PWA vs mobile apps – does your business really need a dedicated mobile application?

In many cases, mobile apps can boost your eCommerce sales by offering your clients an additional way to keep in touch with your business. There are many great examples of mobile applications that allow users to access your service in every moment and place of the Earth – some of good examples would be social media like Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, and eCommerce apps like Amazon or Zalando. A large share of our clients asks us about web app development for their business during our project design process – and sometimes they never heard about Progressive Web Applications (PWA), which often can be one of the great and efficient mobile app alternatives.

What are Progressive Web Applications?

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) is a technology in which one can develop a web application code and simultaneously render it for both desktop and mobile devices (phones and tablets). Application user could download the app directly from the browser to his desktop or install it on his/her mobile device. In context of SEO, Google is more likely to index PWA services higher. PWA features often looked for in mobile apps, like notifications, microphone, or camera integration are also easily integrated within the Progressive Web Apps.

Why should you use Progressive Web Applications in your business?

Ease of use

Progressive web apps, in comparison to dedicated iOS or Android applications, can be developed significantly faster with more flexibility. Deploying native apps on Google Play Store and Apple App Store requires the app to meet certain requirements and to pass the verification. In case of PWA, eliminate the need for mobile app deployment to any Store – your clients can just download the application directly from their mobile web browser and use it from their device’s home screen! This approach simplifies app store vs web deployment, making PWAs more accessible.

Lower development costs

Nowadays, dedicated mobile apps are often developed in modern technologies like React Native for mobile, Swift, Kotlin or Flutter – which requires the mobile app development team to have at least several dedicated programmers which work every day with these technologies. Taking that into mind, the overall costs of your project might be significantly higher if you would like to develop and deploy a native mobile application for your business. Progressive Web Applications are a perfect cost-effective mobile solutions when your web app is developed in React.js or other JavaScript framework, and you don’t need to deeply integrate your application with your client’s phone. This way, you can use your budget in additional features of your web application instead of additional development and mobile app tests.

PWAs can be easily installed on mobile devices and are often used in addition to dedicated mobile apps.

Looks like mobile!

Many of your potential clients might not even notice that they’re using a PWA. Progressive web apps are responsive, fast, can be used without active Internet connection, and can be greatly integrated with the device – for example, they can use push notifications to directly contact your user by their phone. They can also be easily installed directly from the web browser – without any deployment process

Downsides of PWA

There are many benefits of Progressive Web Apps. Yet, the main disadvantage of Progressive Web Apps is somewhat limited when it comes to mobile app Integration. Most importantly, we will not be able to use contacts and data saved in the mobile phone or strictly mobile functions in contrary to native apps. In many projects, like eCommerce platforms or service apps, this will not be an issue.

Comparison of mobile apps and PWA

PWA

• Works as a web application and is often perceived as a native mobile app by its users
• There is no need to build a separate mobile application to meet Google Play or App Store requirements as PWAs work as cross-platform mobile apps.
• Highest quality integration made possible by modern web standards
• Lower implementation costs by deploying one application with a single source code
• "Add to Home Screen" button - runs directly in a mobile phone web browser
• Lower hardware requirements
• Can be used as offline mobile apps.

Mobile apps

• Dedicated mobile application that cannot be used as a web app
• Separate codebase for Android and iOS
• Great UX and integration with mobile devices and native hardware
• Higher implementation costs due to separate code for each platform
• Requires more space and hardware resources
• Higher usage of mobile Internet data

When PWA Makes Sense for Businesses?

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) provide businesses with a seamless and efficient online experience. They combine the best of websites and mobile apps, offering faster load times, offline functionality, and a smooth user experience. Here’s more on why businesses should consider PWAs and how they can benefit from them.

A Wider Reach

One of the most significant advantages of PWAs is that they don’t require much device storage. They can run on web browsers. Users can access them through a simple URL, eliminating the need for downloads. This makes PWAs ideal for businesses targeting users in regions where low-end devices or limited storage are common.

BMW used this PWA process to showcase its vehicles. The company allowed users to explore the features and configure their dream car without needing an app. This approach widened BMW’s reach to millions of users and it witnessed a 50% increase in mobile users reaching their site.

Offline Accessibility in Any Network

PWAs allow users to access content even in areas with poor or no internet connectivity. This is possible because of service workers, which store assets locally and enable offline access. Businesses in travel, logistics, or rural areas can benefit immensely from this feature.

You must have used Twitter Lite. It is a PWA that allows users to browse and interact offline. This approach has helped them increase engagement by 65% per session. It has been highly beneficial for businesses in regions where the network is unstable and internet speed is slow.

Increased Discoverability

PWAs can be indexed by search engines, something we can not say about native apps because they are confined to app stores. This makes PWAs easier to find online, which is especially beneficial for businesses that rely on organic traffic. That is being discoverable directly on Google can give them a competitive edge.

Cost-Effective Solution

Another main reason businesses need PAWs is their low development and maintenance costs. If you are using PWAs, you won’t have to develop separate apps for iOS and Android. Since they work as substitutes for mobile apps, PWAs can help you save costs in the long run. For startups or small businesses, it can save thousands of dollars while delivering a high-quality digital experience.

Improved Conversion Rate

PWAs are fast, and speed matters when it comes to boosting conversion rates. A fast-loading PWA reduces friction, which leads to fewer cart abandonments. Because studies show that more than half of online consumers tend to abandon websites and carts if pages take more than 3 seconds to load. This can be a critical issue for all kinds of businesses.

Enhanced User Experience

PWAs prioritize accessibility and user-friendly features. They feel like apps but don’t require the hassle of installation. This makes them perfect for businesses aiming to provide easy navigation and quick interactions. Once these aspects are ensured, businesses can enhance user experience and secure a long-term relationship.

When should you use a PWA?

PWAs are a great solution when you need a fully responsive, fast, and universal platform to communicate with your clients. In many projects, you will probably not need a deep integration with device’s contact lists, phone settings, or other native applications. This way you can expand your budget on the necessary features which are more important for your business mode land mobile app UX/UI design.