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How to Choose Between Native Mobile App vs Web App?

August 16, 2022

The first recognized mobile app was in 1997 with Nokia 6110’s Snake. 24 years later, apps are as vital to everyone as having a smartphone.  From finding a date, doing your grocery, and watching 30-second videos, people have welcomed apps in their lives.  Right now, even small businesses can launch apps with no-code development.  

There is no denying that app development has its advantages for any business in these times. That’s why companies have included building one whether for short or long-term goals.

Did you know that you have the option to launch a web-based or native mobile apps? If you want to know the difference then this blog will answer it in the simplest manner. From here, you can see which kind of app will work best for your business.

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What are they?

Some people find them almost the same but these are very different from one another from their creation and their functionality.

Mobile apps

Mobile apps are created for a specific platforms like Apple or Android which are the most popular. Mobile also known as native apps are downloaded and installed in thegadget. Mobile apps are platform specific so you need to create it on specific languages and Integrated Development Environments (IDE). That means an appmeant for Apple OS will not run on Android OS.

There are two kinds of mobile apps available today - native and hybrid apps.

Native apps request permission to access the phone’s resources likes GPS, camera, notifications, and others used to carry out their function. This enables themto do push notifications and more responsive. These are the most common app and has proven to be more useful to smartphone users.  Many companies prefer them for theircapability to connect with the customer and provide an easy way to make that sale.

Hybrid apps are simply a link to the web app. It is basically a simplified browser inside an app. It is used to test the viability of an app by creating a simplerversion of it also known as minimum viable product.  You can also use hybrid apps to drive traffic to your website if that is the main objective. It has been closely compared toprogressive web apps which has almost the same function. Their difference lies on their customization, performance and distribution.

WebsiteApps

Website Apps, on the other hand, are accessible on any internet browser and can adapt to any device or operating system you’re using. Brands can sometimes have the same look of the website app as with mobile app to create a seamless experience.

Website apps are made using JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and Python and has no standard software development package. Unlike mobile apps, they can be accessed on any operating system of your gadget

Building this is cheaper and faster which is why many companies opt for this one when on a budget and tight launch schedule.  

What are the Pros and Cons?

If you are still confused what’s best for your business, here’s a quick list of the advantages and benefits of getting a mobile or website apps.

Mobile Apps

Pros

1.      Faster and more responsive

Customers can view and purchase an item more seamlessly within the app.

 

2.      Easier to tap device functionality

Being able to access the device’s functions can make it more efficient and provide more value.

 

3.      Push notifications to bring your brand closer to the market

It reminds them about your brand and provide exclusive deals and premiums.

CONS

1.      Compatibility issues

Different platforms mean separate configuration to make it usable.

 

2.      Multiple platforms mean more maintenance

After launching, updates need to happen especially when you have new products or bugs in the system.

Website Apps

Pros

1.      Flexible to various operating systems

The app is easily accessible whatever device or platform the customer uses. Companies can scale easier as well.

 

2.      Easy to maintain

Website apps can easily do updates since there is a common codebase for all platforms.

Cons

1.      Slower than mobile apps

Performance is one of the main issues of website apps since it connects to an external website.

 2.      Do not work offline

Since it connects to a browser before you can access it, it depends heavily on your connection before it can function.

Conclusion

Apps are vital to people as they are to business growth. Right now, it’s best to consider having one since it can scale up your company. Choosing between web and mobile apps should rely on your budget, functionality, and customers. You can also opt to have both if it will yield the best results for your business.

Whatever you choose, remember that there are more affordable options to build web or mobile apps. No-code development has made it more accessible for everyone to get an app today. It can make development and turnover much faster than traditional coding.

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