Hire a React Native and Expo developer
A React Native and Expo developer builds one app that runs on both iPhone and Android. This is a good route when you want both stores from a single codebase and a single team.
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What you get with one codebase
React Native lets developers write most of an app once and ship it to Apple and Google. Expo makes the daily work smoother: testing on a real phone, building store files and sending small fixes without a full release.
That suits most mobile apps: booking, social, fitness, delivery, community or tools with accounts and notifications. It also suits a SaaS plus mobile app, where the web side and the phone share data.
Be aware of the limits. Heavy 3D, special camera work or deep use of one phone feature can need native code. If you only target iPhone, Swift may serve you better. For Android only, see Kotlin.
What to ask
- Do you use Expo, and which parts need native code in my case?
- How will you test on real iPhones and Android phones, not just a simulator?
- How do you handle push notifications and what do I need to set up?
- Who creates the Apple Developer and Google Play accounts, and who owns them?
- How do you deal with app review and rejections?
- Can I install an app you built from the App Store or Google Play?
Publish the store listings under your own accounts. That keeps the app and its reviews yours, whoever builds it.
Example plan for a first release
This outline is for an app with accounts, a core feature and notifications. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. The weeks in this example are for illustration, and developers set the length of each milestone in their proposal.
| Topic | What happens | What you can test |
|---|---|---|
| For example, weeks 1 to 2 | Navigation, design, sign up and login | A test build on your phone |
| For example, weeks 3 to 5 | Core feature and backend connection | The main user journey end to end |
| For example, weeks 6 to 7 | Push notifications, offline behaviour, polish | Real notifications on both platforms |
| For example, weeks 8 to 9 | Store listings, review rounds, launch | The app is live in both stores |
For example, weeks 1 to 2
- What happens
- Navigation, design, sign up and login
- What you can test
- A test build on your phone
For example, weeks 3 to 5
- What happens
- Core feature and backend connection
- What you can test
- The main user journey end to end
For example, weeks 6 to 7
- What happens
- Push notifications, offline behaviour, polish
- What you can test
- Real notifications on both platforms
For example, weeks 8 to 9
- What happens
- Store listings, review rounds, launch
- What you can test
- The app is live in both stores
Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency. A phase can be split into several milestones.
Finding a match
Developers on ErdiBuilds list up to 6 technologies under Expert in and the rest under Also works with. React Native and Expo are one entry in the taxonomy, so a developer who lists it is picked up for your mobile project.
Matching also weighs the project type, portfolio, budget fit and availability. Scores run from 0 to 100 and come with plain reasons. At least 40 is needed to apply, and 80 or more gets a Top match badge. Developers are independent professionals, not our employees.
Frequently asked questions
React Native or Flutter?
Both reach iPhone and Android. React Native uses JavaScript and shares ideas with React on the web. Flutter draws its own interface and uses Dart. Developers usually recommend the one they know best, so ask for reasons tied to your app.
Link to this answerWill it feel like a real iPhone app?
A well-built React Native app uses the phone's own components and feels native in everyday use. Ask to try a previous app on your device.
Link to this answerCan the same code run on the web?
Parts can be shared, but a web version usually needs its own work. Say upfront if you need both.
Link to this answerWho publishes the app in the stores?
You should, under your own accounts. The developer prepares the build and guides you through the steps.
Link to this answerDoes it include the backend?
Not by itself. Many projects add Supabase or Firebase for data and logins.
Link to this answerRelated pages
- Hire a Flutter developer for your appFlutter builds iPhone and Android apps from one codebase. See what it suits, what to ask a Flutter developer and how a project is planned.
- Hire a Swift developer for your iPhone appWhen a native Swift app makes sense, what to ask a Swift developer, how a project is phased and how matching works on ErdiBuilds.
- Hire a Kotlin developer for your Android appHire a Kotlin developer for a native Android app. What to ask, how milestones look, what to know about Google Play and how matching works.
- Build a mobile app with a developerPlan an iPhone and Android app: typical technologies, an example milestone plan, what to put in the brief and how to spot a developer who fits.
- How Long Does It Take to Build an App?What decides how long an app, SaaS, website or game takes to build, with an example plan in weeks and tips for planning realistic milestones.