React Native continues to dominate the cross-platform development space, allowing developers to build powerful mobile apps with a single codebase. But building a great app isn’t just about writing code — it’s about using the right tools. In 2025, several libraries have emerged (or remained strong) as must-haves for any serious React Native project.
Here’s a curated list of the React Native libraries you should absolutely know in 2025:
1. React Navigation
Managing navigation in mobile apps can be tricky, but React Navigation makes it clean and efficient. Whether you need simple stack navigation or complex nested tabs, this library is the go-to solution for most developers.
✅ Smooth transitions
✅ Deep linking support
✅ Highly customizable
2. Reanimated 3
Animations bring apps to life. Reanimated 3 has revolutionized how we think about performance and fluidity in animations. Built on the latest architecture, it’s lightweight and more powerful than ever.
✅ Native-driven animations
✅ Smooth 60FPS experiences
✅ Easy to use with gesture handlers
3. React Native Gesture Handler
If you want beautiful, buttery-smooth gestures (swipes, pans, pinches), you can’t ignore Gesture Handler. It’s the backbone of modern gesture support in React Native.
✅ Multi-platform (iOS/Android)
✅ Works with Reanimated
✅ Minimal performance overhead
4. TanStack Query (formerly React Query)
Managing server state efficiently is crucial for modern applications. TanStack Query simplifies data fetching, caching, and synchronization in React apps.
✅ Automatic caching and background synchronization
✅ Offline-first support
✅ Intuitive API with powerful DevTools
🔗 TanStack Query React Documentation
5. Redux Toolkit
While some apps are moving toward simpler state management solutions, Redux remains a heavyweight in complex apps. Redux Toolkit streamlines Redux setup and minimizes boilerplate.
✅ Powerful for large apps
✅ Built-in best practices
✅ Simplified configuration
6. React Native Paper
Need a clean Material Design UI? React Native Paper provides beautifully designed, ready-to-use components that follow Google’s Material Design guidelines.
✅ Huge library of components
✅ Dark theme support
✅ Fully customizable
7. React Native Skia
If you need to push visual boundaries (think custom graphics, complex charts, or creative animations), Skia unlocks native GPU rendering directly from JavaScript.
✅ High-performance rendering
✅ 2D drawing APIs
✅ Perfect for games and creative apps
8. React Native Fast Image
Dealing with images in React Native can be a pain. Fast Image solves many problems, offering better caching, performance, and easy-to-use components for image handling.
✅ Priority image loading
✅ Smart caching
✅ Low memory usage
Final Thoughts
React Native in 2025 is more powerful than ever — but using the right libraries is what truly takes your app from good to great. Whether you’re building a startup MVP or scaling a production app, these libraries can save you time, improve performance, and deliver a better experience to your users.
🔔 Tip: Stay updated! Libraries evolve fast. Always check documentation and keep an eye on the latest releases.
Which of these libraries are you using in your projects?
Let me know in the comments! 🚀
