Summarize this article with:
Major companies abandoned separate iOS and Android teams years ago. Apps built with React Native now power billions of user interactions daily, from Instagram’s feed to Discord’s real-time chat.
The framework solves a problem that once forced businesses to choose between speed and quality. You either built twice (native for each platform) or compromised on performance with earlier cross-platform solutions.
React Native changed that equation completely.
This guide examines 20 production applications using the framework. You’ll see how Facebook, Shopify, and Walmart achieved 95%+ code sharing between platforms while maintaining native performance.
Each profile reveals specific technical implementations, migration strategies, and performance metrics. The evidence shows why mobile application development teams increasingly bet their products on JavaScript and React components instead of Swift and Kotlin.
Apps Built With React Native
| Application Name | Industry Category | Primary Use Case | Target User Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Networking | Social connection and content sharing platform | General consumer audience worldwide | |
| Social Media | Photo and video sharing network | Visual content creators and consumers | |
| Discord | Communication Platform | Voice, video, and text communication service | Gaming communities and group messaging users |
| Visual Discovery | Image-based idea discovery and inspiration engine | DIY enthusiasts and lifestyle planners | |
| Shopify | E-commerce Platform | Online store management and sales tool | Merchants and online business owners |
| Walmart | Retail Commerce | Mobile shopping and grocery delivery application | Budget-conscious retail shoppers |
| Bloomberg | Financial News | Business news and market data delivery system | Finance professionals and investors |
| Uber Eats | Food Delivery | Restaurant food ordering and delivery service | Urban consumers seeking meal delivery |
| Skype | Video Communication | Video calling and messaging application | Remote workers and international communicators |
| Tesla | Automotive Technology | Electric vehicle control and monitoring interface | Tesla vehicle owners |
| Coinbase | Cryptocurrency Exchange | Digital currency trading and wallet platform | Cryptocurrency traders and investors |
| Salesforce | CRM Software | Customer relationship management mobile tool | Sales teams and business professionals |
| Wix | Website Builder | Website creation and management platform | Small business owners and website creators |
| SoundCloud | Music Streaming | Audio streaming and music distribution service | Independent musicians and music listeners |
| Vogue | Fashion Media | Fashion news and trend publication reader | Fashion enthusiasts and industry professionals |
| Artsy | Art Marketplace | Fine art discovery and purchase platform | Art collectors and gallery visitors |
| Tableau | Business Intelligence | Data visualization and analytics dashboard | Data analysts and business intelligence teams |
| Townske | Travel Recommendations | Local travel guide and recommendation network | Travelers seeking authentic local experiences |
| Gyroscope | Health Tracking | Personal health and life analytics tracker | Quantified self enthusiasts and health optimizers |
| Brex | Corporate Finance | Business credit card and expense management system | Startups and corporate finance managers |
Facebook created React Native internally before open-sourcing it in 2015. Powers specific features, not the entire app.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Core features: News feed, notifications, ad management. Ads Manager runs entirely on React Native with 85% code reuse between platforms.
Origin: Started at a 2013 hackathon. Jordan Walke created the initial prototype. Released for iOS in March 2015, Android in September 2015.
Performance: Billions of daily users. 99.9% crash-free sessions. Hot reloading cut developer iteration from minutes to seconds.
Key advantage: Automated updates without app store downloads. Global teams share business logic across platforms.
Instagram integrated React Native in 2016, expanded usage after Meta’s 2023 architectural improvements.
Platforms: iOS and Android. Push Notification Settings and Comment Moderation run entirely on the framework.
What it handles: Photos, videos, stories, reels, DMs, shopping. React Native manages UI-heavy screens.
Technical details: Added roughly 3,500 methods to Android while staying single-dex. React Native Fabric’s 2023 rollout brought modern rendering improvements.
Users: Over 2 billion monthly active users. Performance matches native for most interactions.
Discord
Discord chose React Native on day one of its 2015 iOS release. Shares 98% of code between platforms.
Platforms: iOS (2015), Android (migrated in 2022), Windows, macOS desktop.
What it does: Real-time voice, video, text messaging, screen sharing for gaming communities.
Technical approach: 2022 Android rewrite unified three codebases into one. Custom native modules handle the chat view. UITableView on iOS for smooth scrolling.
Users: Over 200 million monthly active. Small engineering team maintains feature parity everywhere.
Pinterest added React Native in 2017 for high-iteration screens after extensive testing.
Platforms: iOS and Android with selective integration.
Core use: Topic Picker view during onboarding runs entirely on React Native. Perfect for frequent A/B testing.
Technical win: Uses same Gestalt design system from web platform. A/B tests showed no performance regressions versus native.
Users: Over 400 million monthly active. Engagement metrics flat to slightly positive.
Shopify
Shopify committed to React Native as “the future of mobile” in 2020. All mobile apps now use the framework.
Platforms: iOS and Android apps built entirely with React Native.
What it powers: E-commerce merchant tools, Point of Sale, inventory management, order processing.
Code sharing: 95-99% between iOS and Android. Migrated to New Architecture in 2024 while maintaining weekly releases.
Performance: Screen loads under 500ms, crash-free sessions above 99.9%.
Users: Over 2 million merchants daily. Hot reloading transformed productivity.
Walmart
Walmart rebuilt its e-commerce mobile app using React Native.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Functions: Product browsing, purchasing, curbside pickup, pharmacy services, Savings Catcher.
Code sharing: 95% between platforms. Single JavaScript team maintains both apps.
Impact: Improved page transitions, faster development cycles, better customer experience.
Bloomberg
Bloomberg Professional Services developed its consumer mobile app entirely in React Native.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Financial news, live market data, watchlists, Bloomberg TV streaming, portfolio tracking.
Development speed: Completed rebuild in 5 months. Native would have taken twice as long.
Advantage: Automated updates without app store submissions.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats used React Native for its Restaurant Dashboard.
Platforms: iOS and Android for restaurant partners
Purpose: Order management, delivery coordination, menu updates. Required sound notifications and push alerts unavailable in original web version.
Why React Native: Team had extensive React experience but limited iOS/Android exposure. Bridged the knowledge gap.
Skype
Microsoft completely rewrote Skype using React Native in 2017.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows desktop
Functions: Voice calls, video conferencing, messaging, screen sharing, file transfer.
Significance: Microsoft’s adoption extended React Native beyond mobile. Company now maintains React Native Windows repository.
Tesla
Tesla’s mobile app uses React Native layered with native Swift and Kotlin.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Vehicle status monitoring, remote lock/unlock, charging control, climate adjustment, service scheduling.
Approach: React Native provides consistent appearance across platforms. Swift and Kotlin handle performance-critical animations.
Coinbase
Coinbase transitioned from native to React Native in 2020-2021.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Functions: Cryptocurrency trading, portfolio tracking, price alerts, secure wallet, educational resources.
Technical details: Custom components built in TypeScript. Fast Refresh provides sub-second reload cycles.
Users: Over 100 million. Ranks #21 in iOS Finance category with 1.7+ million ratings.
Result: Engineers describe it as “nearly indistinguishable from fully native product.”
Salesforce
Salesforce provides mobile SDK tools supporting React Native development.
Platforms: iOS and Android SDKs
Purpose: Enables businesses to build custom Salesforce-integrated applications. Einstein Vision AI runs on React Native.
What’s included: SmartSync Data Framework, SmartStore, authentication components.
Approach: Salesforce supports React Native development rather than using it for core platform.
Wix
Wix adopted React Native in 2015 as an early pioneer. Maintains one of the largest React Native codebases globally.
Platforms: iOS and Android for entire app suite
Features: Website editing, member management, business operations, e-commerce functionality.
Developer advantage: Front-end engineers already used React for web. Smooth transition between platforms.
Testing: Uses Enzyme, Chai, Sinon, Mocha. Same tools for web and mobile.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud built SoundCloud Pulse entirely in React Native.
Platforms: iOS and Android for creators
Purpose: Account management, statistics tracking, comment moderation, upload management.
Why: iOS developer scarcity prompted alternative approach. React Native solved hiring problem while maintaining quality.
Users: Over 20 million artists use the platform.
Vogue
Vogue developed an iOS app using React Native. Ranked among Apple’s top 10 App Store apps in 2017.
Platform: iOS-only
Content: Daily fashion news, runway coverage, celebrity style, beauty tips, lifestyle features, video content.
Advantage: Daily content updates without app store submissions.
Artsy
Artsy migrated from native iOS to React Native in 2016.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Purpose: Art marketplace connecting collectors with 1+ million artworks. Auction bidding, gallery shows, personalized recommendations.
Cultural impact: Developers say React Native transformed Artsy’s dev culture. No dedicated iOS team. Web engineers ship iOS code with minimal native guidance.
Users: 2.5 million unique monthly users from 160+ countries.
Tableau
Tableau uses React Native for mobile business intelligence apps.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Features: Dashboard viewing, interactive charts, mobile-optimized visualizations, offline access.
Approach: React Native bridges web platform with mobile. Touch-optimized interactions adapt desktop controls.
Townske
Townske built a travel app using React Native to avoid hiring native iOS developers.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Purpose: Travel guide creation and discovery. Local recommendations. 1,300+ guides covering 150+ cities across 75 countries.
Development speed: Single developer and designer completed iOS app in slightly over one month.
Recognition: App Store featured twice under “best new apps.”
Gyroscope
Gyroscope created a comprehensive life-tracking app using React Native.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Tracking: Steps, workouts, heart rate, sleep, productivity. Integration with wearables, fitness apps, productivity tools.
Features: Automated AI analysis, customizable tracking, automatic sleep and productivity monitoring.
Technical: Two view modes (Simple and Cards). Handles large datasets and real-time updates smoothly.
Brex
Brex uses React Native for corporate banking mobile features.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Purpose: Corporate card management, expense tracking, receipt capture, spending analytics for startups.
Features: Real-time transaction notifications, budget monitoring, rewards management, employee spending controls.
Advantage: Rapid feature deployment for fast-moving startup. Cross-platform ensures feature parity without delay.
FAQ on Apps Built With React Native
What apps are built with React Native?
Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Pinterest, Shopify, Walmart, Bloomberg, Uber Eats, Skype, and Tesla all use React Native for mobile applications. These companies share 85-99% of code between iOS and Android platforms. The framework powers features serving billions of users daily across social media, e-commerce, finance, and communication sectors.
Is React Native good for building mobile apps?
React Native delivers native performance while enabling cross-platform development with a single JavaScript codebase. Companies like Shopify report 95-99% code sharing between platforms with crash-free session rates exceeding 99.9%. The framework suits most app categories but complex games or AR applications may require fully native development instead.
What are the disadvantages of React Native apps?
Native modules require platform-specific code for advanced device features. The JavaScript bridge can create performance bottlenecks in computation-heavy applications. Third-party library quality varies, and breaking changes between versions sometimes complicate upgrades. Apps requiring cutting-edge platform features may wait for React Native support.
Can React Native apps access native features?
React Native provides native modules accessing device cameras, GPS, sensors, notifications, and file systems. Companies bridge platform-specific APIs through custom native code when needed. Discord uses UITableView for chat scrolling while Instagram integrates camera roll access. The framework combines JavaScript efficiency with native capabilities.
How does React Native compare to Flutter?
React Native uses JavaScript and native components while Flutter employs Dart and custom rendering engines. React Native offers larger community support and easier web developer onboarding. Flutter provides consistent UI across platforms and potentially smoother animations. Both frameworks achieve similar code reuse percentages for cross-platform app development.
Do React Native apps perform as well as native apps?
Shopify maintains screen load times under 500ms with React Native implementations. Bloomberg engineers completed their app rebuild in 5 months versus estimated 10 months for native development. Performance matches native for most use cases. Computation-intensive features may require native modules for optimal speed.
What companies stopped using React Native?
Airbnb discontinued React Native in 2018 citing integration challenges with existing native infrastructure. The company faced initialization time issues and needed extensive native knowledge for debugging. However, newer companies continue adopting the framework successfully as tooling and architecture improvements address earlier limitations.
How much does it cost to build a React Native app?
Development costs decrease 30-50% compared to building separate native applications. A single JavaScript team maintains both platforms instead of hiring specialized iOS and Android developers. Walmart achieved 95% code sharing, eliminating duplicate development work. Project complexity, features, and timeline determine final costs.
Can existing native apps integrate React Native?
Instagram added React Native to its existing native codebase incrementally, starting with push notification views. Companies adopt iterative approaches, building new features in React Native while maintaining legacy native code. The framework supports gradual migration without requiring complete rewrites, as demonstrated by Coinbase’s phased transition.
What programming languages does React Native use?
JavaScript and TypeScript power React Native development for business logic and UI components. Native modules require Swift or Objective-C for iOS features and Java or Kotlin for Android functionality. Coinbase standardized on TypeScript for type safety across their entire mobile application codebase.
Conclusion
The apps built with React Native profiled here represent billions in market value and serve millions of daily users. These aren’t experimental projects or side features anymore.
Shopify rewrote 300+ screens per platform. Coinbase migrated 100 million users to a unified codebase. Discord shares 98% of code between operating systems.
The pattern is clear.
Companies prioritizing developer velocity and cross-platform consistency choose React Native. Those requiring cutting-edge native features or maximum performance optimization stick with Swift and Kotlin.
Neither approach is universally correct.
What changed since 2015 is React Native’s production readiness. The new architecture eliminates previous bottlenecks. TypeScript adoption brings enterprise-grade type safety. Hot reloading transforms development cycles.
The framework matured from Facebook’s internal experiment into legitimate infrastructure supporting critical business applications. Financial platforms, e-commerce giants, and social networks trust it with sensitive transactions and real-time communications.
That track record speaks louder than any benchmark.
Many of his resources are available on various design marketplaces and for free on Codepen.
Over the years, he's worked with a range of clients and contributed to design publications like Design Your Way, Designmodo, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, and Speckyboy, andSlider Revolution among others.
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