React Native UI libraries for ExpoExpoKit vs React Native Paper
Material Design done faithfully, against a kit that aims for an iOS-and-Android native feel with motion.
At a glance
| ExpoKit | React Native Paper | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Animated, shadcn-style UI kit for Expo and React Native | Material Design 3 component library from Callstack |
| How it gets into your app | CLI copies the source into your app (npx @expokit/cli add button); you own the code | npm package (react-native-paper) |
| Styling | React Native StyleSheet with a theme from KitProvider / useKit(); no Tailwind setup | Theme object + StyleSheet |
| Animation | React Native's own Animated API — Reanimated isn't required | React Native Animated |
| Runs in Expo Go | Yes — every component runs in Expo Go | Yes — pure JavaScript (its only native peer is safe-area-context) |
| Web | Yes (react-native-web) | Yes |
| License | Free items MIT; Pro items under the Pro license (see Terms) | MIT |
| Price | Free core; Pro is a one-time $12 launch price (regular $29), unlimited projects | Free |
| Size | 68 components, 10 screens, 44 charts, 4 app templates | About 33 components |
| Charts | Yes — 44 animated charts (expo-charts, MIT, on npm) | Not stated |
| Full screens / templates | Yes — 10 full screens and 4 app templates | Not stated |
Facts about React Native Paper from its own docs and repository, checked October 2026: github.com/callstack/react-native-paper, reactnativepaper.com. Something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Pick React Native Paper when
- Your app should follow Material Design (Material You) closely, especially on Android.
- You want a mature, widely used npm dependency with years of releases.
- You'd rather update components with npm than own their source.
Pick ExpoKit when
- You want a look that isn't Material — iOS-feel controls and custom motion — and the source to restyle it.
- You want charts, full screens and app templates too.
- You want to change a component's behaviour by editing it, not by overriding a package.
Try ExpoKit in one command
In an existing Expo app, this copies the Button's source into your project. Or scan a QR code and try every component on your phone first.
Every comparison is in one place: ExpoKit vs other React Native UI libraries.
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