Ionic React Vs React Native- Which One To Choose?

 

As you all know, Ionic and React Native are the most popular frameworks for mobile apps development. Ionic react is an open-source UI and Native API project that includes cross-platforms for using native functionality that eases the app development for iOS, Android and web as progressive web apps. React native was released in 2015 and builds apps using Javascript only. Both frameworks are used to build cross-platform apps but they differ from each other in numerous ways. Here we will see a major difference between Ionic React vs React Native for mobile app development. Before we start the comparison, let’s see the details of each framework.

What Is Ionic React?

Ionic react is an open source Ui and Native API project that consists of cross-platform UI components and native functionality for building iOS, Android, Electron and Progressive web apps using React and standard web technology. It is an official React version of Ionic framework and used by a wide community of developers and companies like Amtrak, AAA, Burger King, Home Depot and so on. 

Ionic react combines the central Ionic experience with APIs that are tailored to React Developers. It allows you to import core ionic components directly into your React project. Ionic React acts as a thin wrapper around the components exporting them as Native React components. 

The earlier Ionic supports Cordova, the native React version of Ionic Framework that runs on all new cross-platform engines called Capacitor. This capacitor engine offers consistent, web focused set of APIs that helps apps to focus on web-standards.

Features of Ionic React-

1. Multiple Platforms Support-

Ionic react uses a project created at ionic named Capacitor that allows you to call native code directly from JavaScript, and uncover new native functionality or displaying Native UI is simple. This native runtime can be deployed to native iOS, Android, Electron and the web as progressive web app. 

2. Compatibility With React DOM-

Ionic react uses React DOM which is a popular rendering libraries for React. It has more usage and hence has better compatibility with React ecosystem that allows it to work with the React library.

3. Build Fast & Beautiful Mobile Applications-

Ionic react is an open-source software development kit that allows you to build millions of customized apps to fit with any brand.

4. Native Functionality-

Ionic provides native functionality that includes secure authentication and identity management by using advanced encryption APIs available on iOS and Android, high performance offline encrypted data storage and a library of supported and maintained native functionality.

What Is React Native?

Released in 2015 by Facebook, react native is a popular cross platform solution to build world-class app experiences on native platforms. React native merges the best parts of native development with JavaScript libraries to build user interfaces. It allows you to create truly native apps with great users’ experience. It allows developers to develop apps rapidly by reloading apps rather than recompiling. Development with React native is simple, quick and efficient because it is UI focussed. It uses JSX(JavaScript extension) that is like HTML. It does not support CSS, you can only find similar styling that is close to CSS written within components and not in a separate single file. 

Know the most common mistakes to avoid while developing react native app at- 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a React Native App.

Features of React Native-

1. Programming Language-

React native is written in JavaScript language that uses the popular framework React. The UI parts are written in JSX, rather than HTML. JSX is like any other template language but it has the features and powers of JavaScript.

2. Development Time-

It is less tedious and hence numerous organizations and even developers today prefer using React Native alongside NodeJS for making unique mobile applications.

3. Better Performance-

Applications that use React Native are GPU oriented which smoothens the app performance. It requires very less resources to build a mobile app with React Native. Developers who are proficient to write React code will be able to target the web, iOS and Android.

Ionic React vs React Native-

1. Web vs Native-

Ionic react is web-first. This means that it implements native iOS and Android UI patterns by using cross-platform, standards-based web technology rather than accessing platform UI controls directly. Whereas, react native provides abstraction through React which controls platform UI controls. React Native uses mostly standard iOS and Android controls, in some of the cases performance may be higher. Interfacing with existing native app’s UI controls is easier. But native controls are harder to customize as compared to others hence developers may find react native apps more complex to design custom UI experiences.

Ionic react is the most similar to traditional React web app development as Ionic react apps are React web apps. It offer a web developer a fast and familiar development experience directly in Chrome or their browser of choice. Ionic react can also easily be added to any existing  web based react app.

React native does not use traditional web development tools directly but has some custom support for integrating with chrome debugger. As Ionic React is based on web technology and the entire web platform, it doesn’t need to bet on a new platform. Chances are your team is already put resources into the web platform. React Native, is a self-contained platform and ecosystem and must be self-sufficient to succeed in long term.

2. Cross-platform Support-

React Native is a UI library having support for iOS and Android app store only. Whereas Ionic React supports iOS, Android, Electron, and the web using Progressive Web App technology.

React native has a “learn once, write anywhere” approach and Ionic has a “write once, run anywhere” approach. With React native, developers learn set of concepts and then build UI screens for iOS and Android. Ionic React apps run the same UI on all platforms using responsive web design, CSS and platform detection to allow developers to customize an app for specific platforms if they choose.

Also, Ionic React use Adaptive Styling to map core UI concepts like navigation, tabs, toolbars and buttons to platform expectations like material design. React Native requires developers to build screens especially for each platform

3. Native Access And Functionality-

Know more at- https://solaceinfotech.com/blog/ionic-react-vs-react-native-which-one-to-choose/

Why Ionic framework is best for mobile app development?

The IONIC framework is an extensive open source SDK, which is used to develop hybrid portable mobile applications compatible with CSS, JavaScript and HTML5. It is unified around the feel, look and UI cooperation of an application. This is the reason behind why IONIC framework is the one-stop solution for each individual who needs to rapidly develop their next application. It is preferable to all who need to give their application a good look and also orientation. Let’s go through some of the reasons why you should choose IONIC framework for your mobile app.

Also know – 9 Effective Tips To Reduce Mobile App Development Cost.

Reasons to choose Ionic framework to build mobile app-

1. It is free-

This is the best advantage of using Ionic Framework. Developing an application, starting with research and completion in a marketing campaign, it is very expensive. If you are confused about whether to use it or not, you could try it as it doesn’t cost you anything. 

2. Easy to move across platforms-

When building an application, it is normal that you are searching for success and think that possibly you’ll spread across platforms, either if you start with Android, iOS, Windows Phone or other operating systems. The Ionic framework gives you the chance of doing that more effectively, because the language makes your application easily converted from one operating system to another. If you choose a native language, instead of hybrid, you would need to invest some time and money into learning the particular programming language for every platform.

Also know- Android or iOS App Development: Which is Better For Your Business?

3. Open source framework-

The facts demonstrate that generally open source frameworks are unstable, they have been noticed in the past to be so – yet we assure you that the Ionic Framework itself in being a very stable platform.

4. Great User Interface–

The Ionic framework accompanies a great UI. The elements have predefined styling. This gives all the elements look and feel of the native elements. The Android applications get the Machine design touch and iOS will have the modern look. It makes designing prototype faster and simple no need to include own touches.

4. The base framework of Ionic is Angular-

Angular is a popular framework in developing mobile applications and web applications. Hence, regardless of whether you haven’t met with this programming language previously, after working with it, you will also have the option to develop web applications. It also has a lot of advantages like extending the syntax of HTML to include components of your application, and also data binding.

5. Ionic makes use of Cordova Plugins-

If you don’t know the term of plugin, it is a piece of code connected to your application that is coded in JavaScript, which allows you to do various things because it is close to the native language of the platform you’re working on. Cordova Plugins help you to get access to various features of the operating system, as Geo location, Camera, Battery and so on. Relying upon what your application does, you will use at least one of these so that you have an optimal working application.

6. Community support-

The great thing about the Ionic Framework is that it has a huge, active community, that is ready to help on various forums or particular YouTube channels. If you look through social media, you can discover even the founders of Ionic Framework, because they are ready to help their users to develop the perfect application.

8. Access To Modern Web Technologies-

The ionic framework provides the benefit of both Cordova and Angular in one place. Adding to it, you can also use TypeScript that allows you to utilize features of ES6 JavaScript. They continue updating and adding new technologies.

9. Powerful CLI-

Ionic has a simple CLI (command line interface). It makes it simple to create a new project, compile your project to native projects or anything you need. As a developer, you will like this tool since it makes your life much easier.

Conclusion-

You have many reasons to use this framework. May be the most beneficial  being that it is a free working space. Go ahead and try working on this framework. If you are facing any difficulty to build mobile app with ionic framework, consult with solace experts. Team is well experienced to give you the best solution as per your requirements with latest trends. Develop your mobile app with native for more effectivity. We will be happy to help you.