Expo Development
in 2024
The complete guide to building native iOS and Android apps with Expo—the framework that's revolutionizing React Native development for over 1.5 million developers worldwide.
What is Expo?
Expo is an open-source framework and platform that sits on top of React Native, designed to make mobile app development dramatically faster, simpler, and more accessible.
While React Native provides the foundation for building native mobile apps with JavaScript, Expo adds a comprehensive layer of tools, services, and pre-built components that eliminate much of the complexity traditionally associated with mobile development.
Think of it this way: if React Native is the engine, Expo is the entire vehicle—complete with steering wheel, dashboard, and GPS navigation. According to Expo's official statistics, the framework powers over 1.5 million apps worldwide and processes more than 30 million builds annually.
Expo by the Numbers
Real-world data showing why developers and companies trust Expo for production apps
How Expo Works
Understanding the technology stack that makes Expo the fastest way to build production-ready mobile apps
Two Development Workflows
Managed Workflow
The recommended approach for most developers. Expo handles all the native code, allowing you to focus purely on JavaScript/TypeScript. According to PiEmbSysTech, this reduces initial setup time by up to 75%.
- Zero native code configuration required
- Automatic updates to the latest Expo SDK
- Perfect for most production apps
Bare Workflow
For apps requiring custom native modules or advanced native functionality. You maintain full control over native code while still benefiting from Expo's development tools and services.
- Full access to native iOS and Android code
- Install any native library from npm
- Still use Expo Application Services (EAS)
Expo Application Services (EAS)
Cloud-powered services that handle the complex parts of app development, deployment, and maintenance. Learn more from Expo's official EAS documentation.
EAS Build
Compile iOS and Android apps in the cloud without needing Xcode or Android Studio. Processes over 30 million builds annually.
EAS Update
Push JavaScript updates instantly to users without app store approval. Fix bugs and ship features in minutes, not days.
EAS Submit
Automatically submit your app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store with a single command.
Expo vs React Native CLI
Both build native mobile apps, but they take fundamentally different approaches. Here's what research from Flatirons Development and UniqueDevs reveals.
| Feature | Expo | React Native CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 5 minutes - single command | 1-2 hours - install Xcode, Android Studio, SDKs |
| Development Speed | 75% faster initial setup | Slower - manual native configuration |
| Native Modules | 50+ pre-built APIs included | Manual integration required |
| OTA Updates | Built-in with EAS Update | Requires third-party solution (CodePush) |
| Testing on Device | Instant - scan QR code with Expo Go | Requires USB connection and native setup |
| App Size | ~20MB Android, ~33MB iOS (includes runtime) | Smaller - only includes what you use |
| Custom Native Code | Available in bare workflow or with config plugins | Full access out of the box |
| Build Process | Cloud builds with EAS Build - no local setup needed | Local builds require Xcode and Android Studio |
| Learning Curve | Beginner-friendly | Steep - requires native development knowledge |
| Best For | 90% of apps, rapid development, startups | Apps with heavy custom native requirements |
Expert Insight: According to Flatirons Development, approximately 90% of mobile apps can be built entirely within Expo's managed workflow, making it the ideal choice for most development teams. The React Native CLI is typically only necessary for apps with extensive custom native module requirements.
Expo vs Flutter
Two different approaches to cross-platform development. Data compiled from Appiko's 2025 Framework Comparison and developer surveys.
| Aspect | Expo (React Native) | Flutter |
|---|---|---|
| Programming Language | JavaScript / TypeScript Used by 67% of developers worldwide | Dart Used by 6% of developers |
| Architecture | JavaScript bridge to native components | Compiles to native code with custom rendering engine |
| Performance | Excellent for most apps - uses native components | Superior for graphics-heavy apps |
| UI Components | Native platform components Looks native on each platform | Custom widgets Consistent look across platforms |
| Hot Reload | Fast Refresh | Hot Reload |
| Ecosystem | Massive - 2M+ npm packages | Growing - 30,000+ pub packages |
| Developer Pool | 17M+ JavaScript developers | 2M+ Flutter developers |
| Web Development | Excellent - React Native Web | Good - Flutter Web (still maturing) |
| Code Reusability | 95%+ across iOS, Android, Web | 90%+ across iOS, Android |
| Time to Market | Fastest - if team knows JS | Fast - but requires learning Dart |
| OTA Updates | Built-in with EAS | Not available |
| Best For | Business apps, social apps, content platforms, e-commerce | Graphics-heavy apps, games, apps needing consistent UI |
Choose Expo When:
- Your team already knows JavaScript/TypeScript
- You need to ship fast and iterate quickly
- You want over-the-air updates
- You're building for mobile and web
- You want to leverage the JavaScript ecosystem
Choose Flutter When:
- You need maximum graphics performance
- You want pixel-perfect UI consistency
- You're building a game or animation-heavy app
- Your team is comfortable learning Dart
- You have Google Cloud infrastructure
What Makes Expo Special
Features that set Expo apart from traditional mobile development frameworks
Expo SDK 54
The latest Expo SDK includes over 50 pre-built libraries that give you instant access to native device features. No native code required. According to Expo's release notes, SDK 54 includes Apple's new Liquid Glass design system.
Expo Go
Test your app on real devices in seconds. Just scan a QR code and see your app running instantly. Research from PagePro shows this reduces testing time by 80% compared to traditional emulators.
Expo Router
File-based routing inspired by Next.js. Create a file in your app folder, and it automatically becomes a route. Learn more from Expo's Router documentation.
OTA Updates
Fix bugs and ship new features instantly without waiting for app store approval. According to industry research, OTA updates can reduce critical bug fix time from 7 days to 5 minutes.
Who Uses Expo?
From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Expo powers apps used by millions of people every day
Consumer Apps
Social media platforms, messaging apps, and content discovery tools serving millions of daily active users.
Enterprise Solutions
Internal tools, productivity apps, and business management platforms for Fortune 500 companies.
Startup MVPs
Fast-moving startups using Expo to validate ideas and reach market before competitors.
Notable Companies Using React Native & Expo:
According to React Native's official showcase
Start Building with Expo
Three ways to build your next mobile app with Expo
Use Natively
Let AI build your Expo app for you. No coding required—just describe what you want, and our AI generates production-ready Expo apps in minutes.
Build with AIDIY Approach
Install Expo and start building yourself. Perfect if you want full control and enjoy coding your own apps from scratch.
Read Expo DocsLearn & Explore
Try Expo Snack in your browser. Build and run Expo apps without installing anything—great for learning and experimentation.
Try Expo SnackDevelopment Cost Comparison
How much time and money does Expo save? Real numbers from industry research and developer surveys.
| Development Aspect | Traditional Native (iOS + Android) | Expo | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup | 2-4 hours per platform | 5 minutes total | ~95% faster |
| Development Time (Simple App) | 8-12 weeks (2 teams) | 3-4 weeks (1 team) | ~70% faster |
| Developer Cost | $150K-$200K (iOS + Android devs) | $80K-$120K (JS developer) | ~40-50% cheaper |
| Maintenance Cost (Annual) | $60K-$100K (2 codebases) | $30K-$50K (1 codebase) | ~50% cheaper |
| Time to Market | 3-6 months | 4-8 weeks | ~60% faster |
| Bug Fix Deployment | 5-7 days (app store review) | 5-10 minutes (OTA update) | ~99% faster |
Real-World Example:
A typical e-commerce app that would cost $150,000 and take 6 months with traditional native development can be built with Expo for approximately $60,000 in 2 months—a savings of $90,000 and 4 months to market. Source: Flatirons Development cost analysis.
When NOT to Use Expo
Expo is powerful, but it's not the right choice for every project. Here's when you might need a different approach.
App Size Sensitive Projects
Expo apps include the Expo runtime, adding approximately 20MB on Android and 33MB on iOS. According to Excellence Technologies, if your app must be under 10MB, consider React Native CLI.
However, for most apps, an extra 20-30MB is negligible compared to the development time savings.
Extensive Custom Native Modules
If your app requires deeply integrated custom native code that doesn't exist in the Expo ecosystem, you'll need to use Expo's bare workflow or React Native CLI. Research from PiEmbSysTech suggests this applies to less than 10% of apps.
Note: Expo's config plugins now support many third-party libraries that previously required ejecting.
High-Performance Games
Apps requiring complex 3D graphics, intensive physics calculations, or game engines like Unity or Unreal are better suited to native development or game-specific frameworks.
However, 2D games and most interactive apps work perfectly with Expo.
Background Processing Heavy Apps
Apps that need to run complex tasks continuously in the background (like audio processing or real-time data sync) may have limitations. According to developer research, these apps often require platform-specific optimizations.
Standard background tasks (notifications, location tracking) work great in Expo.
The Bottom Line
If you're building a business app, social platform, e-commerce store, productivity tool, or any standard mobile application, Expo is almost certainly the right choice. According to industry analysis, 90% of mobile apps can be built entirely within Expo's managed workflow with no compromises.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about building mobile apps with Natively
Natively is an AI-powered platform that builds native iOS and Android mobile apps from simple text descriptions. It uses React Native and Expo to create production-ready applications with full source code ownership.
No coding experience required. Simply describe your app idea in any language, and Natively's AI will generate the complete native mobile application for you. However, having coding knowledge allows you to customize and extend your app further.
Natively builds native apps for iOS, Android, and web using React Native and Expo. Your apps will work on iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and web browsers. The apps compile to real native code for optimal performance on mobile devices.
Yes! When your app is ready, you can use Expo Launch to publish your app to the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and the web.
Yes, you have full ownership of your app's source code. You can download the files as a ZIP or export them as a GitHub repository. Modify and deploy it anywhere without any vendor lock-in. The code is yours to keep forever.
Natively integrates with Supabase to provide database, authentication, cloud storage, and edge functions for your mobile apps. This gives your app full backend functionality including user management, data persistence, file uploads, and serverless functions.
Natively starts at $5 USD per month. Higher tiers provide more prompts per month - all features are included in every plan. Check out our pricing page for detailed information about available plans.
Absolutely! Since you own the source code, you can modify it however you like. If you wish, you can edit the code straight inside Natively since we have an IDE built in, although it's recommended to build the app by just prompting. You can also take the code and work on it yourself. The code is clean, well-structured React Native code that follows industry best practices.
Yes! Natively includes a built-in APK builder at no extra cost. When you build your Android app, simply press the build button and Natively will automatically generate your APK file. You'll receive a download link to your finished APK build that you can install on any Android device or upload to the Google Play Store.
Building an APK with Natively is incredibly simple - just click the build button in your project dashboard and wait for the build to complete. Natively handles all the complex Android build configuration automatically. Once finished, you'll get a direct download link to your APK file. No need to set up Android Studio or configure build tools yourself.
Absolutely! With Natively's built-in APK builder, you can generate APK files instantly to test on real Android devices. Download the APK and install it on your phone or tablet to test your app before publishing to the Google Play Store. You can generate unlimited APK builds during development.
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