React vs. React Native: A Practical Look for Developers

At RailsFactory, we’ve spent years building and scaling products across both web and mobile platforms. This journey has taught us a lot and it’s still teaching us new lessons every day.

In this piece, we’re sharing where React and React Native feel similar, and where the real challenges begin when building across both.

Although React and React native share the same DNA (components, hooks, and props), the moment you move beyond the surface, their differences start to shape how features are actually built.

From UI components to deployment pipelines, we’ve seen firsthand how developing the same product for both platforms requires a different mindset.

Here’s a breakdown of the key differences we consistently encounter when delivering real-world applications using React and React Native.

1. UI: Same Logic, New Building Blocks

JSX and React hooks make things feel familiar. But once you try to build the UI, things start to differ quickly.

• Web: You’re using good old , , and . Tailwind or Bootstrap takes care of styling.
• Mobile: Get ready to swap your HTML tags for <View>, <Text>, and <TouchableOpacity>. Styling is all inline, and Flexbox is your only layout tool.

Takeaway: Most logic can be shared, but the UI layer is a whole different beast.

2. Navigation: Routing vs. Stacking

• Web: React Router handles URLs and page transitions.
• Mobile: React Navigation uses stack/tab navigators, and you have to manage gestures, animations, and hardware back buttons manually.

Takeaway: Mobile navigation is more involved and requires more upfront thinking.

3. APIs: Same Data, Different UX

The way you connect to the backend might be the same, but how you handle and display that data is platform-specific.

• Mobile: You'll need visual placeholders while data loads, implement lazy loading to reduce initial load time, and break content into smaller chunks using pagination.
• Web: You can load and display larger datasets all at once, without worrying as much about memory or load performance.

Takeaway:API logic can be reused, but the presentation must be optimized for the platform’s constraints.

4. Inputs & Filters: Same Feature, Different Rules

Handling search, filters, and user input looks very different across platforms.

• Web: You’ve got room to work with dropdowns, multi-select filters, hover tooltips, and inline search fields all feel natural and intuitive.

• Mobile: Space is limited, and interactions are touch-based. Inputs need to be large and easy to tap. Filters often live in bottom sheets or modals, and even basic actions may need extra design consideration.

Takeaway: The same functionality can’t just be resized for mobile. It often needs a full UX rethink to work well on smaller screens.

5. Deployment: Web is Instant, Mobile Takes Time

Getting your changes live is a completely different game across platforms.

• Web: Push your changes to a platform like Vercel or Netlify and your app is live within minutes. Rollbacks are quick. Hotfixes are almost immediate.
• Mobile: You need to build separately for iOS and Android. Then deal with app store submissions, approvals, and potential rejections. Debugging often involves real devices or emulators and there’s no “instant fix” once your app is out.

Takeaway: Web gives you speed. Mobile demands patience and planning.

6. Dev Experience: React Feels Lighter

Working with React and React Native feels familiar, but not equal.

• React (Web): Setup is straightforward. You get fast refresh, stable tooling, and excellent browser devtools. Bugs are easier to trace, and feedback loops are fast.

• React Native: Build times are longer. You’ll run into native dependencies, platform-specific issues, and occasional hiccups when debugging across iOS and Android. Emulators and real devices add overhead.

Takeaway: Both are productive once you're rolling, but React for web is faster, smoother, and more flexible during development.

Final Thoughts: React Vs React Native

If you’re building the same product across web and mobile with React and React Native, don’t aim for a shared codebase. Focus on sharing the core logic instead.

Reuse the logics where you can. But accept that styling, navigation, and user experience often need to diverge. The key is knowing what to share and what to separate so the experience feels seamless for users.

At RailsFactory, we’ve helped teams strike this balance across multiple projects. Trust me, with some planning and the right approach, it will become a lot easier than you think.