Stack guide · updated 2026-10-22
Best stack for a mobile app
Last checked Oct 2026For shipping an iOS and Android app with a real backend, on free tiers until you have users.
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The stack at a glance
| Layer | Pick | Starting price | Our status | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile framework | Expo | SDK free (MIT); EAS Free $0, Starter $19/mo (source) | Not reviewed | Visit ↗ |
| AI editor | Cursor | Free; paid from $8/mo (Plus, Grok models only) (source) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
| Backend / database + auth | Supabase | Free; Pro from $25/mo (source) | Community-verified | Visit ↗ |
| Analytics | PostHog | Free every month (1M analytics events, 5K recordings); then pay-as-you-go (source) | Not reviewed | Visit ↗ |
| Resend | Free (3,000 emails/mo, 100/day); Pro $20/mo for 50,000 (source) | Not reviewed | Visit ↗ |
Each pick, and why
Expo
Why: Free, open-source React Native SDK, and the free EAS plan covers builds and app-store submission.
+ Free, open-source (MIT) React Native SDK; EAS builds and app-store submit on the free plan
− Free plan has a low-priority build queue and 15 iOS/15 Android builds
Alternatives: FlutterFlow
Cursor
Why: Repo-aware edits help when you write the React Native code yourself.
+ Strong tab completion and repo-aware multi-file edits
− Still breaks code without small tasks and review
Alternatives: Claude Code
Supabase
Why: Postgres, auth and storage on one free tier (50,000 monthly active users).
+ Postgres database plus auth, storage and a free tier
− See community sources (Supabase vs Clerk) for auth trade-offs
Alternatives: Firebase
PostHog
Why: Free monthly tier for product analytics.
+ Generous monthly free tier across analytics, replay and flags; billing limits per product
− Usage-based pricing can be harder to predict at scale
Resend
Why: Free 3,000 transactional emails/month for sign-up and receipt emails.
+ Free 3,000 emails/mo; React Email support
− Free plan capped at 100 emails/day; monthly billing only
FAQ
What is the best stack for a mobile app?
A solid default is Expo for the app, Supabase for database and auth, PostHog for analytics and Resend for email. Each has a free plan or tier per its official pricing page.
Expo or FlutterFlow?
Expo is a free, open-source React Native SDK for developers. FlutterFlow is a visual builder; code download and app-store deployment need its $39/mo Basic plan.
Supabase or Firebase for a mobile app?
Both include 50,000 free monthly auth users. Supabase is Postgres with a $25/mo Pro plan; Firebase is NoSQL with pay-as-you-go Blaze. See our Supabase vs Firebase pricing guide.
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How we label tools: "Tried it" means we tested it; "Community-verified" means builder feedback we cite backs it; "Not yet reviewed" means neither yet. Strengths and weaknesses come from cited community sources or official pages, not our own tests.