Is React Native as good as native?

For the vast majority of apps, indistinguishable to end users. Cases where native is genuinely superior are specific - maximum graphics performance, very deep system integration. We will be honest about your use case.

How much cheaper is cross-platform?

Typically 40-60% less than two separate native apps. Savings are real but not 100% - platform-specific work is still required.

Can React Native access all device features?

A broad range through the native module system. Some less common capabilities may require custom native modules. We assess during planning.

Cross-Platform Mobile Application Development

React Native applications that deliver genuine native performance and user experience on both iOS and Android from a single shared codebase - without the compromises of hybrid approaches and without the cost of maintaining two separate native applications.

Let's Talk

One Codebase, Both Platforms

We build cross-platform mobile applications for businesses across the UK and Isle of Man. React Native applications that deliver genuine native performance and user experience on both iOS and Android from a single shared codebase - without the compromises associated with hybrid or web-wrapped approaches, and without the cost of maintaining two entirely separate native applications.

Cross-platform mobile development has matured significantly in recent years. React Native in particular has reached a level of maturity where the distinction between a cross-platform app and a native app is, for the vast majority of use cases, not perceptible to the user. The performance, the integration with device features, and the adherence to platform conventions are all achievable at native quality levels through React Native - which is why it is used by major companies for applications with millions of users.

Every cross-platform application we build is designed and delivered personally by Owen Jones, OLXR's founder and lead engineer. We bring first-hand React Native production experience - shipping, submitting, and maintaining real cross-platform products - to every project we take on.

Who This Is For

Businesses that need to reach users on both iOS and Android and want to do so efficiently without building two separate apps

Startups and scale-ups for whom the cost of two separate native development projects is prohibitive but who need genuine native quality

Organisations that have evaluated cross-platform frameworks and want to work with a team experienced in delivering production React Native applications

Businesses building internal tools for teams with mixed iOS and Android device usage

Companies that have a web development team with JavaScript or TypeScript experience and want to leverage that for mobile development

Businesses that have had poor experiences with older hybrid approaches and want to understand what modern React Native delivers

What We Deliver

Shared Codebase

Single codebase with platform-specific adaptations where needed.

Native Performance

Not web-view based - genuine native rendering and responsiveness.

Full Device Access

Camera, biometrics, GPS, push notifications through native modules.

Platform-Appropriate UI

iOS conventions on iPhone, Android conventions on Android.

Shared Backend

Single API layer serving both iOS and Android builds.

Both App Stores

Submission and management for both App Store and Google Play.

Single Effort

One development and maintenance effort covering both platforms.

Native Performance Tuning

Platform-specific optimisation where required for maximum user experience on each device.

Our Approach

Share Logic, Adapt Presentation

The value of cross-platform development is in sharing the business logic, data management, and backend integration that is the same on both platforms - while applying platform-specific presentation and interaction patterns that users on each platform expect. We structure React Native applications to maximise the shared code for logic while giving the presentation layer the flexibility to adapt to platform conventions. This produces apps that feel genuinely native on each platform rather than like a generic design forced onto both.

Understand the Limitations

React Native is the right choice for a very broad range of mobile applications, but it is not the right choice for every application. Applications that require maximum graphics performance, deep system-level integration, or capabilities that React Native's native module ecosystem does not yet support may be better served by native development. We assess your specific requirements honestly and recommend cross-platform development only when it is genuinely the right approach for your use case.

Test Both Platforms Throughout

Cross-platform development does not mean testing on one platform and assuming the other will work. iOS and Android have real differences in how they render layouts, handle gestures, and manage memory - differences that can cause an app that works perfectly on one platform to have problems on the other. We test on both platforms continuously throughout development, not just at the point of submission.

Why Choose OLXR

Cross-platform sounds like a compromise - and with the wrong framework or approach, it is. We build with React Native at production quality, sharing logic across platforms while adapting presentation so each app feels genuinely native to its users.

Production React Native

Real product experience shipping React Native to both app stores

Both Platforms Equal

iOS and Android designed and tested as equal first-class targets

Cost-Efficient

Typically 40-60% less than two separate native projects

Senior-Led

Built by the founder, not delegated to juniors

Cross-platform done well is not a compromise - it delivers genuine native quality on both platforms from a single codebase, at a cost that actually makes sense.

OJ

Owen Jones

Founder & Lead Engineer

Technologies We Use

React Native

TypeScript

JavaScript

iOS

Android

ASP.NET Core

AWS

Azure

SQL Server

Stripe

Push

Don't see your stack? Get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the vast majority of mobile applications, React Native delivers an experience that is indistinguishable from native development to the end user. Performance, access to device features, and adherence to platform conventions are all achievable at native quality in React Native. The cases where native development is genuinely superior are specific: applications requiring maximum graphics performance, very deep system-level integration, or capabilities that React Native's ecosystem does not yet support. We will tell you honestly if your use case falls into one of those categories.

Cross-platform development with React Native typically costs 40-60% less than building equivalent applications in native iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin) separately, because the shared codebase eliminates the duplication of business logic, backend integration, and much of the UI implementation. The savings are real, but they are not 100% - platform-specific work is still required, and testing must cover both platforms. We will give you an accurate estimate for your specific project that reflects the actual work involved.

React Native provides access to a broad range of device features through its native module system - camera, GPS, biometrics, push notifications, contacts, accelerometer, and many more. Some less common device capabilities may require a custom native module to be written, which adds complexity. We assess whether your required device capabilities are well-supported by the React Native ecosystem during the planning phase.

Related Services

Mobile Applications

iOS and Android app development

iOS Applications

iPhone and iPad apps

Android Applications

Android phone and tablet apps

Ready to Build for Both Platforms?

Tell us about your app. We will give you an honest view of whether cross-platform is the right approach.