Firebase Studio for Mobile Apps: What It Can and Can't Do

What Is Firebase Studio?

Firebase Studio is Google's cloud-based development environment for building full-stack, AI-powered applications directly in your browser. It combines a Code OSS-based IDE (Visual Studio Code compatible) with deep Firebase integration and Gemini AI assistance.

From Project IDX to Firebase Studio

Google originally launched this tool as Project IDX in mid-2023 as an experimental cloud IDE. At Google Cloud Next in April 2025, they rebranded it as Firebase Studio, adding tighter Firebase integration and the App Prototyping agent powered by Gemini. If you've been searching for information about a "Project IDX mobile app," this is the same tool under its new name.

Core Features

App Prototyping Agent

The headline feature of Firebase Studio is its Gemini-powered App Prototyping agent. You describe what you want in natural language—or even upload sketches and images—and it generates a functional web app prototype. It can pull stock images from Unsplash and create full-featured UIs without writing code.

Important caveat: The App Prototyping agent currently only generates Next.js web applications. It does not support mobile frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Expo. Google's documentation states that support for other platforms and frameworks is planned for the future.

Cloud IDE

The Code OSS-based editor runs entirely in your browser, powered by Google Cloud VMs. You get code completion, an integrated terminal, extension support via the Open VSX Registry, and customizable environments through Nix configuration. It supports a wide range of languages including JavaScript, Python, Go, Java, C++, and Ruby.

Firebase and Google Cloud Integration

Firebase Studio integrates natively with Firebase services like App Hosting, Firestore, Authentication, and Cloud Functions. You can also connect to Google Cloud services like Cloud Run, Maps Platform, and Secret Manager. For deployment, it supports publishing to Firebase App Hosting and Firebase Hosting.

Supported Frameworks at a Glance

Can You Build a Firebase Studio Mobile App?

This is the key question most people ask: can you take Firebase Studio and use it to build a real, production-ready native mobile application? The short answer is: partially. Firebase Studio can help you write mobile code, but it cannot take you all the way to a published app by itself.

What Firebase Studio Offers for Mobile

React Native and Expo Workspaces

Firebase Studio does support React Native and Expo workspaces. You can set up a project, write React Native code in the cloud-based editor, and get Gemini-powered code completion and debugging help. The roadmap also mentions support for non-Expo React Native workspaces and React Native developer mode builds.

Flutter Development

Flutter is a first-class citizen in Firebase Studio, which makes sense given that both are Google products. You get Flutter project templates, version management, and the roadmap includes Flutter DevTools integration.

Android Emulator Preview

One useful mobile-specific feature is the interactive Android emulator that runs directly in the browser. This lets you preview your Android app without installing Android Studio locally. However, iOS simulation support is still listed as "under investigation" on the official roadmap.

The Key Limitations for Mobile

While the coding environment is solid, there are significant gaps if your goal is to ship a mobile app to the App Store or Google Play:

App Prototyping Agent Is Web-Only

The most exciting feature—the AI-powered App Prototyping agent—only generates Next.js web applications. If you want AI to help you build a mobile app from a text description, Firebase Studio cannot do that today. This is the single biggest gap for anyone searching for a "Firebase Studio mobile app" solution.

No Native Build Pipeline

Firebase Studio does not include a way to compile your React Native or Flutter code into native binaries (IPA files for iOS or APK/AAB files for Android). To generate installable app files, you still need to:

• ✗Set up EAS Build (Expo Application Services) or a local build environment
• ✗Install and configure Xcode (Mac only) for iOS builds
• ✗Configure Android Studio with Gradle and signing certificates
• ✗Manage code signing, provisioning profiles, and developer accounts yourself

Workspace Quotas for Mobile Frameworks

Firebase Studio imposes specific limits on mobile development workspaces. According to the official pricing page, users without a Premium plan subscription are limited to 2 total workspaces across both Flutter and React Native + Expo combined. This means if you create one Flutter workspace and one React Native workspace, you've hit your limit.

What This Means in Practice

If you are building multiple mobile apps or want to experiment with different approaches, you will quickly hit the workspace ceiling. Upgrading to the Google Developer Program Premium plan ($24.99/month or $299/year) increases this to 30 workspaces, but that adds significant cost for what is marketed as a free tool.

Firebase Studio Pricing and Workspace Limits

Firebase Studio is free to access, but the experience varies significantly based on your Google Developer Program membership tier:

Hidden Costs to Consider

While Firebase Studio itself is free, linking a Cloud Billing account (required for features like Firebase App Hosting) automatically upgrades your Firebase project to the pay-as-you-go Blaze pricing plan. This means you pay for any usage beyond the free-tier quotas for Firestore, Cloud Functions, and other services. The Gemini Developer API usage also upgrades to the paid tier once billing is connected.

The Real Cost of Mobile Development on Firebase Studio

To build a complete mobile app using Firebase Studio, you would also need to budget for:

• 1.EAS Build — Expo's build service starts at $99/month for production use
• 2.Apple Developer Program — $99/year for App Store publishing
• 3.Google Play Console — $25 one-time fee
• 4.Firebase Blaze plan usage — variable cost based on your app's traffic

Firebase Studio vs Natively: Side-by-Side Comparison

Firebase Studio and Natively solve different problems. Firebase Studio is a general-purpose cloud IDE with Firebase integration. Natively is a purpose-built AI mobile app builder. Here is how they compare for mobile development specifically:

Different Tools for Different Stages

It is worth noting that Firebase Studio and Natively are not necessarily competitors. Firebase Studio is a development environment—a place where experienced developers write and debug code. Natively is an app builder—a tool that generates complete applications from descriptions. Depending on your technical skill level and goals, you might use one, the other, or even both.

A Note on the AI Approach

Both tools use AI, but in fundamentally different ways. Firebase Studio's Gemini helps you while you code—code completion, debugging suggestions, and chat-based assistance. Natively's AI generates the entire app for you—describe what you want and get a working native application. This difference matters significantly for non-technical founders and entrepreneurs who want to validate mobile app ideas quickly.

When Firebase Studio Makes Sense

Firebase Studio is a genuinely useful tool for the right use cases. It is not designed to be a mobile app builder, and that is perfectly fine—it excels in other areas:

Ideal Use Cases

Web Application Prototyping

The App Prototyping agent is excellent for quickly generating Next.js web app prototypes. If you need a web application rather than a native mobile app, this is a strong option.

Backend-Heavy Firebase Projects

If you are already invested in the Google Cloud and Firebase ecosystem, Firebase Studio provides tight integration with Firestore, Cloud Functions, App Hosting, and other services. The local emulator suite runs directly in the workspace.

Cloud-Based Code Editing

For developers who want a VS Code-like experience in the browser without local setup, Firebase Studio delivers. It is particularly useful for teams working from Chromebooks or iPads (though iPad support is still on the roadmap).

What the Roadmap Promises

According to the Firebase Studio roadmap, Google has plans for GPU support for AI workloads, more powerful VMs, collaboration features with multi-cursor editing, and expanded Firebase integrations. For mobile, they are investigating iOS simulation support and working on React Native developer mode builds.

Timeline Considerations

The roadmap explicitly notes that it is "not exhaustive, nor a guarantee" of completion, and no specific dates are provided. If you need to build a mobile app today, you should plan based on current capabilities, not future promises.

When Natively Is the Better Choice

If your goal is to build a native mobile app that runs on iOS and Android—and you want to do it fast, without coding, and with a path to the App Store—Natively is the tool built specifically for that purpose.

Built for Mobile-First Projects

AI-Generated Native Apps

Unlike Firebase Studio's web-only AI prototyping, Natively's AI generates real React Native code using Expo. You describe your app in plain English and get a production-ready native application—not a web app, not a prototype, but actual mobile code that renders native UI components.

Built-In Build Pipeline

This is where the difference is most stark. Natively includes a built-in APK builder at no extra cost. Click a button and get an installable Android APK file. For iOS, Natively integrates with Expo Launch to handle builds, signing, and deployment to the App Store and Google Play.

No Mac Required

One of the biggest barriers to mobile development is the requirement for a Mac to build iOS apps. Natively handles iOS builds in the cloud, so you can build and deploy iPhone apps from a Windows PC, Chromebook, or any device with a browser.

Backend Included

Every Natively app comes with a complete backend: database, user authentication (email, Google OAuth), file storage, websockets, and serverless functions. No pay-as-you-go surprises.

Native Device Features

Because Natively generates real React Native code, your apps get full access to native device capabilities:

• ✓Push notifications via APNs and FCM
• ✓Camera, GPS, and Bluetooth access
• ✓Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID)
• ✓Native navigation with Expo Router
• ✓Apple Liquid Glass design system (Expo SDK 54)

Full Code Ownership

Like Firebase Studio, Natively gives you full ownership of your source code. You can download it as a ZIP, export to GitHub, and modify it however you like—zero vendor lock-in. The code is clean React Native and Expo, so any developer can work with it.

How to Build a Mobile App with Natively

If you have decided that a dedicated mobile app builder is the right approach, here is how the process works with Natively:

Step 1: Describe Your App Idea

Open Natively and tell the AI what you want to build. Be as specific or as general as you like. For example: "Build me a fitness tracking app with workout logging, progress charts, and social sharing." The AI understands context and will generate a full-featured app from your description.

Step 2: Let AI Build It

Watch as the AI generates your complete application. This includes screens, navigation, backend integration, and styling. The output is real React Native code using Expo SDK 54, with Apple's Liquid Glass design system for modern, native-feeling UI.

Step 3: Test on Your Device

Scan the QR code with Expo Go to instantly preview your app on a real phone. For Android, use the built-in APK builder to create an installable file and test the full native experience. Iterate using the same conversational AI interface to refine features and design.

Step 4: Deploy and Launch

When you are ready to go live, deploy to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store through Expo Launch. Natively handles build configurations, signing, and submission automatically. No Xcode, no Android Studio, no manual certificate management.

Want to Customize the Code?

Natively includes a built-in IDE where you can edit the generated React Native code directly. Or export your project to GitHub and work on it locally with your preferred editor. The code is clean, standard React Native—no proprietary formats or lock-in.

Which Tool Should You Use?

Not sure whether Firebase Studio or Natively is right for your project? Take this quick quiz to get a personalized recommendation based on your specific needs:

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Building Your Mobile App Today

Firebase Studio is a powerful cloud IDE for web development and backend work. But if what you really want is to build a native mobile app—one that runs natively on iOS and Android, gets published to the App Store and Google Play, and uses native device features—you need a tool designed specifically for that.

Natively takes you from idea to published app in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional development. No coding required. No Mac required. No complex build configurations.