Expo vs Proton Native
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Open-source framework for building native Android, iOS, and web apps with React.
Open source · MIT
Build desktop apps with React syntax and React Native-style components, without Electron.
The short answer
Choose Expo if you need…
- Developers who want to build iOS and Android apps with React and JavaScript
- Teams that want one codebase covering mobile and web
- People who want to try Expo quickly in the browser via Snack
- Developers who want hosted build and release services through EAS
Choose Proton Native if you need…
- React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit
- Developers already familiar with React Native components
- People who want to reuse existing React libraries such as Redux in a desktop app
- Developers who prefer to avoid Electron's footprint
Side-by-side
| Expo | Proton Native | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Framework | Framework |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 53.3k | 10.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | See the README |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 4 years ago |
What each one is
Expo
Expo is an open-source platform for building apps that run on Android, iOS, and the web, written in React and JavaScript. It includes a universal runtime and a set of libraries so one codebase can produce native apps. The repository also holds the Expo SDK, CLI, Router, Expo Go app, and documentation source.
Proton Native
Proton Native is a framework that lets developers write desktop applications using React and the same component style as React Native. It aims to produce cross-platform desktop apps without bundling a full Chromium browser the way Electron does. The author has said they no longer have time to maintain it, and a community fork exists.
Best for
Expo
- Developers who want to build iOS and Android apps with React and JavaScript
- Teams that want one codebase covering mobile and web
- People who want to try Expo quickly in the browser via Snack
- Developers who want hosted build and release services through EAS
Proton Native
- React developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new UI toolkit
- Developers already familiar with React Native components
- People who want to reuse existing React libraries such as Redux in a desktop app
- Developers who prefer to avoid Electron's footprint
Strengths
Expo
- Covers Android, iOS, and web from a single React and JavaScript codebase
- Large public project with active development and an MIT license
- Has official documentation, a community chat, and a browser-based playground
Proton Native
- Uses React and React Native-style components, so familiar patterns carry over
- Lists MIT licensing, which permits broad reuse
- Advertises compatibility with normal Node.js packages and hot reloading
Not ideal for
Expo
- People who only need a website and have no mobile plans, since a simpler web framework may suffice
- Developers who need full control over native code from day one, as the README points to custom native modules as a separate workflow
- Non-programmers, since the project assumes React and JavaScript knowledge
Proton Native
- Teams that need a actively maintained framework: the README says the original author lacks time to maintain it and points to a fork, and the last push was January 2023
- Projects needing a stable production release: no latest release is listed in the metadata
- Beginners new to both React and desktop development, since setup and debugging are not covered in the README
Trade-offs
Expo
- The README is a monorepo overview, so most setup detail lives in external docs rather than here
- Some dependencies use other licenses, such as BSD, per the README
- Some capabilities such as hosted services are provided by EAS, a separate platform
Proton Native
- The README announces the original maintainer has no time to work on it, so updates are uncertain
- Last push date in the metadata is January 2023 and no release is listed
- The README is brief and points to external documentation for setup details
Getting started
Proton Native
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/kusti8/proton-nativeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Expo and Proton Native?
Expo: Open-source framework for building native Android, iOS, and web apps with React. Proton Native: Build desktop apps with React syntax and React Native-style components, without Electron. Expo suits developers who want to build ios and android apps with react and javascript, while Proton Native suits react developers who want to build a desktop app without learning a new ui toolkit.
Are Expo and Proton Native free?
Expo: Free and open source. Proton Native: Free and open source.
Is Expo or Proton Native more popular?
Expo has more GitHub stars (53.3k) than Proton Native (10.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Expo and Proton Native?
Other options people compare them with include Capacitor, React Native, Avalonia, Next.js, Razzle.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.