You must be concerned about the factors that affect the cost of development if you are planning to build a mobile app with the React Native framework. App design, features, functionality, developer experience, location, and final development all influence the total cost of the React Native app.
Many businesses trust React Native because of its ability to cross-platform app development that ultimately saves time and money by writing a single codebase for iOS as well as Android. Still, it’s important to evaluate the React Native app development cost to make the right decision for your business.
We have prepared this guide to help you understand the real cost involved with this popular React Native framework. Whether you are a newly launched startup or a well-established enterprise, understanding these factors will help you plan your app development budget effectively. Along with the React Native app development cost breakdown, we will see some budgeting tips and why this framework is the best choice for businesses.
What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source mobile application framework developed by Meta (formerly Facebook). Entrepreneurs can create their own cross-platform apps using JavaScript and React while getting native-like performance and user experience for their audiences.
The most significant benefit of using React Native is that it allows you to create apps for Android as well as iOS with the same codebase. A single-time coding saves costs as well as development time. In fact, this is one of the crucial reasons which makes React Native popular among entrepreneurs.
As we have mentioned about the popularity of React Native framework, here, check out the current rating and stats on React Native framework that proves entrepreneurs really like it.
Most Recent Stats On React Native
| Popularity Metrics | React Native |
|---|---|
| Stack Overflow Questions | 128,943 |
| GitHub Stars | 120k |
| GitHub Forks | 24.4k |
| GitHub Issues | 25,960 (closed) |
| Reddit Members | 145k |
| X Community | 213k |
React Native App Development Cost Breakdown
To give you a better understanding of where your money goes, let’s break down the roles and responsibilities wise costs associated with building a React Native app.
1. Developer Rates
The hourly rate is a crucial variable in the overall cost of app development. If you hire React Native developers with years of experience and marvellous expertise in expensive living regions, then it will cost you a lot. The developer’s rate varies based on experience, skills, and location.
The general estimation of developer cost is as follows:
2. Design and User Experience Costs (UI/UX Designers)
Good UI/UX design equals a successful application. The design process involves wireframing, prototyping, and crafting the final visual design. As per the React Native app complexity of the design, expect 20% to 30% of your total budget to design costs.
3. Testing and Quality Assurance (App & QA Testers)
You can’t miss the testing step in the mobile app development process. You have to test your application across various devices. This includes manual testing, automated testing, and bug fixing. Testing may account for 15% to 20% of the development budget.
4. Project Management (Project Managers)
The proper project management ensures that the development process stays on track, meets timelines, and maintains quality standards. Skilled project managers generally charge between USD 30 and USD 100 per hour, and their fees will typically make up 10% to 15% of the total project cost.
If you need a consultant who can deliver your project as per your expectations, then you must connect with experienced project management consultants like Excellent WebWorld. Professionals at EWW won’t let you down for sure.
Top 7 Factors Influencing React Native App Development Cost
When it comes to understanding how much does a React Native app cost, several factors matter to the total price. Let’s break down some of the most important ones.
1. App Complexity
Among all, the complexity of the application is the primary factor that influences the React Native app development cost.
The application can be divided into three different levels – Basic (simple informational app or a basic service app), Moderate (integrations, database, etc.), and High (e-commerce platform, social media app, etc.). According to that, React Native app cost varies:
| App Complexity Level | Average Cost | Development Time |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | USD 18,000 to 35,000 | 2 to 4 Months |
| Moderate | USD 45,000 to 80,000 | 4 to 8 Months |
| High | USD 90,000 to 3,00,000 | 8 to 12 Months |
2. Platform Choice (iOS/Android)
If you plan to launch your application on iOS and Android, the cost will definitely be higher compared to just creating an app for one single platform.
And that’s the most liked benefit of the React Native framework, as it can create apps with single-time coding. But platform-specific customizations and native modules still need additional efforts, this increases the total development cost of the React Native app.
3. Agency’s Location
The location of your React Native app development company also plays an important role in determining the React Native App development cost. Typically, agencies situated in countries with higher living costs (such as the United States, Canada, or Western Europe) will charge more for their services.
Besides, offshore development companies in countries like India, Ukraine, or the Philippines tend to charge lower rates while still delivering quality work.
Let’s see how much does a React Native app cost differ country-wise:
| Country / Regions | Hourly Rates |
|---|---|
| North America | USD 100 to 150 |
| South America | USD 60 to 120 |
| Eastern Europe | USD 30 to 100 |
| Western Europe | USD 40 to 120 |
| Asia | USD 20 to 90 |
| Australia | USD 60 to 100 |
4. UI/UX Design
The app design outcome is directly connected to user experience, that’s why it plays a key role in the overall success of the app. If you want a visually stunning and highly interactive app design, then expect to do more revisions and allocate more resources to design. You can save yourself from multiple revisions by hiring experienced UI/UX designers from reputed mobile app design service providers like Excellent WebWorld.
With React Native, UI/UX design can range from simple and straightforward to highly complex, you can add custom animations, transitions, and intricate layouts.
5. Features and Functionalities
Some of the advanced features and integrations like payment gateways, geolocation services, push notifications or social media integrations can cause an increase in React Native app development costs. Advanced functionalities such as real-time chat or artificial intelligence integration will also add to the development time and expenses.
Here are some features and their estimated integration cost. Have a look:
| Features | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Login Interface | USD 2,000 to 4,000 |
| Admin Panel | USD 4,000 to 6,000 |
| API Integrations | USD 5,000 to 5,500 |
| Notification Panel | USD 5,000 to 7,500 |
| Geolocation | USD 15,000 to 20,000 |
| IoT Integration | USD 25,000 to 30,000 |
| Streaming Portal | USD 5,000 to 10,000 |
| E-Commerce | USD 10,000 to 15,000 |
6. App Maintenance
Maintaining an app is not something you can skip after a launch. An app developed with the React Native framework or any other framework must be tested completely across multiple devices to ensure it keeps functioning as planned.
Because of this, it is recommended to hire a React Native app development company like Excellent WebWorld that meticulously tests your application to enhance its performance.
App updates, design changes, and bug fixes are an integral part of the app maintenance costs, which are considered under React Native app development expense.
7. Development Timeframe
The 7th crucial parameter affecting React Native app development cost is the total time required to craft an application. The React Native application with more complexity, API integrations, and features needs more time to develop than a simple one.
Moreover, testing and debugging also add more time to the development process. Therefore, you must define your app scope clearly and ensure your development team sticks to the timeline.
Why Do Businesses Choose React Native App Development?
React Native has gained widespread popularity among entrepreneurs, but do you know why it is often the preferred choice for app development? Here are some key reasons why businesses are opting for React Native app development.
Well-known Brands Trust React Native Framework
Because of its efficiency, scalability, and cross-platform capabilities, many leading companies across different industries have adopted React Native for mobile app development. Here are some of the well-known brands that trust React Native: Facebook, Instagram, Tesla, Puma, Airbnb, Pinterest, SoundCloud, Flipkart, Bloomberg, Discord, Coinbase, Skype, Uber Eats, and so on.
Don’t skip the next section because it contains some pro tips that help you save money on React Native app development costs. Scroll Down!!
Budgeting Tips for React Native App Development
While React Native app development can be expensive, there are some escapes on costs without compromising quality:
Outsource to Countries with Lower Labour Costs
Hire React Native app developers from regions where hourly rates are lower, which saves you a considerable amount of money. With companies like Excellent WebWorld, you can receive quality work at affordable prices.
Build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Start your project by building an MVP with core features and try to launch early. You can then work on enhancing app features and performance based on user feedback.
Use Open-Source Libraries and Pre-built Components
Take advantage of a wide range of React Native open-source libraries, tools, plugins, and pre-built components to speed up mobile application development and reduce costs.
Prioritize Core Features
Make sure that your application only consists of the most important features at the initial stages. By prioritizing the core functionalities, you can launch the app faster and at a lower expense. Later, you can work on additional app features in new versions based on the direct demand of users.
Keep an Eye on Project Scope Creep
Scope creep occurs when new features or requirements are added without proper planning, which causes delays and budget overruns. To avoid this, set clear expectations with your development team from the beginning. If you see the requirement of any new feature, study their impact on both cost and timeline before taking any further steps.
Final Words
When planning React Native app development, estimate your cost by considering important factors such as complexity, design, functionality, and team location. This will help you to calculate a reasonable budget. Overall, we can say that React Native provides a cost-effective, cross-platform solution that meets business needs without high costs.
Partner with Excellent WebWorld, a leading mobile app development company, for expert React Native solutions. Our skilled team of React Native developers delivers high-performance and custom applications to engage your audience effectively and bring your business vision to life.
Happy React Native Development!!
FAQs
Yes, React Native has the capacity for cross-platform application development with a single codebase. That means no need to work separately for iOS and Android apps, which lowers both development and maintenance costs.
As per the type of app complexity and features, development time varies. Generally, a basic mobile app can take 2-3 months, whereas complex apps may take 4-6 months or longer.
Yes, React Native apps offer near-native performance. Especially with recent updates and optimizations, React Native provides a smooth user experience without compromising speed.
Yes, ongoing costs include maintenance, updates, server hosting, bug fixes, and adding new features based on user feedback.
React Native is ideal for most mobile apps, particularly those that are required to launch on both iOS and Android. However, for highly complex or performance-intensive apps, native development may be preferred.
Article By
Paresh Sagar is the CEO of Excellent Webworld. He firmly believes in using technology to solve challenges. His dedication and attention to detail make him an expert in helping startups in different industries digitalize their businesses globally.
