Today, there are more than 5.22 billion smartphone users worldwide, and this number is expected to rise even further in the coming years.
Having a mobile presence is vital for businesses and brands belonging to various industries, especially eCommerce and Bespoke Solutions development. It helps keep customers engaged and ensures that businesses don’t lose out on potential customers.
Native and hybrid apps may be the first options that come to mind. But is it really possible for all businesses to go for native or hybrid app development? Then, there are Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) as well.
What are native apps?
- A native app is software designed and built to work specifically on a certain mobile operating system. The codes are written in a programming language specific to that particular platform.
- For Android app development: Java, C#, and Kotlin are used
- For iOS app development: Objective-C and Swift are used
For example, Android and iOS are the two popular platforms for native app development.
Pros of native apps
- Exceptional user experience
- Flawless performance
- Data protection
- Improved accessibility and device compatibility
Cons of native apps
- High development cost
- Expertise required for specific platform
- Time-intensive development process
- Users are required to download and install updates every time
- Maintenance cost is high
- Occupies a significant space in the device
What are hybrid apps?
- Hybrid apps are those that function on all mobile devices.
- Lightweight and share a common code base.
- Need to be installed like native apps, but run like web apps.
- The common programming languages used to create hybrid apps are JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
Pros of hybrid apps
- Lower development cost
- Fast development
- Easy to develop
- Minimal maintenance required
- No device storage problems
Cons of hybrid apps
- Slow performance
- Limited functionality
- Restricted 3D support
- Limited device-specific accessibility
- Poor customization
What are Progressive Web Apps (PWA)?
- PWAs combine the best features of mobile apps and websites.
- They deliver an app-like experience to the users.
- They are created using web technologies such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
- They have the look, feel, and functionality of native apps.
Pros of PWAs
- Cross-platform functionality
- Low data consumption
- No installation needed
- Faster UI
- Quick and easy to develop
- Offline usability
- Downloads and updates not required
Reasons why PWAs have an edge over native and hybrid apps
- Regardless of the device and screen-size, PWAs are highly responsive.
- They can be discovered easily on search engines.
- They are lightweight and fast.
- They have independent updates.
- There is no need to install them. A PWA can directly be added on the home screen.
- PWAs are highly secure because they run on HTTPS.
- PWAs being SEO friendly help businesses generate leads and traffic.
- Push notification feature makes them highly engaging.
- They load quickly even with a bad network or no internet connection.
Conclusion
With so many solutions to choose from, the choice is difficult. However, each solution and Bespoke Solutions development has its own positives and negatives. If you have a limited budget and require faster time to market, PWAs are just perfect for you.
