React Native vs Two Native Apps: Where the 30% Saving Comes From

Andriy Suchinets — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:21:13 +0000

Most of the mobile apps we build at FixIT Software are in React Native, and clients usually ask the same thing first: how much cheaper is it than building iOS and Android separately?

On our projects, around 30%. More than 90% of the code is shared, so why not closer to half? Because some of the work still happens twice.

What you build once

UI, navigation, state, business logic, the API layer and most of the tests. Each feature in this layer is written once, reviewed once and tested once.

What you still do per platform

Native modules. Bluetooth, the camera and background tasks need platform code on each side. Our companion app for Misty the Cloud pairs with a nursery night light over Bluetooth, and every device feature had to be tested against the real hardware on iOS and on Android separately. Hardware is where the shared codebase helps least.

Device testing. Each platform runs on its own devices and OS versions, and each gets its own test pass.

Store release. Two reviews, two listings, two sets of privacy declarations, and sometimes a rejection on one side only.

Upkeep. Apple and Google ship new OS versions every year, React Native moves with them, and the stores eventually stop accepting builds made with old SDKs. Plan for at least one update cycle a year, even with no new features.

What that means for the price

App type	What it usually is	Cost	Timeline
Simple	One core task, standard sign-in, Firebase	$5,000–$15,000	Up to 1 month
Standard	Two or three core tasks, custom backend, push, one integration	$15,000–$30,000	2–4 months
Complex	Bluetooth device, HIPAA health data, real-time, several roles	From $30,000	6–10 months

The framework isn't what moves an app between rows. Scope is, and so is your starting point: finished designs go straight into development, while an idea needs flows, screens and a prototype first.

What about Flutter?

For the same app, build cost is close: both give you one codebase for two platforms. We work in React Native, so weigh our view accordingly. Its practical edge is JavaScript and TypeScript, the same languages as React and Next.js, so code and people move between your app and your web product.

The full breakdown, including what sign-in, payments, chat or a Bluetooth device add to the bill, is here: How Much Does React Native App Development Cost in 2026?

Andriy is the founder of FixIT Software, a team that builds web, mobile and AI products.

DEV Community: Andriy Suchinets

React Native vs Two Native Apps: Where the 30% Saving Comes From

What you build once

What you still do per platform

What that means for the price

What about Flutter?