NativeLaunch: Expo SDK 55 Update
NativeLaunch Team
4/23/2026
NativeLaunch has been updated to Expo SDK 55 — the latest stable release from the Expo team. This is the biggest internal update since the project launched, and it comes with a meaningful change to the default UI stack.
UniWind + HeroUI Native is now the default
When I introduced the uniWind version last year, it was an optional alternative branch alongside NativeWind. After working with both setups across real projects, the decision became clear: UniWind + HeroUI Native is the better foundation for new apps.
Starting with this update:
- UniWind + HeroUI Native is the default and only UI stack in the Starter and Monorepo repositories
- NativeWind is no longer included in those repos — no migration, no compatibility shim, just a clean UniWind setup from the start
- NativeWind lives on in the Pro tier — the Moneyra app source (included with the Pro plan) is built with NativeWind and WatermelonDB, and continues to be maintained as-is
If you've been waiting for a clean, modern Tailwind v4 setup in React Native — this is it.
What's new in Expo SDK 55
SDK 55 ships with several notable improvements:
- React Native 0.83 and React 19.2 — the latest versions of both core libraries
- Minimum Node.js version is now 20.19.4 — required by the new React Native toolchain
- Various performance and stability improvements across the Expo ecosystem
- Improved TypeScript types across Expo packages
For the full breakdown, see the official Expo SDK 55 changelog.
What this means if you're an existing customer
Already using the Starter on the previous SDK? Your existing code keeps working. You don't need to migrate immediately — the deprecated branch remains available if you need to reference the old setup.
Starting fresh? Clone the latest repo and you'll be on SDK 55 with UniWind + HeroUI Native out of the box. No extra setup needed.
Pro plan (Moneyra)? The Moneyra codebase is updated to SDK 55 as well, and continues to use NativeWind — no changes to the Pro UI stack.
Updated tech stack at a glance
| Starter | Monorepo | Moneyra (Pro) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expo SDK | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| React Native | 0.83 | 0.83 | 0.83 |
| Styling | UniWind (Tailwind v4) | UniWind (Tailwind v4) | NativeWind (Tailwind v3) |
| UI components | HeroUI Native | HeroUI Native | Custom / reusables |
| Storage | MMKV | MMKV | WatermelonDB |
As always, all updates are included at no extra cost — lifetime access means you get everything going forward.
