We have built 40+ iOS apps. Here is exactly what each approach costs, where each fails, and which one you should choose.
By David Friedman, Founder of AppBrewers
I have shipped 40+ iOS apps using both native Swift and React Native. Founders always ask: which is cheaper? The answer is not what they expect. React Native costs less upfront but more over time. Native Swift costs more upfront but less over time. Here is the real breakdown.
The Short Answer
| Factor | Native Swift | React Native | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 15,000-35,000 Euro | 8,000-18,000 Euro | React Native |
| Timeline | 8-16 weeks | 4-8 weeks | React Native |
| Performance | Native speed | Near-native | Native Swift |
| iOS-specific features | Full access | Limited | Native Swift |
| Maintenance cost | Lower | Higher | Native Swift |
| Long-term scalability | Better | Ceiling exists | Native Swift |
Choose React Native if: You need both iOS and Android, your budget is under 15,000 Euro, and your app is not performance-critical.
Choose Native Swift if: You need iOS-only, performance matters, or you use Apple-specific features.
Cost Breakdown by Stage
React Native (Cross-Platform)
| Stage | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 1,500-3,000 Euro | 1 week |
| Development | 5,000-12,000 Euro | 3-6 weeks |
| Testing | 1,000-2,000 Euro | 1 week |
| App Store submission | Included | 1 week |
| Total | 8,000-18,000 Euro | 4-8 weeks |
Native Swift
| Stage | Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 2,000-4,000 Euro | 1-2 weeks |
| Development | 10,000-25,000 Euro | 6-12 weeks |
| Testing | 2,000-4,000 Euro | 1-2 weeks |
| App Store submission | Included | 1 week |
| Total | 15,000-35,000 Euro | 8-16 weeks |
When React Native Wins
1. You Need iOS and Android
React Native shares 70-90% of code between platforms. Building two native apps costs 2x. React Native costs 1.3x.
2. Your Budget Is Under 15,000 Euro
A native Swift app rarely ships for under 15,000 Euro. React Native can ship a solid MVP for 8,000-12,000 Euro.
3. Your App Is Content-Driven
News apps, social feeds, dashboards. React Native handles these well. You will not notice the performance difference.
4. You Need to Iterate Fast
Hot reloading, Expo over-the-air updates, and shared code make React Native 2x faster to iterate.
When Native Swift Wins
1. Performance Is Critical
Games, video editors, AR apps, real-time audio. React Native adds a JavaScript bridge overhead that native Swift does not have.
2. You Use Apple-Specific Features
| Feature | Native Swift | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pay | Native | Third-party library |
| ARKit | Native | Limited |
| Core ML | Native | Limited |
| HealthKit | Native | Third-party |
| WatchOS | Native | Not supported |
3. You Plan to Scale
React Native has a ceiling. At scale, you will hit bridge bottlenecks and need to rewrite native modules. This costs more than starting with Swift.
4. You Want Long-Term Stability
React Native updates break things. Facebook (Meta) could change priorities. Swift is Apple-backed and will exist as long as iOS exists.
Hidden Costs
React Native
- Third-party dependencies: Libraries break with React Native updates. Budget 500-2,000 Euro per year for maintenance.
- Native modules: When React Native cannot do something, you pay a Swift developer to build a bridge.
- App Store rejection: Apple sometimes rejects apps for using private APIs through third-party libraries.
Native Swift
- No Android reuse: If you later need Android, you rebuild from scratch.
- Developer availability: Swift developers cost more per hour than React Native developers.
- Slower iteration: No hot reload. Compile times are longer.
Our Recommendation by Project
| Project | Budget | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVP, both platforms | 8,000-15,000 Euro | React Native | Speed and cost |
| Social/content app | 10,000-20,000 Euro | React Native | Content is not performance-critical |
| iOS-only MVP | 10,000-20,000 Euro | Native Swift | Future-proof |
| E-commerce | 15,000-30,000 Euro | React Native | Both platforms matter |
| AR/AI/Health app | 20,000+ Euro | Native Swift | Needs Apple frameworks |
| Long-term platform | 25,000+ Euro | Native Swift | Scalability |
What We Use at AppBrewers
| Client Need | Our Choice | Typical Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both platforms, MVP | React Native + Expo | 8,000-15,000 Euro | 4-6 weeks |
| Both platforms, scale | React Native + native modules | 15,000-25,000 Euro | 6-10 weeks |
| iOS only, any stage | Native Swift + SwiftUI | 15,000-35,000 Euro | 8-12 weeks |
Need Help Deciding?
We have built 40+ iOS apps on both stacks. Tell us your idea and we will recommend the right approach.
Originally published on the AppBrewers Blog.
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