Capacitor vs React Native: Which Framework Is Right For Your Mobile App Development?

What is React Native? 

React Native is a tool that enables the same code development of mobile apps for iOS and Android. React Native lets developers utilize one set of instructions instead of creating unique code for every platform, therefore making the process easier and faster. 

For example, if you're creating a button in React Native, it will look and behave like an iPhone button on iOS and like an Android button on Android, without you needing to write separate code for each. This saves time and ensures a consistent user experience across different devices. 

React Native runs flawlessly and looks just like those developed using standard methods since it transforms the code into genuine native components. For this reason, several large corporations—including Instagram and Airbnb—use it to quickly create their mobile apps.  

What is Capacitor?  

Capacitor is a cross-platform development for building web applications that can be deployed as native mobile applications for iOS, Android, and other platforms. It was developed by the team behind the Ionic Framework and released in 2018 as an alternative to the Cordova/PhoneGap framework. 

Capacitor enables developers to use web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build mobile applications with a native look and feel.  

Capacitor is a bridge that lets you turn a web app into a mobile app. Suppose you have a website built with React or Angular, and you want it to work as a mobile app on iOS and Android. Instead of rewriting everything in a native language, you can wrap your web app with Capacitor, making it behave like a real mobile app. 

For example, if your web app needs access to the phone's camera, Capacitor provides a simple API that lets you use the camera just like a native app would—without having to write separate code for each platform. This makes it easy to reuse web development skills while still delivering a mobile app experience. 

Is Capacitor or React Native faster?  

The speed of Capacitor and React Native depends on the type of app and the device it's running on. 

React Native is generally faster because it connects directly with native components, offering near-native performance. However, the bridge between JavaScript and native code can sometimes slow things down, especially in complex apps. 

Capacitor runs on web technologies, so it may not always match React Native’s speed. However, it has improved over time and allows developers to use native plugins when needed, reducing performance gaps. 

If you need maximum performance for a mobile app, React Native is usually the better choice. If you want an easy way to turn a web app into a mobile app while still using some native features, Capacitor is a strong option. 

Difference Between React Native and Capacitor 

React Native and Capacitor both enable cross-platform mobile app development, but they work differently. Here’s a clear comparison: 

1. Core Technology & Architecture 

• React Native: Uses JavaScript and JSX, rendering UI through native components. It relies on a bridge to communicate between JavaScript and native APIs, which can introduce slight performance overhead. 
• Capacitor: Acts as a bridge between web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and native APIs, running apps inside a WebView. This makes it great for web-first applications but can impact performance compared to React Native.  

2. User Interface (UI) & Styling 

• React Native: Provides built-in UI components (e.g., <Text>, <Button>, <ScrollView>), ensuring a native look and feel. However, complex UI animations may require third-party libraries like Reanimated. 
• Capacitor: Does not include native UI components but allows using web components or frameworks like Ionic, which are styled using CSS. Apps may feel less native unless significant customization is done. 

3. Code Reusability & Platform Coverage 

• React Native: Supports writing one codebase for iOS and Android. It also has React Native for Web, though web support is not its primary focus. 
• Capacitor: Designed for maximum reusability. A single codebase can run on iOS, Android, Web, and even desktop platforms (macOS, Windows, Linux). 

Example: If you need an app that runs on mobile and desktop, Capacitor is a strong choice. 

4. Performance & Rendering 

• React Native: Uses a Virtual DOM and compiles to native UI elements, resulting in near-native performance. Heavy animations can still require extra optimization. 
• Capacitor: Runs apps inside a WebView, which means it may not match React Native’s performance for complex UIs. However, modern web technologies (e.g., WebAssembly, hardware acceleration) help close the gap. 

Example: A real-time video editing app would likely perform better in React Native, whereas a content-based app (news, blogs) could work well with Capacitor. 

5. Development Experience & Hot Reloading 

• React Native: Offers hot reloading, meaning UI updates appear instantly without restarting the app. This speeds up development. 
• Capacitor: Uses live reloading, where the app reloads on changes, but it may not be as fast as React Native’s hot reload.  

6. Native APIs & Plugin Support 

• React Native: Comes with built-in native modules (e.g., camera, geolocation) but may require third-party libraries for deeper system access. 
• Capacitor: Has a plugin-based system that provides access to native features. If a feature is missing, developers can write their own native code easily. 

Example: If you need deep integration with Bluetooth or background tasks, React Native has more built-in support, but Capacitor allows custom native code with less effort. 

7. Debugging & Development Tools 

• React Native: Has a powerful CLI, supports debugging via React Developer Tools, and integrates with tools like Flipper for performance monitoring. 
• Capacitor: Relies on web-based dev tools (e.g., Chrome DevTools) but lacks some advanced debugging features for native interactions. 

8. Community, Ecosystem & Support 

• React Native: Backed by Meta (Facebook) and has a massive developer community with extensive third-party libraries. 
• Capacitor: Developed by the Ionic team, with growing adoption, but has a smaller ecosystem compared to React Native. 

Example: If you need a well-supported library for something specific, React Native likely has more options available. 

When to Choose React Native vs. Capacitor 

Which One Should You Choose? 

• Use React Native for performance-heavy mobile apps with a native feel. 
• Use Capacitor if you’re building a web-first app that also needs mobile and desktop support. 

Choose Reveation Labs as your Mobile App Development Company 

If you are specifically looking for mobile app development services using React Native and Capacitor, it may be better to consider a company that specializes in these technologies. However, if you require mobile app development, Reveation Labs can provide you with the necessary expertise and support.