# Shopify shifts from React Native back to native mobile development

AI advancements make native development cost-effective again for Shopify's mobile apps.

- **Source:** [Shopify Engineering](https://shopify.engineering)
- **Published:** 2026-09-10
- **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering)
- **Original article:** <https://shopify.engineering/back-to-native>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4cde1dec-7b69-474a-b024-e3c40985fb57

## The React Native Bet

In 2020, Shopify went all-in on React Native to unify mobile development across platforms. This allowed non-mobile developers to contribute and eliminated the need for duplicate feature development. The framework served them well, with React Native apps performing at production scale for millions of merchants worldwide. However, the landscape changed dramatically with the rise of LLMs in software development.

## AI Changes the Calculus

Since 2021, Shopify has been using LLMs for coding tasks, starting with bug fixes and progressing to feature implementation. By late 2025, these models became sophisticated enough to question the fundamental advantage of React Native - the ability to write once for both platforms. AI agents now handle much of the platform-specific implementation work that previously made native development costly.

## Native Advantages Resurface

Testing showed native development with AI assistance could deliver better performance, closer platform integration, and reduced dependency layers. While React Native apps can be fast, native development provides direct access to platform capabilities and first-party tools. The Shopify team found AI could handle the translation between Swift and Kotlin effectively, removing the primary 2020 objection to native development.

## Migration Strategy

Shopify chose a greenfield approach over gradual migration for most apps. The Shop app was rebuilt from scratch in just 12 weeks with AI assistance, serving as the proof of concept. Their largest app with 300+ screens is currently being migrated and will launch later this year. This approach allows continued feature development while rebuilding the native versions.

## Community Responsibility

Shopify is carefully managing the transition of its popular open-source React Native libraries. FlashList, with 2M weekly downloads, will be maintained through 2026 while seeking long-term stewards. The company remains committed to supporting the React Native community despite their architectural shift, demonstrating responsible open-source stewardship.

## Technical Considerations

The migration isn't simply about code translation - LLMs can't directly convert React Native to native effectively. Shopify developed a process of gathering requirements, creating specifications, then implementing natively with AI assistance. This ensures the new versions leverage platform-specific capabilities rather than being direct ports of the React Native implementations.

## Performance Impact

Native development promises improved app performance and responsiveness, crucial for merchant tools processing high volumes of transactions. Early tests show significant reductions in load times and improved memory management in the rebuilt native versions. These gains directly impact merchant productivity and customer experience across Shopify's ecosystem.

## Developer Experience

The shift affects Shopify's engineering organization significantly. Mobile specialists will regain prominence after years of cross-platform development. However, AI tooling will enable non-mobile developers to continue contributing through higher-level specifications that agents translate to platform-specific code, maintaining some of React Native's accessibility benefits.

## Industry Implications

Shopify's reversal signals a potential industry trend as AI changes mobile development economics. Other companies that adopted cross-platform solutions for cost reasons may reevaluate their choices. The decision highlights how quickly LLMs are reshaping technical decision-making frameworks established just years earlier.

## Future Outlook

This transition demonstrates Shopify's willingness to reverse successful decisions when fundamentals change. As AI capabilities continue advancing, we may see more companies re-examine previous technical compromises. The move also suggests native development may regain prominence where performance and platform integration provide competitive advantage.

## Sources covering this story

- https://shopify.engineering/back-to-native — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._