react navigation is basically the only one at this point. React-native-navigation exists but I don't thnk anyonne picks it. expo-router is built on react-navigation and it's basically the same except it uses file based routing and why wouldn't you use it if you are on expo? Answer from suarkb on reddit.com
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React Navigation
reactnavigation.org
React Navigation
Routing and navigation for your React Native apps
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React Native
reactnative.dev › docs › navigation
Navigating Between Screens · React Native
2 weeks ago - React Navigation provides a straightforward navigation solution, with the ability to present common stack navigation and tabbed navigation patterns on both Android and iOS. If you're integrating React Native into an app that already manages ...
Discussions

What is your preferred Navigation solution for react native?
react navigation is basically the only one at this point. React-native-navigation exists but I don't thnk anyonne picks it. expo-router is built on react-navigation and it's basically the same except it uses file based routing and why wouldn't you use it if you are on expo? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/reactnative
30
7
February 9, 2024
performance - React Navigation vs. React Native Navigation - Stack Overflow
What are the technical differences between the main two React Native navigation solutions: React Native Navigation and React Native? React Navigation React Native Navigation Are there specific More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
Custom Navigation
I actually have done this exact thing and got the idea from the exact same place UpBank (I’m Aussie). I also made it support react-native-web. I also used tab navigator. It would be great if you could provide a code sandbox or minimal GitHub repo so I can help you. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/reactnative
4
2
December 23, 2022
Faster alternative to navigation?

There’s React Router but I’ve always thought it sucked. I’ve worked on several RN apps using React Native Navigation and React Navigation and I’ve rarely seen any noticeable lag.

The one time I had issues with lag when navigating between screens, it was because the screen I was navigating to had some heavy graphs that slowed down the mounting

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/reactnative
32
3
June 17, 2022
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GitHub
github.com › wix › react-native-navigation
GitHub - wix/react-native-navigation: A complete native navigation solution for React Native · GitHub
React Native Navigation provides 100% native platform navigation on both iOS and Android for React Native apps. The JavaScript API is simple and cross-platform - just install it in your app and give your users the native feel they deserve.
Starred by 13.2K users
Forked by 2.6K users
Languages   MDX 38.3% | Objective-C++ 18.0% | TypeScript 13.3% | Java 13.1% | Kotlin 9.9% | Objective-C 3.8%
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React Navigation
reactnavigation.org › docs › getting-started
Getting started | React Navigation
React Navigation is a navigation library for React Native and Web. It provides routing logic and UI common on mobile apps and PWAs with type-safe navigation, built-in universal links on mobile, and browser history integration on the web.
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npm
npmjs.com › package › react-native-navigation
react-native-navigation - npm
2 weeks ago - React Native Navigation - truly native navigation for iOS and Android. Latest version: 8.8.8, last published: 2 days ago. Start using react-native-navigation in your project by running `npm i react-native-navigation`. There are 61 other projects in the npm registry using react-native-navigation.
      » npm install react-native-navigation
    
Published   Jun 08, 2026
Version   8.8.8
Find elsewhere
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GitHub
github.com › react-navigation › react-navigation
GitHub - react-navigation/react-navigation: Routing and navigation for React Native and Web apps · GitHub
Routing and navigation for your React Native apps.
Starred by 24.5K users
Forked by 5.1K users
Languages   TypeScript 98.2% | Swift 0.7% | JavaScript 0.4% | Objective-C++ 0.3% | Kotlin 0.3% | C++ 0.1%
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Medium
medium.com › handlebar-labs › navigating-navigation-in-react-native-26c7e4690f94
Navigating Navigation in React Native | by Spencer Carli | Handlebar Labs | Medium
December 14, 2017 - The primary difference is that navigation is executed off of the JavaScript thread. Totally valid question — it seems like two solutions would give, right? Not in JavaScript land!
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npm
npmjs.com › package › @react-navigation › native
@react-navigation/native - npm
5 days ago - React Native integration for React Navigation. Latest version: 7.3.1, last published: 4 days ago. Start using @react-navigation/native in your project by running `npm i @react-navigation/native`. There are 1593 other projects in the npm registry using @react-navigation/native.
      » npm install @react-navigation/native
    
Published   Jun 11, 2026
Version   7.3.1
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React Navigation
reactnavigation.org › docs › native-stack-navigator
Native Stack Navigator | React Navigation
Options to render a native search bar. Search bars are rarely static so normally it is controlled by passing an object to headerSearchBarOptions navigation option in the component's body. On iOS, you also need to specify contentInsetAdjustmentBehavior="automatic" in your ScrollView, FlatList etc. If you don't have a ScrollView, specify headerTransparent: false. ... React.useLayoutEffect(() => { navigation.setOptions({ headerSearchBarOptions: { // search bar options }, }); }, [navigation]);
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Detox
wix.github.io › react-native-navigation › docs › before-you-start
Before you start | React Native Navigation
React Native Navigation is a module, dependent on and intended to be used alongside React Native, so some experience with it and knowledge of core concepts is required. If you feel the need, you can start with their getting started tutorial, and then come back here when you're ready.
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Expo
expo.dev › blog › expo-router-v56-decoupling-from-react-navigation
Expo Router v56: Decoupling from React Navigation
3 weeks ago - Expo Router v56 forks from React Navigation, ships streaming SSR, and closes the platform gap with a new Android toolbar and Native Tabs updates.
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Expo Documentation
docs.expo.dev › develop › navigation
Navigation in Expo and React Native apps - Expo Documentation
4 weeks ago - The core React Native library does not include a built-in navigation solution, so you can choose a navigation library that best fits your needs.
Top answer
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NEW EDIT: As of today (07/2020) I suggest using React Navigation v5. It's the community solution being most pushed by Facebook. The V5 rewrite was a complete game changer and is far superior to previous versions. Easy to get setup and implementing easy/complicated stacks is a breeze most of the time.

If that's not doing it for you another alternative is react-native-navigation by WIX (not compatible with expo unfortunately).


React Native Navigation as the name says uses the native modules with a JS bridge, so performance will/may be better. This requires native integration.

While React Navigation is a simple and powerful solution provided by react native itself. Its an all JS implementation unlike the other that uses native support which can be tricky. Just npm-install and you're good to go ...

Use react navigation if you prefer an all JS implementation and use native navigation if your highest priority lies in performance .

  • Both libs have undergone drastic changes and entered next stable versions. react-navigation is more stable and performant now. If you have to handle complex computations in js go for react-native-navigation. but in most cases react-navigation will work for you!
  • With the advent of react-native-screens, the native screen optimisation is brought possible to react-navigation by bringing the native navigation component (UIViewController for iOS, and FragmentActivity for Android) Refer here

For those who are looking from a user experience view, both provides almost identical animations and flow so that you wouldn't know what lib is used behind the scenes. The major difference is the native side that can make performance better(which is crucial for a better user experience)

Both libs are amongst the best navigation solutions for React Native. Use it according to your need/preference.

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React Native Navigation using native navigation by wrapping each screen with a native controller. So the performance is optimized by the native realm. The area you gonna implement is inside the header and tab bar.

React Navigation is pure js implementation. It uses React-native root view as the container view. Each screen is under the root view hierarchical tree.

So if you open the app from View Hierarchy console, you will see a big difference (React Navigation includes a bunch of weird components like multiple headers or tab bar, the tree is also difficult to understand).

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React Navigation
reactnavigation.org › docs › use-navigation
useNavigation | React Navigation
import { useNavigation } from '@react-navigation/native'; function MyBackButton() { const navigation = useNavigation(); return ( <Button onPress={() => { navigation.goBack(); }} > Back </Button> ); }
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Crest Infotech
crestinfotech.com › home › navigation in react native: using react navigation for seamless user experiences
Navigation in React Native: Using React Navigation for Seamless User Experiences | Crest Infotech
December 18, 2024 - React Navigation is a library for managing navigation in React Native apps. It provides a wide range of navigators to handle navigation in stack, tab, drawer, and other layouts.
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Medium
medium.com › @ofelipedbr › implementing-navigation-in-react-native-a-practical-guide-with-examples-1a4c9b0aeac0
Implementing Navigation in React Native: A Practical Guide with Examples | by Felipe Dumont | Medium
September 17, 2024 - To implement routes in React Native, we use the React Navigation library, which simplifies the creation of stack, tab, and drawer navigation, providing a smooth user experience.
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Medium
medium.com › @tusharkumar27864 › react-native-navigation-simplified-best-practices-and-tips-748df1217a70
Best Practices for Creating Navigation in a React Native Project | by TUSHAR KUMAR | Medium
March 28, 2025 - This splits your navigation into logical parts and makes it easier to manage. React Navigation might seem complicated at first, but take it step by step.
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Codecademy
codecademy.com › learn › learn-react-native › modules › navigation-react-native › cheatsheet
Learn React Native: Navigation Cheatsheet | Codecademy
React Navigation is a powerful navigation library for React Native that delivers native-like navigation patterns through customizable stack, tab, and drawer navigators.
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MachineServant
machineservant.com › blog › 2023-06-23-p1-react-native-navigation
React Native Navigation Guide Part 1: Getting Started
React Navigation provides a JavaScript-based navigation solution that doesn't need native code recompilation, making it a flexible and popular choice.