For web developers, which are familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, developing a native mobile app could be an unusual space. Every developer knows that mobile apps in Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Phone are developed using completely different programming languages; an Android app is built by using Java, an iOS app is built by using Objective-C, while a Windows Phone app is built by using .NET. Recently a new framework has appeared in the market. And, that’s Ionic. It’s an HTML5 mobile UI/UX framework, which is basically targeted at building hybrid mobile apps. React Native is the gen-next of React – a JavaScript code library developed by Facebook and Instagram; released on Github in 2013. It lets you build mobile apps by only using JavaScript. Both Ionic and React Native have their own way of functioning. Let’s take a look at a few points of their differences:
- Ionic is a regular web app, which is written by using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It runs in a webview and is embedded in a native app instead of in a stand-alone mobile browser
- React Native comes with an entirely different architecture: it uses the React component model to provide native views, instead of writing the UI using web technologies.
- Ionic is a Cordova based app that binds current web app into a mobile app. It leverages the existing android web view to render the app so that the file size remains quite small
- React native creates a connection between JavaScript and native component
- Ionic framework is costlier than react native apps
- The Ionic app is comparatively slower at loading videos because it needs to be downloaded from other server, while react native caches the tiles. And, that’s why it loads faster
- React native can be integrated with every client-based JavaScript modules from npm (node package manager) whereas Ionic just only uses the Cordova-based code
- Through Ionic framework, code can be written just once while through React native, code can be written multiple times and can be run anywhere. And, that’s why it’s popularly hyped as a “learn once, write anywhere” framework.
- Ionic Framework app requires device features and APIs through Apache Cordova plugins while through react native any device component or API can be accessed.
Hence based on the above points, difference in their functionalities can be clearly understood. So if you are looking to create high performance iOS and Android apps that make you feel at home on their respective platforms then React Native is good. And, if you are targeted at building hybrid mobile apps, then go for Ionic.
We at Parangat technologies posses experience and expertise in both the frameworks – be it React Native or Ionic. Being a leading mobile app development company, we have worked on every trending and latest technologies and frameworks. We posses expertise and experience in designing and delivering iconic mobile apps on Ionic framework, thus taking the max out of AngularJS on open source platform. We are experienced and expert in delivering front-end mobile app development services on Ionic framework for iOS, Android and Windows mobile OS. Our team of highly proficient Ionic developers leverages the mobile SDK, plugins, themes, side menu, UI library, widgets, touch and other high-end elements of the framework to develop rich and robust cross-platform apps.
Sahil Gupta
With roll up the sleeves, dive in and get the job done approach, it was year in the year 2010 when Sahil started Parangat Technologies. Emphasizing on a healthy work culture and technology driven company, he has successfully created a workplace where people love to work and live. He is a software engineer and a passionate blockchain enthusiast.