How Much Does React Native App Development Cost in the UK

Imagine you have a brilliant app idea, and you are excited to get it built. But you must have a question that lingers in your mind: “How much is this going to cost?”

There is a mobile app for everything today, but it takes a lot of time and effort to create the best-quality apps, including Android and iOS.

However, if you are thinking of using React Native to develop your app, you are on the right track because it helps you save both time and money. But still, the price can vary.

React Native is a popular choice for building apps that work on both iOS and Android without doubling your development effort—or the budget. It is fast, efficient, and a great option if you want to keep your budget in check.

However, how much it costs depends on a few factors: the app’s complexity, features, design requirements, and who you hire to build it.

In this guide, we will learn everything you need to know about the React Native app development cost in the UK.

Whether you are a business owner, a startup founder, or just someone curious about the process, we will help you understand what affects the cost, hidden costs to watch out for, and tips on how to get the best value for your money.

What is React Native?

React Native is a popular open-source framework developed by Meta (formerly Facebook) that allows developers to build mobile apps using JavaScript and React.

It helps create high-quality apps for both iOS and Android from a single codebase, which saves time and money. This framework combines the flexibility of web development with the performance of native mobile apps.

Instead of using traditional methods, it complies to native code, which means the apps run smoothly and fast. Because of its speed, performance, and cost-efficiency, React Native is one of the most popular frameworks for building mobile apps today.

Why Should Businesses Choose the React Native App Development?

Whether you have startup or new business ideas, here are many reasons why businesses opt for React Native to build their mobile applications. Some of the key advantages include:

1. Cost-Effective Solution

One of the most notable benefits for businesses who choose React Native app development is reduced development costs.

React Native allows businesses to create apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, which reduces app development costs.

If you were to build separate apps for each platform, you would need to hire separate development teams or manage two separate projects, which can cost you more and take a lot of time.

With React Native, businesses can save money on development, maintenance, and future updates since both platforms can be updated at the same time with the same codebase.

2. Faster Development Process

React Native’s single codebase makes building apps faster than traditional native app development. There is no need to repeat work for each platform, which allows developers to focus on adding features and improving the app’s performance.

Plus, with hot-reloading, developers allow for instant feedback, making development even faster. This faster development cycle helps business launch their apps quickly and make updates more efficiently, allowing them to gain a competitive edge.

3. Cross-Platform Compatibility

React Native allows businesses to reach both iOS and Android users with just one app. This cross-platform compatibility ensures they don’t have to build and manage two separate apps. It is especially beneficial for small businesses and startups with limited resources.

4. Better Performance Than Other Cross-Platform Frameworks

Unlike some other cross-platform app development frameworks, React Native offers near-native performance. It uses native components that work directly with mobile devices, giving users a smooth, high-quality experience.

React Native is great for apps with moderate complexity or those that don’t need a lot of special native features.

5. Active and Growing Community

React Native has a big, active community of developers who contribute to improving the framework. This means businesses can use a growing library of pre-built components, plugins, and solutions to common problems.

The community also ensures the framework is continuously updated with new features and fixes.

6. Ease of Maintenance

React Native makes app maintenance easier by using a single codebase. With traditional native development, businesses need to update and manage two separate codebases for iOS and Android, which can be time-consuming and costly.

React Native simplifies the maintenance process, reducing the effort required for updates and bug fixes

Overview of React Native App Development Cost in the UK

The total cost of developing an app with React Native can range anywhere from £10,000 to over £100,000, depending on the app's needs.

The React Native app development cost in the UK can vary based on various factors, including the app’s complexity, functionality, design, and development team’s experience.

For instance, if you are developing a simple React Native app with essential features such as login/signup screens, minimal user interaction, and limited third-party integrations, the development cost can be less than building an app with more advanced features.

Below are the costs of React Native app development based on the app’s complexity.

Popular Apps Developed Using React Native and Their Costs

There are many popular apps that use React Native, and they are now being used widely by various users worldwide.

React Native has become one of the most popular frameworks for developing mobile apps due to its ability to create high-performance apps for both iOS and Android.

Below are some popular apps and their estimated development costs.

Breakdown of React Native Development Costs in the UK

We will further learn the factors that influence the cost of React Native app development, but before that, let’s explore the two key components that can also affect the overall cost.

🔘Developer Rates

The rate you pay for a developer largely depends on their experience and location. If you are hiring an experienced and senior developer for your app development project, they may charge you more because they are highly skilled with extensive experience. They are usually ideal for complex app development and performance optimisation.

On the other hand, a junior developer's rates can be lower, and they are suitable for smaller projects or less complex features but may require more supervision.

🔘Freelancers vs. Development Agencies

The React Native app development cost in the UK will also be impacted by the hiring option you opt for. Whether you choose freelancers or React Native app development companies, you should know they offer different charges and are suitable for different projects.

Freelancers: They are more affordable for smaller projects or businesses on a tight budget. However, hiring freelancers may lack additional services like project management, design, and testing that an agency provides.

Cost: £30 to £80 per hour

Development Agencies: Agencies offer many services, including design, project management, quality assurance, and ongoing support. While agencies can cost you more, they offer reliability and expertise, especially for larger or more complex projects.

Cost: £50 to £150 per hour

Cost Estimates of React Native Apps Based on Category

When developing a mobile app using React Native, the cost can vary depending on the app category and the features' complexity.

Each app category involves different levels of complexity, feature sets, and development timeframes, which directly influence the cost of development.

Ensure to assess your specific app requirements to get an accurate estimate and determine which category best fits your project.

For instance, if you want to build banking, healthcare, educational, or travel apps, the React Native app development cost in the UK can be less, while the features you add to your app also affect the total cost compared to the banking or on-demand app development, which is relatively high when you build them using more advanced features.

Below are cost estimates for different categories of apps to help you know what to expect when budgeting for your React Native project.

What are the Factors that Affect React Native App Development Cost?

The total React Native app development cost in the UK can be affected based on various key factors. Here is a breakdown of the most important ones.

🔘App Complexity

The more complex an app is, the higher the cost. Simple apps with essential features like text-based content or static pages cost less to develop.

However, the cost goes up for apps that require real-time updates, location tracking, chat systems, or complex features.

The more features and the level of integrations the app needs, the more time and effort it will take to build. The table below shows the cost based on features and functionality.

🔘UI/UX Design

Designing a custom and user-friendly UI/UX takes time and specialized skills. The cost will increase if your app needs advanced features like custom animations, 3D graphics, or a unique design.

Good and high-quality UI/UX design needs experienced designers to ensure the app is visually appealing and easy to use. This can add to the total development cost, especially if the design goes through several changes based on user testing.

🔘Third-Party Integrations

Many apps require integration with third-party services, like payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal), social media login systems (e.g., Facebook or Google), or other external APIs.

Each integration requires time for implementation, testing, and troubleshooting. More complex integrations, like integrating payment systems or syncing data across different services, can lead to increased development costs.

🔘Backend Development

The backend of your app manages data storage, processing, and retrieval of data and is key to the app's performance.

Apps that require real-time features (like chat, live updates, or notifications), large amounts of data storage, or complex functions need a stronger backend.

The more complicated the backend architecture is, including the cloud services or servers used, the higher the cost.

🔘Developer Rates and Location

The cost of developers can vary based on their skills, location, and the type of development team you hire. For example, developers in the UK often charge higher rates than those in other regions.

Freelancers might cost less, but agencies usually provide more services, like project management, quality checks, and support after the app is launched. The cost also depends on whether you hire junior, mid-level, or senior developers.

🔘App Maintenance and Updates

After your app is live, it needs regular maintenance and updates to ensure it continues working well, especially as operating systems and devices change.

App maintenance costs less than the initial development but can still be a big part of the total investment.

Businesses often spend about 10% to 20% of the original development cost each year on updates, bug fixes, and ensuring the app stays compatible.

How React Native Framework Can Save Mobile App Development Costs?

React Native is known for its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional native app development. Below are the key reasons why businesses can save costs using React Native.

🔘Single Codebase for Multiple Platforms

With React Native, developers can write a single codebase that works on iOS and Android. This eliminates the need for separate development teams for each platform, which helps reduce costs.

A single codebase also means faster development and fewer bugs since changes need to be implemented in just one place.

🔘Hot-Reloading Feature

React Native’s hot-reloading feature allows developers to see changes instantly without restarting the app, which speeds up the development process. This saves time and reduces React Native app development cost in the UK.

Also, since app developers don’t have to write separate code for iOS and Android, the entire process is more efficient.

🔘Reusable Code

Since React Native allows code to be reused across platforms, businesses save time and money. Developers can use pre-existing code, components, and libraries, reducing the need to write new code from scratch for each platform.

🔘Ready-Made Solutions and Libraries

React Native has a big community of developers who share open-source code, components, and libraries. This helps businesses find pre-built solutions for common features, like payment integration, location tracking, and UI elements.

Using these libraries saves time and money because developers don’t have to build everything from scratch.

🔘Less Need for Native Developers

In traditional development, you need separate developers for iOS and Android. But with React Native, one team can work on both platforms, so you don’t need to hire separate experts for each. This helps reduce the overall development cost.

🔘Simplified UI

React Native uses a component-based UI design, making designing and scaling applications easier.

It provides a smooth user experience and simplifies animations and interactions, making it less complex than native development. It allows developers to spend less time on UI/UX design, reducing app-making charges.

🔘Lower Maintenance Costs

One of the biggest ongoing costs for mobile apps is maintenance, like fixing bugs, updating security, and improving compatibility. Since React Native uses one codebase, maintenance is easier and cheaper than native development, where you need separate updates for iOS and Android.

Hidden Costs in React Native App Development

Even though React Native is a more cost-effective way to build mobile apps, there are some hidden costs businesses might not expect. Here are a few hidden costs associated with React Native development.

🔘App Performance Optimisation

Although React Native is very efficient, apps with advanced features like complex animations, real-time data updates, or detailed graphics may face performance issues. Developers may need to write custom native code to improve performance, which can add extra costs.

🔘Complex Third-Party Integrations

Integrating your app into external services, like payment systems, cloud services, or custom APIs, can be more complex than expected. These integrations often require special handling and can lead to more development time and costs.

🔘Debugging and Testing Across Multiple Devices

Testing React Native apps on different devices and screen sizes can take a lot of time, especially ensuring the app works well across iOS and Android.

Testing is needed to ensure it works on different device models, operating systems, and screen sizes, which increases the React Native app development cost in the UK.

🔘App Security

Building an app that handles sensitive information, like financial data or user details, needs strong and effective security measures.

React Native has basic security features, but businesses may need to invest in additional security layers, like encryption or multi-factor authentication, which can add to the development costs.

🔘Ongoing Maintenance

After the app is launched, it will need regular updates and fixes, especially when new versions of iOS and Android come out. Businesses should be ready for ongoing costs for maintenance, including bug fixes, performance improvements, and ensuring the app stays compatible.

Craft the Best-Quality React Native App With Arramton Infotech

Arramton Infotech specialises in building high-quality and cost-effective React Native apps that help businesses succeed in the digital world.

Their team of experts uses React Native’s single codebase to develop apps that work on both iOS and Android, saving time and reducing development costs.

They focus on excellent user experience (UX) and performance, ensuring your app loads fast, works smoothly, and is easy to use. From design to backend integration, they take care of every step of the process—planning, development, testing, launch, and support.

They deliver projects quickly and on time without compromising on quality. They also offer ongoing maintenance and updates to keep your app secure and working well with new operating system versions.

Whether you are a startup needing an MVP or a business looking to scale, they create customised solutions to meet your needs. With experience in many industries, including e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, on-demand services, and social media, they can build apps that boost engagement and revenue.

If you are looking for a trusted React Native partner in the UK, Arramton is here to help turn your idea into an amazing mobile app.

The Bottom Line

React Native app development is a cost-effective and efficient way for businesses in the UK to build high-quality mobile apps.

By using a single codebase for both iOS and Android, React Native saves time, reduces development costs, and cuts down on maintenance compared to traditional native development.

The React Native app development cost in the UK generally ranges from £10,000 to £100,000+. The price depends on many factors like app complexity, features, design, development team’s experience, and post-launch support.

The cost can also vary depending on whether you choose a freelancer or an agency. React Native framework helps save development costs because of its single codebase usage for multiple platforms, hot-loading feature, lower maintenance costs, ready-built solutions, and less need for native developers.

Whether you are a startup with an MVP or a larger business looking to expand, React Native can help you reach your goals quickly and efficiently.

Ready to build your app? Contact Arramton Infotech today to develop the best React Native apps. Let’s create something great together!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 What is the average cost of a React Native app in the UK?

Ans The cost of a React Native app in the UK ranges from £10,000 to £100,000+, depending on the app's complexity. Simple apps usually cost £10,000 to £30,000, medium-complexity apps £30,000 to £60,000, and highly complex apps may exceed £60,000.

Q2 How long does it take to develop a React Native app?

Ans The timeline varies based on complexity. A simple app takes 3–4 months, a medium-complexity app around 5–6 months, and a complex app could take 6–9 months or longer.

Q3 Is React Native better than native app development?

Ans React Native is more cost-effective and faster, making it ideal for most apps. However, native apps offer better performance and platform-specific features, making them the better choice for complex or high-performance apps.

Q4 Is React Native Worth the Investment?

Ans Yes, React Native is worth the investment for most businesses. It offers the right balance between cost-effectiveness, speed, and performance. With a single codebase for both iOS and Android, you can save time and money and also build a top-quality app.

It is especially beneficial for startups and businesses looking for quick market entry, but even large companies can enjoy the benefit of its scalability and long-term support.

Q5 Can I reduce costs by outsourcing React Native app development?

Ans Yes, outsourcing React Native app development can reduce costs, especially in regions with lower rates, like India or Eastern Europe. However, it is important to ensure quality control and manage communication effectively.

Q6 What are the best industries for React Native apps?

Ans React Native is great for industries like e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, on-demand services, and social media because of its cross-platform capabilities and fast development.