NativePHP vs React Native & Expo

Build native mobile apps with the tools you already know. No JavaScript ecosystem complexity required.

Quick comparison stats

~50MB
NativePHP Download
200MB+
node_modules Typical
3
Commands to Build
1
Language to Learn

Developer Experience Comparison

See how NativePHP simplifies mobile development compared to the React Native ecosystem.

NativePHP

Use your existing PHP/Laravel skills
No need to learn JavaScript, TypeScript, or JSX
~50MB total download
Just add Xcode and Android Studio
Three commands to build
require, native:install, native:run
No complex build tooling
No Babel, Metro, or bundler configuration

React Native / Expo

Must learn JavaScript/TypeScript
Plus React, JSX, and the entire ecosystem
200MB+ node_modules
Typical create-react-native-app project
Complex setup process
npm install, configure Metro, Babel, CocoaPods...
JavaScript ecosystem complexity
Multiple bundlers, transpilers, and package managers

Native Features Built In

Access powerful device capabilities with simple PHP facades

Biometrics
Face ID & Touch ID
Camera
Photos & gallery
Push Notifications
Firebase Cloud Messaging
Geolocation
GPS & location services
Secure Storage
Keychain & keystore
Haptics
Vibration feedback
Native Dialogs
Alerts, toasts & share
Deep Links
URL schemes & universal links

All accessible via simple PHP facades like Biometrics::prompt()

Size & Speed Comparison

Initial Download Size

NativePHP
~50MB
React Native
200+MB
Expo SDK
~150MB

Minimum App Size

NativePHP
~30MB
React Native
7+MB
Expo
20+MB

App size varies widely based on bundled features, assets and platform optimizations

First Boot Time

NativePHP
~5s
React Native
10-15s
Expo
15-20s

Cold start after fresh install

Getting Started

Compare the setup process side by side

NativePHP Setup

$ composer require nativephp/mobile
$ php artisan native:install
$ php artisan native:run

That's it. Your app is running.

React Native / Expo Setup

$ npx create-expo-app my-app
$ cd my-app && npm install
$ npx expo prebuild
$ cd ios && pod install
$ npx expo run:ios

Plus configuring Metro, Babel, and native dependencies...

Supercharge with Bifrost

Bifrost is our first-party Continuous Deployment platform that integrates tightly with NativePHP. Get your apps built and into the stores in minutes , not hours.

  • Cloud builds for iOS & Android
  • Automatic code signing
  • One-click App Store submission
  • Team collaboration built-in
Learn more about Bifrost

Ready to Try NativePHP?

Skip the JavaScript complexity. Build native mobile apps with the PHP skills you already have.

Get Started Read the Docs