What cross-platform means in practice
With React Native, most of the app is written once in TypeScript and runs on both iOS and Android with native interface components. Expo adds tooling for builds, updates and common device features. When a feature needs platform code, such as advanced camera processing, it can be written natively and called from the shared code.
The result is one team, one codebase for most of the product, and changes that reach both platforms at the same time.
When React Native is the right call
Booking apps, customer portals, field service tools, marketplaces, internal operations apps and most consumer products with forms, lists, maps and notifications. Our own apps, including METEApp, Rektefe and ServisApp, are built this way, each with a backend and admin panel behind it.
When fully native is worth it
Games and graphics-heavy apps, apps built around continuous sensor or audio processing, deep integration with platform features on day one of their release, and products where a dedicated iOS and Android team already exists.
If you fall into one of these groups, the extra cost of two codebases buys something real. If not, it mostly buys duplicated work.
Questions to ask before deciding
Which device features does the app need, and are they supported by mature libraries? Will the same team maintain the app in two years? Does the app share logic with a web panel that could reuse code? How quickly do you need to ship fixes to both stores?
Honest answers usually make the choice obvious. A good development partner should be able to explain the trade-off for your app specifically, not in general.
Do not forget the rest of the system
The app is the visible part. Accounts, APIs, push notifications, an admin panel and the store release process are often half the work. Budget for them from the start. Our mobile app development page shows how we plan the full system.