Top Local Databases for React Native App Development

Mobile app development is a landscape that has been dominated by two major OS – Android (87% market share) and iOS (60% market share) in 2021. However, since the rise of startups, organizations have moved towards cross-platform app development practices.       

The two primary reasons behind this move are cost and time. Most startups believe that why waste your money in developing two separate apps if you can get both the experience under one app. This trend has given rise to frameworks like React Native, Ionic, Xamarin, etc. 

Out of all these cross-platform app development frameworks, React Native has been the most utilized and second most utilized framework for 2020 and 2021 respectively, with a market share of 42% and 38%, respectively. However, not just the framework, the role of the database becomes highly critical. Keeping this into perspective, we’re going to provide you with a list of top local databases for React Native that one can utilize to build their business app through React Native. So, let’s start the show right now.!          

1. Berkeley DB

Berkeley DB is a high-performance embedded database used by many React Native developers around the world. It stores data in key/value pairs and is written in the C programming language. With simple API calls, Berkeley DB conducts data management and accessibility functions. It offers API for multiple platforms that include iOS as well as Android.

Advantages:

• Very simple to use and understand.
• Supports concurrent access by multiple users.
• Provides industrial-level transaction support.
• Scalable solution for large enterprises.

2. WatermelonDB

WatermelonDB is one of the most innovative ways to handle user data in React Native applications. If you’re looking to build a complex application that focuses on real-world issues, then WatermelonDB could be your best bet. When it comes to scaling, WatermelonDB is the best in the business. Lastly, it can also handle high cached and multi threaded asynchronous functions. 

Advantages:

• Lazy loading strategies for data persistence.
• Offline first system and simple data plugging.
• Helps in building apps on top of SQLite. 
• Automatic rendering of UI based on database changes. 

3. Firebase

Owned by Google, Firebase is one of the NoSQL databases that many React Native developers are using nowadays. When it comes to offline data management and data synchronization, Firebase is your best bet. Also, if you’re dealing with an MVC architecture pattern, you can utilize Firebase as your core database. It also provides you with a performance tracking tool for better app performance management.

Advantages:

• Reliable and extensible database.
• Fast and safe hosting facility.
• Real-time data synchronization.
• Requires a very low initial effort for setup.

4. SQLite

SQLite is a relational database management system that generally follows the PostgreSQL syntax. As the name suggests, SQLite is a lightweight database designed especially for mobile applications. The database requires minimal setup, and the developers can integrate it within their mobile apps. Today, many React Native developers are using this database worldwide. 

Advantages:

• ACID-compliant database with SQL standards.
• Allows offline data persistence.
• High reliability and accessibility.
• Source code is available to all free of cost. 

5. Realm

If you’re looking to develop any real-time or offline application that can run on wearables and mobile devices, then Realm can be your best bet. The database comes with its own set of engines and doesn’t rely on key-value storage. This is one of the reasons why many React Native developers choose Realm as the local database for mobile app development in Dallas. 

Advantages:

• Multiple encryption standards for various platforms.
• Offline-friendly database with Redux offline. 
• Great sync service that saves all user interactions.
• Provides you with a great set of APIs. 

6. Vasern 

Vasern is one of the most lightweight, fast, local open-source databases for React Native app development. Although Vasern is an excellent choice for local storage, it also has a provision for cloud storage and app synchronization. It has taken inspiration from various open-source databases, and that’s why you will see many popular features of those databases in Vasern. 

Advantages:

• End-to-end database encryption facility.
• Primary focus on optimizing app performance.
• Developer-friendly and open-source.
• Highly consistent and lightweight. 

7. PouchDB

PouchDB is one of the most popular local React Native application development databases that store the data in JSON format. Due to this kind of arrangement, developing, reading, writing, updating, and deleting the database can be done through a single JavaScript API. In addition to all these, the database is compatible with MySQL, CouchDB, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. 

Advantages:

• Faster execution of database queries.
• Allows you to run apps both online and offline.
• Easy to learn, use and understand for a newbie.
• Open-source, lightweight, and cross-browser compatible.

8. Async Storage

Async Storage is a unique local database used by many React Native developers across the globe. It allows you to store and retrieve the data between reboots of the application. Async Storage comes with React Native components, so you don’t have to worry about deployment. Even after you have closed the application, Async Storage can save the data that an app needs.

Advantages:

• Highly accessible and reliable database.
• Readily available and simple implementation.
• No delays in the loading of an application.
• Highly useful for MVP/POC products.

Conclusion

React Native has become the heartbeat of developers across the globe as far as cross-platform app development is concerned. Now, to make those applications work well, you need a reliable and accessible local database. There are many options available for local databases as far as the React Native app development goes. Choosing the best one out of that is a tricky situation.

You should first list requirements for your ideal database and then search across the various options available. However, if you don’t want to get in a tangle, refer to this blog post. Here, we have enlisted the top local databases for React Native app development. This will make your job easier than ever before. Thank you!