Difference between React-native and Electron

Question

I want to build a simple read-only app which should run on Android, iOS, Windows, OSX and Linux. Does electron support mobile platform? I couldn't figure out which one should I go for.

Answer 1

Electron include chrome engine to render web pages as Native apps with support for different plugins to add desktop apps features.

Electrino doesn't include any render engine it uses the Safari engine on the Mac so the installation file is smaller than Electron. There's no support for Windows yet.

React Native is using a cross-platform render to Android and iOS.

Example: <Text> on Android will be TextView and on iOS will be UITextField

React Native Web made React Native work on web

Example: <Text> on web will be <p> or <label> not sure and after that, it can work on the desktop by electron

You can build universal apps by using this template by React Native code.

Also if you want a specific target you can add component.web.js or .electron.js or .android.js or .ios.js so it will render to this target only

https://github.com/react-everywhere/re-start/tree/react-16

Answer 2

Take a look at PWAs. These can be installed on almost all the major mobile and desktop platforms plus it is a web app. https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps