Lesson 10 of 19Article14 min
CI/CD Tools Comparison
No single tool does everything. CI platform runs workflows; Fastlane handles mobile-specific release steps; Detox runs E2E; Genymotion provides cloud devices. Choose based on team size, budget, and existing infrastructure.
Choosing your toolchain
No single tool does everything. CI platform runs workflows; Fastlane handles mobile-specific release steps; Detox runs E2E; Genymotion provides cloud devices. Choose based on team size, budget, and existing infrastructure.
Tool stack overview
CI platform comparison
- GitHub Actions — best if code is on GitHub; free tier generous; macOS runners $0.08/min; huge action marketplace.
- Bitrise — mobile-first UI; stacks pre-configured for RN; $36+/mo; less YAML, more clicking.
- Codemagic — RN/Flutter focused; M1 Mac runners; simple yaml; good for small teams without DevOps.
- CircleCI / GitLab CI — enterprise; self-hosted runners for air-gapped or compliance requirements.
Supporting tools
- Fastlane — lanes for build, sign, upload, screenshots; works inside any CI.
- EAS Build (Expo) — managed cloud builds + submit; less config, less control.
- Detox — gray-box E2E; syncs with React Native bridge.
- Maestro — YAML-based E2E alternative; easier setup, growing adoption.
- Firebase App Distribution — distribute APK/IPA to testers without store tracks.
- Sentry / Crashlytics — crash monitoring post-release; integrate in CI for source map upload.
Recommendation: bare RN teams → GitHub Actions + Fastlane + Detox. Expo teams → EAS Build + EAS Submit to start, migrate to Fastlane if needed.