Tempo for
Mobile Apps
Done Right.
Tempo.new is a powerful React web IDE. But building a tempo.new mobile app that ships to the App Store requires more than an Expo add-on. Natively is the AI-powered builder designed from day one for native iOS and Android.
The Mobile App Economy is Massive
With nearly 60% of all web traffic coming from mobile devices and consumer spending surging past $155 billion in 2025, a web-only strategy leaves money on the table.
Sources: TechCrunch, Research.com, Udonis
The "Tempo Gap"
Tempo.new is excellent at what it does — building React web applications with a Figma-like visual editor. But when it comes to shipping native mobile apps, the gap becomes clear.
Tempo is Web-First
Tempo was built as a visual IDE for React web apps using Vite and Tailwind CSS. Mobile support was added later through an Expo integration — it's a secondary feature, not the core product.
What Tempo Does Well
- Figma-like visual React editor
- Storybook component imports
- GitHub + VSCode integration
Where Tempo Falls Short for Mobile
- No built-in APK or IPA builds
- No App Store deployment pipeline
- Limited native API access
- No push notification support
Natively is Mobile-First
Natively was purpose-built for native mobile apps from day one. Every feature — from AI code generation to one-click deployment — is optimized for the App Store and Play Store.
Complete Mobile Development
- One-click Android APK downloads
- iOS deployment via Expo Launch
- Native push notifications (APNs + FCM)
- Camera, GPS, Bluetooth, biometrics
- Built-in backend with auth & storage
- 60fps native performance
- 100% code ownership with export
Head-to-Head Comparison
Explore the differences across key categories.
| Feature | Tempo.new | Natively |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | React web applications | Native iOS & Android apps |
| AI Engine | Claude 4 + Gemini Search | Purpose-built mobile AI |
| Framework | React (Vite + Tailwind) | React Native + Expo |
| Visual Editor | Figma-like drag & drop | Conversational AI + code editor |
| Starting Price | $0 (30 credits) / $30 Pro | $5/month (all features) |
| Backend Included | Supabase integration | Liquid Backend + Supabase |
Why Tempo's Expo Add-On Isn't Enough
Tempo added Expo support in V2 as a secondary feature. While this lets you generate React Native code and preview via Expo Go, the workflow has significant gaps that block most users from actually shipping a mobile app.
No Deploy Pipeline
The last mile is on you
Tempo generates code but hands off everything after that. You must independently configure EAS Build, manage signing certificates, set up TestFlight, and submit to the stores. This is the hardest part of mobile development.
Store Rejection Risk
Apple Guideline 4.2
Apple rejects apps that are essentially web views or lack native functionality. Without deep native integration, apps built with web-first tools risk rejection during the review process.
Missing Mobile Features
No built-in native APIs
Push notifications, biometric authentication, deep linking, offline storage, and background tasks are essential for production apps. Tempo does not document support for any of these mobile-specific capabilities.
Two Different Paths to Mobile
Compare the workflow: building a mobile app with Tempo vs. Natively, from idea to App Store.
With Tempo
Generate code in Tempo
Select Expo framework, prompt your app
Preview in Expo Go
Scan QR code for live preview
Push code to GitHub
Export your generated codebase
Set up EAS Build locally
Install EAS CLI, configure eas.json
Manage code signing
Certificates, provisioning profiles, keystore
Build APK/IPA manually
Run builds, debug failures, iterate
Submit to App Store
App Store Connect, Google Play Console
Steps 4–7 require significant technical expertise and are not handled by Tempo.
With Natively
Describe your app
Use natural language to describe what you want
AI generates native code
Complete React Native + TypeScript codebase
Preview on your phone
Scan QR code, test on real device instantly
Download APK (one click)
Built-in APK builder, no setup required
Deploy to App Store
Expo Launch handles builds and submission
Every step happens inside Natively. No external tools or technical expertise required.
Under the Hood
A closer look at what separates a web-first tool with a mobile add-on from a purpose-built mobile platform.
Native Device Access
Production mobile apps need deep access to device hardware and OS features. Here is what each platform provides.
Hardware Access
Security & Auth
Backend & Infrastructure
A mobile app needs a solid backend. Compare what each platform includes without additional setup or third-party services.
Data & Storage
PostgreSQL Database
Tempo: Via SupabaseNatively: Liquid Backend (included)File Storage
Tempo: Via SupabaseNatively: Cloud storage (included)Serverless Functions
Tempo: Not includedNatively: Edge functions (included)WebSocket Support
Tempo: Not documentedNatively: Built-in
Communication & Monetization
Push Notifications
Tempo: Not documentedNatively: APNs + FCM (included)Email (Resend)
Tempo: Not includedNatively: Resend integrationSMS (Twilio)
Tempo: Not includedNatively: Twilio integrationIn-App Purchases
Tempo: Not supportedNatively: RevenueCat integrationStripe Payments
Tempo: SaaS templateNatively: Via Liquid Backend
Pricing: Transparent vs. Complex
Compare what you actually get at each price point.
Tempo.new Pricing
Credit-based model with significant price jumps
Free
30 credits total, max 5/day
Pro
150 credits/month
Bonus Credits
250 additional credits
Agent+
Human-reviewed features, 1-3/week
Note: Mobile deployment (APK/IPA builds, App Store submission) requires separate Expo/EAS services not included in Tempo pricing.
Natively Pricing
All features included at every tier
Starts at
All platform features included
Everything included:
Same AI Workflow,
Native Output
If you've used any AI code generation tool, you already know the workflow. Natively adds the mobile-specific pipeline that tools like Tempo are missing.
Describe Your App
Type a natural language description. The AI understands mobile patterns like tab bars, navigation stacks, and gesture interactions.
Preview on Your Phone
Scan a QR code to run your app on your real device via Expo Go. Feel the native touch response and animations.
Iterate with AI
Refine through conversation. Add features, change layouts, connect backends. The AI writes production-quality React Native code.
Deploy to the App Store
Download your Android APK with one click. For iOS, use Expo Launch to build and submit to TestFlight and the App Store. No Mac required.
Where Tempo Fits in the AI Builder Landscape
There are dozens of AI-powered app builders in 2026. Understanding which ones focus on web vs. mobile is crucial.
| Platform | Primary Focus | Mobile Support | App Store Deploy | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natively | Native Mobile | Core product | $5/mo | |
| Tempo.new | React Web | Expo add-on | $0 (30 credits) | |
| Lovable | React Web | None | $20/mo | |
| Bolt.new | Web + Mobile | Expo support | $20/mo | |
| v0 (Vercel) | Next.js Web | None | $20/mo | |
| FlutterFlow | Mobile (Flutter) | Core product | $30/mo | |
| Replit Agent | Full-Stack | Expo support | $25/mo |
Prices as of February 2026. Visit each platform's website for current pricing. See our detailed comparisons: Lovable for Mobile | Bolt for Mobile | v0 for Mobile
Choosing the Right Tool
Tempo and Natively solve different problems. Use the right tool for the job.
Use Tempo When
Web is your platform
- Building React web applications
- You need a visual drag-and-drop editor
- Importing Figma designs to code
- Collaborating with designers on UI
- Building SaaS dashboards
Use Natively When
Mobile is your platform
- Building iOS & Android apps
- You need App Store deployment
- Accessing native device features
- Building with push notifications
- Creating apps without coding
Use Both When
You need web + mobile
- Web dashboard + native app
- Same Supabase backend, two frontends
- Testing idea on web, then going native
- Different UX per platform
- Maximum reach across all devices
About Tempo.new
Tempo (tempo.new) is an AI-powered visual IDE developed by Tempo Labs, a Toronto-based startup founded by Kevin Michael and Peter Gokhshteyn. The company graduated from Y Combinator's Summer 2023 batch and raised a $5 million seed round in October 2025 from investors including Golden Ventures, Box Group, and Webflow Ventures.
Tempo's core value proposition is combining an IDE, a design tool, and an AI assistant into one workspace. It uses Claude 4 and Gemini Search to generate React code from text prompts and uploaded images, with a Figma-like visual editor for pixel-level refinement.
The platform achieved #1 Product of the Day on Product Hunt and has a team of 8 employees. It offers pre-built SaaS templates for Stripe, Supabase, Convex+Clerk, and Polar integrations.
Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using Tempo for mobile apps and how Natively compares.
Tempo added Expo support for React Native in its V2 update, so it can generate initial mobile app code and preview via Expo Go. However, Tempo does not offer built-in app store deployment, APK/IPA building, or deep native API access. For production-ready native mobile apps, a dedicated mobile builder like Natively provides a more complete workflow from prompt to App Store.
No. Natively is an independent company focused exclusively on native mobile app development. Tempo is a great tool for React web applications, and we respect their work. Think of Natively as the purpose-built mobile solution that picks up where web-focused tools leave off.
Tempo is primarily a visual IDE for React web apps with secondary Expo mobile support. Natively is built from the ground up for native mobile apps. Natively offers one-click APK building, iOS deployment via Expo Launch (no Mac required), built-in backend with authentication, push notifications, and access to all native device APIs like camera, Bluetooth, and biometrics.
Tempo can generate React Native code via Expo, but it does not handle the build and submission process. You would need to set up EAS Build, manage code signing certificates, and submit to the stores yourself. Natively handles this entire pipeline, including one-click APK downloads for Android and seamless Expo Launch integration for iOS App Store submission.
Natively starts at $5/month with all features included (AI generation, code export, APK building, backend). Tempo offers a free tier with 30 credits and a Pro plan at $30/month for 150 credits, but mobile-specific features like app store deployment are not included and must be handled separately through Expo services.
No coding experience is needed. Natively uses conversational AI, so you describe your app idea in plain English and the AI generates a complete React Native + TypeScript codebase. You can preview it instantly on your phone via QR code, then deploy to the App Store when ready.
Yes, you own 100% of the source code. You can export to GitHub with bidirectional sync or download as a ZIP file. The code is standard React Native + TypeScript that any developer can continue working on in VS Code or any IDE.
Learn more about AI app building and our APK builder.
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Explore More Comparisons
See how Natively stacks up against other popular tools for building mobile apps:
Compare v0 and Natively for mobile development
Lovable vs NativelySee how Lovable compares for building native apps
Bolt.new vs NativelyBolt.new and Natively: which is better for mobile?
Anything vs NativelyAnything compared to Natively for mobile apps
Bubble vs NativelyHow Bubble and Natively approach mobile apps
APK BuilderBuild and deploy Android APKs with ease
Ready to Build
Native Mobile Apps?
Tempo handles web. Natively handles mobile. Stop wrestling with deployment pipelines and start building the app your users actually want on their phones.