Web Application, Mobile App or PWA: Which One, and When?
The same need can be met by a web application that runs in the browser or by a mobile app downloaded from the store. The strengths and weaknesses of the three approaches, and the criteria for choosing.
Alp3 min read
When planning a digital product, one of the first technical questions is this: will users reach the product through the browser, or will they download an app to their phones? The answer depends on how often, where and with which device features users will use the product.
The three approaches in brief
- Web application: Runs in the browser and requires no installation. Anyone who clicks the link can use it.
- Mobile app: Downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, installed on the device and has direct access to the device's features.
- PWA (Progressive Web App): A web application that runs in the browser but can be added to the home screen, can work offline to a certain extent and can send notifications.
Comparison
| Criterion | Web application | PWA | Mobile app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | By link, instantly | By link; can be added to the home screen | Downloaded from the store |
| Updates | Made on the server; everyone sees the same version | Made on the server | Go through store review; the user updates |
| Offline use | Limited | Possible with caching | Full support |
| Notifications | If the browser allows it | Supported; on iOS it must have been added to the home screen | Full support |
| Device features | Basic features such as camera and location | Same as a web application | All hardware and background processes |
| Discoverability in search engines | Yes | Yes | No; store search |
| Development and maintenance | Single codebase | Single codebase | Per platform or cross-platform |
When is a web application enough?
If usage takes place predominantly on the desktop, if users use the product occasionally or if it is important that the product can be reached from a search engine, a web application is the natural choice. Admin panels, B2B portals, and application and quote systems fall into this group. Because there is no installation barrier, getting to first use is also easy.
What gap does a PWA fill?
A PWA offers an experience close to that of a mobile app while preserving the ease of access of a web application. It is a good middle-ground solution in situations where field teams fill in forms, where the connection drops from time to time or where it is not realistic to expect users to download an app from the store.
You need to know its limits: the device features that browsers support vary by platform, running in the background for long periods is restricted and you cannot benefit from the visibility of the app stores.
When is a mobile app necessary?
- If the product is used daily and frequently,
- If notifications are at the center of the experience,
- If hardware features such as Bluetooth, NFC or background location tracking are required,
- If working offline for long periods and synchronizing afterwards is a must,
- If users look for the product in the app store.
Proceeding in sequence is also an option
Many products launch first as a web application; a mobile app is added once usage habits have become clear. If the business rules are gathered from the start in a well-designed API, the mobile app added later uses the same infrastructure and the investment is not wasted.
The right question is not “which one is more modern?” but “where, how often and under what conditions will my user use this product?”
Depending on your needs, you can take a look at our approach on our web application development or mobile app development pages.