“We're an app, no… actually we’re a platform, no… we're a website, no…” Well, what are you really? When deciding how to structure and build your digital product, every team will need to face the question of how to go about it.
When it comes to digital products, most consumers tend to use the words “mobile apps” and “web apps” interchangeably. Along with this is some confusion among the public about what they are intended for. Not only are they utilized in various ways, but they are also developed and deployed differently. In this article, we’ll tackle the difference between mobile and web apps and explore more about some of their benefits and drawbacks.
Mobile apps versus web apps
First, let’s take a look at the primary difference between the two based on their definitions:
Mobile apps: They are specifically built, designed, and developed for particular platforms in mobile devices. Some notable platforms are the iOS for iPhone and Android for Samsung devices, where apps are usually downloaded and installed through an app store or access resource system. Examples of dedicated mobile apps are Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Google Maps, among many thousands more.
Web apps: They work like websites that are designed to seamlessly function on mobile devices, which can either be static or responsive. They can be accessed via the Internet browser while adapting to the device you’re using. For this reason, they look and work perfectly on your mobile phone. However, they don’t need to be downloaded or installed and they also require an active Internet connection to run.
Developing mobile and web apps
Let’s delve deeper into how these two are developed:
Mobile apps: They are extensive and expensive to develop because they are built for specific platforms, meaning you have to consider the various features and functionality. For native ones, developers use Swift or Objective-C for iOS, Java, or C++ for Android and C# for Windows Phone. For hybrid ones, developers combine the best of both web and native apps, which means that they are installed as native apps but work like web apps. They are usually written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are packaged for various platforms.
Web apps: For digital products, non-native tools were introduced to develop more applications and avoid writing code twice. Web apps are commonly built and designed using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. However, web developers don’t utilize a software development kit for these, but they have templates. In recent years, progressive web apps (PWAs) have been introduced to enable web apps to work like mobile counterparts.
Benefits and drawbacks
It is vital to understand the benefits and drawbacks of these two to weigh your options. Take note of the following:
Mobile Apps
Pros:
Smoothest, highest quality functionality
Data can be safer and more secure
Faster loading times
Ability for the user to work offline
Cons:
Requires the user to find and download in the app store
Requires compatibility with specific platforms
Expensive to maintain and upgrade
Can be costly to develop iOS and Android versions
Web Apps
Pros:
No need for user download or installation
Automatic updates
Easier maintenance
Development may be somewhat quicker
No app store approval needed
Cons:
Product won’t work offline
Slow loading times depending on users’ internet coverage
Sometimes the result is lower quality than a dedicated mobile app
Data security risks may be more prevalent
Conclusion
Making the decision to develop your product as a mobile app vs a web app is sometimes a tricky decision, so be sure to consider all the information at your disposal, and then some! You may even go so far as to ask users and stakeholders what they think. You should weigh your own situation’s pros and cons very carefully, since they will impact your overall user experience (UX) in the final product.
For example: If you aren’t sure that potential users would want to download an app, because they may be pressed for time or distracted when encountering your products - as in an e-commerce situation - a website or web app is the way to go. If, on the other hand, your target audience would happily download an app because their peer group is doing it, or if it meant that their personal data would be more secure - then a dedicated mobile app is more appropriate. As always, paying attention to user needs is the key to success and will make your choices much easier.