Can React Native Framework Reduce Mobile Development Costs?

React Native is an open-source UI framework for cross-platform mobile app development. It is a framework by Meta, formerly known as Facebook. Some of the biggest companies, like Instagram, Uber, Bloomberg, Pinterest, and many others, use React Native technology.

Mobile application development is the need of the hour. Today, more than half of the online population uses Smartphones to access the internet or avail services. Therefore, companies need mobile applications that can assist them with serving digital customers. 

React Native applications turn out to be the perfect solution for this need. Since both Android and iOS have a massive user base, it is important to understand the mobile app development cost for both. React Native effectively brings down the cost for mobile app development.

Read More:- 7 Reasons to Consider React Native for Mobile App Development

What determines the cost of mobile app development?

Before we jump into how React Native mobile app development is affordable, we need to first understand the factors that play a crucial role in determining the cost.

• Type of mobile app
  • The type of mobile application heavily determines the cost of outsourcing mobile app development. Enterprises can opt for cross-platform or native applications. A React Native app development company can assist with building cross-platform applications.
    
• App features
  • Every mobile app has multiple features. The more complex the features, the more time it will take to build and the higher it will cost. Adding new features takes a lot of effort. If the code for a feature is complex, then it will cost more than others.
    
• UI/UX design
  • Another parameter that helps determine mobile app development charges is the UI/UX of the application. Android or iOS template design will take less time to build. Therefore, they will be cost-effective. Custom UI/UX layout will cost more than template design.
    
• Backend technologies
  • While React Native mostly deals with the front end of application development, a backend technology is crucial to make the features and functions work. Selecting a backend technology will also have an impact on the application cost.
    
• Maintenance & support
  • Enterprises often forget to account for maintenance and support costs during mobile application development. However, it is a crucial aspect of the process. If there’s continuous improvement and maintenance, it will add up to the cost.

So how much does developing an app cost? After careful consideration of the above factors and ensuring that all requirements are met, a software development company can provide an estimation of the cost of mobile app development.

React Native Mobile App Development: Is cost reduction possible? 

Often, startups and enterprises do not have the budget for a mobile application. But as we now know, mobile apps are more important than ever before. So how can they proceed forward?

React Native is a solution for that process. While the framework simplifies the development process, it also makes it affordable. 

A mobile app development company offers complete React Native services to ensure companies and startups get the best of mobile applications.

So how does a low-cost mobile app development company help enterprises reduce costs with React Native? Here’s how – 

1. Faster application development
   • React Native offers faster app development. How? Because it eliminates the need to write separate code for Android and iOS. Initially, developers had to create an application for Android and then write code for iOS for the same app.
   • With React Native, the mobile app development industry is swiftly changing. By creating a single codebase for both applications, companies can save time on building the application. This will, in turn, reduce the cost of application development. There’s no need to hire React Native developers for a long period of time.
     
2. Reusable code and components
   • One of the biggest advantages that make React Native a cost-effective mobile app development platform is reusable code. Developers can create a single codebase and components that will support both iOS and Android.
   • Enterprises can reuse components of the application on either of the mobile operating systems. Using React Native, developers can reuse almost 95% of the code for Android and iOS. Since the app will be built faster using the same components, the outsourcing partner can be let go off as soon as the work is complete. Therefore, it will lead to heavy cost savings.
     
3. Low app maintenance
   • First of all, since developers will be working with a single codebase, fixing bugs will take less time. React Native enables you to update your application without obstructing the user’s application usage, making application maintenance simpler and less tedious. The element is useful for the clients, too, as they need not download the refreshed forms of the application from the play store.
   • The entire process simplifies the process of maintaining the application. It doesn’t cost a ton of money to fix bugs and make changes in a single codebase. Therefore, enterprises can actually spend only a fraction of the money on the maintenance of React Native applications.
     
4. Seamless integrations
   • Often, companies spend a lot of money on integrating third-party APIs and apps with their mobile application. These integrations require interaction with native elements. React Native is self-sufficient at enabling applications to integrate better.
   • React Native interacts easily with native components like Camera, Bluetooth, GPS, and more. There’s no need to bring in third-party integration experts. React Native developers can seamlessly integrate third-party APIs and apps with the mobile application using the single codebase. Integrations also reduce the time taken to create the application, which ultimately reduces the cost of application development.
     
5. Real-time testing
   • While QA is an essential part of the development process, React Native simplifies it to a great extent. Developers can update the cost and test it in real-time without hindering the usage of the app. Quick updates make it easier for developers to add updates as they are automatically sent to both app stores.
   • When enterprises hire React Native app developers, they can stay assured that testing will be adequate. Real-time testing enables developers to check for bugs and issues while creating the code and fix them as soon as possible. Therefore, the enterprise does not have to spend a lot of money on fixing issues later on.

How Much Does Developing an App Cost with React Native?

We now know the different factors that determine the cost of mobile app development. Cross-platform mobile app frameworks like React Native reduce the cost of development. It also presents multiple opportunities to achieve faster development and gain a competitive advantage. 

By keeping the above factors in mind, the general cost of a React Native app will range anywhere between $50,000 to 250,000. However, the exact estimation and cost depend upon things like features, company experience, the number of developers on the project, and more.

While this is not an exact amount for mobile applications, it gives an idea about the general range for creating mobile applications. The amount covers development, project management, and maintenance of the solution after development.

Read More: How React Native Helped In Building a Restaurant App (Case Study)

Conclusion

React Native framework is one of the best technologies for creating cross-platform mobile applications. Today, there’s a high demand to hire a React Native developer at almost every company that requires a mobile application. By understanding the factors that determine the app development cost and using React Native, companies can save themselves a ton of money and effort during mobile application development.