NativeBase vs Tamagui
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
Accessible React Native and web UI component library; now in maintenance mode, succeeded by gluestack-ui.
Open source · MIT
A TypeScript library for building React and React Native UIs that share styling and code.
The short answer
Choose NativeBase if you need…
- Teams maintaining an existing app already built on NativeBase
- Developers who need to keep an existing NativeBase v3 codebase running
- Developers who want a single component set across mobile and web, as described in the README
Choose Tamagui if you need…
- Teams building the same app for web and native with React
- Developers who want shared styling across React Native and react-native-web
- Projects that want an optional compiler to speed up styled components
- Developers who can set it up gradually inside an existing app
Side-by-side
| NativeBase | Tamagui | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 20.4k | 14.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 9 months ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
NativeBase
NativeBase is a set of pre-built user interface components for React Native and React, intended to let developers build a consistent look across Android, iOS and web. The README says it includes roughly 40 components, accessibility support via React ARIA, and theming with utility style props. The README now carries a deprecation notice: NativeBase is entering maintenance mode and the maintainers recommend gluestack-ui for new projects.
Tamagui
Tamagui is a set of open-source libraries for building user interfaces that run on both the web (React) and phones (React Native) from one shared codebase. It includes a styling library, an optional ready-made UI kit, and a compiler that rewrites styled components into faster output on each platform. Developers use it to share more code between web and native apps without giving up performance.
Best for
NativeBase
- Teams maintaining an existing app already built on NativeBase
- Developers who need to keep an existing NativeBase v3 codebase running
- Developers who want a single component set across mobile and web, as described in the README
Tamagui
- Teams building the same app for web and native with React
- Developers who want shared styling across React Native and react-native-web
- Projects that want an optional compiler to speed up styled components
- Developers who can set it up gradually inside an existing app
Strengths
NativeBase
- The README describes built-in accessibility integration with React ARIA and React Native ARIA
- Components are described as consistent across Android, iOS and web
- MIT license, with a public kitchen sink demo app and documentation site
Tamagui
- Aims for shared code across web and native while keeping platform-specific performance, per the README
- Works gradually, so you can adopt it in parts of an existing project
- Released under the permissive MIT license
Not ideal for
NativeBase
- New projects: the README recommends gluestack-ui instead because NativeBase is in maintenance mode
- Developers who need active new feature development, since the README signals the project is winding down in favor of gluestack-ui
Tamagui
- People who only need a plain website and no React (the project is built around React)
- Beginners without React or TypeScript experience, since the setup assumes both
- Projects that want a single, fixed design with no customization (the UI kit is optional and configurable)
Trade-offs
NativeBase
- The README marks the project as deprecated and in maintenance mode, so new development is unlikely to continue here
- The README targets NativeBase 3.0 features and a compatibility table that stops at early React Native versions, so current compatibility is unclear
Tamagui
- The README's performance claims (such as a Lighthouse gain on its homepage) are the project's own measurements and were not independently verified here
- Compile-time and runtime behavior adds setup complexity compared with simple styling libraries
- The README is truncated, so details on setup and configuration are limited in this analysis
Getting started
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NativeBase and Tamagui?
NativeBase: Accessible React Native and web UI component library; now in maintenance mode, succeeded by gluestack-ui. Tamagui: A TypeScript library for building React and React Native UIs that share styling and code. NativeBase suits teams maintaining an existing app already built on nativebase, while Tamagui suits teams building the same app for web and native with react.
Are NativeBase and Tamagui free?
NativeBase: Free and open source. Tamagui: Free and open source.
Is NativeBase or Tamagui more popular?
NativeBase has more GitHub stars (20.4k) than Tamagui (14.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to NativeBase and Tamagui?
Other options people compare them with include React Native Paper, React Native Elements, SWR, react-native-calendars, React Native for Web.
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.