Zustand vs Redux for React Native in 2025: Practical Guide

React Native apps ship on the Hermes engine by default and rely on concurrent React features. State libraries that minimize re-renders and boilerplate help you ship faster and keep UI smooth. This guide compares Zustand and Redux (via Redux Toolkit) with React Native specifics and shows how to wire each up quickly.

TL;DR

• Choose Zustand for small-to-medium apps, feature screens, prototypes, and when you want minimal API, fast iteration, and low boilerplate.
• Choose Redux Toolkit for large teams, complex data flows, strict predictability, robust tooling, and RTK Query for data fetching.

Quick comparison

Minimal working examples (React Native)

Both examples implement the same counter. Use one or the other.

Zustand MWE

// App.tsx
import React from 'react';
import {SafeAreaView, Text, Button, StyleSheet} from 'react-native';
import {create} from 'zustand';

type State = { count: number; inc: () => void; dec: () => void };

const useCounter = create<State>((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  inc: () => set((s) => ({count: s.count + 1})),
  dec: () => set((s) => ({count: s.count - 1})),
}));

export default function App() {
  const count = useCounter((s) => s.count);
  const inc = useCounter((s) => s.inc);
  const dec = useCounter((s) => s.dec);

  return (
    <SafeAreaView style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.h1}>Zustand Counter: {count}</Text>
      <Button title="Increment" onPress={inc} />
      <Button title="Decrement" onPress={dec} />
    </SafeAreaView>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {flex: 1, alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center'},
  h1: {fontSize: 24, marginBottom: 16},
});

Redux Toolkit MWE

// store.ts
import {configureStore, createSlice} from '@reduxjs/toolkit';

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: 'counter',
  initialState: {count: 0},
  reducers: {
    inc: (state) => { state.count += 1; },
    dec: (state) => { state.count -= 1; },
  },
});

export const {inc, dec} = counterSlice.actions;

export const store = configureStore({
  reducer: { counter: counterSlice.reducer },
});

export type RootState = ReturnType<typeof store.getState>;
export type AppDispatch = typeof store.dispatch;

// App.tsx
import React from 'react';
import {SafeAreaView, Text, Button, StyleSheet} from 'react-native';
import {Provider, useDispatch, useSelector} from 'react-redux';
import {store, inc, dec, RootState} from './store';

function Counter() {
  const dispatch = useDispatch();
  const count = useSelector((s: RootState) => s.counter.count);
  return (
    <>
      <Text style={styles.h1}>Redux Counter: {count}</Text>
      <Button title="Increment" onPress={() => dispatch(inc())} />
      <Button title="Decrement" onPress={() => dispatch(dec())} />
    </>
  );
}

export default function App() {
  return (
    <Provider store={store}>
      <SafeAreaView style={styles.container}>
        <Counter />
      </SafeAreaView>
    </Provider>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {flex: 1, alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center'},
  h1: {fontSize: 24, marginBottom: 16},
});

Quickstart (choose one path)

1) Zustand in React Native

1. Install: npm i zustand
2. Create a store with create(). Export a hook (e.g., useCounter).
3. In components, select slices: const value = useCounter((s) => s.value).
4. Optimize: select only what you need; use shallow comparison if selecting objects.
5. Optional: persistence with zustand/middleware and AsyncStorage.

2) Redux Toolkit in React Native

1. Install: npm i @reduxjs/toolkit react-redux
2. Define slices with createSlice. Export actions.
3. configureStore and wrap App in Provider with the store.
4. Read state via useSelector; dispatch actions via useDispatch.
5. Optional: RTK Query for API caching; redux-persist for persistence.

Selecting between Zustand and Redux in 2025

• App complexity: If you anticipate many cross-cutting concerns (auth, syncing, background tasks, offline queues), Redux Toolkit tends to scale with clearer boundaries and middleware.
• Teams and conventions: Redux enforces predictable patterns, easing onboarding and reviews. Zustand is flexible; decide conventions early.
• Data fetching: RTK Query is production-ready for caching, revalidation, and deduping. Zustand needs an additional library or custom logic.
• Performance: Both can be highly performant when selectors are used correctly. Zustand often yields fewer re-renders by default due to per-selector subscriptions.
• Tooling and debugging: Redux DevTools provide time-travel and action traces. Zustand relies more on logging/selectors; DevTools exist but are lighter.

Performance notes (React Native specifics)

• Render granularity: With Zustand, subscribe to the smallest piece (e.g., useStore((s) => s.todo[id])) and use zustand/shallow when selecting objects. With Redux, memoize derived data and avoid selecting broad objects without equality checks.
• Avoid unnecessary renders: In both, derive data with memoized selectors (Reselect for Redux; memoized helpers or dedicated selectors for Zustand).
• Hermes and GC: Prefer immutable updates that replace references. Both Immer (in RTK) and simple set functions (in Zustand) work well and keep GC pressure predictable.
• JS thread pressure: Expensive reducers or set functions block the JS thread. Move heavy work off the critical path or batch updates.
• Dev builds vs release: Measure in release mode on devices. Dev mode adds overhead and can mislead conclusions.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Zustand
  • Selecting too much: Subscribing to the entire state causes re-renders. Select minimal slices and use shallow.
  • Mutating nested structures: If you mutate in place, subscribers may not re-render. Always create new references when changing nested data.
  • Async initialization: If reading before async setup (e.g., persistence), guard with a ready flag.
• Redux Toolkit
  • Overusing global state: Keep ephemeral UI state local with useState; globalize only shared or cross-screen state.
  • Broad selectors: Selecting whole subtrees triggers frequent renders. Use Reselect and primitive fields or memoized projections.
  • Action explosion: Keep slice boundaries clear; avoid overly granular action types that complicate tracing.

Patterns that map well to React Native

• Navigation integration: Keep navigation params local; store only durable app state (auth, feature flags, user prefs).
• Persistence: For Redux use redux-persist; for Zustand use persist middleware with AsyncStorage. Persist only what you truly need.
• Side effects: Use thunks (RTK) or simple async functions invoking set in Zustand. Keep side effects at the edges (API modules).

When to choose each (practical rules)

• Choose Zustand if:
  • You need to add state to a single feature fast without scaffolding.
  • Your app is medium-sized and your team prefers flexibility.
  • You want per-component subscriptions and minimal ceremony.
• Choose Redux Toolkit if:
  • You expect rapid team growth and want strong conventions.
  • You need time-travel debugging, action logs, or strict traceability.
  • You plan to use RTK Query for caching and background revalidation.

Tiny FAQ

• Is classic Redux still recommended? Use Redux Toolkit. It removes most boilerplate and adds safe immutability.
• Can I migrate from Redux to Zustand (or vice versa)? Yes. Migrate feature-by-feature; keep both in the app during transition if needed.
• Do I need a global store at all? Start local with React state. Introduce a store when multiple screens need the same data or complex coordination.
• Does either library block UI more? Not inherently. Poor selector design and heavy updates cause jank in both.

Final recommendation

• Start with Zustand for feature development and smaller apps. If your app or team grows, or you need powerful tooling and RTK Query, move to Redux Toolkit. Both are mature and performant in React Native 2025—choose based on scale and team needs.