React Native in 2026: when it still makes sense

The honest take on cross-platform mobile in 2026, when to reach for React Native, when to go native, and when to stay on the web.

React Native is not dead. It is just no longer the default. For content-heavy apps with simple native needs, it is still the fastest path to both stores.

Go native when you need heavy GPU work, tight platform integration, or when performance is the product. Go web when distribution matters more than presence.

The hybrid approach (web shell, native modules) is underrated. We have shipped three apps this year using that pattern and the teams are happier for it.