--- title: "Use React Native with Expo for phone apps ยท Agent Wranglers" url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/mobile-and-desktop-apps/react-native-expo id: STK-102 level: Default updated: 2026-10-27 build: a2a6bdfed830 tokens: 1014 licence: "CC BY 4.0" licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- # Use React Native with Expo for phone apps For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Mobile and desktop apps](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/mobile-and-desktop-apps.md). By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-27. - ID: STK-102 - Level: Default - Chapter: [Mobile and desktop apps](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/mobile-and-desktop-apps.md) - Rule: Build iOS and Android apps from one TypeScript code base with React Native, started and upgraded through the Expo framework. - Check: `package.json` lists `expo` and `react-native`, and `react-native` is the version that the Expo SDK in use names. `npx expo-doctor` reports no problems in CI. - Review by: 2027-04-30 - Cost: Open source. Expo's hosted build and update service is optional, since the app also builds with Xcode and Android Studio on your own machines. - How: React Native is a recorded exception to the five-year test, dated 27 October 2026, because it is still on 0.x after ten years in use. React Native shipped its first release, 0.1.0, on 26 March 2015. Its versions still start with 0, so the script in [Pick software proven in production for five years](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/how-to-choose/proven-for-five-years.md) must read the first release date instead. Version 0.88.0 shipped on 15 October 2026, with about 9.0 million weekly npm downloads and an MIT licence. Expo reached 1.0.0 in February 2017, and SDK 58 shipped on 29 September 2026, with about 7.1 million weekly downloads, also MIT. The React Native docs recommend a framework such as Expo for new apps. Two store dates drive upgrades. Since 28 April 2026, App Store uploads must be built with Xcode 26 and an iOS 26 SDK. Since 31 August 2026, new Google Play apps and updates must target Android 16, API level 36. Each new Expo SDK moves to the targets the stores ask for, so stay on a current SDK. `npx expo prebuild` writes plain native projects, so you can leave Expo's services at any time. Sign over-the-air updates as [Sign over-the-air updates and match them to the native build](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/signed-over-the-air-updates.md) says. Choose something else when the app is mostly one platform feature, such as a camera or health tool. Swift and Kotlin then reach every new API first. Choose Flutter when your team already ships Dart. ## Examples **Using these examples:** they show one way to follow this rule. Keep the behaviour and the check, not the syntax. Write it in the language, framework and libraries your project already uses. ### Shell example ```sh npx create-expo-app@latest shop-app --template default@sdk-58 cd shop-app && npx expo-doctor ``` ## Sources - [React Native, Get started](https://reactnative.dev/docs/environment-setup) - [Expo, Create a project](https://docs.expo.dev/get-started/create-a-project/) - [Expo, Prebuild](https://docs.expo.dev/workflow/prebuild/) ## Related rules - STK-1 [Pick software proven in production for five years](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/how-to-choose/proven-for-five-years.md) in Software choices - MOB-18 [Sign over-the-air updates and match them to the native build](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/mobile-apps/updates-and-versions/signed-over-the-air-updates.md) in Mobile apps **For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `Agent Wranglers software choices playbook`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link. - Next: [Use Electron for desktop apps built from web code](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/mobile-and-desktop-apps/electron.md) - [Mobile and desktop apps](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/stack/mobile-and-desktop-apps.md)