React Native development for iOS and Android
Hackberry Bay is a Swedish app development agency in Stockholm that builds mobile apps using React Native. We help startups and established companies develop modern apps for iOS and Android from a shared codebase—with a native feel and high performance.
React Native is an open-source framework from Meta for cross-platform development. One codebase, two platforms, faster development, and easier maintenance. It uses JavaScript or TypeScript, and the result is true native apps that utilize the platforms’ own components and APIs.
At Hackberry, React Native is our first choice for most app projects. Our app team works daily in React Native using Expo, TypeScript, and modern tools for testing and deployment. Four examples from our portfolio are Seniora in senior care, Tibber Installer in energy installation, Evify in electric vehicle charging, and GoSphyr in beauty and wellness.
What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source development framework from Meta for building apps for iOS, Android, and the web. It uses JavaScript or TypeScript, and the app renders true native components—not web views or HTML. A button in a React Native app is therefore a true iOS or Android button with the platform’s own animations and behaviors.
The framework is currently used by companies such as Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Microsoft (Office and the Xbox app), as well as Shopify, Discord, and Walmart. React Native has been production-ready for over ten years and is one of the world’s most widely used frameworks for cross-platform development.
When is React Native the best choice?
React Native is suitable for most app projects, and is particularly well-suited when you want to:
build a solution that needs to be available on both iOS and Android from a single codebase
build upon an existing team or codebase in React, JavaScript, or TypeScript
achieve a fast time-to-market and be able to release updates directly to users without waiting for App Store approval
maintain a native feel in the interface without having to maintain two separate codebases
Start with an MVP to validate an idea and build on that foundation all the way through to production
React Native is our top choice for mobile apps. Fast development, a large talent pool, and a mature ecosystem make it a solid foundation, from MVP to millions of users.
Backend for React Native apps
React Native handles the user interface, but a complete app solution almost always requires a backend for data, users, and logic. We recommend three main approaches depending on the project’s size and requirements.
Node.js and NestJS
Node.js is a natural choice when the team is already working in JavaScript or TypeScript. Using the same language for the app, backend, and web makes it easier to share code, validation logic, and types between the client and server. For larger projects with a clear structure, authentication, and multiple services, we use NestJS, a mature framework with built-in support for modules, dependency injection, and TypeScript throughout.
Firebase
For many apps, Google Firebase is an excellent choice. It provides authentication, databases, storage, push notifications, and hosting right out of the box. We often use Firebase for MVPs, startups, and apps that need to launch quickly but still have a foundation that can scale over time.
Dedicated backend in another language
For specialized needs, a dedicated backend written in Python, for example, or a headless CMS solution like Contentful can complement the React Native app. At Seniora, we combine React Native with NestJS and Contentful—a stack that enables fast editorial control of content without compromising the app’s performance.
At Hackberry, we help you choose the right backend strategy for your project. We always focus on simplicity, performance, and long-term scalability.
Customer case in live operation
Seniora
Seniora is a platform for elder care where home care staff plan, document, and communicate all within a single app. It is built using React Native with Expo, connected to a backend in NestJS, and its content is managed editorially via Contentful. The solution is available both as a mobile app on the App Store and Google Play and as a web interface for administrators.
Read the full customer case study about Seniora
Tibber Installer
Tibber Installer is an app for installers of Tibber’s smart energy products. With the app, installers receive step-by-step instructions, manage projects, and document customer handovers directly on-site. The stack consists of React Native, Expo, Node.js, and Auth0.
Read the full customer case study on Tibber Installer
Evify
Evify is an app for electric vehicle owners that brings together charging stations and vehicles from different manufacturers in one place. Users can manage charging based on electricity prices, track statistics, and export data. The app is built using React Native with Expo and a backend in Node.js.
Read the full customer case study on Evify
GoSphyr
GoSphyr is a booking platform for the beauty and wellness industry that connects customers with salons. The platform consists of a customer app built with React Native, a partner app for salons, and a web-based admin interface built with Next.js. The backend is built with NestJS, and the platform supports both English and Arabic.
Why Hackberry Bay for React Native?
If you're looking for an app development agency in Stockholm, we're one of the top choices for React Native, with a team that works with the framework every day and several apps currently in use by Swedish clients.
As a local Swedish partner, we can assist with everything from strategy and design to development and launch, or simply take responsibility for a specific part of the process. We are an employee-owned agency based in Solna, Stockholm. You own all the code—there’s no vendor lock-in—and we can draw on our own developers with CTO or CPO experience when needed.
Smart tech. Awesome people. Lasting impact.
Frequently Asked Questions About React Native
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Both are open-source frameworks for cross-platform development. React Native is from Meta and uses JavaScript or TypeScript with the platform’s own native components, making it a natural choice for teams already working with React or Node.js.
Flutter is developed by Google and uses Dart along with its own graphics engine, which provides greater control over the exact visual design. Both are production-ready and are used by major companies around the world.
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React Native is not a hybrid or web-based app. The app renders the platform’s own native components directly, so a button becomes a real iOS or Android button with native animations and behaviors. The difference from pure Swift or Kotlin is that the logic runs in a JavaScript runtime instead of compiled native code. For most apps, performance is comparable.
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An MVP is often built in six to ten weeks. A fully functional product with a backend, design, and multiple user roles typically takes three to six months. Larger enterprise projects with compliance requirements take six to twelve months. The time required is primarily determined by the amount of integrations and custom logic that need to be built, not by the framework itself.
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For teams already using JavaScript or TypeScript, Node.js is a natural choice, since the same language is used for both the app and the server. For larger projects with a clear structure, we use NestJS. For MVPs and rapid launches, Firebase is often a good choice thanks to its built-in authentication, database, and push notifications. Sometimes we combine multiple approaches, such as using Node.js for business logic and Contentful for editorial content.
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Yes. We have built React Native integrations with BankID, Swish, Klarna, Postnord, and Swedish map services. Ready-made packages are available for many Nordic services, and custom native modules can be developed as needed. For BankID, we typically work through a backend that handles the authentication flow and returns the token to the app.
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It depends on what you're looking for, but Hackberry Bay is considered one of Stockholm's more specialized React Native app agencies. We have several developers who work with the framework on a daily basis and several production apps in use, including AxCurae in the field of elder care and Tibber Installer in the field of energy installation.
As an employee-owned agency with a team in Solna, we can serve as both the primary technical provider and as a reinforcement for an existing product team.