Facts read November 7, 2026
Expo (EAS) vs Xcode and Android Studio
Expo (EAS) is Cuely's default mobile builds pick when your description doesn't favor either one: react Native with cloud builds, so a web developer can ship iOS without owning a Mac.
Side by side
| Fact | Expo (EAS) | Xcode and Android Studio |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | React Native framework with cloud builds, store submission and over-the-air updates. | The platform toolchains: build and submit native apps yourself (Swift, Kotlin, or React Native locally). |
| Free plan | Free: 15 Android and 15 iOS builds per month, updates to 1,000 monthly active users. | The tools are free. Store accounts: Apple Developer Program $99 a year; Google Play $25 once. |
| Paid from | Starter: $19/month plus usage, with $45 of build credit and updates to 3,000 MAU. | Not stated |
| At 1,000 users | $19/month | $0/month |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes |
| Best for | Web developers who know React; One codebase for iOS and Android; Shipping without a Mac | Native Swift or Kotlin apps; Teams with a Mac and CI already |
| Watch out | Free over-the-air updates reach 1,000 monthly active users; above that you need Starter. In-app purchases don't work in Expo Go; test them in a development build. | iOS builds need a Mac. Two codebases if you go fully native. |
Where they differ
The published scores, from −3 to +3, that decide which one Cuely picks for each need.
| Need | Expo (EAS) | Xcode and Android Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Next.js or React | +1 Uses React, so web React skills carry over. | −2 Swift and Kotlin don't reuse web React skills. |
| native iOS or Android app | +3 React Native with cloud builds and store submission for both stores. | +2 The native toolchains; nothing in between. |
| keep costs as low as possible | +1 15 iOS and 15 Android builds a month free. | 0 No particular strength here. |
Sources: Expo (EAS) pricing (read November 7, 2026), Xcode and Android Studio pricing (read November 7, 2026). No vendor pays for placement.