PWA or native app: which one is the best choice?
The secret behind the popularity of mobile apps is that they are "close to you", and easily accessible with a simple click on your smartphone. In addition to native apps, PWAs, or progressive web apps, are also gaining popularity, combining the advantages of websites and traditional apps. The resulting web app is much more flexible and user-friendly than any previous version. Should everyone switch to PWA or are native apps better in certain cases? Let's find out!
What is PWA and what's all the buzz about it?
A PWA (progressive web app) is a web application that allows applications to be platform-independent by running in the browser. Development is conducted with the help of web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, but the product outcome can be fixed on your mobile screen, just like a native app icon.
This is all well and good, but is it enough to compete with a traditional app? The answer is a definite yes! The PWA is not available in any app stores, you just need a link to access it, therefore you don't need to download it, and as we said, it is platform-independent, so you don't need to make an Android and iOS version of the app. It can be search engine optimised, just like a website, making it search engine friendly and easier to reach your target audience. With PWA, users see the latest version always, as updates are managed centrally.
Now that we've outlined what PWA is, let's see how it can outperform the native app from a user and developer perspective!
What do users say?
From a user's perspective, one of the most striking differences between PWA and the native app is the installation process. To install a native app, you have to go through the full download process: you have to search for it in the store, download it, install it, give access to certain things like the camera, address book, etc. In comparison, accessing PWA is just a click away.
No downloading means no need for extra capacity on your device. This is a very sensitive point because even though everything can now be stored in the cloud, many people are not comfortable with learning new ways of doing things and prefer to grumble to themselves that they must delete something again. After all, they can't download more apps. PWA eliminates this problem!
PWA's weakness, alongside its strengths, is performance. Although faster than a responsive website, it is not yet as powerful as a native app. Web apps are evolving very rapidly, for example, push notifications are becoming more and more professional in these systems, but there are areas where the native app is still ahead, such as geofencing, access to phone features or even mobile payments.
What do the developers say?
From a developer and issuer perspective, one of the strongest arguments in favour of PWA is the reduction of production costs. While for a native app, it is advisable to develop for at least two platforms, here it is sufficient to do it once. And this is true not only for development but also for operation. If you always must do every maintenance and update twice, it can eat up a lot of time and money.
On the issuer side, it should be mentioned that it is much easier to reach the public with PWA, thanks to the already mentioned SEO, and because you don't have to comply with the expectations and requirements of the app stores. Each app store has different requirements for the apps that can be admitted, so if a company wants to get its app into 2-3 stores, it must play a serious game of chess to meet all the requirements. Not to mention the costs stores often charge a fee for upload.
It is important to note that given there is no entry threshold, there is also a chance that someone will stumble across a lower quality app. It is worth keeping in mind that quality work requires professional development teams.
While search engines do not play a role in the promotion of a native app, App Store Optimization (ASO) can help apps to get ahead in the App Store through keywords, properly filled meta descriptions and good categorization.
In terms of security, PWA is the obvious winner, thanks to the fact that it runs under HTTPS. However, even with the native app, some tools can be implemented to increase security, such as two-factor login procedures.
Which one and when should you choose?
There are many differences between a PWA and a native app, but ultimately both are designed to help your business thrive. If speed is important and you need a cost-effective solution that can reach a wide audience, you should go for PWA. If the app also uses the phone's features and it's important to build credibility, the native app might be a good choice for now. However, it's worth pointing out that PWA is constantly evolving, so it's easy to see that what's a shortcoming today may not be a shortcoming in the future.
Got a question about native apps? Want to learn more about PWA? SynerinSoft is the right place for you!