installs:100,000,000+

 Downloads: Android, iOS

14. Bloomberg

bloomberg

Bloomberg has achieved a great milestone in global business and finance news space. Bloomberg went through the ordeal of individually developing both iOS and Android apps updated to the latest version before opting for Native for their mobile app development.

The prototype built with React native was thoroughly tested before they adopted RN for simultaneously updating the app for cross-platform performance.

App Features

  • Trending and featured news
  • Customized and personalized portfolio for your region
  • Easily track your portfolio

Ratings: 4.2

Installs: 10,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

15. Walmart

walmart

While trading on a future path to becoming the global leader in online retail space, Walmart wanted to make a bold move that puts them on top of the competition. They turned to technology as it always does to redefine their customer experience and take it to the next level with innovative technologies.

After adding Node.js to their tech stack, Walmart decided to write the entire app in React Native. By doing so, it improved its performance on iOS and Android and finished the project in short time span. The greatest advantage for Walmart with RN is that the app had 95% of shared codebase across platforms.

App Features

  • Easily re-order favorite items purchased online
  • Order, transfer, and track prescriptions and refills.
  • Find, create, and manage a baby registry.
  • Free delivery on eligible order.

Ratings: 4.2

Installs: 50,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

16. Shine

shine

Shine is quite a mature, content-rich and glorious mindfulness app packed with awesome motivational mottos and articles for users. It has relaxing meditation activities and inspiring recordings and guide by experts that help you deal with everyday stress of life. You can ‘check in’ for the day and get started.

The creators aimed to hit U.S. market with iOS app first since it provides maximum market share, and were planning to build Android app quickly after gaining enough traction on iOS.

React Native blessed their strategy and helped them launch Android app successfully in the App Store. In 2018, Shine was chosen as one of the best react native apps by Apple.

App Features

  • Upload your resume & create your profile for job
  • View jobs matching your profile
  • See the list of recruiters who viewed the profile

Ratings: 4.1

Installs: 5,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

17. Delivery.com

delivery.com

An app that offers users the option to browse from 1000+ restaurants & food stores to get your favorite mean anytime. As the ordering is free you get to save time to tackle and does your work list at home or on the go.

App Features

  • Get access to all favorite local restaurants
  • Even beer, wine or spirits are delivered at your door via this app
  • Enables grocery and home essentials shopping
  • Other than food orders, they provide options like wash & fold, dry cleaning

Ratings: 4.0

Installs: 100,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

18. Facebook Ads Manager

Facebook ad manager

Facebook has leveraged React Native framework to build its first ever cross platform app Facebook Ads manager. Based on JavaScript, React Native framework efficiently handles the different formats in ads, dates and currencies along with time zones.

App Features

  • Clutter-free interface
  • Easy navigation and intuitive UX
  • flawless, smooth and seamless transitions and animations

Ratings: 3.9

Installs: 5,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

19. Facebook Analytics

facebook analytics

You can track your growth, monetization and engagement through this app. It is a robust tool that let marketers find the users interactions and goals.

App Features

  • Create funnels, cohorts, overlap charts, and other data visualizations.
  • Add charts to custom dashboards to track related metrics in one convenient place.
  • Get alerted when there are significant changes to your metrics.

Ratings: 3.5

Installs: 500,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

20. KFC

KFC

Your fastest way to order KFC chicken online is possible with this official mobile app. Skip the queue with this app and customize your favorite KFC meals with very few steps.

App Features

  • Save your favorite orders
  • Exclusive deals & offers
  • Find nearest KFC outlets available
  • Pre-order and pre-pay options are available

Ratings: 3.2

Installs: 5,000,000+

Downloads: Android, iOS

Read Also : Difference Between React JS & React Native

Conclusion

With React Native gaining massive traction already in the most dynamic space of mobile app development, there is no wonder we will see more custom applications written using this framework.

app cost calculator

These big names are enough to explain what the technology is worth and what it can do for your future projects. Its wide community of active contributors presents as another strong reason to choose it.

But to make the most of its potential and trusted performance, you will need to collaborate with a technology partner versed in developing React Native apps.

How to Monetize Your Free Apps?

Having a vision of a mobile app and then turning it into a mobile app is still a business half finished. You might have turned the idea into a mobile app, but you haven’t yet thought about adding monetization  tools to your free app.

Let’s face it and be realistic, you haven’t really invested loads of money just to impress users with unique features. You also need to make profit by figuring out what ways can help you generate constant revenue.

Monetization thus is an essential part of conception, planning and development. Your newly launched app can also support monetization if you wish and plan to do so.

Since the post-launch monetization process might get a little complicated, you need skilled players to suggest what sorts of monetization work and how to implement them.

The following guide presents top methods to help you monetize your free app the right way.

Third-Party Advertising

In the service-oriented mobile apps, it is difficult to notice users who will fall for in-app purchases or subscription services added by developers. Most users expect free service – which is why there is a need to inject ad mechanism.

Users will be persuaded that they will enjoy high-quality content in exchange of seeing relevant ads on the screen now and then. But be careful about the how frequently ads are displayed and what types.

The best approach would be adding diversified ad content units of different sizes. This is viable for industries like ecommerce, travel, photo editing, gaming and entertainment.

You can easily couple these ads with supporting analytics to gain access to customer data such as behavior, location and preferences. This is a magnetic idea for users who seek free apps. Your app makes money by flashing relevant user-friendly ad products.

E-mails and Lead Generation

This might strike as simplistic, but having a newsletter in your app to send customers back to your website is a surefire way to monetize your efforts.

This may not be as easy as it sounds, and there are certain challenges to measure and track the transition. But in the end it works efficaciously.

Apps of this kind are meant to act as an essential part of the overall brand marketing, lead generation and customer acquisition strategy and focus on collecting as many emails and footprints as you can from customer interactions.

They are standalone solution but still seem to add value to the conversion funnel.

Engaging Content Dynamics

Having great content is something many app developers forget to consider. It is admissible that developing a mobile demands a lot of efforts and dedication, but you should be as much worried about whether or not it will create momentum for your business.

You are not done yet just after releasing the app. A good app populated with engaging content and features becomes great. Tale Calm for instance.

The meditation app is booming in the mind health domain, inspiring lots of people to subscribe to its meditation services and expert content. This app is the best example of how systematically you can encourage the users to opt for your premium services at a small fee.

Profitable Partnerships

A bunch of successful CEOs and market analysts also emphasize the idea of partnering with companies whose products or customers match with yours. The partnership works by integrating their offerings into your app as a third-party service in exchange for a fixed referral fee.

The company you have partnered with can eventually benefit your customers who will enjoy a smooth, integrated experience without switching between two apps. By successfully building a profitable partnership, this can turn out to be a massive revenue generator.

Freemium Levels

While content could take a little longer to interest the audience, what would save time is having different levels and versions of your app. Many entrepreneurs and app developers prefer to launch both free version and paid/premium version.

Either free versions will have customers exploring the app content with ads or it will give them a brief taste of what it is going to be. You can think of it as giving a trial period until users are all thorough with your app’s capabilities and potential.

By doing this, your customers will initially test-drive and integrate apps in their lives, eventually realizing they can’t resist using it. Thus, you can encourage them to upgrade to premium version to add more value.

Paid Downloads

Most iOS apps run on this monetization mechanism. Each time users download an app, they will pay an upfront fee as a monthly/yearly subscription or one-time charge.

Here, what you charge becomes the key to how much you can monetize and gain revenue. However, paid downloads should better be regulated by a poised, thoughtfully selected price structure.

Attach a price tag based on what your app promises to deliver and you are all set to earn from your app. Here the biggest pro is that there is no wait time, if your app is good you start generating profits the moment they download the app.

Expect more loyalty since they will interact with an app with clutter-free, ad-free UI.

Multiple Pricing and Subscription Options

Even your monetization methods don’t need to be workaday and boring. Treat your customers with multiple subscription and in-app purchases options, each including different benefits altogether.

Include at least one of many that is highly viable and more appealing to users. The combo subscription offer here seems to work, the one that seemingly adds value to customers.

You may divide them based on web and mobile experience with mobile app version bringing obviously more merits in terms of discount and savings. You can customize your own pricing strategy for this monetization to work.

Blend of Multiple Approaches

In-app purchases and advertising may appear to be the best options of monetizing your free app. However, a holistic approach would be more effective and attractive for today’s evolved app users.

If you want to appeal to the enormous audience out there, make sure you build several solutions that entice diverse set of users to make purchase.

Read also : Most Downloaded Apps in 2018

Some appreciate subscriptions packages while others are smitten by fancy in-app purchases. Therefore, instead of focusing on merely in-app purchases options or advertising won’t do much good.

Create a perfect blend of multiple monetization approaches to match the taste of various users including a few ad units, purchasable merchandizes or upgrades, priced features and more. This will set in place something-for-everyone attitude.

Data-Driven user Engagement

Mobile app owners and marketers are often so occupied with user acquisition they neglect how important it is to retain and reengage existing user base.

The best way to keep up with monetization drive which comes from that small percentage of loyal users. For instance, only a small percentage of total mobile gamers are generous, enthusiastic spenders who love to buy expensive features for more thrilling experience.

These users give you a major portion of total app’s revenue. Make sure you monitor the minute behavior of the loyal users and use the data to engage and retain them better. Leverage right messages for such data-driven monetization.

License Your App Code

Have you thought about patenting the app code after observing some success after the launch? It is great to think about licensing your code after building an awesome free model of your app and seeing satisfying traction.

Create a licensed code ownership system for other developers who will pay some fixed charge if they want to imitate the app design.

Read also : How To Create an App and Make Money

This will not disrupt the experience of your existing users because they won’t see any obtrusive ads or clutter features. You can think of Uber for this example.

Make your app powerful and usable enough to attract massive number of users and entice other developers who wish to save heap of time and efforts in writing code.

Conclusion

Building an app seems like a relatively easier job compared to what comes after that. The number of mobile apps in online stores is high and competition is intense.

You must stand out if you want to earn from your newly launched app. Your potential users naturally gravitate to free app services.

However, with mobile app market opening countless opportunities, you will find many diverse ways to engage users and monetize your app content. Depicted above are a few effective ways to introduce monetization in your free apps.