react-native-calendars vs React Native Elements
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A calendar component for React Native apps on iOS and Android, written in JavaScript.
Open source · MIT
A library of ready-made UI components for building React Native apps on iOS, Android and web.
The short answer
Choose react-native-calendars if you need…
- React Native developers who need a calendar or date picker screen
- Apps that need to mark dates with dots, periods, or custom styling
- Teams building scheduling or booking screens that block certain dates
- Projects that use Expo, since the README says it works there without ejecting
Choose React Native Elements if you need…
- React Native developers who want ready-made UI components
- Teams sharing one codebase across mobile and React web apps
- Developers prototyping a mobile interface quickly
- Developers who want to use the Expo demo app as a reference for component usage
Side-by-side
| react-native-calendars | React Native Elements | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.3k | 25.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | TypeScript | MDX |
| Last code update | 20 days ago | 6 months ago |
What each one is
react-native-calendars
React Native Calendars is a library that gives React Native app developers ready-made calendar components, including a single-month calendar, a scrollable calendar list, and an agenda view. Developers use it to show dates, mark days with dots or highlighted periods, and let users select dates. Per the README, it is pure JavaScript, so it needs no native module linking.
React Native Elements
React Native Elements is a set of pre-built user interface components, such as buttons, that developers can drop into apps written with React Native. It is meant to help teams build iOS and Android apps with a consistent look without designing every control from scratch. The README also says the components can be used on the web through React Native for Web.
Best for
react-native-calendars
- React Native developers who need a calendar or date picker screen
- Apps that need to mark dates with dots, periods, or custom styling
- Teams building scheduling or booking screens that block certain dates
- Projects that use Expo, since the README says it works there without ejecting
React Native Elements
- React Native developers who want ready-made UI components
- Teams sharing one codebase across mobile and React web apps
- Developers prototyping a mobile interface quickly
- Developers who want to use the Expo demo app as a reference for component usage
Strengths
react-native-calendars
- The README says it is pure JavaScript with no native code, so installation is simple
- Supports several marking styles and customization of style, content, and dates
- Has documentation and examples, and the README links to an official docs site
React Native Elements
- Maintained with a public docs site, Discord, and active release history (v5.0.0 listed as latest)
- Open source under the MIT license, which allows free commercial use
- Supports cross-platform use and web sharing as described in the README
Not ideal for
react-native-calendars
- People who are not building a React Native app, since it is a component library for that framework
- Developers who need a native-looking calendar built directly on platform APIs, since the README describes it as a JavaScript implementation
- Projects that need the detailed API reference from the README alone, since the README points to an external documentation site for full details
React Native Elements
- People who do not write React or JavaScript code, since it is a developer library
- Projects that need a fully custom design system, because the README does not describe theming depth beyond the packages it names
- Developers needing web support without React Native for Web, since the README links that setup as a separate walkthrough
Trade-offs
react-native-calendars
- The README is a basic guide and sends detailed usage to an external documentation site
- The README does not describe its performance or behavior on very old React Native versions
- The README mentions an example module that links to a private-looking repository path, so the sample source may be harder to reach
React Native Elements
- The README is truncated and gives few concrete details about the component list or theming options
- Requires knowledge of React Native, so it is not beginner-friendly for non-programmers
- Web support depends on an additional setup described outside the README
Getting started
react-native-calendars
Install the package
yarn add react-native-calendarsReact Native Elements
Install the core packages
npm install @rneui/themed @rneui/baseFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between react-native-calendars and React Native Elements?
react-native-calendars: A calendar component for React Native apps on iOS and Android, written in JavaScript. React Native Elements: A library of ready-made UI components for building React Native apps on iOS, Android and web. react-native-calendars suits react native developers who need a calendar or date picker screen, while React Native Elements suits react native developers who want ready-made ui components.
Are react-native-calendars and React Native Elements free?
react-native-calendars: Free and open source. React Native Elements: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, react-native-calendars or React Native Elements?
react-native-calendars is easier to get started with (rated beginner); React Native Elements is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is react-native-calendars or React Native Elements more popular?
React Native Elements has more GitHub stars (25.9k) than react-native-calendars (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to react-native-calendars and React Native Elements?
Other options people compare them with include NativeBase, Tamagui, FullCalendar, react-dates, FSCalendar.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.