Many businesses assume they need a mobile app in the app store. Often a web app that people can install on their phone does the job faster and for less money. Here is how to decide.
What is a web app, and what is a PWA?
A web app runs in the browser, like a website with features: logins, bookings, dashboards. A progressive web app (PWA) is a web app that can be installed on the home screen, work with a poor connection and send notifications. It feels like an app, with no app-store wait.
When a web app or PWA is enough
- Users mainly browse, book, pay, or view results.
- You want to launch quickly and improve from real feedback.
- You need Android, iOS and desktop with one codebase.
- You do not need deep phone features.
When you need a native app
- You need heavy use of the camera, sensors, Bluetooth or background tasks.
- You need top-level performance, such as games or heavy graphics.
- Your customers expect to find you in the app store.
Questions to ask yourself
- What is the one thing users must be able to do on their phone?
- Do they need it every day, or occasionally?
- Does it need phone hardware features?
- What is the budget, and how soon do you need to launch?
A sensible path
Start with a web app or PWA. It is quicker to build and cheaper to change. If real usage shows you need a store app, you will know exactly what to build, and much of the work (the server, the data, the design) can be reused.
We build both, and we will tell you honestly which one you need. See our mobile apps service and our post on custom software versus off-the-shelf.