React Native VS NativeScript, Speed Matters! Build Apps with Svelte, Vue or Angular
You know that moment when you’re in a co-working space, sipping coffee, and suddenly hear someone say, “We ditched React Native, it’s just not cutting it anymore.”
Not because it’s broken. Not because it’s bad. But because they found something better. Something faster. Cleaner. More honest to the platform itself.
That’s exactly what happened to me last week.
I was sketching out ideas for our next big mobile app, one with real-time interactions, smooth animations, and deep hardware integration, when I overheard two developers talking about their switch from React Native to NativeScript.
One said: “The performance gap was killing us. We needed apps that felt native, not like web pages pretending to be apps.”
The other nodded. “Now we’re building real native experiences, without the bridge overhead.”
So I leaned in. And what I discovered? A quiet movement happening under the radar, developers choosing NativeScript not because it’s trendy, but because it just works.
Hazem Abbas
Why NativeScript Is Quietly Becoming the Go-To Choice
Let’s cut through the noise.
React Native brought us cross-platform development. It was revolutionary at the time. But today? It’s showing its age.
The JS bridge, while improved, still creates bottlenecks. Animations stutter. Debugging is messy. Third-party libraries break on every update. And don’t even get me started on startup times.
What is NativeScript?
Enter NativeScript — a framework that doesn’t pretend. It doesn’t wrap your app in a WebView as hybrid apps. It is the native app, written in JavaScript, TypeScript, or Vue, but running directly on iOS and Android. No abstraction layer, No compromises, and of course no easy breakdown!
Here’s why more devs are switching, and why we’re planning to use it in our next project.
Hazem Abbas
What Makes NativeScript Different?
- Real Native UI: Uses actual iOS UIKit and Android Views, no HTML/CSS rendering in a web view.
- Direct API Access: Call native APIs (camera, GPS, Bluetooth) directly from JavaScript/TypeScript.
- True Cross-Platform: Write once, deploy to iOS, Android, and even Apple Vision Pro.
- No WebView Overhead: Apps start faster, run smoother, use less memory.
- Open Source & Neutral: Part of the OpenJS Foundation, no corporate control, just community-driven growth.
Think of it as the missing alternative universe between web skills and native power.
The Real Work: Frameworks Built On Top of NativeScript
NativeScript isn’t just for plain JS. It’s a foundation. And on top of it? You can build with your favorite frameworks, all using real native components.
1. NativeScript + Vue.js
NativeScript-Vue lets Vue developers build truly native mobile apps without WebView lag. It runs Vue 3 directly on iOS and Android, using real native components like UILabels and TextViews for smooth, fast performance. Access native APIs, camera, GPS, Bluetooth, directly from JavaScript or TypeScript. No bridge, no abstraction.
Supports NPM, CocoaPods, Gradle, and more. Use Options API or Composition API. Works with third-party libraries via simple registration. Ideal for high-performance apps: real-time video, background tasks, animations. Built on NativeScript’s open-source core, part of the OpenJS Foundation. Join the active community on Discord.
It is perfect for Vue devs wanting fast, native mobile experiences, faster than React Native, cleaner than Cordova. Start building today.
If you’re a Vue developer, this feels like coming home.
- Same reactivity system.
- Component-based architecture.
- No DOM, just native views mapped to templates.
<template>
<page>
<stack-layout>
<label :text="greeting" text-align="center" />
<button text="Tap Me" @tap="onTap" />
</stack-layout>
</page>
</template>
<script>
export default {
data() {
return { greeting: 'Hello from NativeScript!' };
},
methods: {
onTap() {
alert('Tapped!');
}
}
};
</script>
It’s Vue, but built for mobile. No fake DOM. No web wrappers. Just pure, fast, reactive UI.
Hazem Abbas
2. SvelteNative – The Lightweight Powerhouse
Yes, Svelte is now going mobile. Svelte Native brings Svelte’s compile-time magic to mobile development via NativeScript. It compiles your code ahead of time, eliminating runtime overhead like virtual DOM diffing.
This results in lightning-fast performance and minimal bundle size. Apps start instantly and run smoothly. Use familiar Svelte syntax with real native components on iOS and Android. Build once, deploy everywhere. Ideal for high-performance, lightweight mobile apps.
SvelteNative uses NativeScript as its engine, bringing Svelte’s lightweight, compile-time magic to native mobile apps.
- Tiny bundle size.
- Near-instant startup.
- Reactive by design, no virtual DOM, no runtime overhead.
One dev I met used it for a finance app. “Startup time dropped by 50%,” he said. “And the app runs like it was compiled in Swift.”
It’s not mainstream yet, but it’s already being used in production. And it’s only getting better.
Hazem Abbas
Hazem Abbas
3. Other Flavors
- Angular (
@nativescript/angular) - React (
react-nativescript) - Solid.js (
@nativescript-community/solid-js)
All built on the same core: direct access to native APIs.
Why NativeScript Beats React Native (In Plain Terms)
| Feature | NativeScript | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| UI Rendering | Native components (real views) | Bridge-based (still uses JS bridge) |
| Performance | Faster startup, smoother animations | Slower due to bridge latency |
| Memory Usage | Lower (no WebView) | Higher (JS engine + bridge) |
| Debugging | Easier (direct native logs) | Complex (bridge issues, Metro delays) |
| App Size | Smaller (optimized binaries) | Larger (includes JS bundle + bridge) |
| Third-Party Libraries | Fewer, but high quality | Massive, but inconsistent quality |
| Cross-Platform Support | iOS, Android, Vision Pro, WatchOS | iOS, Android, Web (via RNW), Desktop |
NativeScript wins on speed, stability, and native feel.
Why Developers Are Switching From React Native
- They want real performance, not "good enough."
- They hate the bridge, especially on older devices.
- They value startup speed, users don’t wait.
- They want to avoid WebView limitations, no touch lag, no animation jank.
- They’re tired of dependency hell, one library breaking the whole app.
And guess what? They’re not alone.
At co-working spaces, tech meetups, and indie dev circles, I’ve heard it again and again:
"We tried React Native. It worked… until it didn’t."
Then they found NativeScript.
And now, they’re building apps that actually feel native.
Our Next Move: We’re Going With NativeScript
After testing both React Native and NativeScript head-to-head, including real-world scenarios like camera access, background tasks, and complex animations, we made a decision.
Our next app won’t be built on React Native.
Why?
- We love Vue’s simplicity and reactivity.
- We need top-tier performance.
- We want zero compromises.
- We want to ship fast, stay lean, and avoid endless debugging sessions.
And honestly? It feels good to build something that doesn’t feel like a hack.
FAQs: NativeScript Explained
Q: Can I use Vue or Svelte with NativeScript?
A: Absolutely. NativeScript supports Vue (nativescript-vue) and Svelte (@nativescript-community/svelte-native) natively. You write familiar code, just with real native components.
Q: Is NativeScript free?
A: Yes. Fully open source. No licensing fees. Hosted under the OpenJS Foundation.
Q: Can I build for Apple Vision Pro?
A: Yes! NativeScript supports iOS, Android, WatchOS, and Vision Pro, all with shared code.
Q: Do I need to learn Swift or Kotlin?
A: No. You keep using JavaScript/TypeScript. But you can extend with native code if needed.
Q: How does it compare to Cordova?
A: Cordova runs everything in a WebView, slow, laggy, outdated. NativeScript uses real native views, fast, smooth, modern.
Q: Is SvelteNative stable?
A: It’s actively used in production. While not as mature as Vue or React flavors, it’s gaining traction and delivers incredible performance.
Final Thought: This Isn’t Just a Framework, It’s a Mindset
The future of mobile development isn’t about making web apps look like phones.
It’s about building apps that are the phone.
NativeScript doesn’t lie. It doesn’t pretend. It gives you full access to the platform, with JavaScript skills you already have.
And if you’re a Vue or Svelte fan? You’re not losing anything. You’re gaining more.
So if you’ve been thinking about switching from React Native, especially if you care about speed, stability, and true native feel, give NativeScript a try.
You might just find yourself building apps that don’t just work… they belong.
We’re doing it.
And we’re already loving it.
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