Hiring an app developer
The Best Tech Stack for Creator & Subscription Apps in 2026 (Expo, RevenueCat, Firebase)
Short answer: For most creator and subscription apps in 2026, I recommend React Native with Expo (one codebase for iOS and Android, with over-the-air updates), RevenueCat for subscriptions and paywall experiments, Firebase or Supabase for auth, database and push, a dedicated video streaming host if you have video, and product analytics like PostHog or Amplitude from day one. This stack is fast to build on, cheap to run early, and easy for another developer to take over.
This is the stack behind my own apps, Dry Quest and Drip among them. Here's why each piece earns its place.
The stack at a glance
| Layer | My default | Why |
|---|---|---|
| App framework | React Native + Expo | One codebase, native performance, OTA updates |
| Language | TypeScript | Fewer bugs, easier handoffs |
| Subscriptions | RevenueCat | Cross-platform entitlements, paywall A/B tests |
| Backend / DB / Auth | Firebase or Supabase | No servers to manage, scales with you |
| Push notifications | Expo Notifications / FCM | Simple, reliable |
| Video | Mux, Cloudflare Stream or similar | Adaptive streaming, sensible pricing |
| Analytics | PostHog, Amplitude or Mixpanel | Funnels, retention, experiments |
| Crash reporting | Sentry or Crashlytics | Find bugs before reviews do |
| Animation | Rive or Lottie | Lightweight, delightful motion |
| Web payments (optional) | Stripe | Web checkout and creator-owned billing |
Why React Native and Expo?
- One codebase, two stores. Building iOS and Android together typically costs 10–20% more than one platform, not 100% more.
- Native feel. React Native renders real native components. Users can't tell, and App Store reviewers don't care.
- Over-the-air updates. With Expo EAS Update, many bug fixes and copy changes ship in hours without a new App Store review.
- A large talent pool. If you ever change developers, plenty of people can pick it up. That's your insurance.
When I'd go fully native (Swift/Kotlin): heavy real-time graphics, deep hardware integration, or apps where platform-specific polish is the whole product. That's rare for creator apps.
Why RevenueCat for subscriptions?
In-app subscriptions are harder than they look: receipt validation, renewals, grace periods, billing retry, refunds, family sharing, upgrades, and one user subscribed on iOS who logs in on Android. RevenueCat handles all of it and adds:
- Remote paywall configuration: change prices, offers and layouts without an app update
- Experiments: A/B test prices and paywalls (paywall conversion)
- A single revenue dashboard across both stores
- Integrations with analytics and email tools for churn and win-back flows
It's free at low revenue and then takes a small percentage. For almost every creator app, the time saved is worth far more.
Firebase or Supabase?
Both are good. Which one I pick depends on the data:
- Firebase: fast to build, excellent for real-time features, great push and auth, and generous free tiers. I've used it on Escape the Vape, Dry Quest and Drip.
- Supabase: Postgres underneath, which suits relational data (programs → weeks → workouts → exercises → sets) and complex queries.
For apps with heavy server logic, marketplaces or payouts, a custom backend (Rails or Node with Postgres) can be the right call. I've run Lexody on Rails since 2014.
How should a fitness app handle video?
Don't serve video files straight from basic storage. Use a streaming host that provides adaptive bitrate, thumbnails and analytics. Cache short exercise loops on the device for offline gym use. Video hosting costs scale with minutes watched, so model it at 10× your launch audience.
What analytics should I set up?
Install analytics before launch and track the funnel:
app_open → onboarding_start → onboarding_complete → paywall_view → trial_start → first_workout → trial_converted → week_4_active
Without this, every post-launch decision is a guess. (Growth audit)
What does this stack cost to run?
At launch, for a typical creator app:
- Firebase/Supabase: often free to low tens of dollars a month
- RevenueCat: free until meaningful revenue
- Analytics: free tiers usually cover early stages
- Expo EAS: a free tier or a modest monthly plan
- Video: varies the most, depending on usage
Most creator apps run for well under a few hundred dollars a month until they have significant revenue.
What stacks should I avoid?
- Two separate native codebases for a v1 creator app: double the cost for little benefit
- Custom-built subscription handling: a large and recurring source of lost revenue
- Obscure frameworks or no-code tools you can't migrate off
- Anything where the developer controls the accounts instead of you
FAQ
Is React Native good enough for a fitness app?
Yes. Many large consumer apps use React Native. For workout players, tracking, video and subscriptions it's an excellent fit.
Is Flutter a good alternative?
Flutter is a capable cross-platform framework too. I prefer React Native and Expo for the TypeScript ecosystem, over-the-air updates and the size of the hiring pool, but a well-built Flutter app is fine.
Do I need my own backend server?
Usually not for an MVP. Firebase or Supabase plus a few cloud functions covers most creator apps. You'd add a custom backend for complex business logic, marketplaces or payouts.
Will this stack scale if my app takes off?
Yes. Firebase, Supabase, RevenueCat and Expo all support apps far larger than most creator apps. The things that hurt scale are usually data-model mistakes, not the choice of platform.