What is Swift?
Swift is Apple’s programming language for building apps that run natively on iPhones and other Apple devices. Unlike cross-platform tools, Swift apps are built the same way Apple builds its own apps, which means they run directly on iOS without any translation layer in between. This is different from React Native. React Native lets you build one app for both iOS and Android, but it sits on top of an extra layer that connects your app to the operating system. Swift skips that layer entirely. The result is better performance, smoother animations, and deeper access to iOS features. With Swift, apps can use native iOS capabilities like home screen widgets, Live Activities, advanced motion and body tracking, augmented reality, better game performance, and more precise access to device sensors. These are the features that make apps feel polished, responsive, and truly “Apple-quality.” Why this matters to you as a Rork user is simple:Swift unlocks the same tools used by top-performing iOS apps. It allows apps to feel faster, look cleaner, and take advantage of new Apple features as soon as they’re released. If you’re building an iOS-first app or care about delivering the best possible experience on Apple devices, Swift gives you a higher ceiling than cross-platform solutions. In short, Swift is about building apps the way Apple intends—more control, more performance, and a more premium result.
What is React Native?
React Native is a technology for building mobile apps using JavaScript or TypeScript that can run on both iOS and Android from a single codebase. Instead of building separate apps for each platform, React Native lets you write most of your app once and deploy it across devices. This is different from Swift, which is built specifically for Apple devices. React Native sits between your app and the operating system and translates your code into native components. This extra layer makes it possible to move fast and support multiple platforms, but it can also limit access to the newest or most advanced system features. React Native is great for building common app functionality like feeds, forms, dashboards, chat, onboarding flows, and content-driven apps. It shines when speed, iteration, and cross-platform reach matter more than deep platform customization. Why this matters to you as a Rork user:React Native lets you launch on iOS and Android quickly, maintain one shared codebase, and iterate fast without worrying about platform-specific details. For many apps, this is the most efficient way to get to market and start testing ideas. In short, React Native is about speed and reach. It’s ideal when you want to move fast, support multiple platforms, and build a solid app experience without needing deep access to native device features.
Things Swift can do that React Native can’t:
System & Home Screen Features
- Home screen and lock screen widgets
- Live Activities on the lock screen and Dynamic Island
- Apps that continue working in the background (within Apple’s rules)
- Integration with iPhone system search (search inside your app)
Motion, Fitness & Body Tracking
- Advanced motion and full body tracking
- Tracking real movements like pushups, punches, squats, posture, and form
- More accurate, real-time access to motion sensors
- On-device analysis that works offline
Augmented Reality & Games
- Augmented reality features and immersive AR experiences
- AR-based games and interactive environments
- Smoother, higher-performance games with better responsiveness
Focus, Control & Productivity
- Screen blocking and focus-style controls for productivity apps
- System-level actions triggered by voice, search, or automations
Apple Watch & Health Ecosystem
- Deep Apple Watch integration with companion watch apps
- Native workout sessions with background heart-rate and movement tracking
- Apple Watch complications that show live data on the watch face
- Full integration with Apple’s Health ecosystem (health data, workouts, routes, permissions)
Voice, Messaging & Extensions
- Siri voice control and Apple Shortcuts automation
- iMessage apps, sticker packs, and in-message experiences
- Share extensions and system extensions that work outside the main app
Audio, Camera & Car Integration
- Low-latency audio for real-time voice, sound effects, and audio processing
- Advanced camera features like high-frame-rate video, depth sensing, LiDAR, and real-time analysis
- CarPlay support for driving, audio, fitness, or navigation-style apps
Why use React Native?
React Native is a great choice when speed, simplicity, and reach matter more than deep system-level features. You may want to use React Native if:- You want to launch on iOS and Android at the same time using one codebase
- You’re building a standard app experience (feeds, dashboards, profiles, onboarding, chat, content)
- You want to move fast and iterate quickly without worrying about platform-specific details
- Your app doesn’t rely heavily on advanced hardware features like body tracking, AR, or system extensions
How to choose between the two:
**Choose Swift **if you’re building an app that is iOS-first or Apple-only, and you care about taking full advantage of what Apple devices can do. Swift is the right choice if your app relies on things like motion or body tracking, fitness or workout data, augmented reality, games, widgets, Live Activities, Apple Watch or Health integrations, or deep system-level features. If performance, polish, and a premium iOS experience matter more than being cross-platform, Swift gives you the highest ceiling. Choose React Native if your priority is shipping fast across iOS and Android with one shared codebase. React Native is a great fit for apps focused on content, feeds, dashboards, forms, messaging, onboarding flows, or marketplaces. If you’re validating an idea, working with a small team, or care more about reach and iteration speed than deep Apple-only features, React Native is usually the more efficient option. In simple terms:If you’re building something that feels deeply tied to the iPhone itself, Swift is the better choice.
If you’re building a product that needs to live on multiple platforms quickly, React Native is usually the right move.