React Native. Prehistory
As previously mentioned, the React Native story began with a Facebook app in 2013. React Native's new architecture delivers clear performance gains. Tests on devices like the Pixel 7 and iPhone 13 show 42% faster cold startup, 46% better frame rates (up to 70 FPS), and 35% less memory use. For big apps with millions of users, this means less server data use and 8-12% lower battery drain per device. Companies like Meta now run it in production for better scalability.
Complex Made Simple
This framework gained popularity for enabling cross-platform mobile app development with a single JavaScript-based codebase. It leverages JavaScript and React's vast ecosystem, including thousands of libraries for quick feature integration. Its "write once, run anywhere" approach shares up to 90% of code across platforms while accessing native device features like the camera or GPS – shows widespread use in hybrid cross-platform development.
Popularity Is Earned
React Native vs Kotlin vs Swift: who's better?
It's is often a better choice than Kotlin and Swift when you need to build iOS and Android apps quickly with limited budget and one team, because you maintain a single JavaScript codebase instead of two separate native ones, which significantly reduces development time and costs for most business applications. At the same time, it offers performance that is close enough to native for the majority of typical apps (e‑commerce, social, internal tools) while giving access to native modules when you really need deeper platform integration, making it a practical balance between speed, cost, and flexibility.
What are the most popular React Native apps in 2026? In this article, we provide a simple rundown of React Native apps based on the industries they are used in.
Social Media
Several popular social networks, like Facebook and Instagram components, leverage React Native for their mobile apps. Its vast library ecosystem and active community make scaling features like feeds, chats, and real-time interactions smooth and efficient.
A list of the top React Native apps includes Mattermost, Bluesky, BeReal, Fanbase.
Mattermost
Mattermost is a secure, open-source messaging app perfect for teams needing a Slack alternative with full data control. In 2026, its key advantages include self-hosting for ultimate privacy, AI-driven workflows, and seamless integrations for DevOps and compliance-heavy industries like defense. It boasts solid ratings of around 4.3 on both the App Store and Google Play Market, praised for reliability and customization.
Mattermost uses React Native to power its cross-platform iOS and Android apps from a shared codebase, enabling real-time messaging, push notifications, and offline access. It integrates native modules for secure authentication, encrypted storage, and background sync to support enterprise-grade communication.
Bluesky
Bluesky is a decentralized social media app like Twitter/X, emphasizing user control, custom feeds, and ad-free experiences for authentic conversations. In 2026, its key advantages include powerful moderation tools, high-engagement without algorithms throttling reach, and community-driven features like starter packs and cashtags. It holds a 3.9 rating on the Apple App Store.
Bluesky leverages React Native to deliver a consistent mobile experience across iOS and Android while interacting with its decentralized AT Protocol backend. The framework allows rapid UI iteration and efficient rendering of dynamic feeds and moderation tools.
BeReal
BeReal is a fun photo-sharing app that prompts you and your friends to post unfiltered selfies and real-life shots once a day at a random time, capturing genuine moments without edits or filters. In 2026, its key advantages include Bonus BeReals for extra flexibility — making it a refreshing break from endless scrolling on other platforms. It holds a strong 4.5 rating on the App Store and around 4.2 on Google Play, reflecting solid user satisfaction.
BeReal built its mobile experience with React Native to accelerate cross-platform delivery, particularly on Android. It uses native camera modules and push notification integrations to support real-time photo capture and time-sensitive alerts.
Fanbase
It's one of the few apps similar to TikTok and Instagram, built with React Native, with a 3.6-star rating but 500K downloads on the Play Market. Launched around 2018, it has gained traction more recently among content creators. In this app, you can share your creativity and earn profit from views or likes on your posts, videos, or photos. The app has 4,7 ratings in the App Store.
Fanbase is built with React Native to maintain a unified codebase for iOS and Android, enabling efficient rollout of social features like video uploads and monetization tools. Native bridges support media processing, payments, and in-app subscriptions.
Financial
These are mobile applications for banking, financial management, and cash tracking. React Native — robust ecosystem, including advanced libraries for biometrics, real-time data syncing, and compliance-ready security features like encryption and OAuth, helps fintech teams launch innovative features faster amid rising regulatory demands. Plus, with growing community support and optimizations for 5G/edge computing, it future-proofs apps for scalability and low-latency transactions. Let's look at applications such as Expensify, Trading 212, Spendee.
Expensify
Expensify is a fantastic expense-tracking app that simplifies receipt scanning, mileage logging, reimbursements, and invoicing with chat-based collaboration, making it ideal for freelancers, small businesses, and enterprises—trusted by over 15 million users worldwide. Built with React Native for smooth cross-platform performance on iOS and Android, it leverages efficient updates like the new architecture for reliable speed and features such as SmartScan OCR. It boasts a strong 4.6 rating on the Apple App Store and 4.0 on Google Play, reflecting its user-friendly design and value.
Expensify uses React Native for its New Expensify platform, enabling shared business logic across iOS and Android with improved performance via the new architecture (Fabric & TurboModules). It integrates native OCR, camera APIs, and secure authentication for receipt scanning and financial workflows.
Trading 212
This is a trading app that stands out with commission-free stock and ETF trading, fractional shares from just €1, AutoInvest portfolios (Pies), and competitive interest on uninvested cash — perfect for beginners and seasoned investors alike. Built with React Native, it delivers a smooth, native-like experience across iOS and Android, ensuring fast performance for real-time charts and seamless account switching between demo and live modes. It enjoys solid ratings of around 4.3 on Google Play, praised for its intuitive design and accessibility.
Trading 212 utilizes React Native to provide a responsive, native-like interface for real-time stock charts and trading execution. Native modules handle live market data streaming, biometric authentication, and secure transaction processing.
Download:* Android
Spendee
Spendee is a delightful budgeting application that makes tracking expenses, income, and wallets effortless with beautiful visualizations, multi-currency support, and shared finances for families or teams—ideal for gaining quick financial insights on the go. Built with React Native, it offers a consistent experience across iOS and Android devices, ensuring seamless syncing and intuitive features like auto-categorization. It holds strong ratings of 4.7 on the Apple App Store and 4.6 on Google Play, loved for its user-friendly design and practical tools.
Spendee is built with React Native to ensure UI consistency and faster development across mobile platforms. It integrates native banking APIs, encrypted local storage, and real-time synchronization for secure financial tracking.
Marketplaces
Online marketplaces let many sellers list items, with the site helping buyers pay. E-commerce boomed, so apps made shopping quicker and easier. Now, apps matter more than websites for some companies. React Native provides native-like performance through JavaScript bridging and access to device features like cameras or GPS, perfect for marketplace apps needing real-time search and payments. It supports fast A/B testing and real-time data dashboards, helping marketplaces track user behavior and optimize revenue quickly.
ATB - Market app
ATB-Market is a super handy all-in-one app from Ukraine's largest grocery chain, letting you shop online with delivery, snag promotions up to 40% off, scan receipts for history, pay bills, buy tickets, and even check store maps—perfect for busy shoppers saving time and money every day. Its smooth performance across platforms suggests efficient cross-platform development tailored for Ukrainian users. It boasts solid ratings of 4.6 on the Apple App Store and 4.4 on Google Play, praised for convenience and exclusive deals.
ATB-Market leverages React Native to streamline development across iOS and Android while supporting e-commerce features like barcode scanning and digital receipts. Native integrations enable payment processing, push notifications, and location-based store services.
Puma
PUMA's mobile app is a stylish shopper's dream, offering exclusive early access to limited-edition drops, personalized recommendations, virtual try-on features, and lightning-fast one-click checkout for sneakers, apparel, and gear. It earns impressive ratings of 4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.6 on Google Play, with users raving about its intuitive design and unbeatable deals.
PUMA’s mobile app uses React Native to unify its shopping experience across platforms while integrating native SDKs for payments, analytics, and augmented reality features like virtual try-ons. The approach allows fast feature experimentation and seasonal campaign updates.
Health Trackers
Health trackers, also known as activity trackers, are handy devices or smartphone apps that monitor key fitness metrics evolving far beyond basic pedometers. Today, they come in specialized types such as fitness bands for daily activity and workouts for sports enthusiasts, women's health trackers focused on cycle and fertility monitoring, and mental health analyzers. These tools make staying healthy fun and insightful, helping you hit your goals with real-time feedback.
Lyfta
Lyfta is an awesome free workout tracker and gym planner loved by over 3 million users, featuring a massive exercise library, custom routines, progress analytics, Apple Health sync, and expert programs to help you build strength and stay consistent effortlessly. It shines with excellent ratings of 4.9 on the Apple App Store and 4.6 on Google Play , celebrated for its intuitive UI and powerful free features.
Lyfta is developed with React Native to provide synchronized workout tracking across devices with a shared codebase. Native integrations connect to Apple Health, Google Fit, and local storage for real-time performance analytics.
Bearable: Symptom, Mood & Period Tracker
Bearable stands out in 2026 for effortless tracking of symptoms, moods, pain, medications, and cycles, aiding those with chronic conditions like anxiety, migraines, or PMDD through insightful correlations. Over 75% of its community reports regaining control via reminders, self-care goals, and trend visualizations for better doctor communication. Built on React Native by its dedicated small team, it delivers an intuitive, community-driven experience optimized for wellness management.
Moodfit: Mental Health Fitness
Moodfit excels in 2026 as a versatile mental health tool, offering mood journaling, CBT exercises, breathwork, and mindfulness to build resilience and reduce stress effectively. Its personalized insights into sleep, nutrition, and habits help users track patterns and share reports with therapists seamlessly. Moodfit uses React Native for cross-platform delivery while incorporating native modules for health data syncing and secure local storage. This architecture ensures smooth performance for journaling, analytics dashboards, and CBT-based tools.
##Gym & Fitness
Gym and boutique studio apps today serve as full-scale branded digital platforms that combine class scheduling, membership management, in-app purchases, performance analytics, content hubs, and direct member communication - all within one seamless mobile experience.
React Native is particularly well-suited for these branding-driven fitness apps, enabling studios to launch polished iOS and Android applications from a single codebase while integrating native modules for secure payments, push notifications, calendar sync, performance tracking, and multimedia content delivery. This approach accelerates development, reduces operational costs, and ensures a smooth, responsive experience that reflects each studio’s unique identity.
Animo Studios
Animo Studios is a premium gym and studio mobile app developed by Brocoders using React Native, designed to help a luxury fitness studio in the Netherlands deliver a fully branded, feature-rich digital experience on both iOS and Android. Instead of a generic white-label UI, Brocoders built custom booking flows, in-app purchases, class and coach details, progress tracking, ratings and reviews, and studio content - all wrapped in a cohesive brand experience that feels unique to each fitness business, overcoming limitations of standard gym-management backends.
👉 Download on iOS: Animo Studios
Productivity
React Native shines for productivity apps by enabling a single codebase for seamless iOS and Android performance. That cuts development time and costs by up to 40% while delivering native-like speed. This means faster updates for task managers, habit trackers, and even house cleaning schedulers — keeping your chores organized with reminders and progress charts.
Sweepy: Home Cleaning Schedule
Sweepy: Home Cleaning Schedule is a fun, gamified platform that helps families stay organized by tracking room cleanliness, auto-generating daily chore lists, and sharing workloads with leaderboards and progress rewards and making housework feel less like a drag and more like a team win. Tool has a stellar rating of 4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play from thousands of happy users praising its simplicity and effectiveness.
Sweepy is built with React Native to support shared task management features across iOS and Android from a single codebase. Native push notifications and local scheduling modules power reminders and gamified progress tracking.
Joplin
Joplin is a fantastic free, open-source note-taking app that excels with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, to-do lists, web clipping, and flexible syncing across devices via Dropbox, OneDrive, or self-hosted options and ideal for privacy-focused users who want full data ownership without subscriptions. It enjoys strong ratings of around 4.5 on the Apple App Store and 4.3 on Google Play.
Joplin’s mobile app uses React Native to deliver encrypted note-taking across platforms while maintaining compatibility with its desktop ecosystem. Native bridges handle secure storage, file system access, and end-to-end encryption workflows.
Pearltrees
Pearltrees is a delightful visual organizer that lets you effortlessly collect, curate, and share bookmarks, files, photos, notes, and web content into beautiful, mind-map-style collections— perfect for research, projects, or personal inspiration with AI-powered enhancements for smarter discovery. The app has 4,7 star rating on the App Store and 4,3 on Google Play.
Pearltrees leverages React Native to maintain visual consistency across devices while managing complex nested collections and media previews. Native integrations support file uploads, cloud syncing, and real-time collaboration.
Business and Analytics
AI audio tools, video voiceover apps for social media, wishlist shoppers, and designer platforms like Are.na benefit from React Native's single codebase for fast cross-platform launches. It enables seamless analytics tracking of user creations, shares, and saves, helping businesses optimize features and boost engagement or sales quickly.
Are.na
Are.na is a creative gem for thinkers and makers, letting you curate blocks of images, links, texts, and media into interconnected channels for research, moodboards, or collaborative projects. It's free from ads, algorithms, and distractions to spark genuine inspiration. It boasts solid ratings of 4.6 on the Apple App Store and 4.4 on Google Play, cherished for its minimalist design and thoughtful community features.
Are.na is built with React Native to deliver its block-based content interface consistently on iOS and Android. Native modules enable media uploads, offline caching, and performance optimization for large visual collections.
GoWish
GoWish is a digital wishlist app that lets you save gift ideas from any online store worldwide, create unlimited lists for occasions like birthdays or weddings, and share them effortlessly via SMS, WhatsApp, or links — avoiding duplicate gifts since friends can reserve items in real-time. The app has a great rating of 4.7 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play.
GoWish uses React Native to streamline wishlist creation and sharing across platforms with a single development team. Native payment handling, deep linking, and push notification integrations enhance real-time gift reservations.
WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Business is a game-changer for small businesses and entrepreneurs, offering handy tools like business profiles, product catalogs, quick replies, automated messages, and chat labels to manage customer conversations efficiently. While its core mobile app isn't built with React Native (it uses native development for optimal performance), it pairs beautifully with React Native apps via its robust API for seamless integrations. It rocks stellar ratings of 4.8 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play, adored by millions for boosting sales and customer engagement.
Music and Audio
React Native is a fantastic choice for music and audio apps focused on creating custom recordings or soundtracks for TikTok videos and Instagram Reels, thanks to its powerful libraries that deliver high-quality audio capture, real-time playback. Here are two apps that represent this industry: it's Sound Cloud and Ai Cover and Songs: Music AI.
Sound Cloud
SoundCloud is a vibrant music discovery app perfect for creators and fans, offering easy uploading, sharing, remixing, offline listening, personalized playlists, and artist tools like fan-powered royalties. It's an essential hub for independent sounds and global connections. It boasts excellent ratings of 4.7 on the Apple App Store and 4.5 on Google Play, celebrated for its intuitive discovery and creator-friendly vibe.
AI Cover and Songs: Music AI
AI Cover and Songs: Music AI is a creative powerhouse that lets you generate stunning AI vocal covers in seconds. It helps to swap original singers for celebrities, anime voices, or custom styles while keeping perfect melody and rhythm, plus text-to-music magic for endless song ideas from your words. The app showed impressive ratings of 4.6 on the Apple App Store and 4.4 on Google Play, with users raving about the realistic AI voices and fun sharing options for TikTok or Reels.
AI Cover and Songs uses React Native to deliver AI-powered audio generation features consistently across iOS and Android. Native audio processing modules handle real-time rendering, waveform playback, and media export.
Education
In 2026, React Native powers engaging education apps with cross-platform magic, letting students access interactive quizzes, video lectures, and personalized learning paths seamlessly on both iOS and Android. Its hot reloading and rich ecosystem make rapid updates a breeze, boosting student engagement by 30% through features like progress analytics and gamified content that keep learners hooked anywhere, anytime. Plus, with enhanced architecture for smooth performance on budget devices common in schools, it's a smart choice for scalable, future-proof edtech solutions worldwide.
Talkpal
Talkpal is an innovative AI-powered language learning app that makes mastering 57+ languages fun and effective through real-time conversations, speech recognition, roleplays, personalized feedback, and gamified lessons. Suits ideal for building fluency on your own schedule without needing a live tutor. Tool ratings of 4.7 on the Apple App Store and 4.6 on Google Play, with users praising its lifelike AI chats and rapid skill gains.
Talkpal is built with React Native to support conversational AI features across mobile platforms from a unified codebase. Native integrations power speech recognition, audio streaming, and push notifications for interactive lessons.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a fantastic free learning app packed with interactive video lessons, personalized dashboards, mastery-based exercises, and progress tracking across math, science, history, and more for empowering students worldwide to learn at their own pace with gamified rewards and teacher tools for classroom magic. That program presenting a solid 4.8 star rate on the Apple App Store and 4.6 on Google Play, celebrated by millions for making education engaging and accessible.
Khan Academy’s mobile app has historically relied heavily on native development rather than React Native for performance and offline video optimization. However, parts of its ecosystem and experimental features may leverage cross-platform frameworks for faster iteration.
Building a React Native app that gains real traction is exciting, as it lets you reach both iOS and Android users efficiently. Success comes down to smart planning across several key areas. Let's break it down.
Understand Your Audience and Niche
Start by identifying a specific need in a targeted market, like habit trackers for niche professions (farmers, potters, or doctors).
There's a ton of huge demand around apps that track home cleaning or help you keep tabs on those sneaky bad habits (or the good ones you're building).
But if you're diving into making a tracking app, zero in on a super-specific niche that clicks with you — no point swimming in the crowded pool of basic to-do lists.
Think about it: a task tracker built just for farmers, logging crop cycles, weather alerts, and harvest deadlines. Or one for pottery folks, with timers that buzz when your clay pots are kiln-ready, plus inventory for glazes and wheels. Doctors could love a patient scheduler that syncs with clinic hours and flags no-shows.
Don't ignore the health niches like food allergy trackers that scan ingredients on the fly, or seasonal hay fever logs that predict flare-ups based on pollen counts and your symptoms. Picking a tight niche like these gives you a massive leg up over all those one-size-fits-none apps cluttering the stores.
Looking for a reliable partner to build your mobile product? Brocoders has deep practical experience building cross-platform mobile apps with React Native, helping brands and startups deliver performant, maintainable products on both iOS and Android from a unified codebase. Their expertise spans the full lifecycle — from consulting on React Native architecture and third-party integrations to optimizing native bridges, implementing smooth animations, and ensuring high-quality releases with fast iteration cycles.
They’ve worked on fitness, social, marketplace, and productivity solutions where React Native’s hot reloading, robust ecosystem, and strong community support accelerate development without sacrificing native feel or performance. By leveraging best practices in state management, modular component design, and native API access, Brocoders ensures apps look polished, scale seamlessly, and integrate with device features like push notifications, secure storage, cameras, and real-time updates.
This real-world experience positions Brocoders as a reliable partner for teams wanting to launch React Native-powered products that balance speed, quality, and long-term maintainability in competitive markets.