If you’re looking to create an app and are trying to decide between creating a website or a mobile app, you’ve come to the right place.
This article clearly explains the main differences, advantages and disadvantages of web applications and mobile applications. It will also give you a clear answer as to which type of application is best for your project. Episode.
What is a Web Application?
Web applications are developed using technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Python and more. They can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and do not require installation.
Codes for web applications are stored on a remote server, accessed through a web browser (such as Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) and sent to the user when they log in to the application URL.
The terms web application and website are sometimes used interchangeably, but generally web application refers to an interactive website, not a website as usual.
Google Docs and Canva are two examples of web applications: interactive, browser-based websites.
This also includes Progressive Web Apps, which have a more functional and mobile-like experience but still run in the browser.
Medium is an example of web promotion.
For more information on Progressive Web Apps, check out our latest guide.
What is a mobile application?
A mobile application is a software application that runs on a mobile operating system such as the Android operating system or iOS.
Mobile app code is downloaded directly to the user’s device rather than hosted remotely and accessed through a browser. This allows mobile applications to run without an Internet connection (although some applications require a connection for certain functions).
Mobile applications can be of different types: native, hybrid and cross-platform. Traditional apps are coded using a programming language for a specific task, such as Swift or Kotlin for iOS or Java or Kotlin for Android. Hybrid and cross-platform applications use a combination of different standards, often including some web technologies such as HTML and JavaScript.
Advantages and disadvantages of mobile applications over web applications
Below is a brief review of the advantages and disadvantages of developing mobile applications and web applications from a business perspective.
Advantages of Web Applications
- Ease of development and use.
- works on any platform (desktop, laptop, mobile device) with an Internet browser and Internet connection.
- is easier and cheaper to replace and maintain.
- Web app development experience is easier to find than mobile developers.
Disadvantages of Web Applications
- They do not provide the best experience for mobile users.
- Web applications often run slowly on mobile devices.
- It won’t be as secure as a mobile phone.
- Membership and insurance costs are lower than mobile applications.
Mobile Application Advantages
- provides useful, integrated and useful mobile application advantages.
- can provide offline functionality.
- Your mobile phone’s GPS, camera, etc. You can benefit from its features.
- allows companies to send push notifications to user applications on devices.
- Increase engagement and preserve value.
Disadvantages of Mobile Apps
- Development can be difficult.
- Mobile app development is often expensive and time consuming.
- is more difficult and expensive to maintain.
- Native mobile applications must be developed separately to run on different platforms/operating systems.
Key Differences Between Web Applications and Mobile Applications
- Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages mentioned above and how web applications and mobile applications compare.
- The main differences are implementation, platform compatibility, and the investment required to build and maintain.
Deployment
Web applications are deployed from mobile browsers and the mobile application code is downloaded to the user’s device.
They can click on a link to the app or search for the app on Google and start using it right away.
In mobile applications, users must first install and download the application to their devices before they can open and use it.
Although this creates a conflict, it makes mobile apps more “portable” because they remain on the client until deleted. The mobile application icon remains on the user’s home screen and can be returned with a single click. When the browser tab is closed, the web application disappears from the device and it is up to the user to figure out the URL and enter it again.
Platform Compatibility
This could be good or bad. On the one hand, this is an advantage for web applications because one code base can serve many users on different platforms.
Mobile applications, on the other hand, offer a deeper, more useful and satisfying experience on mobile devices because they are designed specifically for the platform they run on.
Although web applications are becoming more accessible across multiple platforms, the user experience suffers when trying to serve different types of users.
Investment (Time, Money, Labor)
In almost all cases, web applications are faster, easier and cheaper to develop than mobile applications.
web applications are less complex and many developers and development tools are available to create websites.
In contrast, native mobile app development is more difficult. Mobile apps take longer to develop, developers are harder to find, and cost more.
Building a native mobile app typically costs between 5 and 6 figures and requires two development and design teams to launch on the two most popular phones (iPhone and Android).
However, cross-platform and hybrid applications more or less reduce this investment, sometimes saving up to 80% or more on the development costs of traditional applications.
How to choose the best app format for your project
There isn’t necessarily a “best” app format between mobile apps and web apps. The best type of app depends on what you want to achieve, your target audience, your budget, and your development schedule.
In the next section we explain how to choose the type of application that suits you best.
Consider your target audience
Consider who you are creating the application for. If your target audience mainly uses mobile devices, you should create a mobile application.
If you’re unsure, data shows that most of your target audience will be mobile device users. Today, the number of people connecting to the Internet via mobile phones rather than computers is increasing worldwide, and this number continues to increase.
If you think your target audience uses many different platforms, you may first want to create a website that will serve a wider audience. Hybrid apps are also a good option for serving multiple users on multiple platforms.
What features should the application have?
Mobile app is required if your app needs to access the device’s hardware or sensors. The same thing happens if you’re building an app (like Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat type apps) where users take/upload photos or videos.
Do you want your application to be accessible offline? If so, you’ll need a mobile app.
You should also consider location features, push notifications, tap and swipe functions, and other features that aren’t necessarily exclusive to mobile apps but are easy to use and work well on mobile apps rather than apps. Mobile network.
On the other hand, do you want your app to work on both desktop and mobile devices? If so, you need to create a web app, or at least a hybrid app that can run on more than mobile devices.
Do you create your own web/mobile apps ?
Contact us: Sparkout Tech Solutions Inc
Finance
How much will your project cost?
If your budget is limited, you may want to develop a web application instead of a mobile application. Web applications are cheaper, especially when compared to native applications.
Maintenance is also cheaper. When you make a mobile phone, you have to spend 15–20% of your initial development cost on maintenance and updates every year.
Because of the lower investment, many businesses choose to build their applications as pre-built web applications and use them as MVPs or “proofs of concept” to generate the support or investment required to develop a mobile application.
But remember, there are ways to create mobile applications that can greatly reduce the cost. For example, hybrid app builders like Sparkout can reduce the cost of developing a mobile app by almost 90%, so you can have the app up and running in less than four frames.
Check out 10+ advanced hybrid app examples in this article.
Chronology
Finally, think about your desired release time.
Building native mobile apps takes a long time (usually requiring 6 months of full-time development). Web applications are developed and launched faster. The
Hybrid Mobile App once again offers an interesting combination of the two. Some hybrid app builders allow you to create a fully functional mobile app in just two weeks.
Web Applications etc. Mobile Apps: Which is Better? (Final Thoughts)
Finally, websites and mobile apps can be powerful and useful tools to serve your audience.
The choice depends on what you want to achieve and what you want to work on.
Creating a website is cheaper, faster and easier. Web applications can be used by multiple users in a single deployment. However, usability, engagement and retention are sacrifices, especially for mobile users.
Publishing mobile applications will become more difficult and capital investment will increase. In addition, mobile applications developed using programming languages can run on certain platforms.
However, mobile applications perform better on mobile users than web applications and are easier to use on mobile devices.
It is usually best to create both at the same time. The fact that most users use mobile and desktop computers allows you to serve all users while taking advantage of mobile applications.
Instead of investing 6+ images in a native app, a cheaper option is to first build a web app and then turn it into a hybrid app with Sparkout technology.
This allows you to serve users of all devices without investing in traditional applications and with less maintenance.
There are many advantages to using Sparkout :
All mobile development is done for you (no coding or coding knowledge required)
Launching of apps for iOS and Android. Just two weeks after
was released.
Create your web app and then transfer all its functionality to a mobile app.
includes updates, maintenance, bug fixes, and support (no recurring 5–6 figure annual fees).
90% of the functionality of a native mobile app is less than 10% of the price.
App Store Approvals Guaranteed.
This is the easiest way to build mobile apps today and is superior to native apps in 95% of cases.
Do you create your own web/mobile apps ?
Contact us: Sparkout Tech Solutions Inc
