1--- 2title: FAQ 3description: A list of common questions and limitations about Expo and related services. 4--- 5 6import { BoxLink } from '~/ui/components/BoxLink'; 7import { 8 BuildIcon, 9 EasMetadataIcon, 10 LayersTwo02Icon, 11 BellRinging04Icon, 12} from '@expo/styleguide-icons'; 13 14This page lists some of the common questions and answers about Expo and related services. If you have a question that is not answered here, see [ Forums](https://forums.expo.io) for more common questions. 15 16## What is Expo used for? 17 18Expo is an [open-source framework](https://github.com/expo/expo) for apps that run natively on Android, iOS, and the web. Expo brings together the best of mobile and the web and enables many important features for building and scaling an app such as live updates, instantly sharing your app, and web support. The `expo` npm package enables a suite of incredible features for React Native apps. The `expo` package can be installed in nearly any React Native project. See [what Expo offers](/core-concepts) for more information. 19 20## Do companies use Expo? 21 22Yes, Expo is used by top companies worldwide, serving hundreds of millions of end users. See our [showcase](https://expo.dev/customers). 23 24## Why does Expo have its own SDK? 25 26When Expo was first created, React Native had yet to be publicly released. This means there were no third-party packages. To make React Native's developer experience reasonable, we created [several libraries to achieve common functionalities](/versions/latest). Many of these libraries have since been forked and modified to meet various needs. We welcome users to mix and match whichever [custom native code](/workflow/customizing) they need to make their app great. 27 28The Expo SDK is well-tested, written in TypeScript, documented, and built for Android, iOS, and the web. Every module in the Expo SDK works together to ensure versioning always matches. This creates a nice upgrading experience. 29 30The Expo SDK is also written with the [Expo native API](/modules) to make contributing, maintaining, and understanding easier. 31 32## What is the difference between Expo and React Native? 33 34The `expo` package provides a suite of features that make it easier to develop, and scale complex React Native applications. You can install `expo` in nearly any React Native app. The `expo` package is not required to use [Expo Application Services (EAS)](/eas) or React Native, however, it is highly recommended. See [what Expo offers](/core-concepts) for more information. 35 36## Do I need to switch from React Native to use Expo? 37 38No, the `expo` npm package and CLI work with any React Native app. [Expo Application Services (EAS)](/eas) also works with all React Native apps with first-class support for builds, updates, app store submissions, and more. 39 40## How much does Expo cost? 41 42The Expo platform is [free and open source](https://blog.expo.dev/exponent-is-free-as-in-and-as-in-1d6d948a60dc). This includes the libraries that make up the [Expo SDK](/versions/latest) and the [Expo CLI](/more/expo-cli/) used for development. The Expo Go app, the easiest way to get started, is also free from the app stores. 43 44[Expo Application Services (EAS)](/eas) is an optional suite of cloud services for React Native apps, from the Expo team. EAS makes it easier to build your app, submit it to the stores, keep it updated, send push notifications, and more. You can use EAS for free if the [Free tier](https://expo.dev/pricing) quotas are sufficient for your app. More information is available on the [pricing page](https://expo.dev/pricing). 45 46## How do I add custom native code to my Expo project? 47 48Expo supports adding custom native code and customizing that native code (Android/Xcode projects). To use any custom native code, you can create a [development build](/develop/development-builds/introduction/) and [config plugins](/config-plugins/introduction). We do recommend using the modules in the [Expo SDK](/versions/latest) when possible for easier upgrades and improved developer experience. 49 50## Can I use Expo in the app that is created with React Native CLI? 51 52Yes! All Expo tools and services work great in any React Native app. For example, you can use any part of the [Expo SDK](/versions/latest), [`expo-dev-client`](/develop/development-builds/installation/) and EAS Build, Submit, and Update — they work great! Learn more about [installing `expo` in your project](/bare/installing-expo-modules), [adopting prebuild](/guides/adopting-prebuild), and [setting up EAS Build](/build/introduction). 53 54## How do I share my Expo project? Can I submit it to the app stores? 55 56The fastest way to share your project is to publish with [EAS Update](/eas-update/introduction) and launch in a [development build](/develop/development-builds/introduction/). This gives your app a URL; you can share this URL with anybody who has the [development build](/develop/development-builds/introduction/) for Android or iOS. URLs can also be opened in Expo Go for Android. 57 58When ready, you can create a production build (**.aab** and **.ipa**) to submit to the app stores. You can build your app in a single command with [EAS Build](/build/introduction) and submit it to the stores with [EAS Submit](/submit/introduction). 59 60You can also use [internal distribution](/build/internal-distribution) to share your app with an APK on Android and ad-hoc or enterprise provisioning on iOS. 61 62## Can I develop iOS apps on a Windows computer? 63 64Traditionally you needed a macOS to develop iOS apps, however, you can use [EAS Build](/build/introduction) to build your app in the cloud. You can also use [EAS Submit](/submit/introduction) to submit your app to the stores. Testing can be done on a physical iOS device using [Expo Go](https://expo.dev/expo-go) or a [development build](/develop/development-builds/introduction/). 65 66## What versions of Android and iOS are supported by the Expo SDK? 67 68Expo SDK supports Android 5+ and iOS 13+. For more information, see [Support for Android and iOS versions](/versions/latest/#support-for-android-and-ios-versions). 69 70## What is the minimal size of a "hello world" expo app? 71 72A bare minimum production app created using pure Expo is less than 3 MB. For iOS, Expo targets a newer minimum iOS version which enables app store optimizations. 73 74If the `expo` package is included in your app, it only adds 1 MB one time to the final size of apps on app stores. The `expo` package has a marginal size cost (for example, 150 Kib on Android). The rest of the size comes from the language runtime (such as Kotlin on Android). 75 76## Can I use Expo with my native library? 77 78You can use native Android and iOS libraries with Expo by creating a [custom native module](/modules) with Swift and Kotlin. Many popular libraries already have custom native modules. Check out our [React Native directory](https://reactnative.directory) to find popular libraries for your use case. 79 80## Can I use Expo with this web library? 81 82Many popular web packages such as three.js work with Expo and React Native. See [Expo examples](https://github.com/expo/examples) for more information. 83 84## Is Expo similar to React for web development? 85 86Expo is an [open-source framework](https://github.com/expo/expo) for apps that run natively on Android, iOS, and the web. React Native is similar to `react-dom` from web development, enabling you to run React on a particular platform, however, it has a few key differences: 87 88- React Native does not support HTML or CSS. 89- Instead of using the DOM, React Native uses native components. For example, `<View />` instead of `<div />`. Native components are more performant than the DOM and provide a much nicer user experience. 90- Unlike React.js which has access to browser APIs, React Native uses custom native APIs. For example, instead of `navigator.geolocation`, you use `expo-location` to access the user's location. Custom native APIs are similar to browser APIs except you have full control over them. This means you can access new features before they are available in the browser. 91 92In the same way React.js frameworks help users create larger websites with ease, Expo helps users create larger apps with ease. Expo provides a suite of well-tested React Native modules that run on Android, iOS, and the web. Expo also provides a [suite of tools](/eas) for building, deploying, and updating your app. 93 94## Should I use Expo CLI or React Native CLI? 95 96Expo CLI can be used simultaneously with React Native CLI. Expo CLI provides the same core functionality as React Native CLI, and additional functionality like automatic [TypeScript setup](/guides/typescript), [web support](/workflow/web), [auto installing compatible libraries](/more/expo-cli/#install), [improved native build commands](/more/expo-cli#compiling), [tunneling](/more/expo-cli#tunneling), [prebuild](/workflow/prebuild), [and more](/more/expo-cli). 97 98Regardless of which CLI you use, you can use any part of the [Expo SDK](/versions/latest/) and [Expo Application Services](/eas) with your project. 99 100## Is Expo Go open source? 101 102Yes, the source for Expo Go can be found in the [expo/expo GitHub repository](https://github.com/expo/expo) in the **home**, **android**, and **ios** directories. The Expo Go app is also built with Expo and React Native. 103 104## Is Expo eject deprecated? 105 106Yes, Expo eject is a deprecated term and is no longer necessary. It was replaced by the [`npx expo prebuild`](/workflow/prebuild) command which continuously generates native projects for you based on the libraries in your project and the app config (**app.json**). Learn more in the [Expo Prebuild documentation](/workflow/prebuild). 107 108Unlike the `expo eject` library, authors can configure their libraries to work with Expo Prebuild by creating a [config plugin](/config-plugins/introduction/). This means you can use any library with Expo Prebuild. You can also use any custom native code with Expo Prebuild by creating a [development build](/develop/development-builds/introduction/). 109 110## Limitations 111 112**Previously**, Expo had large native binary sizes and didn't support custom native code without "ejecting". These issues went away in December 2020 when we released [EAS Build](/build/introduction) which supports any React Native app. The concept of "ejecting" was replaced by the popular [Expo Prebuild](/workflow/prebuild) feature which has been around since SDK 41 (April 2021). The [`expo eject` command was fully deprecated](#is-expo-eject-deprecated) in Expo SDK 46 (August 2022). 113 114We believe Expo tools are a great option for anyone looking to create amazing cross-platform apps quickly. Nonetheless, everyone's project is unique, and there may be reasons Expo is not the right choice for what you're building. Reasons, why you may **not** want to use certain Expo tools with your project, are listed below: 115 116### EAS 117 118For more information on what current limitations exist with EAS, see the following: 119 120<BoxLink 121 title="EAS Build" 122 description="EAS Build is designed to work for any React Native project, whether or not you also use Expo Prebuild or manage your own native files. In some situations, you may need to change your project configuration, or it may be incompatible with your app. Learn more." 123 href="/build-reference/limitations" 124 Icon={BuildIcon} 125/> 126 127<BoxLink 128 title="EAS Update" 129 description="EAS Update is a hosted service that serves updates for projects using the expo-updates library. You can use it to fix small bugs and push quick fixes a snap in between app store submissions. In some situations, not be the right fit for a project. Learn more." 130 href="/eas-update/known-issues" 131 Icon={LayersTwo02Icon} 132/> 133 134<BoxLink 135 title="EAS Metadata" 136 description="EAS Metadata helps create or maintain an app in the stores as easily as possible by using one configuration file. In some situations, not be the right fit for a project. Learn more." 137 href="/eas/metadata/faq/#anti-pitch" 138 Icon={EasMetadataIcon} 139/> 140 141<BoxLink 142 title="Notifications" 143 description="Push Notifications are an important feature, no matter what kind of app you're building. In some situations, you might want to know about common issues when setting up push notifications with Expo. Learn more." 144 href="/push-notifications/faq" 145 Icon={BellRinging04Icon} 146/> 147 148#### Bare workflow 149 150Similar to [development builds](/develop/development-builds/introduction/), the bare workflow also provides access to the underlying native projects and any native code. It's a "bare" native project where you can make direct changes to the project's native **android** and **ios** directories rather than continuously generating them on demand using the [app config and prebuild](/workflow/prebuild). 151 152EAS Build is compatible with bare workflow projects if you check in the native directories, but no longer runs prebuild, as that could overwrite any manual customizations you've made to the native project files. You'll have to configure the native directories on your own with native tools such as Android Studio or Xcode. 153 154### Expo Go 155 156[Expo Go](/get-started/expo-go/) provides a quick way to get started with your app development. It comes with a pre-configured set of libraries known as the Expo SDK. This makes experimentation much faster and brings the mobile development experience much closer to the web development experience. 157 158Like any other tool, it too has its limitations: 159 160- Using a third-party library that requires native code 161- Using a third-party push notification service 162 163**We strongly recommend any projects that require additional libraries with native code to migrate to [development builds](/develop/development-builds/introduction/). It's like creating a version of Expo Go that is specifically customized to your app's needs.** 164