Ionic vs React Native Framework: End-to-end Comparison With Popular Apps

Ionic vs React Native: Introduction

When companies engage developers, they use application frameworks to help them avoid typical difficulties when creating apps. Application frameworks aid in developing web-based applications and building graphical user interfaces (GUIs). These app development frameworks primarily create native, web, and hybrid apps. React Native, Flutter, Xamarin, Ionic, and Apache Cordova are well-known frameworks. When comparing cross-platform frameworks, the most heated argument is about Ionic vs React Native. This blog will compare the speed, user experience, and other factors of the Ionic framework vs React Native.

An indicator of popularity is the number of stars awarded to the project’s GitHub repository. React Native has 99.6k stars as of December 2021. Ionic currently has 45k stars.

Google Trends measures the popularity of a search phrase. Comparing Ionic and React Native, we can observe that React Native has higher monthly searches than Ionic. The last popularity metric is the frequency with which developers submit articles about the framework on Medium.

Hence, this blog will navigate the differences between React Native and Ionic to understand which is more popular, efficient, and scalable for businesses looking to venture into the world of apps.

Ionic vs React Native: Comparison Of Usability

	Ionic	React Native
Usage	Ionic developers can create Android, iOS, and web apps. Furthermore, Ionic provides native APIs and cross-platform UI components for creating excellent cross-platform mobile apps.	By providing platform-agnostic native UI components, React Native enables developers to develop cross-platform applications. And these native components may be readily translated into the finest native app mobile framework’s native UI building blocks.
Features	Allows developers to develop hybrid mobile apps. Built with Apache Cordova and AngularJS. Its CLI enables developers to design and test apps for any platform. It includes all the functionality in native app development SDKs, allowing developers to create apps for various OS using Cordova. Apps produced using Ionic may be deployed on the Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. Make applications with JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. The UI primarily focuses on a better user experience to design apps using Ionic.	Reusable across Android and iOS, hence cutting development time and expenses. Because it supports virtual DOM, it allows for real-time observation of changes. A substantial number of React Native developers exist. Other developers can easily read, analyze, interpret, and enhance code generated by one developer. Once developed, the code may be used to build an app using react-native for iOS and Android devices. Problems with React Native apps for iOS or Android may be resolved quickly. It improves with each version, making designing apps more pleasurable and practical. Preferred more by businesses
Examples of Top websites	Diesel McDonald’s Turkey Cryptochange InstantPot  Sworkit	Facebook Instagram Airbnb Bloomberg UberEats

Further Read: Ionic vs Flutter: Choosing The Best Platform For Hybrid App Development

Ionic vs React Native: Structure Of Stack Comparison

• Ionic is a hybrid app development framework based on Angular. Its views are created using HTML templates. It adheres to the Model-View-Controller design pattern since arguments and logic are neatly separated. SCCS is used to apply the style to the HTML components.
• React Native enables developers to build mobile apps using React JS and JavaScript code similar to HTML. Display logic is combined with business logic in React Native.

React Native vs Ionic: UI/UX Performance

• When comparing the UI/UX performance of Ionic Framework vs React Native, React Native comes out on top.
• Any framework that relies on WebView rather than native components, such as Ionic, may experience UX/UI performance difficulties. Native built-in components outperform any other sort of implementation. React Native uses native components, which makes it quicker than Ionic.
• FPS (Frames Per Second) is a performance metric used to compare performance. An Ionic app would require extensive optimization to get 60 FPS (a reasonable baseline), but React Native apps can occasionally achieve 60 FPS without optimization.

Ionic vs React Native: The Future

• React Native is undergoing significant architectural changes, and the React Native team invites feedback from the developer community. The React Native team also stated they are working with Microsoft to offer compatibility with the desktop app. This implies that the same codebase that powers your mobile application may be compiled into a desktop. It’s important news, especially for chat app developers, because most consumers expect chat applications to have desktop functionality.
• Ionic has proved agile and responsive to its user base while continuously enhancing the framework and releasing version upgrades. Implementing new features, such as Ionic Payments, shows that the Ionic team is trying to develop and bring new and enhanced capabilities.
• Both Ionic and React appear to have promising futures.

Let’s now dive deep into Ionic vs React Native: Benefits And Drawbacks in pour next section

Benefits & Drawbacks Of Using React Native For Your Mobile Business App

Benefits Of React Native

• The availability of a large team of eager JS and native developers ready to share their knowledge and competence with publicly available components is one of the significant benefits of a community-driven ecosystem.
• Maximum code reuse and cost savings – With React Native, you can concurrently release code to iOS and Android. As a result, development costs and time are reduced significantly.
• The ‘hot reload’ function lets you quickly view the effect of the most recent modification you made to the code.

Drawbacks Of React Native

• Lack of native libraries – If the app has complex functions, React Native can stymie development due to a lack of native libraries and dependency on other third-party libraries.
• React Native is a loosely held abstraction layer in which programmers can access HTML tags, stylesheets like CSS, and code from JavaScript.
• Needing longer to initialize – Because the JavaScript thread takes time to initialize, React Native may take longer.
• Many native workarounds are required – If a given capability is not provided in React Native, developers have two options: ask any native developer to design a new one or develop the native modules in Swift/Objective-C and Java.
• License and Patenting Issues – Because Facebook controls React Native, approval and patenting issues exist.

Benefits & Drawbacks Of Using Ionic For Your Mobile Business App

Benefits Of Ionic

• Web developers can create mobile apps since Ionic is built on standardized web technologies.
• It’s adaptable – Because it’s built on standardized web technologies, Ionic is exceptionally versatile.
• Several applications from a single codebase – Ionic can develop multiple apps from a single codebase.
• Ionic provides components and plugins, including front-end building blocks, UI components, standard app iconography, and more.
• Ionic seems like a native application due to its UI components library and its extensive selection of UI elements.

Drawbacks Of Ionic

• Performance on older devices may be an issue – It is slower on older devices than on newer devices.
• Precautions for security – Any mobile application development process will be riddled with security issues.

Ionic vs React Native: Summing Up With A Table Of Comparison

	Ionic	React Native
Programming Language	HTML/CSS/JavaScript	JavaScript
Launched On	2013	2015
Created By	Drifty Co.	Facebook
Open-source	Yes	Yes
Supported Platforms	iOS, Android, Electron, Web	iOS, Android, tvOS, macOS, Windows, and Web

When to choose what? Ionic vs React Native

In the sphere of mobile application development, the Ionic and React Native frameworks hold substantial gravity, each offering a unique ecosystem of attributes designed to augment specific development paradigms. The choice between Ionic and React Native is not mere semantics but has practical implications on the development lifecycle, scalability, and user experience. Here is a granular analysis that outlines the scenarios under which either framework would be most advantageous.

When to opt React Native?: Situational Advantages

Proficiency in React Native Ecosystem: Leveraging React Native is advisable when the development team holds expertise in React Native’s intricate ecosystem, encompassing its declarative UI components and JavaScript libraries. A skilled team can harness React Native’s nuances more effectively, leading to reduced development time and enhanced application performance.

• Legacy Codebase Compatibility: When an extant application or web portal is architected using React Native, continuity in the same framework streamlines the integration process. Migrating to a new technology stack might introduce unnecessary complexities and compatibility issues.
• Fiscal Leeway and Long-Term Strategy: If an organization has a budget sufficient to endure the relatively longer time-to-market of React Native applications, then this framework serves as a viable option. This is particularly relevant for feature-rich applications where native-level performance is non-negotiable.
• Dependency on Native Modules: For applications that heavily rely on native functionalities—like geolocation, camera, or advanced animations—React Native offers better access to native modules, providing a seamless integration without sacrificing performance.

When to opt Ionic?: Situational Advantages

• Time-Sensitive Deliverables: Ionic framework excels in scenarios where rapid application deployment is imperative. The framework’s ability to use a single codebase for multiple platforms reduces the go-to-market time substantially.
• Startups with Innovative Concepts: For startups operating within a unique niche, Ionic offers a cost-effective and quick-to-develop alternative. This is invaluable for businesses intending to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as a proof of concept for potential investors.
• Fundraising Trajectory: If the growth strategy includes raising capital based on MVP or early-stage products, Ionic’s quicker development cycle proves beneficial. This advantage provides startups with a working model of their application in a shorter timeframe, making them more appealing to investors.
• Budgetary Constraints: Organizations operating under financial limitations will find Ionic to be a resource-efficient alternative. Its capability to function well even with constrained resources makes it a pragmatic choice for budget-sensitive operations.

How can Markovate Help You with Ionic App Development?

An app development company, Markovate can provide technical expertise, UI/UX design services, cross-platform compatibility, integration with APIs, testing and quality assurance, and ongoing maintenance and support for Ionic app development.

We have experience with Ionic’s development framework, which includes AngularJS and Cordova and can use it to create visually appealing, intuitive, and user-friendly mobile apps.

Additionally, our developers can optimize the app for all platforms, including iOS, Android, and the web, and integrate it with third-party APIs to provide advanced functionality.

Further Read: Ionic Framework With Its Pros And Cons: The Essential Guide

How can Markovate Help You with React Native App Development?

Our developers have experience with React Native’s development framework, which uses JavaScript and allows code reuse across multiple platforms. This means businesses can develop apps that work seamlessly on iOS, Android, and the web with the minimal additional development effort.

Additionally, as an app development company, we integrate the app with third-party APIs to provide advanced functionality and ensure it performs well on different devices and platforms.

By partnering with us, businesses can develop high-quality apps that meet their objectives and provide a seamless user experience.

Further Read: React Native Development: A Complete Guide

Ionic vs React Native: FAQs

1. Can Ionic And React Native Be Used Together?

Using the React you know and love, you can create fantastic mobile, desktop, and online apps with iconic frames. Ionic React is the native React version of Ionic Framework, the free and open-source SDK that powers millions of mission-critical apps worldwide.

2. React Native Or Ionic: Which Is Faster?

Ionic cannot create Native apps since it always attempts hybrid mobile application development. React outperforms Ionic because it requires specific plugins to access native functionalities. React Native beats Ionic in terms of performance. Ionic is sluggish, and it takes longer to load Native features.

3. Is Ionic More Popular Than React Native?

• When it comes to Ionic vs React Native, both Ionic React and React Native are excellent options for mobile app development. However, React Native may be a better option for companies targeting iOS and Android alone, with more conventional native developers or sophisticated JavaScript developers with an existing library of native controls.
• Ionic is more adaptable than React Native since it builds Ionic apps with Angular and Vue. It also helps you to create high-quality cross-platform apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. On the other hand, react Native is distinct because it is developed in React, written in plain JavaScript and XML markup.
• As a result, Ionic is significantly less expensive than React Native. In addition, Ionic allows you to create hybrid apps that can run on many platforms by building the application only once with a single codebase.