React Native famously tells us “write once, run everywhere,” where you can build mobile apps for iOS and Android from a single JavaScript codebase. Obviously, that’s a huge marketing hook on their end, but what they don’t tell you is that setting up a traditional React Native project can still be pretty complex.
As a developer (or team), you’ve often got to:
- Configure native build environments (like Xcode for iOS and Android Studio/Gradle for Android)
- Manage device-specific dependencies
- Handle native modules
Those are all tasks that can be super time-consuming and intimidating, especially for beginners or small teams, so what can we do about it? Expo.
Expo is an open-source platform that sits on top of React Native, which gives you a suite of tools and services to abstract away all that native complexity. In essence, Expo handles all the native under-the-hood details; you’re focusing on writing your app in JavaScript/TypeScript.
The idea here is that development and scaling are a lot simpler, since it makes building cross-platform apps faster and easier. You can actually get a React Native app running on your device in minutes with Expo, and you don’t even need to install any native SDKs or own a Mac for iOS.
Sound good? So, what is Expo React Native all about then? How does it work? We’ll break it all down for you throughout this guide, covering:
- The Expo SDK (a huge collection of pre-built modules)
- The managed workflow (Expo’s original out-of-the-box development mode)
- The modern tooling like Expo Application Services (EAS) that address past limitations
- How Expo’s approach compares with the traditional “bare” React Native workflow
- Which path suits your project better
Understanding Expo as an Ecosystem for React Native
Expo can probably feel like “just another React Native add-on,” but that undersells it. Expo is a complete development ecosystem that’s been made to remove the hassle involved with building React Native apps. Not just a single library or shortcut.
When teams say they’re “using Expo,” what they really mean is that they’re using an integrated set of tools that does all the boring, error-prone parts of mobile development for them. That’s everything from native setup and device APIs to builds and updates. Expo handles all that, so now you’ve just got product code writing to think about.
The Expo ecosystem includes:
- The Expo SDK: Pre-built APIs for common mobile features
- The Managed Workflow: A JavaScript-only development model
- Expo CLI & Expo Go: For fast local development and testing
- Expo Application Services (EAS): Modern cloud builds and updates
The Expo SDK: Common Mobile Features, Ready to Go
You’ll first feel the value of Expo with the Expo SDK. This gives you a pre-packaged set of JavaScript APIs that work out of the box, meaning you don’t have to search for third-party native libraries or configure them for iOS and Android - let alone hope everything links correctly.
Need access to the camera? File system? Push notifications? Location services? Sensors? Expo’s got you.
Some of the most commonly used modules we see are:
- Camera and media library access
- File system and document handling
- Push notifications
- Location and device sensors
- Haptics, biometrics and system UI controls
All of these APIs are designed to work consistently across iOS and Android. You’ve not got to write a single line of native code. Needless to say, that’s super practical, because features that might take hours (or days) to wire up in a bare React Native project often take minutes with Expo.
There’s no manual linking, no platform-specific setup and no fragile configuration to maintain. You import the module, call the API and move on.
The Managed Workflow: JavaScript-First Development
The managed workflow is Expo’s original value proposition - and still one of its biggest strengths.
In this model, developers write only JavaScript or TypeScript. There are no Xcode projects, no Android Gradle files - not even any native configuration to manage. Expo provides and maintains the native “shell” that runs your app.
So, getting started is intentionally simple. You create a project, start the dev server and open it instantly on a real device using the Expo Go app. Now you’ve got an extremely fast feedback loop:
- Write code
- Save
- See changes immediately on your phone
A useful way to think about it is this:
- Expo managed workflow is like moving into a fully furnished apartment - everything works from day one.
- Bare React Native is like building a house from scratch - total control, but more time, more effort and maintenance.
The managed workflow also gives you a few important advantages:
- Instant startup because you don’t need native tooling
- Easy testing and sharing with Expo Go
- Over-the-air updates for small fixes and changes
- Consistent dependencies managed by Expo
- Strong community support and documentation
Now, historically, your trade-off with Expo was flexibility. If you needed something outside the Expo SDK, you had to “eject” and manage native code yourself. That was a real limitation - and one we’ll address in the next section - but it’s also one Expo has largely solved with its modern tooling.
For now, what matters is this: the managed workflow makes React Native dramatically simpler, without sacrificing professionalism or production readiness.
Expo’s Modern Workflow: Tackling Old Limitations with EAS
As we just touched on, Expo used to have a reputation problem. Yes, it was fast to get started, but there was always a catch: “What happens when I need something Expo doesn’t support?” The answer used to be everything from painful ejects and broken setups to losing half the benefits that made Expo appealing in the first place.
That’s no longer the case, because Expo’s quietly solved its biggest limitations through Expo Application Services (EAS) and Custom Development Clients. Now, Expo is a serious workflow that scales with your app rather than a “starter tool”
EAS Build: Shipping Apps Without Native Headaches
Building mobile apps for production has always been one of the most frustrating parts of React Native development, because you were expected to do the following in a traditional setup:
- Install and maintain Xcode and Android Studio
- Deal with certificates, provisioning profiles and keystores
- Debug cryptic build errors that have nothing to do with your actual product
EAS Build removes all of that - It’s a cloud-based build service that compiles your app binaries (APK, AAB, IPA) on Expo’s servers. You trigger a build with a single command, and Expo handles the native environment and configuration for you, which means:
- No local Xcode or Android Studio required
- iOS builds from Windows or Linux machines
- Easy internal builds for QA and stakeholders
Production-ready binaries you can submit straight to the app stores
Even better, EAS Build works for both managed and bare React Native projects. You’re not locked into a sandbox. If your app includes custom native code or third-party native libraries, EAS can still build it cleanly in the cloud.
Expo stops being a “walled garden” here. You get the convenience without sacrificing flexibility.
Custom Development Clients: The Real Escape Hatch
The other major leap forward is Custom Development Clients. Think of them as your own version of Expo Go, but tailored specifically to your app.
By default, Expo Go only includes the native modules shipped with the Expo SDK. That’s great, until you need something extra. A custom dev client solves this since you can now generate the native /ios and /android folders and add your own native code or third-party libraries (while you still keep Expo’s tooling). How does it work?
- You “prebuild” the project to generate native folders
- You install any custom native libraries you need
- You create a development build (locally or with EAS Build)
- You keep developing exactly like before - fast reloads, Expo CLI, OTA updates
This approach completely changes the Expo conversation. You can start simple and only drop into native code when you actually need to. And when you do, you’re still inside the Expo ecosystem, so you’re getting all the speed and convenience that comes with that.
Choosing Between Expo and Bare React Native
At the end of the day, Expo and bare React Native aren’t competitors, because they’re just two different ways of working with the same core technology. Both run on React Native. The real difference is how much complexity you want to manage yourself.
To give you another analogy - Expo gives you a ready-to-live-in house. Bare React Native hands you the blueprints and the tools.
So, which one should you choose?
When Expo Is the Smarter Starting Point
For most teams - especially early on - Expo is going to be your fastest and safest way to get moving. Choose it when:
- Speed-to-Market Matters Most: If you’re building an MVP or prototype, Expo’s your go-to. You can start coding immediately and test instantly with Expo Go, which means faster iterations and less setup.
- Your Features Rely on Standard Device APIs: Camera access, file uploads, push notifications, location, media playback - these are all covered by the Expo SDK. Why try to reinvent the wheel if your app lives comfortably within these boundaries?
- Your Team is Small or JS-Focused: Expo is ideal for teams without deep native iOS or Android expertise. If your developers are strong in React and JavaScript, Expo lets them stay productive without dipping into Swift, Objective-C, Java, or Kotlin.
- You Want Easy Updates After Launch: Expo’s OTA updates (via EAS Update) make it simple to ship fixes and improvements without forcing users to download a new app version every time.
Basically, if we haven’t made ourselves clear Expo is usually the right default. You get faster development and a smoother path to launch - with modern tooling that no longer boxes you in.
When Bare React Native Makes More Sense
That said, there are still situations where starting bare might be your better option. You’ll likely want bare React Native if:
- Your App Depends on Heavy Custom Native Code from Day One: This could be proprietary hardware integrations or highly optimized AR/VR features. If native code is central to the product, you’ll want full control.
- You Need Total Control Over the Native Build Process: Some teams need direct access to Xcode and Gradle configurations or custom build pipelines - even just deep native debugging. Bare React Native gives you that freedom.
The key thing to note here is that choosing bare doesn’t mean you’re locked out of Expo entirely. Expo’s tooling is modular. You can still use parts of the Expo SDK or EAS Build even in a bare project.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Expo’s long past those convenient starter toolkits - you’re looking at a powerful, flexible ecosystem for React Native development these days. It’s used in production by companies of all sizes. Basically, you can confidently start with Expo for the vast majority of app ideas, knowing you’ve always got that upgrade path there, should you ever need more advanced native capabilities.
And we’ve seen firsthand the kind of difference a good workflow has on a project’s success, so we’re here to help you architect and build a scalable, high-quality app. You’ll get guided through the whole development workflow setup - whether you’re starting off with a clean Expo setup or integrating it into an existing bare project.
Ready to get started? Go ahead and book a strategy session with our team at Tapptitude so we can have a chat about your product goals and what the best architecture is to make it happen.
FAQs
What is the biggest difference between the Managed and Bare workflow?
The managed workflow hides native code and setup, so you’ve got the option of building with JavaScript only. Then the bare workflow is there to give you complete control over the native files and build configurations.
What is Expo Go?
Expo Go is a mobile app that instantly runs Expo projects during development, which lets you test real devices without building or installing a custom iOS or Android app first.
Can I use third-party native libraries with Expo?
Yes - you’ve got plenty of Expo config plugins and custom development clients at your disposal, so you can easily integrate most third-party or custom native libraries (while still benefiting from Expo’s tooling).
Does using Expo mean my app is bigger or slower?
Not necessarily, because modern Expo builds include only the native code your app uses. So that results in performance and app sizes that are comparable to standard bare React Native applications.
Tapptitude
Tapptitude is a mobile app development company specialized in providing high-quality mobile app development services, and a top-rated app company on Clutch.
