Draftbit is “Visual Builder”
RapidNative is “AI Builder”

RapidNative and Draftbit both generate real React Native code for iOS and Android. The difference is how you build. Draftbit uses visual drag-and-drop with manual configuration. RapidNative uses AI to generate apps from plain English descriptions.

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See the Comparison

Visual Building vs. AI Generation.

Both platforms output React Native code. Both let you export and own your code. Both build real native mobile apps. The difference is how you create them.

Building Method

Draftbit

Visual Drag & Drop

RapidNative

Natural Language Prompts

Time to First Screen

Draftbit

Hours

RapidNative

Minutes

Learning Curve

Draftbit

Moderate (visual builder concepts)

RapidNative

Zero (describe in plain English)

Code Output

Draftbit

React Native

RapidNative

React Native + Expo (TypeScript)

Code Quality

Draftbit

Draftbit-structured React Native

RapidNative

Clean, human-readable React Native

Backend Integration

Draftbit

REST APIs, Xano, Supabase

RapidNative

Supabase (Deep Integration)

Deployment

Draftbit

Expo or manual

RapidNative

Expo Launch

Code Ownership

Draftbit

Full export on paid plans

RapidNative

Full export included

A visual low-code platform for React Native apps.

Draftbit has been in the React Native app builder space for years. It lets you visually construct mobile apps using a drag-and-drop interface.

How it works:

1. Drag components onto a canvas — buttons, lists, inputs, images
2. Configure properties in a sidebar panel
3. Set up navigation between screens
4. Connect to APIs and databases
5. Style using Flexbox-based layouts
6. Preview on device
7. Export React Native code

What users appreciate:

  • "Draftbit has been such an amazing find to bring out my mobile app."
  • "Having the source code was the main reason I went with Draftbit."
  • "Great product to build apps your way."

What users note as challenges:

  • "Although Draftbit aims to save users time, navigating around Draftbit dev and design limitations has slowed us down."
  • "State management takes some getting used to if you come from a React Native background."
  • "Some basic features like adding custom code should be included in basic plan."

Draftbit requires learning
Visual Programming Concepts.

Draftbit positions itself as "no-code/low-code," but reviews consistently mention a learning curve.

To use Draftbit effectively, you need to understand:

  • Flexbox layout system (how components arrange on screen)
  • Component properties and configuration
  • Data binding and state management
  • API connections and REST endpoints
  • Navigation patterns (stacks, tabs, modals)
  • Action triggers and interactions

From Draftbit's own documentation:

"If you're familiar with CSS Flex Box then you'll be right at home laying out components."

From user reviews:

"Because Draftbit's a low-code platform, you'll need some technical expertise to use it. This includes knowing how to structure a database, the logic behind coding structure, how APIs work, and other tech concepts. If you're new to tech, you'll probably struggle with Draftbit."

This isn't a criticism. Draftbit is powerful precisely because it offers low-level control. But it's not truly "no-code" in the sense that anyone can pick it up immediately.

AI That Builds Apps From Descriptions

RapidNative takes a different approach. Instead of visual programming, you describe what you want in plain English.

"Build a fitness tracker with workout logging and progress charts" — just tell the AI what you want.

No dragging. No property panels. No Flexbox configuration.

You describe outcomes. AI handles implementation.

Try RapidNative

How building actually feels on each platform.

Creating a Simple Profile Screen

In Draftbit:

  1. 1.Create new screen
  2. 2.Add View component for container
  3. 3.Set Flexbox properties (direction: column, align: center)
  4. 4.Add Image component
  5. 5.Configure image source, size, border radius
  6. 6.Add Text component for name
  7. 7.Configure font size, weight, color
  8. 8.Add Text component for bio
  9. 9.Configure styling
  10. 10.Add Button component
  11. 11.Configure button text, colors, action
  12. 12.Test and adjust spacing

Estimated time: 15-30 minutes for a basic screen

In RapidNative:

Describe: "Create a profile screen with a circular profile photo at the top, the user's name below it in bold, a short bio underneath, and an Edit Profile button"
Review generated screen
Describe adjustments if needed

Estimated time: 2-5 minutes

The Tradeoff:

Draftbit gives you precise control over every property. RapidNative gives you speed with less granular control.

What Each Platform Offers.

React Native output

Draftbit

Yes

RapidNative

Yes

iOS + Android

Draftbit

Yes

RapidNative

Yes

Code export

Draftbit

Yes (Pro plan, $59+/mo)

RapidNative

Yes (all plans)

Preview on device

Draftbit

Yes (QR code)

RapidNative

Yes (Expo Go)

Visual editor

Draftbit

Yes (primary interface)

RapidNative

No

AI generation

Draftbit

Added feature

RapidNative

Core approach

Custom code injection

Draftbit

Yes

RapidNative

Via export

API connections

Draftbit

Built-in REST API tools

RapidNative

Via export/integration

Built-in backend

Draftbit

No (bring your own)

RapidNative

No (bring your own)

Team collaboration

Draftbit

Yes (Team plan)

RapidNative

Limited

App Store publishing help

Draftbit

Yes

RapidNative

Via Expo

Both have AI, but they use it differently.

Draftbit's AI:

Draftbit has added AI features to their existing visual builder:

  • •AI image generator
  • •AI-powered Code Assistant
  • •AI can generate screens

But: The AI is layered on top of a visual builder. You still work primarily through drag-and-drop. AI assists but doesn't replace the visual programming paradigm.

From a competitor's analysis:

"Draftbit has introduced AI features to generate screens, but it's grafted onto a legacy visual builder... Generates visual components, often requiring manual cleanup. Limited understanding of complex app logic or state management. Restricted by the visual builder's constraints."

RapidNative's AI:

AI is the primary interface. You don't drag components. You describe what you want, and AI generates the complete implementation.

  • •Understands app descriptions in plain English
  • •Generates screens, navigation, and styling
  • •Handles mobile UI patterns automatically
  • •Produces clean, exportable code

The difference: Draftbit added AI to visual building. RapidNative is built around AI from the start.

Pricing Comparison

Free

Draftbit

$0 — 5 screens per project, 3 draft projects

RapidNative

$0 — 5 daily credits

Basic / Starter

Draftbit

$29/mo — Unlimited screens, publish to app stores

RapidNative

$20/mo — 50 credits

Pro

Draftbit

$59/mo — Full code export, custom code

RapidNative

$49/mo — 150 credits

Team

Draftbit

$99/mo — 5 collaborators, 15 apps

RapidNative

—

Enterprise

Draftbit

Custom

RapidNative

Custom

Cost Analysis: Draftbit's code export requires $59+/month, while RapidNative's is available at $20/month

Note: Draftbit's code export requires Pro plan ($59/month or higher), while RapidNative's code export is available on all plans.

When to Choose What

Draftbit makes sense in specific situations.

Choose Draftbit if:

  • •You want precise, pixel-perfect control over every element
  • •You're comfortable learning Flexbox and visual programming
  • •You prefer seeing exactly what you're building as you build it
  • •You have time to invest in learning the platform
  • •You want to inject custom code directly in the builder
  • •You're building complex apps that need fine-tuned configuration

Draftbit's strength: Control and precision for users willing to learn the system.

RapidNative makes sense in different situations.

Choose RapidNative if:

  • •You want to build fast without learning visual programming
  • •You're not technical and want to describe, not configure
  • •You need quick prototypes to test ideas
  • •You want code export without paying for higher tiers
  • •You prefer iterating through conversation rather than UI manipulation
  • •Speed matters more than pixel-perfect control

RapidNative's strength: Speed and accessibility for anyone with an app idea.

Both produce React Native. The details differ.

Draftbit Output:

  • Standard React Native
  • Uses their component library
  • Can inject custom code
  • Structured around their visual editor's patterns

RapidNative Output:

  • React Native + Expo
  • Uses NativeWind (Tailwind CSS for React Native)
  • TypeScript
  • Structured around modern Expo patterns

Both are valid React Native code. Any React Native developer can work with either output. The difference is framework choices — Draftbit uses standard React Native styling, while RapidNative uses NativeWind/Tailwind approach.

What if you want to switch?

From Draftbit:

Export your React Native code (requires Pro plan). You get standard React Native that any developer can continue working with.

From RapidNative:

Export your React Native + Expo project. You get standard code that any React Native developer can continue working with. Could even open it in tools like Cursor or Claude Code.

Both platforms avoid lock-in through code export. This is a shared strength.

Choose Based on How You
Like to Work.

Do you prefer configuring components visually, or
describing what you want?

If you think in visual terms and want to place every button, adjust every margin, and see your app take shape component by component, Draftbit's visual approach will feel natural.

If you think in outcomes and want to describe "a profile page with a photo, name, and edit button" without manually configuring each element, RapidNative's AI approach will feel faster.

Both produce real React Native apps. Both let you export code. Both can build legitimate mobile applications. The difference is the journey, not the destination.

What real users say about each.

Draftbit Users:

Positive:

  • •"Having the source code was the main reason I went with Draftbit"
  • •"Great product to build apps your way"
  • •"The team provides amazing help"

Challenges:

  • •"Navigating around limitations has slowed us down"
  • •"State management takes some getting used to"
  • •"Priced a bit higher than competitors"

RapidNative Users:

Positive:

  • •Speed of initial generation
  • •Ease of iteration through description
  • •Code export on lower tiers

Challenges:

  • •Less granular control than visual builders
  • •Newer platform with evolving features

Quick Summary

Building method

Draftbit

Visual drag-and-drop

RapidNative

AI from descriptions

Learning curve

Draftbit

Weeks to months

RapidNative

Hours to days

Technical knowledge

Draftbit

Moderate required

RapidNative

Minimal required

Control level

Draftbit

High (pixel-perfect)

RapidNative

Moderate (AI-generated)

Code export

Draftbit

Pro plan ($59+/mo)

RapidNative

All plans ($20+/mo)

Output

Draftbit

React Native

RapidNative

React Native + Expo

Best for

Draftbit

Technical users wanting control

RapidNative

Anyone wanting speed

Same destination (React Native apps). Different paths to get there.

Common Questions

Yes. Draftbit has a free tier (limited features). RapidNative has a free tier (5 daily credits). Try both approaches and see which fits your working style.

Ready to try the AI approach?

Describe your app idea. See it generated in minutes. Preview on your phone. Export the code whenever you want. No drag-and-drop. No Flexbox configuration. No visual programming learning curve. Just describe what you want, and start building.

147,000+ prompts received. Real React Native code from plain English.

Start Building with AI