How to Hire a React Native Developer: An Ultimate Guide

The growing demand for mobile applications encourages many organizations to start using React Native. This is because React Native is a powerful framework helping developers in app development with a single codebase-an inexpensive alternative to developing the native apps separately for both platforms (Android and iOS).

However, finding and hiring the right React Native developer is actually an uphill climb that may take much time. This guide is intended to make that process easier with detailed insights and strategies for hiring top-notch React Native developers.

Let’s start with basics-

What is React Native?

React Native, most popularly known as RN, is an open-source framework for mobile application development by Facebook. Mobile applications can be built using JavaScript and React, which allows developers to build smooth and user-friendly interfaces on more than one platform.

One of the greatest advantages of using React Native is the fact that it produces reusable code, which speedily increases the development process and cuts the cost drastically.

In 2015, Facebook (now called Meta) released React Native as a web framework project. However, with time, it rose to become one of the most popular mobile development options.

According to the Stack Overflow study, the RN framework was chosen by more than 8.4% of all respondents for the app development process.

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Furthermore, according to Statista, React Native is the most popular cross-platform mobile framework used by global developers. According to the poll, 42 percent of software engineers had used RN in 2021.

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There are no industry-specific restrictions on when you may or cannot utilize React Native. The essential point is that it is a sufficient framework for all customer-facing applications. React Native makes them faster to develop and, as of present, provides adequate functionality and modules to construct a robust application.

Some of the world’s most popular mobile apps, such as Walmart, Facebook, Skype, and others, use React Native development.

Now, understand the reasons for being so popular in the world of mobile app development.

Why choose React Native?

Now, we will go through all the reasons why React Native is so popular and is on top of the list when it comes to the mobile app development framework.

Reason 1: Cost-Effective Development

Business owners love React Native because it’s cost-effective. You have to maintain a single codebase for both iOS and Android, hence saving enormously on development costs. According to research, companies can save as much as 40% in development costs using React Native. 

Reason 2: Faster Time to Market

Time is money, right? Well, React Native can help you get to market quicker. The framework makes it possible to do rapid development. This is because developers can reuse as much as 90% of the code between iOS and Android, cutting down development time massively. 

In research, it has been found that using cross-platform frameworks like React Native can reduce development time by up to 50% in comparison to native app development. That means you can get your app to market faster and start making money sooner.

Reason 3: High Performance

Performance is among the most critical factors for any mobile application. You definitely don’t want your users to lag or crash, right? React Native gives you close-to-native performance that will make your application run on iOS and Android smoothly. Designed to interact with native components, the user experience it provides will be seamless. In this way, you get the best of both worlds: cross-platform efficiency and native performance.

Reason 4: Large Community Support

Is not that a huge plus when you have a great community? React Native has a vast community of active developers. In other words, you will get plenty of resources, libraries, and third-party plugins. If you get any problem, most probably it is already solved by someone else. Since React Native is community-driven, it’s relentlessly getting better and better.

Reason 5: Rich Ecosystem

One of the major reasons you should go with React Native has to do with the richness of its ecosystem. The support for a wide variety of third-party plugins makes the process of adding functionality to your app easier. Want analytics? There’s probably a plugin for that. Want push notifications? 

Well, there is probably a plugin for that, too. Want to add even payment gateways? Yep, there is probably a plugin for that, too. The extensibility of React Native makes it suitable for any business owner.

Reason 6: Ease of Maintenance

Maintaining an app can be a headache, isn’t it? Much of this headache will get simpler in React Native. Since you are working on a single code base, updates and bug fixes would be easier to incorporate. 

You will not have to keep thinking about how changes in one platform will synchronize with another platform. This ease of maintenance means lower long-term costs and fewer headaches for you.

Reason 7: Flexibility and Scalability

You need flexible and scalable solutions as an entrepreneur, right? React Native does indeed have a lot to offer in this regard. The framework itself is quite flexible; it easily integrates with other tools and technologies. 

Additionally, it is scalable-what more can one ask for?-because it will grow with your business. Be it small or huge, React Native can adapt to your needs.

Essential Skills for a React Native Developer

React Native Developer works with the React Native framework to create user interfaces for platforms like iOS and Android. Moreover, they are front-end developers who use JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create user interface components. Here are some of the must-have skills you need in a React Native developer:

Technical Skills

1. Highly Proficient in JavaScript

JavaScript is the backbone of React Native development. Without a strong grasp of JavaScript, a React Native developer cannot successfully create functional and efficient applications. 

When you hire React Native developers, check they should be able to understand ES6+ syntax. They must have experience with asynchronous programming, and be comfortable using libraries like Redux. 

2. Knowledge in React Native Components and APIs

As a React Native developer, one has to be comfortable with core components and APIs. Everything from basic views like Button and Text to more complex ones like ScrollView and FlatList requires deep understanding. 

In case of developing complex functionality, the dedicated React Native developers should be adept at integrating third-party APIs, which can significantly extend the functionality of the application. 

3. Expertise in React

React Native is based on React-a JavaScript library by which we build user interfaces. So, a proper understanding of React is important and you must check this skill during hiring a React Native app developer. 

This includes some concepts such as JSX (JavaScript XML), components, state, and props. If he/she knows these, then the development would be more efficient, and the application will be strong.

4. Knowledge of Native iOS and Android Development

While React Native’s aim is for developers to write once and deploy on iOS and Android, there is still some platform-specific code to be written. That said, a good React Native developer needs to have an intermediate-level understanding of native development for both iOS and Android.

These are one of those things that will come in handy, especially whenever debugging platform-specific issues or setting up native modules.

5. Performance Optimization and Debugging Skills

Because nobody likes a slow app, right? That is why performance optimization is so important. A great React Native developer should be able to profile and then optimize an application’s performance. 

Tools like React DevTools and performance monitors ease the job of finding bottlenecks in your app. Debugging skills are also pretty useful. It would save literally hours of frustration if you know how to use various tools for that, starting with Redux DevTools and Chrome Developer Tools, ending with custom debugging solutions.

6. Testing Hands-On Experience

It assists in the quality and reliability testing of an application. The React Native developer should have knowledge about unit testing and end-to-end testing frameworks. The popular choices are Jest for unit tests and Detox for end-to-end testing. 

According to GitLab’s DevSecOps Survey, developers say testing is critical for high-quality software. Hands-on use with these tools keeps bugs low and provides a smooth bug-free user experience.

7. Good Understanding of Navigation and Routing

Navigation is another important area in a mobile app. React Navigation is one of the hot leading libraries followed in React Native regarding routing and navigating. 

A developer needs to know how stack, tab, and drawer navigators work and how data can be passed between screens efficiently. In this way, users will have a good experience in navigating through an app.

8. Capable of Writing Clean Code

Writing clean, maintainable code is one of the features that make a developer distinguished. Clean code increases readability for others and makes contributing to the code less difficult. It also makes future maintenance easier and scaling more straightforward. 

According to a recent survey, developers place maintaining a clean codebase among their top challenges. Linters, best practices, and naming conventions make code cleaner.

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Soft Skills

While technical skills are fundamental, soft skills are just as important to hire React Native developers. After all, a developer has to work in a team and be able to communicate efficiently.

1. Problem-Solving Skills

A React Native developer has to deal with a lot of complex issues; more often than not, finding creative solutions becomes highly essential. Good problem-solving skills enable developers to perceive any problem and provide effective solutions in the least possible time.

2. Communication Skills

Good communication is paramount for realizing what the project needs and for clearly expressing one’s views. Thus, it is an important aspect when offshoring React Native developers. This means, the developer should be able to explain technical challenges with members of the team or explaining complicated concepts to non-technical stakeholders. The same message is what everyone understands.

3. Time Management

The time management skill helps developers plan their tasks accordingly in meeting the required deadline. In an environment that is usually fast paced, efficiently managing one’s time ensures projects are completed within the scheduled time.

4. Continuous Learning

Since technology is in a state of flux, any good developer in React Native should first commit themselves to continuous learning. Knowing the latest updates, new libraries, and best practices will be of big difference to your business. A good example could be the understanding of new features in JavaScript or delving into advanced topics like state management in React.

Steps To Hire React Native Developers

Mobile applications are a great way to reach more customers and keep them engaged. The thing is, for all that you need skilled developers. That is why you will want to hire React Native developers. In the below section, we are going to walk you through the crucial steps to make that process smooth and effective.

Step 1. Determine the Requirements of Your Project

Before beginning the recruitment process, outline what you need. Are you developing a simple application or a complex platform with many integrations? The complexity of your project will determine the level of skill you may require from your developers. 

Write down the features needed, the platforms you’re targeting-iOS, Android, or both-and any other special requirements you have. That way, you’ll have a clear picture to present to potential candidates.

Knowing the project scope will enable you to understand what competence level is needed.

Key Considerations:

• project scope: full development or support
• duration: Short-term vs. long-term
• skill: Junior vs. senior developers

Step 2. Know your market

Did you know that by the end of 2023, almost 70 percent of the world’s population were smartphone users?

With such a vast market, the demand for mobile apps is very high. Consequently, proficient React Native developers are also in demand. 

According to recent statistics, it has emerged that React Native is among the most demanded frameworks by developers all over the world. Thus, knowing this fact-that the competition for talent is high-sided-will help you better prepare your strategy to hire a React Native developer.

Step 3. Decide on In-House vs Offshore

Perhaps one of the most critical hire decisions is whether to hire in-house or offshore. In-house hiring offers great control and relatively easy communication. This might, however, come at an expensive cost. 

Offshoring can save you money while opening your horizons to a more vast pool of developers of React Native.  Countries like India and Ukraine offer skilled React Native developers at a fraction of the cost. Plus, the time zone difference can be an advantage for round-the-clock development.

Step 4. Define the Job Role and Responsibilities

Once you have clarity on your project, the next step will be to outline the job role. This will not only help in attracting the right candidates but will also streamline the hiring process.

What to Include:

• Job Title: Be specific—are you looking to hire dedicated React Native developers or somebody part-time? 
• Responsibilities: Outline what the job entails, such as coding, debugging, and testing.
• Requirements – Skills and Experience: List the required skills here, such as proficiency in JavaScript, experience with REST APIs, and knowledge of how an application is deployed.

Step 5. Search for Experience and Skills

Experience matters, right? Any time you are hiring React Native app developers, you’d want to be sure that they can boast proven experience. Look for developers who have dealt with similar projects before. Portfolios should be looked at and case studies requested. The key skills to look out for include:

• Proficiency in JavaScript and ES6
• Experience working with native build tools like Xcode, Gradle, etc.
• REST APIs and third-party libraries knowledge

Step 6. Leverage Online Platforms and Networks

The internet is your friend! LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow are all goldmines on the lookout for skilled React Native developers. Place the ad on special job boards: Indeed, Glassdoor, or other special sites like We Work Remotely. Networking is key; just ask for referrals from colleagues or attend industry events.

Step 7. Conduct Thorough Interviews

After you have your list of candidates, it is time for the interviews. Prepare a set of technical and behavioral questions; you might also want to include coding tests to see how they would solve a problem and their proficiency with React Native. You can use the following as a guide or inspiration for what you may ask them:

• Tell me about a recent project that you completed using React Native.
• How do you manage state in your React Native apps?
• How many challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
• Thorough interviews will help you filter out the best candidates from the rest.

Step 8. Assess Soft Skills

Technical skills are very important, but soft skills count, right? Find candidates with good communication, problem-solving ability, and collaborative attitude. These qualities are highly important in case you intend to hire dedicated React Native developers for a long-term project.

Step 9. Negotiate the salary and terms

Money talks! Discuss the salary expectations and other terms of employment early so that both of you will not be in for a surprise later on. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a React Native developer in the US is around $92,000 per year. This again can vary based on location and experience. Be transparent about your budget and try to see if you both could benefit mutually from an agreement.

Step 10. Offer a Trial Period

This can be a situation of mutual benefit. You can provide a short-term contract to assess the performance of the developer. This way you will have a better idea of the compatibility of the developer with your team and the skill he/she will bring forward. Once found satisfactory, this may well lead to a long-term contract.

Things To Consider While Finding The Ideal React Native Developer

1. Check Their Industry Knowledge

It is good to hire app developers who should keep up with industry trends. You might not realize that you can put that knowledge to the test before hiring an ideal React developer. You can ask whether a candidate has done their study on your industry’s terminologies and trends. It will help you determine if they are a good fit for your job.

The developer who has experience in the same domain as your organization will be able to grasp things quickly and simply understand the needs. They can easily visualize the app’s primary deliverables and begin the development process with a bit of study. It saves time, contributes to a higher-quality app, and creates value for all parties involved.

2. Check Their Total Work Experience & Their Previous Projects

A React Native developer’s years of experience and the projects they have worked on in the past can tell you a lot about their skills and abilities. Checking out their work portfolio is one way to assess this. If they have worked on any notable projects, they will be mentioned there.

The project might not be live, but you can ask for a code demonstration to understand their skills. You can see how well they write, debug, and unit test their code from the code.

Moreover, if they are good at their work, they will be more than happy to share their previous projects.

3. Check Their Availability & Location

The React Native(RN) developer you hire should be readily available when you need them. Besides, you don’t want to wait for weeks or even months to get started on your project because the developer is busy with another project.

Ideally, they should be located close to you so that communication is accessible and no time is wasted in transit. You can ask them about their availability and their current project status. If they are already working on a project, you can ask how long it will take for them to be available.

Cost to Hire React Native Developers

Well, there is no fixed price to hire React Native  developers; there are several factors that come into play, some of them being:

1. Experience Level

When you hire a React Native developer, the price of experience can vary widely. In general, junior developers with 1-2 years of experience will charge less, but they may need more guidance. The senior developers, on other hands, with 5+ years of experience will charge more, but they are capable to provide you with quality work faster.

Cost for hiring dedicated React Native developers based on experience level

2. Geographical Location

Geography can also affect the cost. Developers in North America and Western Europe charge more compared to their Asian or Eastern European counterparts. Offshoring of React Native developers would be an economically viable solution, not necessarily at the cost of quality. 

You would get dedicated React Native developers from countries like India or Ukraine with a tag of a fraction of your cost.

• North America: You can expect to pay in the range of $100-$150 per hour.
• Europe: You may find quotations ranging from $50-$100 per hour.
• Asia: For Asia, you can find developers quoting $20-$50 per hour.

3. Type of Hiring

Freelancers: Though generally cheaper, they provide a risk of inconsistent quality and availability.

In-House Developers: While you have greater control, typically more costly due to fringe benefits and overhead.

Hire Dedicated React Native Developers from Agencies: It is a great balance between cost and reliability.

4. Project Complexity

Naturally, simple applications with basic functionality are much cheaper than advanced ones featuring complicated features.

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What Questions To Ask Before Hiring a React Native Developer?

We’ve arrived at the hiring stage. You’ve hopefully narrowed down your search to a couple of great candidates. Now it’s time to ask them some questions.

Below are some suggested questions to ask during the interview process:

• What is your experience with React Native?
• How would you design an interface for a given screen size?
• What are some of the challenges you faced when building a React Native app?
• How do you like to work – alone or in a team?
• What is your availability?
• Can you share any examples of your previous work?
• What kind of tools and technologies do you use most often?
• What makes you an excellent fit for this job?
• Do you have any questions for me?

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How Much Does It Cost To Hire React Native Developers In India?

It is difficult to provide a broad answer to this question because the cost of hiring a React Native developer varies according to criteria such as experience, location, and talents. However, it may cost you somewhere between $20 and $50 per hour for a React Native developer.

Further, React Native developers in India tend to be cheaper than those in the United States or Europe. So, if you’re looking to save money, hiring a developer in India may be a good option.

Not only that, but Indian developers are often well-versed in both React Native and Android/iOS development, making them a valuable asset for your team.

Here, you can learn more about the Top 7 Reasons Why Android Is So Popular For Mobile App Development.

Conclusion

Hiring a React Native developer can be a daunting task, but if you follow the tips in this article, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect RN candidate.

Ask the right questions, do your research, and take into account the factors mentioned above, and you’re sure to find someone who is an excellent fit for your project.

Moreover, you can hire React Native developers in India at a fraction of the cost of hiring developers in other parts of the world. So, if you’re on a tight budget, India may be the best place to look for your next React Native developer. And for that, you can trust React Native Development Companies like ScalaCode.

We provide technological competence and affordable pricing for the best app development services, helping our clients’ businesses to operate more efficiently and profitably. You can employ our developer to create various platform-specific apps in a faster development cycle.