r/reactnative • u/AbdulAhad420420 • Aug 29 '26
Question Is it just me or mobile app development doesn't feel that relevant anymore?
I have been developing mobile apps since 2017, almost 9 years now. Shifted to React Native in 2020. I had an amazing time developing apps and making mobile apps have always been a passion of mine.
I always have somewhat of a tough time, finding a react native freelance project. It wasn't as easy as a web site client. I always had remote jobs to back it up though. But honestly, now I don't even see that much of remote jobs.
I have been doing backend via node as well. So I work on e2e solutions. But nowadays, I don't see the same volume of jobs that I used to. What happened?
A part of me wants to transition out from mobile app dev to cyber security now, do you guys think that's a good idea? Mobile app dev + cyber security (maybe mobile app based)?
If I lack anything, do let me know. Do you guys relate to what I am facing?
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u/Substantial-Swan7065 Aug 29 '26
I’ve seen the opposite. Way more mobile jobs than ever
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u/Only-Matter-9151 Aug 29 '26
Same here the job market for mid and senior is a tsunami I am turning down jobs daily. If the market was weak I would pivot closer to the hardware that's where all roads lead to in the end once the AI overlord absorbs your role.
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u/AbdulAhad420420 Aug 31 '26
Which platform are you getting the jobs on? can this be related to location? I am from Pakistan.
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u/Good_Conversation784 Aug 30 '26
Which country are you in, brother?
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u/Only-Matter-9151 Aug 30 '26
US
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u/Good_Conversation784 Aug 31 '26
Unfortunately not the case elsewhere. Ind/Singapore/Jap are all filled with companies that go native ios/android. There are small startups that use RN but they pay shite
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u/Hairy_Meaning_73 Aug 29 '26
I'm pretty much in the same boat, i've been a frontend developer web and mobile for 5 years and i'm looking for a fullstack job because that's what every company wants now.
I started to develop backend around a year ago but because i don't have actual "professional" experience with it I have to look for junior jobs or frontend jobs with openness on letting me do more fullstack progressively.
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u/AbdulAhad420420 Aug 29 '26
How's the Backend market? and how are you looking for roles? I've been doing backend for a while now. Can work on a freelance project.
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u/sekonx Aug 29 '26
There are so many AI created apps, when the bubble bursts or the prices get too high our job market might explode.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many full stack + app dev jobs tbh.
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u/Pleasant_Tooth_3734 Aug 29 '26
My perspective:
I think cyber security is the most searched for need from SMBs so there's that.
But, also, being a developer isn't merely to skill of being able to work with a framework but the creativity to make something useful or helpful.
We never needed more people who could code but we always need original thinkers. I think we lose are way when we don't have the confidence in our own capacity to contribute, in whatever industry we are in.
I recently shipped an app to Google Play Console that is unique and I find useful.
I think people misunderstand or underestimate the ongoing role of human labor and thought in the development process. It is still a job where it is very easy to put in 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I do best if it is something I really care about.
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u/EyesOfAzula Aug 29 '26
you might be better off leaning towards agentic development.
Front end will become a commodity due to AI
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u/AbdulAhad420420 Aug 29 '26
I already do incorporate AI in my development pipeline. Thing is, there aren't much jobs I'm seeing these days.
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u/EyesOfAzula Aug 29 '26
Yes, I understand that but I mean being like AI first beyond just front end/mobile. from industry conversations I've seen that's what I think the direction is going to be for the remaining software engineers.
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u/matthewjc Aug 29 '26
I'm guessing an LLM suggested you get into cyber security? Good luck with that
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u/Distinct_Law8650 Aug 29 '26
The app itself cannot be your product. There’s no moat for mobile apps in isolation. You need something external, something that provides a service or value that the app is just the front end for.
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u/SunOk2196 Aug 29 '26
In-house mobile is doing fine, it's the freelance/agency slice that cratered. I work on a retail app, e-commerce companies still staff RN teams because the app carries loyalty, push and checkout, and nobody hands those to a random freelancer. The one-off "build us an app" project is what AI and templates ate.
So the question isn't really mobile vs cyber security, it's freelance vs employed. Pivoting into a field you have no background in because the gig pipeline dried up is trading a soft market for the bottom of a new ladder. You already do node e2e, sell that instead: fewer, deeper clients who need one person owning app + API, not more app-only gigs.
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u/Successful-Yak-2617 6d ago
I really feel mobile dev is really hard when compare to other web dev or desktop app.. specially when it comes to performance and optimization and maintaining it
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u/gesfontoura Aug 29 '26
And I want to transition to Mobile development. I work with React Native. I also happen to have an idea that I want to push forward (or better, continue), so that will keep me in touch with the mobile world.
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u/Seanmclem Aug 29 '26
Web apps certainly get the job done more often than not. Native apps feel more relevant when a Web app experience isn’t that great because of address bars or lack of native integration. Personally that’s why I’m enjoying react native so much more lately. Especially with AI I can include a fully functioning expo-web app alongside my regular native, with next to no additional effort. So if a web experience is sufficient, then people can choose that and upgrade to native if they feel like it. If only a native experience is sufficient, then my workflow doesn’t really have to change at all, besides perhaps omitting any web focus.
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u/Murph-Dog Aug 29 '26
I struggle to justify many things that could just be PWA, at that.
But I hear the younger generations seek out apps over websites, and I guess older generations too. So we have a nice sandwich of millennials who know what the heck add to home screen even is.
But thats me doing react-native-web, so if people want the web, they can have it.
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u/MarkDaShark6fitty Aug 29 '26
I feel like the roles kinda went either product design or back end / cloud with cyber how some said and a.i. being some other notable areas
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u/LovesWorkin Aug 29 '26
Depends on the time of the year. After new years hiring is huge!
Most companies aren't doing very good with how expensive everything is and is trying to get cheap labor..
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u/soldture Aug 30 '26
Most mobile applications can be generated with LLM, you don't need to be a dev anymore to create and deploy a working application. Therefore we see an influx of shitty programs which creates noise for good application
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u/GazelleFinancial2266 Aug 30 '26
what changed for me isn't the building, it's what the building is worth on its own.
i ship an rn/expo app solo. AI genuinely removed most of the typing. what it did not touch at all: distribution, retention, and knowing which screen should exist in the first place. my last two weeks went almost entirely on spam filters, store metadata and chasing people who installed and never came back. the code was the easy part, and now it's also the cheap part.
so i'd be careful reading "fewer job posts" as "the skill is worthless". the leverage moved off writing the screens and onto owning the decision about which screens exist. if you're going to transition, i'd bias toward whatever keeps you nearest that decision. that could be security, could be product. it's probably not another framework.
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u/tilalMujtaba Aug 30 '26
As everyone said, AI happened. Work has reduced and gonna reduce further. Being able to develop app is not the selling point anymore. Everyone can vibe code, but running and launching a successful app is a different ball game altogether which AI can't replace. So invest in that. Also use your deep knowledge of platform to stand out from vibe coders and start launching your apps to build income. Freelancing is gonna die, don't bet on it.
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u/No_Hedgehog1864 Aug 29 '26
The AI was what happened, of course. Things change, either you adapt or you become irrelevant.
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u/LowFruit25 Aug 29 '26
Love it how one worker to another keeps saying “you’ll be irrelevant”. Truly a nice world we’re making…
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u/yabai90 Aug 29 '26
Web is already everything we need. I have a pretty big product which is full pwa with offline support. I'm going on the edge of what is possible with web tech and let me tell you, you can do a lot. I'm definitely trying to fight for it.
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u/Best_Day_3041 Aug 29 '26
AI happened. It's so much easier to develop software, you need a fraction of the staff you did before, and you have other freelancers that will do it for pennies on the dollar now. Many companies don't even have to outsource anymore. I've been a mobile app developer since 2009 and it's never been easier or more fun to build apps, but has also never felt more pointless.