Top 11 Databases For React Native App Development

React Native is a powerful open-source framework developed by Meta that allows developers to build cross-platform mobile apps using JavaScript and React. Its ability to deliver native-like performance while significantly reducing development time has made it a preferred choice for many businesses. However, to fully leverage its potential, choosing the right database is essential. From ensuring seamless offline access to supporting real-time data updates, the database you select directly impacts app functionality and scalability. For any leading react native app development company, making the right choice is key to delivering reliable and high-performing mobile applications. In this blog,we explore the top 11 React Native databases for app development, offering insights to help developers and businesses, especially those working with a React Native app development company in UK build smarter, more efficient apps.

1. Firebase

Firebase is one of the most popular databases for React Native apps. It offers real-time data syncing, user authentication, and cloud functions.

Why its great:

• Real-time database and Firestore support

• Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS)

• Scalable and secure

• Ideal for chat, social, and collaborative apps

2. SQLite

SQLite is a lightweight relational database engine that's widely used in mobile applications. Its embedded into the app, making it ideal for offline capabilities.

Why its great:

• Minimal setup

• Great for apps requiring local storage

• Open-source and reliable

• Works well with smaller datasets

3. Realm

Realm is designed specifically for mobile platforms. It provides a rich set of features, including
real-time syncing and offline-first architecture.

Why its great:

• Object-oriented data access

• Live objects and change listeners

• Built-in encryption

• Excellent performance for large apps
  
  

4. MongoDB Realm

MongoDB Realm combines the power of Realm's mobile database with MongoDB's cloud backend. Its ideal for data-rich apps requiring flexibility and scalability.

Why its great:

• Schema-less NoSQL database

• Sync with MongoDB Atlas

• Strong offline-first support

5. WatermelonDB

Built specifically for React Native, WatermelonDB is a high-performance database for handling large datasets while keeping battery usage low.

Why its great:

• Optimised for complex applications

• Lazy-loading for faster performance

• SQLite under the hood, but more developer-friendly

6. PouchDB

PouchDB is an open-source JavaScript database that enables data syncing with CouchDB and similar servers. It supports offline-first development.

Why its great:

• Syncs with remote databases

• Works offline

• Easy integration with React Native

7. Couchbase Lite

Couchbase Lite is a full-featured embedded NoSQL database for mobile apps, designed for edge computing and offline access.

Why its great:

• Peer-to-peer sync

• Flexible JSON document model

• Scalable with Couchbase Sync Gateway

8. AsyncStorage (Deprecated)

Though officially deprecated in favour of community packages, AsyncStorage was once widely used for storing small key-value pairs locally in React Native.

Why its great:

• Good for basic local storage

• Simple to use

• Replaced now by @react-native-async-storage/async-storage

9. Vasern

Vasern is a fast, lightweight, and open-source database for React Native. Though still in development, it shows promise for performance-focused apps.

Why its great:

• Built in Go for speed

• Designed for React Native

• Simple API and fast data writing

10. BerkeleyDB

BerkeleyDB is a high-performance embedded database that can be a good fit for developers looking for more control over data storage and retrieval.

Why its great:

• ACID-compliant

• Lightweight

• Highly customisable

11. Amazon DynamoDB

Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database offered by AWS. Its scalable, fast, and integrates well with cloud infrastructure.

Why its great:

• Serverless

• Auto-scaling

• Secure and managed by AWS
  
  

Conclusion

Selecting the right database is a vital part for building a successful React Native application. Whether youre aiming for offline functionality, real-time sync, or cloud scalability, theres a database out there to match your projects needs.

As a trusted react native app development company in UK, we help businesses to choose the right architecture from day one. From Firebase for real-time applications to SQLite for lightweight needs, your decision should depend on the features and scale of your mobile app.

Ready to build a high-performing React Native app with the right backend? Partner with a top notch react native app development company that understands both frontend and data engineering to deliver a seamless experience to your users.