React Native vs Xamarin: Which is Better Suited for Cross-Platform App Development?

by Tech Addict Writer, Blogger

It is not news that mobile apps are one of the most potent tools at the disposal of businesses all over the world, thanks to the prevalence of these nifty devices. Then they must decide between native and cross-platform development and often they choose the latter. This is because it boosts reach without the cost and countless other benefits. This leads companies to focus on frameworks they can use for such development projects; at the moment, the two most sought-after options are React Native and Xamarin.

Cross-platform mobile app development is the process of curating mobile apps that operate across diverse operating systems with iOS & Android with a single technology stack. Both Xamarin and React Native allow the development teams to create standalone non-native apps. Here is a list of comparison factors for your reference.

• Performance

• Architecture

• Support

• Technology

So, if you are looking to develop a cross-platform app and wondering which framework to use for it, here is a handy guide.

1. Performance: The performance of a React Native app depends on the following factors: Native thread, JavaScript thread, and a link to connect the two. Now, since the number of messages the JavaScript thread can process at a time is limited, the scope of the app’s performance can prove to be rather limited.

With Xamarin, you gain access to Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS, which, in turn, not only lend the apps a very native look and feel but also tailor the user experience in accordance to the audience’s requirements by adapting the shared code database.

2. Architecture: React Native’s architecture comprises four principal parts, namely, React, JavaScript, Bridge, and the Native side. These components imply that programmers who are used to one-way data flow and familiar with JavaScript updates find it a seamless option to use.

Things are slightly different with Xamarin, which offers support for multiple distinctive architectures: Model-View-Controller (MVC), Model-View-View-Model (MVVM), Singleton, Business facade, etc. As you can imagine, the freedom of choice enables the development of top-notch apps. Nonetheless, we must mention that out of all the available options of architecture, Xamarin apps are typically based on either MVC or MVVM.

3. Support: A Facebook offering, the React Native framework enjoys a substantially large community even though it is a comparatively new offering. The story in this context is a little different when it comes to Xamarin. A veteran in the market, Xamarin has managed to collect a decidedly larger community of expert programmers. In addition to that, the Microsoft framework also gets supplementary support in the form of the official Xamarin blog, Xamarin Q&A, etc. and other resources on Reddit and Stack Overflow.

4. Technology: React Native is a JavaScript-based framework and JavaScript happens to be one of the most popular programming languages across the world for web development. In addition to the obvious benefits of using JavaScript, React Native also allows companies the ability to pick developers from an extensive talent pool.

On the other hand, Xamarin makes use of C# and the .NET framework. As a result, Xamarin has support from technology behemoth Microsoft and can also be used within the company’s Visual Studio ecosystem. This, in turn, empowers programmers with tools, including native platform integration, robust debugging tools, etc.

As you can see ladies and gentlemen, each one of the two options seems to have its own merits. However, closer examination reveals that the Xamarin framework for app development makes for a better choice. So, now that you know which framework is better suited for your requirements, you can get started looking for an expert service provider to help build a Xamarin app for your business.