So you’re mulling over whether it’s time to build a mobile app or a web app. Let’s take a tentative, lead-footed step toward a decision by weighing the pros and cons of each.
The Mobile App vs. Web App Debate
The mobile app versus web app debate is raging. In the past, companies that wanted to offer a mobile experience needed to create a separate, native mobile application for each type of device they wanted to support.
Today, however, new options have emerged for businesses looking for ways to develop apps that work on multiple platforms.
In any case, the process of app designing is much more complicated than it might seem at first glance. It’s about much more than just features and functionality; it also involves the consideration of your audience and its needs, as well as the platform you plan to release your app on.
A mobile app will look different from a web app, for instance, because the user’s experience with these platforms is so different. Someone will use a mobile app on their phone in short bursts whenever they have a spare moment, while a web app for many is something they’ll access on their laptop or desktop computer when they’re looking to dive into something at length.
But which option is right for you? And what are the differences between mobile apps and web apps anyway?
Here’s a quick rundown of both options:
Native mobile apps are applications developed specifically for a particular mobile device and operating system using the device’s native development tools.
Alternatively, web applications can be accessed via a compatible web browser and will load themselves in an interface that is convenient for the device you are using – do not require platform-specific development.
That said, when you go down the road of creating a native app or a web app, you’ll find yourself at many forks on the road that will influence your decision-making process. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of mobile applications versus web applications:
Mobile Apps Pros
1. Offline functionality
Mobile apps can work offline and use resources like the camera or GPS even when disconnected from the internet.
2. Better, faster performance
Mobile apps generally have better performance than web apps because they are built specifically for one device and operating system which allows them to use all of the device’s features (camera, GPS, accelerometer, etc.).
3. Better usage of phone features
Mobile apps can take advantage of built-in phone features like cameras and GPS much better than web apps can do on their own at least for now.
4. Better user experience
Native mobile applications provide users with better experiences because they’re built specifically for a mobile device’s screen resolution, processor and operating system (OS).
Also, when developers build native apps, they tend to test them across multiple OS versions before launching them. This means you’ll get consistent user experiences no matter which OS version you’re using. On the other hand, web apps are developed using web technologies that may not always be compatible with certain OS versions or browsers.
Another point is easier access. Mobile apps are easy to access through an icon on your phone’s home screen. They don’t require users to remember a URL or type in a search query to find them.
5. Better security protocols
Mobile apps tend to have better security protocols in place compared with those on web apps because of their very nature; they’re less exposed. Mobile app developers can integrate more advanced and secure data encryption methods into their products, as well as incorporate multi-level authentication processes where users can authenticate their identity using biometric identifiers such as a thumbprint or facial recognition.
6. Personalization and Customization
With a mobile app, you have a greater ability to customize a user’s experience, including the personalization of features and content because you can create specific features that work only on that platform. Features such as camera, GPS, microphone etc. are commonly used to provide unique experiences that are not readily available in web apps. For example, a mobile app can use GPS data from the device and send users information based on their location. Plus, some apps can import calendar data from the user’s smartphone and use that data for more customized features in the app.
7. App engagement and Interactivity
Mobile apps allow for greater interactivity than web apps because they can deliver push notifications right to the user’s home screen or use the device’s camera, mic or other features as needed. For example, a weather app could send push notifications about incoming storms, or a fitness app could use the phone’s accelerometer to count steps.
8. Discovery and distribution
Mobile apps are available in online stores where users already spend a lot of time browsing for new tools for their mobile devices, so it’s easier for them to discover your app there than if you rely on people finding your web app on their own through search engines.
Mobile Apps Cons
1. Expensive to develop and maintain
The development of mobile apps is not an easy task, as it requires a considerable amount of money. The more advanced the app is, the higher the costs will be. In addition, building a native mobile app means having to test it on multiple devices which adds to development time and cost. That’s not all; the app needs to be updated regularly to keep up with the new technology. This means that your business always has to have money set aside for app upgrades and maintenance.
2. Require downloading and installation
Users have to download and install the app before they can use it. This means that users need to take extra steps before they can make use of your product or service. Compare this to web apps where all users have to do is enter your URL into their address bar and they’re immediately taken to your site.
3. Device fragmentation
There are thousands of different device types, operating systems, and versions of OSs in the mobile world, which leads to many potential bugs that need to be fixed to ensure seamless app performance on different devices. This is not so much of an issue with web world apps.
4. Limited Platform Availability
Most mobile apps are only available on certain operating systems (iOS or Android). This means that your target audience may not be able to access your app if they use a different operating system than yours. So, if you want to develop a mobile app for your business, you need to choose one that can work across all platforms.
5. App Store Approval is required
App Store Regulations: Mobile apps need to be approved by platform owners before they are published in the respective app stores, which is not the case with web applications that can be updated without any such approval process. This is especially the case if you are trying to get it approved by Apple’s App Store which has some very strict guidelines to follow.
6. Not Always Suitable for Enterprise Needs
Enterprise applications, such as those for managing inventory, financials, and other complex business-related tasks, are not always available as mobile apps. In general web apps are more commonly found in enterprise solutions due to the complexity of these systems.
For example, if you are interested in building an app that allows users to collaborate on the same document, a mobile app might not be the best route to go. However, a web app will offer a much more feature-rich experience in this case. Even though the app would be accessible on the go via the internet, it may not be suitable for smaller devices like phones and tablets. The problem with enterprise needs is that even if you can find a mobile app that does what you want it to do, it may not work well on smaller devices. In these cases, it might make more sense to build a web app from scratch.
5. Limited reach
Mobile apps can be accessed only by people who have the right hardware and operating system (iOS, Android, Windows Phone). While Android certainly has the lion’s share of the market, Apple devices are still a popular choice among consumers worldwide. But the fact that your app works on both platforms doesn’t mean it will still not be limited to users who have those specific devices. On the other hand, a web app can have far more accessibility than a mobile app because it doesn’t have to be downloaded; users access it through any web browser.
6. Sharing mobile apps is not the most convenient
Sharing a native app can be cumbersome and not as easy as sharing a web link of a web app.
Web Apps Pros
1. They are cheaper to develop and maintain
Web apps have the advantage of being accessible across multiple platforms without deployment. You need a single version that works across these platforms. This translates into savings on development and maintenance costs. The code is also easier to maintain.
2. Download and installation are not required
Native mobile apps require users to download them from an app store, web apps don’t need this step. This makes it easier for all users to access the web app, especially in countries where apps are restricted by law or cultural norms.
3. Web apps are platform-independent
Web apps can work across different platforms without having to be re-written for each one of them. This allows mobile devices with different operating systems like iOS, Android or Windows Phone, plus desktop computers and laptops on macOS, Windows or Linux, to access the same application through their internet browsers.
4. Doesn’t require app store approval
Since they’re accessed through browsers, there’s no need for approval from any company. You can update your web app as often as you want, and your users will always have access to the most recent version.
5. No need for device-specific versions
Native apps are incompatible across mobile platforms, which makes it necessary for developers to create separate native apps for Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. And even limiting yourself to creating an app for Android will not prevent you from dealing with the issue of device fragmentation. Unlike mobile apps, web apps deliver the same experience to users regardless of what device they’re using.
6. Can be updated instantly
One of the great benefits of web apps is that they can be updated instantly. A web app developer can push out updates and changes instantaneously, which means you don’t have to wait around for an update to come through the App Store before you can get new features or bug fixes. That’s a huge benefit, especially when it comes to fixing bugs and vulnerabilities that could compromise your data, or introducing new features that your users will love.
7. Easy to share via links rather than files
It’s easy to share a link to a web app with someone else, and they can use it right away. No need to send them a file or set up some kind of shared access.
Web Apps Cons
1. No offline support
One of the biggest drawbacks of web apps is that they don’t support offline browsing. This means that you won’t be able to use your app when you don’t have access to an internet connection.
2. (Slower) Performance issues
Web apps can be slower than native apps because the browser has to do additional work to run the app, and you may find that certain features are limited by what’s possible in the web browser itself. Also, since web apps have to load every time you use them, they take a long time to respond. On the other hand, native applications only need to load once and then they work fast.
3. Limited hardware access
While Web Apps can use the browser to access some device APIs, they don’t have direct access to the hardware that native apps have. This is likely to change over time as new APIs are added and browsers become more sophisticated. For now, it’s a factor when designing your app.
4. Less responsive experience
Web apps have less control over their environment and must conform their behaviour to different browsers, operating systems, and devices. This can lead to inconsistent experiences across platforms.
5. Browser inconsistencies
Different browsers have different support for HTML, CSS and JavaScript. One needs to do a lot of testing to make sure the web applications work in all major browsers. Even though there are best practices and standards in place, some browsers have their way of rendering different styles, and sometimes this causes conflicts with your site.
6. Security risks
Web security has come a long way since its inception; however, it still lags behind dedicated software when it comes to confidentiality and privacy protections
7. You can’t access them from your home screen
Native apps live directly on your home screen, while web apps do not. Currently, you can only add a web app shortcut to your home screen via Chrome on Android, so it’s not always a seamless experience opening up the app from your home screen.
8. Personalization and customization are limited
Web Apps don’t have the same level of personalization and customization that a Native App. Since hardware like cameras and sensors are not accessible, it won’t be possible to create applications that provide content and functionality based on users’ location, time of day, or even device type.
Mobile Apps vs. Web Apps: The verdict
Both web apps and native mobile apps have their place in the app world and there’s no reason they can’t coexist in harmony. The truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every developer and every customer.
Native mobile apps are great when you need to access the device hardware or store data offline. Web applications are great when you want to offer a simple cross-platform experience without having users install your application on their devices.
It all comes down to your project needs and how you want your app to interact with the user.