How to Migrate from React to React Native: Step-by-Step Process

Fernando Chaves

August 19, 2025

Moving from React to React Native is a natural step for developers who want to expand from web applications to mobile experiences. With the growth of cross-platform development, React Native has become the go-to choice for building mobile apps that run smoothly on both iOS and Android. If you already have experience with React, much of your knowledge carries over---but the migration still requires careful planning, adjustments in architecture, and a solid understanding of mobile-specific differences.

Why Consider Migrating from React to React Native?

React powers countless web applications, but mobile-first audiences are increasingly dominant. Migrating allows teams to reach broader markets without building completely separate native iOS and Android apps. React Native reuses a significant portion of React's concepts---like components, props, and state---making the transition smoother.

According to Dev.to's breakdown of React Native adoption, companies find that code reuse and faster time-to-market are some of the strongest benefits. Many startups have managed to ship MVPs faster by leveraging their existing React skills and moving their teams into mobile app development without having to hire entirely separate iOS and Android teams.

Is React a Prerequisite for React Native?

One of the most common questions developers ask is: Is React a prerequisite for React Native? The short answer is yes. React Native builds on React's component-based model and JavaScript foundation. Without familiarity with React, you'd face a steep learning curve when handling React Native's APIs and lifecycle methods.

If you're already comfortable with concepts like state, props, hooks, and lifecycle methods, moving into React Native becomes a natural extension of your skills. The biggest shift lies not in learning new logic, but in understanding how mobile UI components replace HTML and CSS.

Key Differences Between React and React Native

Rendering Elements

In React, you write DOM elements:

<div>Hello World</div>

In React Native, the equivalent is:

<Text>Hello World</Text>

Styling

Instead of CSS files, React Native uses JavaScript-based styles with Flexbox:

const styles = {
  container: { flex: 1, justifyContent: "center", alignItems: "center" }
};

Navigation

React uses React Router, while React Native uses libraries like React Navigation, which mimic native navigation stacks and gestures.

Device APIs

React Native gives direct access to device features such as GPS, camera, notifications, and file storage---capabilities not native to React on the web.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Audit Your App

Evaluate which parts of your React application can be reused: - Business logic (API services, Redux, Zustand, or context state). - Utility functions, constants, or shared helpers. - Any non-UI logic written in JavaScript.

Anything tightly coupled to the DOM or browser APIs (like localStorage or document.querySelector) will need a rewrite.

Step 2: Set Up the Environment

For fast onboarding, use Expo:

npx create-expo-app myApp

This gives you instant access to a development server, hot reload, and managed dependencies. For more control, you can use React Native CLI, but Expo is recommended for most teams.

Step 3: Reuse Logic, Rebuild UI

You can carry over most services and API logic directly. For example, an API helper from React:

// utils/api.js
export async function fetchData(url) {
  const res = await fetch(url);
  return res.json();
}

...will work exactly the same in React Native. The difference comes when rewriting UI.

React (Web):

<button onClick={handlePress}>Click</button>

React Native (Mobile):

<Button title="Click" onPress={handlePress} />

Step 4: Navigation

Navigation is one of the biggest adjustments. React Router is web-focused, so you'll use a native solution like React Navigation.

import { NavigationContainer } from "@react-navigation/native";
import { createNativeStackNavigator } from "@react-navigation/native-stack";

const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator();

function App() {
  return (
    <NavigationContainer>
      <Stack.Navigator>
        <Stack.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
        <Stack.Screen name="Details" component={DetailsScreen} />
      </Stack.Navigator>
    </NavigationContainer>
  );
}

Step 5: Optimize Performance

On the web, mapping arrays directly works fine, but in React Native, long lists should use FlatList to avoid performance issues.

<FlatList
  data={items}
  keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
  renderItem={({ item }) => <Text>{item.name}</Text>}
/>

Step 6: Testing Across Platforms

React Native apps can behave differently on Android and iOS. A button's shadow, font rendering, or navigation transitions may differ. Use Jest for unit testing and Detox for end-to-end testing to catch inconsistencies.

Is React Native Hard if You Know React?

If you already know React, React Native isn't necessarily hard---it's more of an adjustment. You'll have to think about mobile constraints, like limited device memory and performance tuning. But the familiarity of hooks, props, and state makes the learning curve manageable.

As discussed in Reddit's ReactJS community, many developers agree that React skills transfer directly, with the main challenge being deployment and platform specific quirks.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• CSS assumptions: Don't expect selectors or media queries. Stick to Flexbox and StyleSheet.
• Platform differences: Test across devices early.
• Unoptimized assets: Mobile requires lighter images.
• Improper lists: Always use FlatList instead of .map() on arrays.

For detailed pitfalls, see Bionic Julia's guide.

Real-World Migration Insights

Teams that migrated from React to React Native often report significant benefits: - Faster MVP launches. - Unified teams instead of separate iOS and Android devs. - Cost savings from a shared codebase.

The DhiWise guide highlights case studies where teams successfully migrated apps while retaining up to 80% of their original business logic.

Best Practices for a Smooth Migration

• Separate business logic from UI as much as possible.
• Start with a single screen or feature before migrating the entire app.
• Use popular, well-maintained libraries for navigation, forms, and device APIs.
• Test regularly during the migration process instead of waiting until the end.
• Document the differences your team encounters for future reference.

Conclusion: Taking the Leap from React to React Native

Migrating from React to React Native isn't about starting from scratch---it's about expanding your reach. With a structured approach, your React knowledge gives you a head start, allowing you to reuse logic while learning mobile-first practices.

If you want to speed up your migration, check out the LaunchYourApp React Native Boilerplate. It includes pre-made UI, authentication, payments, and internationalization out of the box. Instead of spending weeks setting up the basics, you can focus on shipping your unique features.

Making the move from React to React Native opens doors to a wider audience and long-term scalability. The time you invest in migration today pays off with the ability to deliver on both web and mobile tomorrow.