Quick Guide to Comparing Ionic & React Native

When it comes to choosing a cross-platform development approach, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Frequently, we’re asked by teams who are comparing frameworks to explain how Ionic stacks up against React Native, Xamarin, and others in our space.

Often, the expectation is that all of these frameworks work similarly and the decision to choose one is based largely on your current tech stack. For example, choose Xamarin if you like C#/.NET, React Native if you prefer React, or Ionic if you’re an Angular shop.

However, the decision isn’t nearly that simple. And the choice you make carries implications far beyond your current tech stack.

The truth is there are some pretty big philosophical differences that separate Ionic from these other cross-platform tools. We put together a brief guide to walk you through the key similarities and differences.

To keep it actionable, we limited our comparison to Ionic vs. React Native, two of the most frequently compared options. That said, nearly all the distinctions highlighted apply equally to Xamarin or NativeScript. As you’ll see, the real distinction comes down to two opposing worldviews: What we call, Hybrid-Native vs. Hybrid-Web. While we have great respect for these other frameworks, the fact is our approach is very unique. Hopefully, the following guide will help you make the right decision for your next project.

Check out our post, Ionic vs. React Native: A Comparison Guide, in the new articles section of the Resource Center. And, be sure to look out for more practical guides and emerging coverage in this space.

Happy reading! 💙