Progressive Web App Vs. Native App Development: What Should You Pick and Why?

Let’s put an end to the debate between Progressive Web Apps and Native Apps once and for all. Shall We? Startup entrepreneurs are struggling to decide between the two popular app development methods: PWAs and Native. Well, both app development methods have their pros and cons, and only you (along with your app development company) can decide between the two (PWA Vs. Native). 

But don’t worry—we have done the heavy lifting for you. We have gathered all the essential insights to help you make an informed decision between  PWAs Vs. Native app development.  Let’s dive in!

Basics Of Progressive Web Application and Native Application: 

What is a Progressive Web Application?

A Progressive Web Application, often referred to as a PWA, is a website app that acts like a mobile application. It is user-friendly and functions seamlessly across any device, whether mobile, desktop, or tablet. A PWA provides a uniform experience across all channels. 

Users do not need to download PWAs from the app store; they can access them immediately using any browser. Spotify and Starbucks are two great examples of PWAs. 

What is a Native Application?

Native applications, as the name implies, are built specifically for a particular platform—either iOS or Android. Users must download these apps from their respective app stores to access them. Native apps are designed to seamlessly integrate with the device’s hardware and operating system, ensuring optimal performance and user experience.

However, one of the drawbacks of native app development is the non-reusability of code. Since native apps are built using platform-specific programming languages and tools—like Swift or Objective-C for iOS, and Kotlin or Java for Android—developers need to create separate codebases for each platform, leading to increased development time and costs.

Pros of PWAs:

• Universal Comptability:

The best part about PWA is its compatibility with a variety of platforms. PWAs can adapt to various operating systems and screen sizes. Irrespective of the device, you can open a PWA literally from anywhere, anytime. 

• Native-like experience:

PWAs look and feel like native applications only. They do not need regular updates and can also send push notifications to certain OS (android for now). 

• App development cost:

PWAs function across multiple devices, which means you can run them with a single code base. This eliminates the need to write separate codes, hence, less app development time and cost. 

• Fast and responsive:

PWAs quickly load on any device, offering a smooth experience while accessing the app. 

• SEO-friendly:

PWAs are easily indexable by search engines, which indicates better visibility on SERPs. 

• No moderation needed: 

PWAs are never launched on app stores which means they do not go through the app store moderation process. App store moderation is required to check the compliance of apps before publishing on the app store. 

• Secure

PWAs adhere to the HTTPS protocols and send encrypted information only. Hence, they are highly secure. 

Cons of PWAs:

• Limited set of features:

Unlike native apps, PWAs can not access devices’ features fully fledgedly. These limitations include the ability to send push notifications, camera access, and an accelerometer.

• Limited offline use: 

PWAs can work on offline mode too, agreed! But only cached pages that were downloaded during the internet connection can be accessed. The rest of the application remains inaccessible. 

• Drains device’s battery:

PWAs are energy-consuming. It’s built using Javascript and uses an internet connection which leads to maximum battery usage. 

Pros of Native App: 

• Best Performance: 

Native apps are built specifically for certain platforms. Which is why, it guarantees supreme performance across respective devices. 

• Ease of accessibility: 

Native apps are easily accessible from the app store. A user just needs to download it, to have access to the app. 

• Optimized battery usage:

Native apps are known to consume less battery power than PWAs. 

• Offline mode accessibility:

Native apps can function even without internet connectivity. They can send push notifications and also provide offline data storage. 

• Monetization:

If your primary goal is to monetize your application, native app development is the way to go. Native apps are distributed through app stores, making it easier to integrate in-app purchases and streamline payment processing directly through the app store’s secure payment system. This not only simplifies transactions for users but also provides you with a reliable and trusted platform to manage your app’s revenue.  

Cons of Native App: 

• Longer time to app development:

Developing a native application is a time-consuming task. For native apps, you need to write separate codes for both iOS and Android. The worst part is codes can not be reused for another platform, which means you need to invest in hiring development teams and launching it successfully on the platform. 

• Frequent upgrades: 

Regular code updates are essential to maintain and enhance the app’s performance over time. Continuous updates ensure compatibility with the latest operating system versions, improve security, and introduce new features to keep the app running smoothly and efficiently.

• On-device installations:

High-size native applications often put customers into question about whether they should download such a huge app, or save phone space by just skipping it. Also, there are higher chances of people uninstalling the app to save some phone space. 

Which Industry Should Opt For PWAs? 

Travel industry: 

Have you ever booked a trip using Make My Trip? If yes, you probably know how swift the booking service it provides. Progressive Web Apps are best suitable for travel companies as they facilitate fetching real-time updates about flights, gate changes, etc.

Banking and Finance: 

Banking and finance segments can benefit the best by using PWAs. PWAs allow users to access accounts, check balances, and pay bills using the apps. 

Health and fitness:

If you have checked out the Headspace and Fitbit applications, you probably know what we are talking about. PWAs can provide interactive user experiences and are accessible from home. 

News & media:

PWAs responsiveness is best used by news and media companies for whom responsiveness is the core of everything.

Which Industry Should Opt for Native Apps? 

eCommerce:

eCommerce apps have a lot to handle, from purchases, to search queries, to customer care. For such a high-load activity, native apps are the best choice to make as they can be used to the best of their capacity. 

Social media apps:

Native apps are capable of managing all the heavy loading. No wonder why Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are built on native development. 

Gaming:

Popular gaming apps like  Candy Crush, Angry Birds, etc are built on native application development. 

Entertainment:

Entertainment apps use native development to provide a seamless content viewing experience. 

Productivity apps:

If you wish to develop an app like Evernote, and Trello, you should opt for Native application development. 

Well, this compiles all the possibilities of PWAs and Native applications development. However, we understand, it is still confusing to choose between the two PWA Vs. Native application development. Let us help you make this decision by summarising when you should pick what. 

Parting Words:

We hope we have been able to help you decide between PWA Vs. Native app development. Both the types of app development have their benefits and challenges which we have discussed already. Ultimately, the final decision rests with you and your app development company, based on your project’s specific needs and goals.

If you wish to discuss this with us, feel free to get in touch. We would be happy to assist you with any of the above app development methods.