EAS Observe

EAS Observe monitors app performance in production across real devices and conditions. It measures cold and warm launch time, first render, time to interactive, bundle loading, and EAS Update download time. Teams can compare measurements across app versions and over-the-air updates to identify regressions. Expo Router and React Navigation integrations add per-route render and interactive timings, and apps can log custom events with Observe.logEvent for analysis alongside performance data. Metrics are available in the EAS dashboard and through EAS CLI commands. EAS Observe supports Android, iOS, and tvOS; it requires Expo SDK 55 or later and an app linked to an EAS project, and is not available in Expo Go. JavaScript error and native crash reporting are described as preview features. The free plan costs nothing and includes 100K events monthly with 90 days of retention. Starter costs $19 a month plus additional usage costs, with 500K events monthly before usage-based pricing. Expo says the service collects timing and device details without personally identifiable information.

EAS Observe provides production performance measurements and version comparisons through the EAS dashboard and CLI. Its SDK, project, and build requirements rule out Expo Go, while error and crash reporting remain preview features.

EAS Observe suits teams with apps linked to EAS projects that need production performance metrics across app versions and routes. It requires Expo SDK 55 or later and a development or production build rather than Expo Go.

Overview

EAS Observe is a production performance monitor for Expo apps, built around measurements from real devices and conditions. It suits teams that need to compare performance across releases and OTA updates; teams relying on Expo Go or an older Expo SDK should look elsewhere.

Its focus is a useful one: startup and route timing, version comparisons, and custom events in the EAS dashboard or CLI. The Expo-specific requirements narrow its audience, and error and crash reporting are still preview features.

Key features

Observe tracks cold and warm launch time, time to first render, time to interactive, bundle load time, and EAS Update download time. Comparing these measures across app versions and OTA updates gives teams a way to spot regressions after a release rather than relying only on a general sense that an app feels slower.

Expo Router and React Navigation integrations add per-route render and interactive timings, which can help teams identify slow screens as well as slow launches. Apps can also send custom events with Observe.logEvent and analyze those events alongside performance data. This is a practical combination for teams whose main question is how releases and user flows affect performance; it is not a substitute for a mature crash-monitoring workflow, since JavaScript error and native crash reporting remain preview features.

Metrics are available in the EAS dashboard and through EAS CLI commands. Network request tracing and app performance monitoring are supported, while ANR monitoring and session replay are not. Teams that need either of those capabilities should include that gap in their decision.

Expo says Observe collects performance timings, device model, OS version, app version, and an anonymous install-scoped ID, but not personally identifiable information. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and Expo has SOC 2 Type 2 attestation. The product FAQ directs questions and requests for human support to Expo’s team.

Pricing

All plans include 90 days of data retention. The free tier is billed at $0 /MONTH and includes 100K events/month, making it a sensible starting point for a small app or an initial evaluation. Its event cap is the main tradeoff: teams that exceed it will need a paid plan.

Starter costs $19 /month +additional usage cost and includes 500K events/month, then usage-based pricing. It is the entry paid option for teams that need a larger allowance. Production costs $199 /month +additional usage cost and has the same stated 500K events/month allowance before usage-based pricing, so the listed event quota alone does not distinguish it from Starter. Enterprise has custom pricing and the same stated quota and retention; it is the option for teams seeking an enterprise plan rather than a published fixed price.

Paid plans charge for additional usage beyond the included 500K events/month. EAS Observe’s pricing note gives the paid starting point as $19/mo.

Platforms

Observe supports Android, iOS, and tvOS, with platform filters in the dashboard and CLI. It requires Expo SDK 55 or later and an app linked to an EAS project, and it cannot run in Expo Go: a development or production build is required. That makes it a poor fit for projects that have not moved to the required SDK or need to monitor an Expo Go workflow.

Who it's for

Choose EAS Observe if your team already builds Expo apps through EAS and wants release-by-release performance measurements, route timings, and custom events in one workflow. It is less suitable if your priority is production-ready error reporting, ANR monitoring, session replay, or using the service without an EAS-linked project.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Startup, route, and update-download timings give teams concrete ways to compare performance across releases.
• Pros: Dashboard and CLI access, plus custom event logging, suit teams that want performance data in both visual and terminal workflows.
• Pros: The free plan includes 100K events/month and 90 days of retention, giving smaller projects room to begin without a subscription.
• Cons: Expo SDK 55 or later, an EAS-linked project, and a development or production build exclude Expo Go and older or non-EAS setups.
• Cons: Error and crash reporting are preview features, while ANR monitoring and session replay are unavailable.
• Cons: Starter and Production share the stated 500K events/month allowance before usage-based pricing, so the published quota offers no clear reason on its own to move up to Production.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of monitoring tools, browse Mobile App Monitoring.

Choose Appelium instead if a free plan limited to one app and one user, with one month of retention, fits your needs; its free tier supports iOS, tvOS, and Android.

Bugfender is another freemium option.

Pick Firebase Cloud Messaging instead when you need a no-cost Firebase messaging service rather than production performance measurements.

Guance Container Monitoring is another freemium option.

OpenReplay is another freemium option.

Shakebug is another freemium option.

bitdrift Capture is another freemium option.

Bugsee is another freemium option.

Verdict

EAS Observe is a strong fit for Expo teams that want production performance data tied to app versions, routes, and custom events, with both dashboard and CLI access. Choose it when that focused release analysis matters more than broad crash tooling; look elsewhere if you need Expo Go support, mature error reporting, ANR monitoring, or session replay.